So... frustrating.
A tingling sensation on his forearm had Gen looking down yet again to check for writing. He couldn't help it. Every time, he had to look, even if he was live on air. Maybe this time there would actually be enough information to learn something.
But no. As if he'd be so lucky. Just numbers this time and not even enough to get an idea of what they were being used for. He had to look back up and get back to work.
He'd had chemical formulas written on his arm before. Ingredient lists for some kind of science project. Even a grocery list once – he'd loved that one. Gave him an idea of what kind of person his soul-mate might be.
Instant ramen
Coffee
Stainless sheets 20x20
UPS Power supply upgrade
AA batteries
Christmas presents for T, Y, B
And Gen had seen his soul-mate scratch them out one by one.
Gen wrote everything down in a notebook, in case he could ever piece anything together. He was smart, but it was never enough information to get anywhere. He'd tried writing back – countless times when he was young.
But soul-mate marks don't necessarily match.
It would be nice, to be so lucky. Couples who both had 'writing on skin' marks always found each other instantly. And it'd be a useful skill to have – like secret text messages that could never be blocked or taken from you. Meeting your soul-mate was crazy useful anyways – once you hit it off with them properly, there were all kinds of crazy benefits. The only negative being, if they died, you'd die too.
Most people weren't so lucky to have matching mark types. There were too many kinds of marks. Colorblindness, names, tattoos, first words, matching injuries, count-down clocks. More, too, even ones so rare they were almost unique. They seemed to relate to a person's personality, though even Gen couldn't figure out the exact details of what made a person have a certain mark.
He wasn't willing to wait. Gen had eliminated some of his soul-mate's possible marks. They couldn't have matching injuries – Gen had tried carving his own name into his skin. Shallow, but enough to last a few weeks. It certainly wasn't mind-reading or dream-sharing or anything like that either.
But there was something odd about his soul-mate that made Gen think, racking his brain to figure it out. Hoping it didn't mean what he thought it might. Scribbles over his right wrist, popping up every now and then. Maybe unrelated, but the mentalist didn't think so. Maybe Gen's soul-mate had Gen's name written on his wrist. If that were the case... Gen couldn't bear the thought of being repeatedly scribbled out.
–
Senku was no stranger to frustration. Every time he looked at his wrist, he felt frustrated. Soul-mate marks, especially his own, were one of the most difficult things for science to figure out. He'd studied it, in between his more important passions.
It was very likely that his was a mistake.
In every calculation, one has to account for a margin of error. Because there's always something that can't be fully accounted for. Maybe Senku was something the universe just couldn't account for.
He had yet to meet another person whose count-down timer was well over 3,700 years. No one but Senku. If there had been someone else, it would be different. Then Senku could think that maybe it was due to some great scientific achievement of humanity, like discovering the secret to immortality. But there was no one else in the whole world with such a timer.
"It doesn't matter," A young Senku had told his father.
Senku's mark had appeared on his wrist remarkably young. He'd been only ten. Most would say that was 'lucky'.
It would have been, if Senku's mark was anything other than a malfunctioning timer. The ticking number was so long, it took up most of his wrist. He'd always had to write on his arm if he wanted to jot down a quick note.
They'd spent weeks toiling over it, studying soul-mate marks to try to figure it. But soul-mates were still mostly unexplained by science.
"I'm still sure there's an answer, Senku," His father had said back then, "Maybe one day, you'll invent time travel... or..."
"If I invent time travel," Senku said, blinking back angry tears, "I'll definitely share it with everyone else."
So surely someone else would have had an exceptionally long number. Not Senku's soul-mate.. just anyone. But no one did.
He pretended not to care, to avoid worrying Byakuya or Taiju or Yuzuriha. But every now and then, late at night, he'd get so frustrated... and scribble that stupid number out again, just so he didn't have to stare at the seconds ticking down in the dark.
–
"Senku!" Taiju shouted as he entered the club room, startling everyone but his scientist friend.
"I'm certain," Taiju declared, "My soul-mate.. is Yuzuriha!"
"Really," Senku deadpanned, "And how do you figure that, you big oaf?"
Taiju's face was bright red, but he stood his back straight and his head held high.
"I can't answer that," Taiju said, "But I know it's true! And I'm going to ask her if she thinks the same!"
Senku smirked. Taiju... one of the 'unlucky' ones. He'd only had his soul-mate's first words to him tattooed on his wrist... and those words had been the disastrously common 'good morning'. Taiju had run into people greeting him with 'good morning' his whole life.
But Senku didn't think Taiju was really unlucky at all. Because it was obvious to anyone who saw them together – Taiju and Yuzuriha were perfect for each other and couldn't be anything other than soul-mates. Why would you unscientific marks need to confirm what was so obvious?
That all made it too difficult not to rile Taiju up when he had the chance.
"You know, you might not have a soul-mate at all," Senku said, "It does mess up sometimes."
Senku raised his own wrist as proof.
"What if Yuzuriha has her soul-mate already? You'll just look like an idiot."
"That doesn't matter! I need to try!" Taiju countered, "As a man, I have to know!"
"Hmph," Senku said, shrugging his shoulders.
"And you don't give up either, Senku!" Taiju shouted, before disappearing from the room, slamming the door behind him.
'Don't give up,' huh? Stupid. Senku had given up already. He'd had to give up almost immediately after getting his mark, after all.
"You don't really think Taiju doesn't have a soul-mate, do you, Senku?" One of the other science club members nervously asked.
"Obviously his soul-mate is Yuzuriha," Said Senku, "Idiot just needs to ask her."
"Well, he probably has one, someone," Said another science club member, "But Yuzuriha?"
"Yeah, no one even knows what type her mark is," Said a third.
"Humph," Senku said, turning back to his work, "Ten billion yen it's already triggered, just like Taiju's."
–
"Yuzuriha!" Taiju shouted, getting her attention and making her jump.
She had just finished tying her ribbon around a branch of the old camphor tree. It's vivid red color was striking up there in the green leaves of the tree, around that brown branch.
She couldn't stop thinking about the beauty of colors. They had revolutionized her world as an craftswoman. It had happened when the whole school had greeted her at an assembly. Maybe it would have been better to know just who had triggered it... but Yuzuriha wouldn't give up colors again for anything.
"T-Taiju!" She greeted in return.
Nerves were stirring in her stomach as she gazed at his fierce black eyes.
She had always wondered who in that large group could have activated her soul-mate mark, but had been too shy to tell anyone. Maybe they didn't want to be her soul-mate So she had only greeted the class back with a good morning and told no one.
Could Taiju...?
"Yuzuriha..." Taiju repeated.
He was nervous just like she was. But he was determined to find out, once and for all.
"When I first met you," Taiju said, "You looked at me... and said 'Good morning!'."
He held up his wrist to her, pulling down his sleeve. Yuzuriha's eyes opened wide.
"I have to know, Yuzuriha!" Taiju exclaimed, "What is your soul-mate mark?"
Yuzuriha's stumbled over her words for a moment in shock, but found them again.
"It – it was colorblindness!" She said, half-shouting, "But it activated when I met everyone all at once... I didn't know who it could be."
Taiju swallowed. Asking this... felt so bold. So arrogant even. But he had to know, he had to be brave.
"Could it be?" He asked, "That we might be..."
Soul-mates?
But Taiju stopped short. Something strange on the horizon caught his attention.
Senku had been watching the two from the window, invested in his two best friends' affairs. He followed Taiju's gaze. A disturbing green light was spreading across the landscape, coming from the horizon.
Taiju jumped around Yuzuriha, pushing her against the camphor tree, determined to protect her from harm.
No doubt about it, thought Senku. They were soul-mates Even if the marks couldn't prove it, it was obvious.
There wasn't much time for rumination on that. The unstoppable green light washed over them and darkness became all that Senku could see.
–
He counted. He mustn't stop. He mustn't lose consciousness. He needed to have an accurate measurement, otherwise all could be lost.
Funny. If he could see his wrist right now, he wouldn't have to count.
It didn't make staying awake any easier... but it helped Senku stay determined.
He knew he would live. In fact, he would live for at least 3,700 more years. The answer to the enigma on his wrist. Senku did have a soul-mate after all. And he spent 3,700 years wondering what kind of a person they must be.
–
The count-down on his wrist became a kind of precious time limit to him. Senku knew what the number would be by heart, but couldn't help looking at it all the time. He had only a scant couple of years to rebuild science enough for his soul-mate to live in it with him.
What kind of person could they be? What kind of mark? He doubted it would show up through the stone statues, so there wasn't much point looking over them.
A scientist, like himself? An 'opposites attract' situation? It wasn't like... he needed anyone though.
Taiju was ecstatic for Senku. He'd damn near strangled Senku in a tearful hug on realizing Senku's timer had been ticking down all this time.
"Lucky me," Senku said, "That you aren't the kind of person to say 'I told you so'."
"Oh," Taiju exclaimed, "I did tell you, didn't I, Senku!"
"Aw, shut up."
They worked hard and soon built a small home for themselves. With steady experiments, they learned how to revive the stone statues.
There wasn't a chance Senku was going to deprive his best friend of his soul-mate. Waking Yuzuriha first was the most logical option. Unfortunately, the lions had other plans and they were forced to revive Tsukasa first instead.
Senku didn't trust the 'primate high school student' one millimeter.
–
All this work was mentally and physically tiring, but worth it. Senku sat beneath a tree by the ocean side to rest for a moment. He looked right and left for Taiju or Tsukasa. He didn't know why exactly looking at his mark had suddenly become so meaningful, but he liked to stare at the numbers ticking down.
"You'll meet your soul-mate soon," Tsukasa said suddenly, leaning closely over Senku's shoulder.
Senku quickly covered his wrist with his arm wraps, but it was too late. He shouldn't have been staring at it, even if he thought it was in private.
"It's rude to look at another person's mark if they don't want you to," Senku said, getting up.
"You're right," Said Tsukasa, unfazed, "But who could it be? The only people alive right now are the three of us. It must be someone you bring back. Are you going to pick from the statues – this one seems pretty?"
Tsukasa was egging him on and following him down the beach. There was definitely something suspicious about him.
"Maybe I'll wait," Senku said, "Do nothing. It'll happen anyway, won't it? We'll meet no matter what I do."
"But what if the stone had an effect?" Tsukasa said, "The timers didn't tick up while people were frozen in stone – you can see marks on some of the statue's wrists. They stopped, people didn't meet."
Senku didn't tell Tsukasa his mark had kept ticking, all 3,700 years. He theorized it was because he'd been awake the entire time. The only other person who'd likely managed that was Taiju.
Tsukasa took Senku's hesitation as worry.
"What about this," Tsukasa said, looming over Senku in an uncomfortable way.
"The marks are always population accurate, even in times humans couldn't predict. In times when the human population has dramatically dropped, like after war or famine, there still ends up being an equal number of soul-mates, unless there's an odd number of total people on earth. Your soul-mate.. is guaranteed to be a person you wake, because they'll be the only people on earth. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
The weight of the words hit Senku like a ton of bricks. Of course. He hadn't thought of that. What was Tsukasa was saying really did get to him...
What if he and his soul-mate weren't normally compatible... but only matched because they were the only two options? Whoever he woke, in other words... would have no choice but to be his soul-mate.
"You have a unique opportunity, Senku," Tsukasa said, "You'll be the first man in history to choose his soul-mate"
Senku felt sick.
"You going to start looking for the most beautiful statue? Or maybe find a classmate you knew before and liked? Or a celebrity if you search hard enough."
Senku's heart was heavy. Why hadn't he thought of this? Idiot.
"No," He said, staring at the ground, "I won't wake anyone. I'll just let the clock tick up."
"You'd rather be alone?" Tsukasa asked.
"I won't... force anyone to be my soul-mate."
Tsukasa stared in silence for a moment, expression unreadable. Then he suddenly lurched forward, startling Senku again.
"It's possible the stone really did mess up your timer, you know," Tsukasa said, not aware of Senku's originally unusually long timer.
"If that's the case..." Tsukasa went on, "You may have otherwise already met."
"W-what?" Senku asked, genuinely confused by Tsukasa's meaning.
"Had the petrification not occurred, you would have met normally."
Right. Senku could understand that idea... he knew it wasn't true because of his 3,700 year timer.
"Many marks... are more esoteric than timers." Tsukasa said.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Senku asked.
Tsukasa simply stared for a moment.
"Think about it." Then he turned and walked away.
–
Esoteric.
Senku thought about it.
Designed for or understood by the specially initiated alone.
Well, that, or...
Requiring or exhibiting knowledge restricted to a small group.
Yes, Senku supposed, some marks could be called 'esoteric'. But what did Tsukasa mean by it?
A possibility hit him.
Could... Tsukasa think I might be his soul-mate?
Thinking that the timer would be inaccurate after a sort of 'time-stop' in the stone.
Senku couldn't be sure, but he certainly hoped that wasn't what Tsukasa was thinking. They had since had a conversation about Tsukasa's views on the old world.
"Wouldn't it be better to revive only people who would be useful to us?" Tsukasa had said.
"Well, maybe for right now," Senku had said, "But we're going to revive everyone eventually."
Tsukasa had shown disagreement on his face, but didn't speak it. Instead, over the next week he brought the idea up every now and then, adding a new point here or there, then sharply dropping the subject before Senku could properly argue with him. It was frustrating.
Tsukasa certainly had the power to apply his ideals with force... but he seemed to want to get Senku on his side.
That only gave Senku a worse sinking feeling. His timer no longer showed 3,700 something years. You'd never know, just looking at it, that it was ever any different from any normal timer. If Senku told Tsukasa about what it had once read... Tsukasa might think he was lying.
That only mattered if Tsukasa did think Senku could be his soul-mate
What was Tsukasa's mark?
Esoteric.
To a layman like Tsukasa, that word might only mean ' difficult to discern'. That sort of definition was used more in modern times.
Senku had heard of such marks before, though they were exceedingly rare. Goddamn, he'd been too distracted by the lions to pay much attention to Tsukasa while he'd been exposed. Almost immediately after, he'd taken to wearing that cloak all of the time.
The only way to know Tsukasa's intentions was to find out Tsukasa's mark. And Senku saw no better way to do that than ask.
"What kind of mark do you have, Tsukasa?" Senku asked as the three sat around the fire that night, trying his best to sound casual.
Tsukasa merely snorted, "It's a little rude to ask, isn't it?"
Taiju was appalled, "It is, Senku!" He shouted.
"Well," Senku said, "I figured since you saw mine without my permission, it'd only be fair."
"Tsukasa, you peeked at Senku's mark?" Taiju exclaimed, all energy.
In the past, Senku had never hidden his mark, preferring to pretend he didn't care. Fortunately, Taiju would always jump to his friend's defense.
"...You're right," Said Tsukasa, "It was wrong of me."
"But that doesn't mean you get to see his, Senku!" Taiju shouted.
…Or not. Damn it, Taiju!
"I apologize," Tsukasa said, "For looking at your mark over your shoulder that day. It won't happen again."
...like it mattered if it 'happened again'! Senku was certain Tsukasa had said something aggravating on purpose.
"Well, thank goodness," Said Taiju, "I thought you two were going to fight."
A fight, huh. Tsukasa would win hands down, even if Senku and Taiju teamed up on him together. The reality of the situation set in a little. He'd thought this from the start, but...
In this Stone World, strength was power.
Was Senku willing to revive anyone to help them?
No... that person would have 'no choice' but to be Senku's soul-mate, even if someone else would be better for them. It would be better, even, to revive people in bulk. With the exception of Yuzuriha and anyone else they knew to already have a soul-mate
Time was still ticking. If Senku's timer ran out before they woke someone... what would happen? Would he be alone?
Well... Senku was already used to the idea of not having a soul-mate Yes. It was fine this way.
–
Senku took to observing Tsukasa whenever the other man wasn't looking. It wasn't on his wrists, but that was only the most common place for a mark to show up. Any kind of mark could still be anywhere.
Tsukasa always wore that damned cloak. And he was hiding his mark from Senku specifically. Senku knew he'd take off his clothes to go diving for shells, even if Taiju was close by, but only if Senku was far away.
He'd pried Taiju for details, of course, but Taiju refused, citing his sense of honor. And furthermore, like he'd be watching Tsukasa naked anyway, Senku!
Deadlines make men reckless. Senku needed to look, needed to know. Intense curiosity had gotten him into trouble countless times before the petrification.
Under the cover of night, he crept out of the tree house he shared with Taiju. Tsukasa had set up a lean-to quite a ways off from the main camp – likely to prevent exactly what Senku was planning.
Luckily, Taiju slept like a log, but Senku doubted Tsukasa would be the same. The utmost stealth was required. Senku had taken off his shoes to creep as quietly as possible. He waited in the cold night for his eyes to adjust to the starlight before even beginning.
And on first sighting Tsukasa's lean-to, it would appear luck was on Senku's side. The damnable cloak was hung up over the entrance. Tsukasa must sleep in the nude.
Senku swallowed, steeling his nerves. This was more than a little inappropriate. He was intentionally about to spy on a naked peer. He couldn't make himself turn back now, though. Stepping as slowing and quietly as possible, not even disturbing a single leaf, he knelt down on the ground and reached forward to pull aside the cloak.
And Tsukasa's hand shot out of the darkness, gripping Senku's wrist tightly and pinning it against the ground.
Senku yelped in pain – there was rough back beneath his hand, digging into his skin.
Large, shining eyes met him from in the darkness of the lean-to. Then Tsukasa leaned forward, his head full of dark hair and the start of his shoulders emerging under the cloak.
Senku wasted no time.
"Ah, you'll have to forgive me," He said, chattering with a casual tone, "It's so awfully cold tonight, I thought I would come and ask to borrow your cloak. Saw it hanging there, so clearly you weren't wearing it..."
"Don't lie, Senku," Tsukasa said.
Shit. Well, he hadn't really expected the excuse to work. Better to keep to it anyway – plausible deniability...
He feigned confusion, smiling and lifting an eyebrow.
"What are you talking about, Tsu – Ahh!"
Tsukasa had painfully tightened his hold on Senku's wrist and yanked his arm high enough to hurt his shoulder, slightly lifting Senku's knees from the forest carpet.
"That hurts," Senku said.
"You should be more honest, then," Tsukasa said, calm as a passing breeze.
He let go of Senku's wrist and Senku stumbled backwards. Terrifying.
"Right," Senku said, "W-will do... excuse me, then, good night."
Senku quickly turned to head back to the tree house, but had scarcely taken three steps when he felt Tsukasa's heavy hand on his shoulder, digging fingers into his makeshift lab coat.
Senku hadn't even heard him move. That was what true stealth was, he supposed.
"You wanted to see, didn't you?" Tsukasa asked.
He could have said no, apologized again. Maybe Tsukasa would have left it at that. But Senku couldn't help himself. It was a scientist's curiosity. He bit down his fear and turned around, stepping away as he did so. Tsukasa let him, his hand falling to his side.
All over Tsukasa's torso stretched a huge, intricate tattoo. He was covered in careful detail. It had a somewhat tribal design, reminding Senku of ancient art. Honestly, had it been made by a human hand, it would have been a real work of art. But Senku wasn't interested in the art of it. He was more interested in the depictions.
Mostly, it was made in pearl white, but green and black marked out highlights and shadows. The main figure in the scene was an enormous bat with bright red eyes. Apart from that... trees and stars...
Tsukasa turned around before Senku had finished taking it in. It continued on his back. The moon, enormous across his shoulder blades, framed in stars and trees.
"What... on earth are you supposed to get from that?" Asked Senku out loud.
There was nothing specific in the image whatsoever. Just animals and random objects.
"Esoteric," Said Tsukasa, "Like I said. It's supposed to represent my soul-mate"
"Esoteric, all right," Said Senku, "Your soul-mate could be anyone."
Tsukasa turned around again.
His dark eyes met Senku's.
"Could be," He said simply.
Senku swallowed. Tsukasa's expression, unreadable as always. A wave of primal fear bit at his gut.
"Well, my apologies," Senku said, "Now we're even, right? No harm, no foul. Uh... good night, Tsukasa."
Tsukasa merely stared.
Senku carefully stepped back, not letting his eyes off of Tsukasa. Why did he feel so afraid? When Tsukasa at last broke eye contact, Senku felt relieved. He let out a breath and turned to go back to the tree house. Even if Taiju couldn't really protect him, he'd feel safer there.
"Senku," Tsukasa called out.
Senku paused, not turning around.
"Did you ever get a chance to read those studies from the 40s? The soul-mate ones. In your scientific studies, I figured you might have come across them. When I was looking into my tattoo, I got to reading everything I could lay my hands on."
"Can't say I did," Senku said, keeping his tone even, "But I think I know what you're referring to. The German ones, right? In that era... they were highly unscientific. So... not reliable information."
"Not to mention cruel," Said Tsukasa, "But interesting. I didn't understand most of it, but... they said a soul-mate connection could be broken."
"Right," Senku said, "If you could by some cruel means manage to keep someone alive after killing their soul-mate..."
"So you did read them," Said Tsukasa.
Senku shrugged, "I said I heard of them."
"Well," Tsukasa said, "That's the thing... they theorized if someone is forcibly kept alive through their soul-mate dying... a new soul-mate is assigned to them. Apparently a painful process, if one is awake while going through it. Maybe unregulated... but they did document it apparently happening."
"That's never been proven," Said Senku, "I really wouldn't trust those studies... they were simply an excuse for torture."
"If you had a way to prove it?" Tsukasa asked.
Senku looked at him. An unreadable expression.
"Perhaps if your tattoo changed. Or something like that."
And with that, Tsukasa turned back to his lean-to and disappeared.
Senku felt that his blood was as cold as ice.
Tsukasa was implying that his tattoo had changed after waking up from petrification.
To... the only other human on earth... without a soul-mate.
And just about one year left on Senku's timer.
–
Senku had never fallen unconscious during his petrification. His timer had never changed. But Taiju, who already had a soul-mate, might have been the only other human to stay awake like that. What happened when someone without a soul-mate was de-pretrified? Was it like being born? Most people only got their soul-mate marks as teens. Senku had gotten his particularly early.
That only made reviving people even more difficult. What would happen if they revived another person who didn't have a soul-mate? Would they get their mark made anew?
And worse to think about... what about Yuzuriha? What if she had lost consciousness, like Tsukasa had, and been given a new soul-mate mark.
Senku couldn't imagine his friends having to go through that. But Taiju returned from the cave one day with a full jar of nitric acid, shortly after Tsukasa had explained his plans to crush the statues of the adults to prevent the return of scientific society.
Senku felt he had no choice but to stall. He claimed there wasn't enough. Taiju offered to return to the cave, but Tsukasa quickly stopped him and went in his place. He wanted to know where the cave was, of course, and was gone before Senku could stop Taiju from telling him.
"Taiju," Senku said, gripping his friend's shoulders, "I don't have much time to explain, so listen carefully!"
In rapid succession, Senku explained the things he'd figured out and what he was worried about.
Taiju could be stupid about some things, but he understood.
"You think if we wake Yuzuriha... she might have a new soul-mate."
"It's possible. Tsukasa's... may have changed. He didn't tell me outright, but implied it." Senku said, feeling disgusted.
"You mean...?" Taiju knitted his eyebrows.
"Think about that part later!" Senku shouted, "Think about Yuzuriha now!"
Taiju nodded and screwed his eyes shut in thought. It only took a second.
"We need to revive her, no matter what!" Taiju shouted, "Even if... we aren't soul-mates anymore, she's still our precious friend. I'll support Yuzuriha no matter what!"
"I'm glad," Senku said, "Now hide behind that tree."
"What?" Taiju exclaimed.
"I have a plan, so do as I say!" Shouted Senku.
The moment Taiju had himself out of sight, Senku poured the revival fluid over Yuzuriha's head.
"Where am I?" Yuzuriha asked, "What happened?"
"Yuzuriha!" Senku said, "Answer quickly – can you see color?"
Yuzuriha blinked – then tears formed in her eyes. Doubtless, she was thinking Taiju must be dead.
"I – I can't!" Yuzuriha said, "Your eyes, they're gray again, Senku!"
"Taiju!" Senku shouted, "Hurry up!"
Taiju leaped out of his hiding place. His eyes were full of tears, yet he looked happy. Happy to see Yuzuriha, Senku was certain.
"Yuzuriha!" Taiju exclaimed.
"Taiju!" She shouted back, "It is you – a-and it's color again!"
"It's color again?" Taiju asked.
"As expected," Said Senku, smirking, "You two were always soul-mates – I don't think the petrification changed that, but since you didn't make the connection properly, it had to activate again."
"That's one theory," Said Tsukasa.
Senku swallowed, not turning around to look to where the voice had come from.
"That was quick... you must have run the whole way," He said.
"I – I don't believe we've met," Said Yuzuriha, "Can someone tell me what's going on?"
Taiju leaped out between Tsukasa and his two friends.
"Senku explained to me what you've been doing to the statues – that's wrong and I won't allow it!"
Taiju made to rush Tsukasa.
"Senku, take care of Yuzuriha!" He shouted.
"Idiot, if you die - " Senku shouted back.
But there was no time for that. Senku had no choice but to deploy to secret he'd been keeping.
The crossbow. He couldn't allow them to fight – Taiju was certain to lose.
Senku aimed between the two to delay the conflict, trusting his invention and his own eye and let loose the shot.
Tsukasa grabbed it out of the air like it had been a slow-moving feather and in one fell swoop, kicked Taiju far back and away from him.
He leaned back, his chin held high. His gaze wasn't unreadable. It was animistic.
"Senku... shooting that at me... wasn't very smart," Tsukasa said in a dark tone,"Don't you value your life?"
"What?" Yuzuriha exclaimed, "Senku?"
"He's wrong," Said Senku, lifting his arm for Yuzuriha to see, "Have a look – still ticking."
"Less than a year..." Said Yuzuriha in awe.
She'd probably be jumping for joy for him... if not for the current situation.
"Which is curious, I admit," Said Tsukasa, "But it's likely to do with the nature of your mark itself. When it ticks down... if you haven't connected with your soul-mate, I bet it'll start over. And you won't connect with your soul-mate.. because they're entombed in rock."
"My mark has been ticking the whole time I was petrified," Senku said, "I was born with a timer in thousands of years. I thought I didn't have a soul-mate – until that green light."
"It's true!" Yuzuriha said, "Senku's timer has always been like that."
"It's true!" Taiju confirmed, "And Senku's soul-mate would never be a murderer!"
"You told them to say that, while I was gone, I trust," Tsukasa said, "But... it doesn't matter. I might not be your soul-mate, Senku, but you certainly are mine."
All four were silent, staring each other down. Until Taiju swayed and fell backwards.
"Taiju!" Yuzuriha shouted!
That hit from Tsukasa had apparently done some damage. Yuzuriha instantly leaped to his side.
"That looks pretty bad," Senku said, "He'll have to sleep it off for a few days."
"Then let's take a bit of time to breath," Said Tsukasa, "I've got work to do in regards to these statues. No soul-mate or anyone else is going to stop me.
"And Yuzuriha," Tsukasa said, "Do make sure Senku doesn't do anything rash."
Tsukasa turned, utterly unafraid to show his back to them, and strolled away into the forest.
"What... did he mean by that?" Yuzuriha asked.
"...If I killed myself, Tsukasa believes he'd die too. Don't worry, I'd never do such a thing. It wouldn't work anyway. He isn't my soul-mate"
Yuzuriha nodded, but her eyes seemed unsure.
"There's a lot about this situation that I need to know," She said.
"And it'll have to wait," Senku said, "We're leaving – now."
–
Later, Tsukasa returned to the campsite. He had been hoping that by leaving for some time, he'd give the group time to calm down. Then they could speak rationally, without crossbows. It didn't sting to think his soul-mate had fired such a thing at him. There were plenty of historical records of soul-mates hating each other before they got to know each other. He'd get to know Senku soon – he was sure of that.
Thinking of him now made Tsukasa smile. There was no mistaking it, Senku was his soul-mate. He'd figured out how his tattoo worked by interacting with traditional living tribes, since his type of tattoo, while now incredibly rare, used to be more common, especially in the time before writing. These people alone had passed down the ancient traditions and helped Tsukasa figure out what kind of person his soul-mate might be.
The symbols and colors of his tattoo matched Senku perfectly. The moon and stars the color of Senku's pale skin, the trees in the same green of his hair, and those red eyes that were so captivating...
Tsukasa had been looking into those red eyes since childhood, every time he looked at his tattoo in the mirror. They were now on the face of a bat instead of feline, but those two animals both represented traits Senku possessed.
Tsukasa hadn't lied about it changing... but he had mislead Senku somewhat. He didn't have a new soul-mate, just a new tattoo, as if it had been reactivated upon his awakening from the stone.
Unlike with most soul-mate marks, there would be no activation of Tsukasa's mark. No direct confirmation. And Senku would certainly deny being the subject of the tattoo without believing it had changed. Tsukasa could tell that given how focused Senku had been over his timer, studying it whenever he thought Tsukasa wasn't looking.
Obviously, the thousands of years had messed up the timer. It couldn't be accounted for.
Tsukasa was patient. He'd wait for Senku's timer to run out... then Senku would have no choice but to turn to him. It was fate. You can't fight fate.
...But it appeared Senku was going to try. The campsite had been destroyed and all three teens were missing.
They ran away in a panic... no, that was what they wanted him to think. Clearly, Taiju was not too ill to move. Senku had lied. He already had a plan the moment Tsukasa left.
Hakone, Tsukasa realized.
Gunpowder.
Senku had already tried to kill Tsukasa once. Until he understood that the two were soul-mates... he'd try again.
Then Tsukasa would have to make him understand.
–
Senku heard them. Footsteps behind him while he worked at the fire. It really made him think how stupid it had been to try to sneak into Tsukasa's lean-to that night. Even his untrained ears could hear footsteps on such uneven ground.
But when he turned, he was still surprised. Tsukasa hadn't approached him alone – a terrified Yuzuriha was being held as a hostage.
Tsukasa's spear was held steadily at her neck.
"'If I don't have my soul-mate,'" Said Senku, mocking, "'Then no one will like me – is that the idea?"
"Doesn't really matter," Tsukasa said, "But you have enough tricks up your sleeve I figured I'd better get some insurance."
"You think I'd give up my life to save my friends, don't you?" Senku said, "Worried I'd off myself for real."
"These two being soul-mates is lucky," Said Tsukasa, ignoring Senku's comments, "Two for one. If you don't do as I say, there won't be anyone in the world but the two of us."
Senku swallowed. His mind was already trying to find a path of this, for all three of them. This was his fault, for taking the risk with the signal fire to the strangers in the valley.
"So... you'll kill two innocent bystanders just to have your way with some skinny loser? There's something fucked up in your head," Senku started, "I've too much pride to -"
Tsukasa suddenly lifted and swept with the spear, interrupted Senku's planned 'I don't care' speech. He jumped up in fear for her, in shock. Yuzuriha's hair fell around her, but at least she was still alive.
"If I die," Yuzuriha said, tears falling out of her eyes, "Taiju would die too... but... Senku! He's my soul-mate! I know him better than anyone else. I already feel like I can read his thoughts. I know... he wouldn't be okay with letting that... that happen to you, Senku. So don't you dare give up! Even if it means..."
"Either agree to come with me," Tsukasa said, "Or lose both your friends. Make your mind up, Senku."
Silence. Just a cold icy feeling of defeat. The spear nearing Yuzuriha's neck and Taiju's too... a drop of red blood.
"Right," Senku said, "Let her go... I'll go back with you."
"Very good," Said Tsukasa, "Don't be afraid. We'll only talk, until that timer of yours ticks down."
"Until the timer ticks down, huh?" Senku asked flatly.
"Step away from the fire," Tsukasa said, "And dump out your pockets."
So that Senku would have nothing up his sleeve and nothing to work with. There wasn't a choice... he did as he was told.
Tsukasa let go of Yuzuriha once it was clear Senku had no weapons concealed on him. She stumbled quickly over to Senku's side, grabbing hold of the sleeve of his coat.
"It's okay," Said Senku quietly, leaning towards her ear, "Even if Taiju was here, all three of his couldn't take him on. I'll go with him for now and escape, okay? I promise."
"Senku..." Yuzuriha said.
"Senkuuuuuu!"
They all turned to find Taiju having arrived. He wasn't one for stealth, was he?
He must have sensed Yuzuriha in danger – they were connecting fast. Some kind of soul-mate prodigies.
Taiju was holding aloft a large rock – one of the ones that had made an earlier spark. The pieces quickly clicked into place in Senku's head. Yuzuriha's even faster, from the look on her face. Taiju threw the huge rock high, while Tsukasa figured out its trajectory.
Yuzuriha was closer to the gunpowder and made a mad dive, scooping up the pouch and heaving it through the air at Tsukasa, leaving a trail behind it. Tsukasa batted it away from hitting his face with ease, but that only forced more gunpowder out of the pouch. He was covered in it now.
While this went on, Senku had made his own mad leap, drawing a stick from the fire.
If he acted now, he could kill Tsukasa. They would be done with it. But he couldn't. Unless there was no choice, he couldn't kill another human being.
The rock, from high in the air, struck the ground, but failed to ignite an explosion. Regardless, Tsukasa was very clearly aware of his predicament. If Senku threw his stick, there would be no question – he'd go up in flames or worse.
"You don't want to kill me, Senku," Tsukasa said, "I can see it in your eyes, even if you don't believe we're meant to be."
"By your own admission," Senku said, "We're only half soul-mates Maybe you'll die if I do, but I won't die if you do."
"That's a powerful position... if that's what you believe," Tsukasa said, taking a step forward, "But irrelevant right now – you won't kill me because you don't kill people if you don't have to, Senku. I love that about you."
"Creepy," Senku replied, stepping back an equal amount to keep his distance.
"Why don't we make a deal," Tsukasa said, "In regards to that little timer of yours. Tell me the revival formula and I'll leave today, right now. And I'll promise – I won't come and bother you three until that timer is up. You can revive all the statues you want yourselves.
"I know you won't find your soul-mate, because it's me."
He certainly sounded confident. It made Senku want to be sick.
"So the deal is... you leave today and don't come back for three months," Senku said, "If we tell you the revival formula. No, that's not enough – you don't kill any more statues either."
Tsukasa hesitated, then broke into fierce laughter, a terrifying image across the fire, "Is that all? Then it's a deal! And I trust you understand... when that timer is up, I'll come for you... by force if I have to. Sooner if I find out you lied. The formula, Senku?"
So Senku told him. And with that, just as at the tree house, Tsukasa turned and left.
All three felt weak at the knees.
"I'm so sorry," Taiju said, grabbing both his friends tightly, "I wasn't here to protect you two."
"You did just fine, you big oaf," Senku said, struggling to shrug him off, "We've got three months. That's plenty of time, when all three of us are together. We're going to find the people who lit those signal fires, get them on our side... and prepare for war!"