"Thank you, Suika," Senku said, "You've been incredibly helpful."
She'd been incredibly brave, too.
"Yay, Suika was useful!" The girl cried, jumping around Senku's little cave cheerfully.
"Very useful," Senku said, "But now, you need to go. And you can't come back here, Suika."
"I understand," Suika said, "You need to work on your project, right?"
"More than that," Said Senku, "It's not going to be safe here anymore."
"Hurry up, Suika!" Ginrou shouted from outside, "There might be someone here!"
"Go!" Senku shouted, "And remember to be careful where you walk!"
–
Ginrou was terrified. This was even worse than the lake, because at least with that awful lake he'd had his spear to tell where was safe to walk. Now he only had his memory.
"Just stay off the path," Suika said, "Until we get close to the village!"
Close to the village was the really scary part! Why did Senku make everyone do this? It was horrible! And Senku knew it was horrible too.
"They'll be no way to undo this," He'd said to everyone, "Once it's done. Not without setting them off. I'll be leaving pockmarks all over your beautiful forest."
"It has to be done," Kohaku had said, "Tsukasa must be stopped. Not just for you, Senku, but for all of us."
–
The time had finally come. Tsukasa rose heavily from his throne, lackeys on both sides. The deal was completed. It was time to reclaim what was his. And with the two of them together, the new world would be unstoppable.
They found a footpath likely used by the villages from the hot spring. That'd be just fine. It would lead them straight to the village, if the map that villager had drawn was accurate. He hadn't figured out all of the symbols they'd used yet, dotted about their village, but it didn't matter. They were nearing one of the marked spots now...
"I see one!" One of his warriors shouted. The war party stopped moving forward t observe. Tsukasa had already laid eyes on her.
It was the girl he'd met nearly three months ago, the blond warrior. She stood bravely right in the center of the path, meeting Tsukasa's eye. It was a challenge. One by one, more villages stepped out from behind the trees, revealing themselves and their primitive weapons. Even the cobbled together weapons Tsukasa's group had were superior to those pieces of garbage. Many hardly had more than a large stick. It was almost too good to be true.
"There's so many of them!" A villager cried out in surprisingly modern Japanese, "We – we can't beat them! We need to flee, back to the village! We can cut the bridge!"
The entire assembly of villages, with the exception of the blond warrior girl, turned tail and ran.
"Don't let them get to that bridge!" Tsukasa ordered.
His men obeyed, surging forward like a broken wave. The villagers might have greater numbers due to the time constraints, but apart from the mentalist, Tsukasa had only revived great warriors. Those tribals were pitifully unmatched.
The blond pointed one of her blades at Tsukasa. Now, she was really challenging him. And Tsukasa stepped forward with confidence. He'd take her alive, of course, in case she was Gen's or one of his other warrior's.
Then... something unnatural snapped under his tread.
A pain ripped through his right foot at the same time as a loud bang. He heard another bang before he could even look at the injury, then another. His warriors were triggering them too – miniature step-trigger landmines!
His foot stung, but he could hardly call it truly injured. It wasn't anything more than a little burn. Gunpowder must be limited. He looked up at the warrior girl, who was proudly marching forward – baring a new, shining weapon, her old knives thrown aside.
A katana. Even Tsukasa was shocked. How could that be?
Tsukasa watched as his troops panicked in pain.
"Landmines!" Someone shouted, "They have landmines!"
"Thanks to Senku!" The girl shouted, "And a lot more, too!"
She rushed forward and Tsukasa realized the other villagers were turning around to rush too, their old weapons – some likely even fake now that Tsukasa looked more carefully – thrown to the side, replaced with folded steel.
"Fall back!" One of his warriors shouted, "They're more advanced then we thought!"
"They tricked us!" Another shouted.
"You cowards!" Tsukasa shouted, "Hold your ground!"
But it was too late. What his men had in strength, they lacked in discipline. Even if the landmines were nothing more than tiny fireworks, they were effective weapons of fear.
But where... Tsukasa wondered... could Senku have gotten gunpowder?
One day before the Tsukasa empire had planned to attack Ishigami village, Gen felt a familiar tingling in his arm – but his right instead of his left, oddly enough. He wore a cloak now to cover his body better and kept a calm face, stealing away to look when he got a chance.
"I know you're a member of the Tsukasa Empire, but you need to listen to me. It's important. Get somewhere private."
Gen stomach had nearly fallen out. It was what he'd always wanted. His soul-mate knew about his mark! He was writing to him, not just making notes.
Gen was already in his private chambers – that is, the cave he'd taken as his own. He waited anxiously for the writing to continue.
"I'm not a member of the Tsukasa Empire. If they defeat Ishigami Village, I'll likely be killed. If you want to meet me, you need to do exactly as I say."
The writing was so slow. What on earth was his soul-mate writing with?
"Make a distraction – a huge one. I hope we can do this without you – who knows what your mark is – but it would be a lot easier if we had someone on the inside. Whoever you are... if you even are... please get them away from the cave."
If he even was? As in, if he existed? So his soul-mate didn't know him after all, but was writing as a last ditch effort. How'd they know it was writing anyway? Well, Gen would do the best he could – the cave could only mean one cave, where the resurrection serum was made.
Gen smiled to himself. It was about time he held a magic show.
In his own cave, miles away, Senku smiled to himself. His arm ached – scratching words into your skin wasn't just painful, it was difficult. But he couldn't be sure his soul-mate's mark wasn't matching injuries.
The blood would work if it was writing.
And if it meant Suika and Ginrou's stealth mission to steal the ingredients for gunpowder went successfully... it was all worth it.
–
Where are you? Gen wondered. He had stayed far from the battle field – he wasn't a warrior, so even Tsukasa knew he'd just get in the way. But he watched, keeping an eye on everyone in the field, searching them for who it was. The villagers were winning. Landmines. They'd built landmines – and it looked like katanas too.
He'd been certain it wasn't a villager, but maybe they could write after all. Maybe Senku had taught them.
"Just how smart are you, anyway, Senku?" Gen muttered from his vantage point.
"Very," Someone said.
Gen looked to his right in shock.
A boy about his age with a shock of tall green hair was stood there, smirking at him. He held up his wrist and Gen's eyes were just quick enough to watch the number count down to zero.
–
Gen was confused. He didn't understand. Was this stranger implying... that he was Senku? And more than that... that he was... Gen's soul-mate.
That would be what the ticking finishing could mean. In the Stone World, that'd be hard to fake.
Gen stared, processing, and the boy – Senku, if it was – stared back.
He looked confident to the point of arrogance... but Gen observed his hand ever-so-slightly trembling. And a slight crook in the boy's cocky smile.
"You -!" Gen shouted, shocking Senku enough to make him stumble backwards, "Are going to explain everything!"
"Of course – I might like to know your name first," Senku said, stepping back.
Out of the frying pan, into the fire? Senku though. This boy looked nearly as crazed as Tsukasa and quite a bit more angry.
"Asagiri! Gen!" Gen shouted, "And who the hell are you?"
"Thought I recognized your face," Senku said, "You're that mentalist who writes those trash novels!"
"T-trash?" Gen shouted.
"And it's Senku!" Senku said, a toothy grin splitting his face ear to ear, "Good to meet you, Asagiri Gen!"
–
The battle was over. They'd missed the ending, but Tsukasa was no where in sight, so he must have fled.
"Well, Asagiri Gen," Senku said, starting down the mountain, "I think it's best I got starting on that explaining – there's a lot of ground to cover."
Gen huffed. This boy... was bizarre. Is that how he greeted his soul-mate, after meeting for the first time? Just strutting down a mountain? Like it was nothing?
"First," Gen said, following after him in a huff, "Something I've wondered since childhood."
"Got your mark early, huh?" Senku asked, cheerful and casual.
"Why did you always scribble me out?" Gen asked.
Senku stopped short.
"Oh," He said, his face shocked, "Right... I forgot I used to do that..."
"Well?" Gen asked, "Why? Did you not want a soul-mate? Did you figure out it was me and... hate me... I know my mark showed up on my show before. You must have seen it. And then I... could have missed meeting you."
"Nothing like that," Senku said, quickly, "I'm sorry you ever thought that. I used to think... that I didn't have a soul-mate. I was frustrated."
"Why did you think that?" Gen asked, feeling frustrated himself.
"Well," Senku said, smiling again, "My timer was over 3,700 years long."
And Gen understood. Senku had thought his mark must be some kind of mistake, until he was confined in stone for 3,700 years.
"About Tsukasa next, then," Gen said, as both began walking again, "Why is he convinced you're his soul-mate?"
Senku scratched his head, "Because... I kind of am."
"What?" Gen shouted, "Then why...!"
"But he isn't mine," Senku continued, "It's apparently called being a second... or a 'leftover'. There's an odd number of people on earth right now, in this generation. Tsukasa was the only one missing a partner – so he gets the least lucky position in the world. I'm his soul-mate, but he isn't mine."
"That... is tragic, even for Tsukasa," Gen said, "Shit, wouldn't it be better to not have a soul-mate at all?"
"I would disagree," Said a third voice behind the two, looming over them. A hulking figure, holding a katana. Senku recognized it's shorter length – it was one of Kohaku's.
"I figured you wouldn't be hiding far enough away to miss the battle. And with that map on Mr. Asagiri's arm... there were only so many possible places. That Asagiri's soul-mate would be you..."
"Shit," Said Senku, stepping back.
Think, think! What did he have? They'd used every bit of gunpowder on the mini landmines. He didn't even have any acid on him.
"Ah, Tsukasa!" Gen greeted, stepping forward, as casually as could while gripped in fear, "I'm so glad you're okay. I saw that battle – you were heroic! If only those goons -"
Gen was cut short as Tsukasa's backhand struck his face and sent him flying several feet into the forest brush.
"Don't go anywhere," Tsukasa said to Gen, holding his bruised face on the ground, "I'll need you."
He moved steadily towards Senku, who moved steadily back.
"All this for nothing, huh?" Senku asked, "We beat you fair and square, yet here you are..."
"Well, I learned something useful," Said Tsukasa, "A 'second', huh? That explains your timer."
"What about a new deal, Tsukasa?" Senku asked, "Just a little more time – we've got a great broker here, you know, Asagiri Gen is pretty famous."
Tsukasa stumbled, but only slightly. Gen had thrown himself around Tsukasa's legs, gripping them together as tightly as he could with his whole body.
"Run, Senku!" Gen shouted, "He won't kill me, so run!"
Senku only thought about it for a millisecond. Then he swallowed hard and bit back his tears and turned around, already sprinting as fast as he could. There was no way he could beat Tsukasa by force, not alone. He'd have to get another way.
They were mostly down the mountain already when Tsukasa found them. If he could meet up with the villagers, they'd be okay. Tsukasa could take several men, but not a whole village of warriors. Then they'd rescue Gen. It was better for both of them than having both captured.
Tsukasa kicked Gen off almost immediately, then started after Senku, trampling forward. But stopped and turned.
"You'd run," He said, looking at the battered mentalist picking himself up off the ground.
He couldn't allow that. Gen was his soul-mate's soul-mate – Tsukasa wouldn't allow him to leave. He scooped Gen off the ground and threw him over his shoulder. Gen's kicking may as well not have been there. It didn't make a difference to Tsukasa as he rushed down the mountain after Senku's tiny retreating figure.
Senku had a head-start twice over. First from Gen holding Tsukasa's legs for a moment, then from Tsukasa turning around and doubling back to grab Gen. But it still didn't seem like it would be enough. He could hear Tsukasa crashing through the brush after him, gaining distance rapidly.
Shit! Could this really be the end? After all that work, and all those risks, because Senku was stupid enough to watch the battle.
He had so much more work to do. Some much science to revive. At least he'd told Chrome how to make the medicine for Ruri. He believed in Chrome's ability. He was a scientist, just like Senku.
"Senku!" Someone shouted his name – someone other than Tsukasa.
"Chrome!" Senku shouted back, "It's Tsukasa, hurry!"
"Senku!"
"Senku!"
It was everyone. He could hear their voices. Chrome, Taiju, Yuzuriha, Kinrou, and Ginrou. Then he saw her, the warrior. Emerging into the clearing ahead. Kohaku was covered in horrible bruising and seemed to be standing unsteadily on her feet. She was down a katana and her clothes were torn. But she still seemed ready to fight.
Just in time, Senku soared past her into the throng of his friends. Many of the villagers were also there. It would be okay. Tsukasa had lost.
Senku turned, feeling faint from the exertion of all that running, his legs trembling and his breathing heavy. Tsukasa had stopped a safe distance from the villagers. He stood there eyeing them carefully. Gen, still fighting furiously, slung over his shoulder like a light sack.
"You're alone now, long-haired man," Kohaku said, "You won't beat us this time, so give up."
"Put down the boy," Kinrou said, pointing his still shining spear at Tsukasa.
"Then I suppose you beat me, Senku," Tsukasa called across the clearing.
"But I'll be back for you. Because you can't fight fate, Senku."
With that, Tsukasa turned and fled, back up the mountain, back to his empire.
"Wait!" Senku shouted, "Gen!"
Senku ran after him, after Gen, after Gen's frightened eyes meeting Senku's.
"Senku, you idiot," Kohaku shouted, grabbing the back of his coat and effectively clothes lining him.
"We'll need to rescue him," Chrome said, "It'll be a lot harder without you."
"But – Gen -" Senku said, "He's -"
"Your soul-mate," Kohaku said, "I figured."
"Senku," Kinrou said, "I promise, we will get him back."
They'd never seen Senku act so irrationally before. It was better for Gen and Senku both for Senku to not be captured.
"I..." Senku said, "I only just met him. I didn't get a chance to know him at all..."
–
"My soul-mate's soul-mate," Tsukasa said, looking over Asagiri Gen in the empire's converted prison cell.
"I guess that's me," Gen said casually, fiddling with the fabric of his tunic, "Wish we had a seamstress in this empire, like they do in the kingdom of science."
"The empire of Might," Tsukasa said, "Is the only future there is."
Then he turned and left.
All of that and Gen still wasn't with his soul-mate. It really wasn't fair.
A tingling on his arm. Gen smiled. When he was sure his guard wasn't observing him directly, he looked.
"I'll get you back. I promise. Wait for me, Asagiri Gen."
And how did Senku know that wasn't an empty promise? That he could really beat Tsukasa again, who would only get stronger the more warriors he revived?
Gen smiled at the next thing he saw.
A heart on his wrist, where those scribbles always used to appear.
He held his arm close to his heart and hoped Tsukasa wouldn't rip it away.
–
The plan to rescue Asagiri Gen, now underway!
Ideas:
Save Ruri – we're going to have to do this anyway, but making it top priority is essential. The villagers were generally friendly enough with Senku to work with him in defending their village, but attacking an enemy stronghold was another matter.
Make those two idiots (Taiju and Yuzuriha) connect – if they end up with some kind of communication power, it could be enough to turn the tide in Senku's favor. A good pair of soul-mates could be as useful as a cell phone!
Engineer a new weapon – Tsukasa's forces were wild men, physically strong, but not disciplined. The battle had proven a weakness on the enemies side and Senku was more than happy to exploit it.
Make a cipher that only a mentalist could understand – having a man on the inside would make a huge difference, but Senku wasn't stupid enough to think Tsukasa wouldn't be monitoring their one-way communication.
But... it was difficult to think up such a thing that Gen would know and Tsukasa wouldn't At this point, Senku knew his enemy better than soul-mate, sad as it was to say.
It was Senku's fault. His stupid actions completely. Senku's cockiness, wanting to watch the battle from the hill. If he'd stayed completely hidden, this would have never happened and Gen and Senku would be together, talking, getting to know each, and doing all the things that soul-mates were supposed to do.
Gen had been worried that Senku hated him all those years ago. Senku understood those feelings now. Even without a cipher and knowing that his every message would be seen by the enemy, he wrote constantly.
"We have a plan,"
"We're coming to get you,"
"I promise,"
"We're going to be okay,"
"I'll save you,"
"Be strong,"
Unfortunately, Gen didn't get to see any of it.
Tsukasa was no slouch in the intellectual department, even if his main power was physical. It hadn't taken long to start making plans of his own. He'd figured Senku would try to communicate with Gen and use him as part of a break-out plan. While false information was likely, it was still good to know what Senku wanted Tsukasa to think.
Gen was kept blindfolded, able to feel things being written, but unable to see what they were. Tsukasa got that honor instead.
"He's a good person," Tsukasa said, examining Gen's marked arm, "My Senku..."