Chapter 10
Shioseki and Kawaharu approached the entrance to the courtyard. Blustering, icey winds cut their faces.
"It looks like a storm is coming soon. There's no body out here."
"Wait," Kawa used her Clairvoyance. "It is a trap, there are people out here." Kawa struggled to use her clairvoyance, but she was running out of strength. Her mind's eye was blurry and dark. Shioseki looked around the courtyard. It did seem suspiciously quiet.
"I trust you. Let's find another way out." Shio took her hand and they skirted around the perimeter of the courtyard. "I know another way out. They used to get deliveries of food for the kitchens from a back entrance." They wound their way through the dorm hallways and into the cafeteria which was also empty. "It's definitely errie to see this place so vacant. Let's be quiet just in case." They walked through the lined tables; their soft footsteps the only sound in the room. Entering the kitchens they saw a fire was set, but no cooks around. "That's odd. Stay close Kawa." They went to the back of the kitchens and passed the butchering area with fresh meet left hanging. The next area was a wide warehouse full of dried food and spices in sacks and boxes of all sizes stacked high above their heads. "The exit should be in the back." Shio quietly led Kawa through the aisles. The back door came into view and she sighed in relief.
Kawa yelped as a hand from behind her pulled away.
"Shio!" there were 3 guards ready in waiting. Shio pulled a paper talisman from her robe and flicked it faster than the eye could see. The needle attached to the talisman stuck directly into the guard's helmet on his forehead. A second passed and a burst of flame erupted where his face used to be. Kawa ducked to the ground as the ash fell from his head. The other two guards circled her. She pulled a second paper talisman from her sleeve and it instantly connected with one guard's ankle. He screamed as his foot turned to solid ice and attached to the floor. She feinted a punch at the second guard's head and he reached for her. She slid under his shoulder and injected her elbow into his chin just under his helmet. His arms fell to his sides and he fell apart on the floor. "Come on, before more come!" She helped Kawa up and they ran out the back door into the snow with the last guard still clutching his frozen foot.
o o o
Takaharu and Tsurumatsu split directions. The hallways of the compound underneath the university were an organized grid that frequently connected back on itself. They made short work of figuring the lay out. It was easy to lead the troups of guards around in circles until they were both out of breath. Takaharu kept up despite using all his energy earlier and only recently becoming conscious. They reunited at an intersection.
"Looks like they've wised up to our game, Tsuru." Taka laughed. He was having fun in the face of danger. All four directions had a cadre of guards converging on them. "Follow me this way, I've got a trick I haven't shown you yet." Tsuru agreed reluctantly.
"If I had my spear this would be a lot easier."
"I've got something better." Taka flashed a grin that worried Tsuru more than a little. He charged toward an incoming group and threw a punch forward. Like a ball of air shot down the center of the group they flew to all four sides of the hallway. Taka laughed as he jumped over them. Tsuru's face was of astonishment. He swallowed hard and followed his lead.
"We should make our way out," Tsuru called up ahead. "I hope we've given everyone enough time." Taka agreed. They were met with another guard patrol around the next corner. Taka clapped his hands together and the guards flew into each other and onto the floor.
"Too easy." Taka laughed again. Tsuru could tell he was out of breath and using his ability was taxing him.
"Let's go up these stairs, we should be close to the courtyard." Tsuru took the lead and went at a pace Taka could match. They approached the courtyard and peaked around the corner. They couldn't be sure that no one was there. A blizzard was howling and it was a perfect place for a trap.
"Move quietly, we don't know how many there could be out here hiding." Tsuru ducked behind a pillar and poked his head out.
"Not like any of them can stop us now, the exit's straight ahead." Taka walked between the pillars and into the open. "See?" Tsuru scowled at him and motioned him back. Taka got to the middle of the courtyard. A figure was up ahead, blocking the doorway.
"Looks like they ran out of reinforcements, there's just one left. Let's get out of here." Taka threw a punch toward the figure, but it had disappeared. He felt the blizzard and wind working against him. Either it was harder to use his ability against the powerful winds or he was running out of the strength to do it. Tsuru circled around the perimeter of the courtyard trying his best to see the figure. He neither saw nor heard any sign of it.
"Be careful Taka, this isn't one of the guards from before." He yelled across the courtyard in hopes he could hear him over the blizzard's gale, but then he heard Taka yell and when he looked for him he was gone.
"Taka!" He called out, but there was no answer. He ran to the middle of the courtyard looking for him. He could see the footprints still in the snow. Two pairs went back toward the university. He saw the figure for a moment while it walked back inside. Running as fast as he could, he bounded toward the doorway.
"Don't move, Tsurumatsu." He felt a blade at his back and he raised his hands. It was a familiar and light voice.
"Akafude?"
o o o
Kinu feels the whole castle rumbling. She looks out the window in front of her and grips her straps on her seat. The roof splits open and the light and snow crack through it.
"Hold on tight." Hisanaga's voice comes in from the walls. Kinu grips the seat as tight as she can. The flying castle steadily picks up speed and then blasts through the opening in the ceiling.
"All parameters nominal. Velocity check met. Beginning ascent." Hisanaga's voice chimed. Kinu clenched her jaw as they flew faster and faster. She saw through the front windows the mountains of clouds of the snow storm. The castle rumbled and jolted from side to side as they pierced the heavens. Once they were through, it was nothing but a crystal clear blue expanse before her. It was beautiful, but she was still clamped her hands to her seat. "Altitude check met. Phase two boosters engaged. The castle rumbled again and she could see a speed indicator climbing rapidly. The blue sky faded and she could start to see the blackness of the night sky and the twinkle of stars. "Radar detection. Incoming foreign objects. Please brace for evasive maneuvers." Kinu saw black blurs flying across the windows.
She slowly felt the pressure lift from her body. She could move her arms and legs freely again.
"Ready Kinuito? Here it is." She looked out the window and a collosal and magnificent object came into view. "Amateratsu." It had four reflective wings like a butterfly and a body that resembled a flower.
"It's beautiful." She marveled as it sparkled and glowed against the dark sky.
"No response from docking crew. Engaging auto-docking measures." They flew closer and the castle connected with a seperate space station. Kinu unstrapped from her seat and followed the lights on the ceiling to a round door that spun open for her.
"You might want to put on your helmet, just in case. Press the collar of your suit." She felt around her collar and pressed the button. A clear film came up and went around her head like a bubble. She pressed it with her fingers and it was slightly softer than glass. She entered the doorway and stood before another door.
"Initiating pairing sequence." The door behind her closed and the front door opened. It was a similar lay out to the castle they flew on. She walked through and came to a large circular room full of clear windows that gave her a view of her home, the sun, and Amateratsu. She put her face to the window and couldn't take her eyes away. The sphere in front of her gave off a faint blue glow. The blue of the seas and the stark green of the mountainous lands. It was much bigger than she could wrap her head around. She would never get to see it all in one lifetime.
"Standby while I parse the logs. Try not to touch anything in the meantime."
"It's so beautiful. The ancient beings came all the way up here? Did they leave our land? What else could be out here?" Kinu turned and explored the other areas of the space station. She perked her ears at a sound she thought she heard. "Hisa. Is there anyone else here?"
"No personnel detected." She swallowed hard and walked down the corridor. She peaked inside a room that held two beds. She heard it again from behind her. It was a sort of squirming sound, then the rushing of fluids. She crept down the hall and came to a sealed door with a small window in the center. She poked her head up to look through it and a red mass slammed against the door. It rattled and vibrated like it might give way to the giant mass.
"What is that?!" Kinu said clutching her chest.
"Oh, I believe your name for that would be 'Tatari'." Hisanaga answered calmly. "Do not worry, it is contained."
"I asked you if anyone else was here!" She yelled at him while steadying her breath.
"You didn't ask if there were any danger."
"I'm really going to hurt you when we get back home."
"Good news, Amateratsu is operational. We only need to reposition the satellite. Bad news, this installation has been knocked out of position."
"What does that mean?"
"When we input the commands to reorient Amateratsu, this space station will be in direct line of sight with the satallite's warming effects. Causing temperatures to rise to- well, too hot. We won't want to be here when that happens."
"What should we do?"
"Enter the commands and hope for the best."
"Won't we both be in danger? I promised I'd protect you. And you promised you'd protect me. Remember? We can't do anything that would hurt the other, right?" Hisanaga paused.
"At this point in the mission, we must take the risk. Without taking the risk, the mission will fail." He paused again, calculating every scenario through. "Kinuito. Should we risk our safety, for the safety of everyone else?" Kinuito smiled contently.
"I'm glad you see it that way Hisanaga. It means you don't see yourself as a tool anymore. You and I are friends. We're family. Right? So you don't even have to ask. Let's do it." Hisanaga walked her through inputting the commands on the console. When they got to the last step they paused.
"Once you input the command, run as fast as you can to the airlock, just like we talked about."
"And get back home safely." Kinu finished for him.
"Yes." He said unconvincingly. Kinu took a breath and put her finger over the button.
"I never was very good at speeches or being dramatic, but this feels like one of those moments." She thought back to her Shogi games with Kawaharu and Takaharu. "Let's just make it back home to everyone." She tapped the button and spun on her heel. Lights flashed and beeps sounded from the console. She made it to the airlock and Hisanaga closed the door behind her.
"Unpairing. Standby."
"Hurry!" The door spun open and Kinu ran to her seat and strapped in.
"Evacuation proceedures engaged. Clear airlock. Docking systems disengaged. Prepare for departure." The castle rumbled once again and she felt it begin to move. The ship spun back and she could see her home in front of them. She made it to her seat just as the castle burst forward. She saw red alarms go off on the panel beside her.
"Hull temperatures exceeding clearances. Override Auto Pilot safety measures?"
"Yes!" Kinu yelled just as Hisa instructed her. The ship sped forward and rumbled as if it would shake apart. It continued to get worse. Kinu was almost resigned to accept her fate. They had completed the mission. Everyone would be safe at, least, even if they didn't make it, but just then, the rumbling stopped. She opened her eyes and let her breath escape her lungs again.
"We are out of line of site of Amateratsu." Hisanaga's voice toned. "Landing coordinates locked in." Kinuito laughed out loud and yelled in triumph.
"Well done, Hisa. I knew you could do it." She wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Reentry will begin shortly. Hold on tight, it will be bumpy." Shio watched the big blue planet get closer and closer. She already couldn't wait to tell everyone what she had seen. She saw some red lights going off again.
"Debris detected, engaging evasive maneuvers." She felt the engines groan and up ahead she could see the specks getting bigger. Giant shredded pieces of metal. They looked to be part of other castles and satellites.
"Warning, evasive calculations inadequate. Recalculating. No possible outcomes of avoidance. Engaging safety measures." She started to hear a light rain on the walls of the castle, like tiny rocks skipping across water. A bigger one hit and jolted her head to the side. "Fuel pressure dropping. Engine System status unknown. Brace for scuttle impact."
"Hisa, what does all this mean? Are we okay?" There was no reply. The small sounds from the outside started to get bigger. She heard doors begin closing behind her.
"Cabin pressure unknown. Velocity unknown. Auto Pilot Systems unavailable."
"Hisa, say something!" A loud bang behind her left her ears ringing. She could feel the air around her getting hotter.
"Kinuito." She barely heard him say. "Thank you for helping me. Mission complete." Her head thrashed back and forth as the impacts continued hitting the sides of the castle. "I feel happy we could do that together. I don't know if I can keep you safe anymore. I'm sorry. I will miss you. Please forgive me."