Chapter 11
Tsurumatsu spun his body away from Akafude, the back of his clothes tearing on the blade.
"I knew something was off about you." He assumed a fighting stance. "But why? Are really so heartless?" Takaharu lay unconscious behind her.
"Don't preach to me soldier boy." She spat. "I only do what I have to. Just like you or anyone else."
"I don't know how you sleep at night, but if that's what you tell yourself, you're a better liar than I gave you credit for." He inched closer to her. "Why help us at all though? Did you want us to find out about all this? Is this some sick way of clearing your conscience?"
"Flattering. I did want Shio to see the truth for herself. I hoped she might see things differently, but I know now I won't be able to change her mind. For whatever reason her heart's stuck on that island even still as it sinks into the sea. She doesn't seem to think much of you either." She giggled innocently.
"It's not the island she cares about, it's the people." Aka shook her head.
"She's an idealist. You know this as much as I. This country might seem to be rising from its ashes, but it's still very fragile. Certain assurances and certain prices," she glanced at Takaharu. "must be paid. You paid your dues in the war, you know how it works."
"I do understand." He edged ever closer to her, just outside of grappling range. "If that's all there is to it. I'm sorry, but these kids are more than you and The Fellowship can afford." He burst into a sweeping kick to take her off her feet. She flew into a spinning kick and he shouldered the blow and moved in close. He grabbed her wrist and wrenched the dagger out of her grip. It fell to the ground. She reversed his grip and freed herself dancing away. He feinted a grapple and burst up into an uppercut, but she parried it away. She moved in close beside him and tried to take him off balance, but he spun backwards, locked his foot between hers and brought her to the ground.
"Tsuru? Aka?" Takaharu rubbed his head as he woke up. "What's going on?"
"She's Fellowship Taka. She betrayed us." He held her in a headlock from behind.
"You? You're the one that brought us here. You kidnapped us? Kinuito and Kawaharu. All of this because of you?" Taka struggled to come to terms with the idea.
"I'm going to put her out. Hopefully long enough to get out of here. If she's smart she won't even try to follow us." Tsuru tightened his grip on her. She said not a word. Taka put his hand on his shoulder.
"No." He threw Tsuru back against the wall with his unhuman strength. "That's not good enough. Not for her." Tsuru coughed as the air from his lungs escaped him. "She has to pay for this. For what she did to my sister." Aka tried to turn and run, but felt herself lifted into the air.
"Taka wait" He coughed. "You don't know what you're doing." Taka flicked his hand over his shoulder and Tsuru's head connected with the wall. He went silent. Aka turned to see his gnarled face ripped between sadness and rage. He yelled her name as loud and as venomously as he could. Splittle flying from his mouth. Tears falling from his chin.
"Akafude!" And her expression went blank. Her arms and legs ceased fighting and he dropped her. His face hit with sudden realization. "What have I done?" He pressed his fingertips into his face. All his broken mind could manage was a slow forced laugh.
o o o
The snowflakes continued to fall around Shioseki and Kawaharu. They waited by the docks where they all agreed to meet. Shio tried not to think about how much time had passed. She saw the pattern as the snowflakes fell; it mesmerized her. They hid out of the icey winds reach near a large boat by the water.
"How long has it been?" Kawa softly asked.
"I don't know. Too long." Shio replied listlessly.
"Let me see if I can find them again." Kawa sat down and closed her eyes.
"Don't strain yourself. We may need your ability later."
"Oh I see them! They're in the courtyard, all of them. Aka, Tsuru, and Taka." She stopped with her face turning confused. "Is that Aka? It couldn't be." She put her hand to her mouth.
"What do you see?" Sio shuffled next to her.
"They're fighting. Aka and Tsuru are fighting. Why would they-"
"Akafude." Shio put her palms to her face. "She must be with The Fellowship. I had my fears, but I didn't want to believe it. Not after everything."
"It's all too hazy to see now. What are we going to do?" They sat in silence and the snow continued to build on the ground around them. Shio got up and walked into the open and looked up into the sky. Their journey to Naaru was playing out in her head. The clouds were starting to part back toward Kiyoshima. She could see the island again in her mind. The stars peaked through the black sky and just then she saw a shooting star. Was it an omen? Kinuito jumped to the front of her mind. She folded her hands in front of her and closed her eyes.
"Please, let Kinuito be safe." Her hair hung in the wind and the waves drummed rythmically.
"I could do that. For a price." A voice sung.
"Who's there?" Shioseki turned. It sounded like it came from the water. She looked over the edge. Below she saw the most beautiful woman's face materialising in the waves.
"Kinuito? I could keep her safe." The voice gurgled through the water. "I preside over sky and sea. Will you make a deal with me?"
"Sensei, are you over there? I'm seeing something nearby. Something big. Something scary." Kawa called to Shio. The wind whispered in her ears.
"Why would I make a deal with you, Demon?" Shio broke the first rule of her training. Never speak to them.
"I stand in the position that I can help you. I know your situation and I speak true. Would you like to know what happened to Kinuito?"
"What happened to her? Where is she?" Shio's voice began trembling. The face gathered up and came up out of the water writhing like a snake with a woman's face.
"She's dead." The face smiled.
o o o
Tsurumatsu lifted his head from the ground. His eyes wouldn't focus. The back of his head was wet with blood. He staggered to his feet and looked about. The hallway was empty. He remembered the fight with Akafuda. And Takaharu. He'd had gone mad. He was alone now. It was a hopeful thought that he'd still make it to Shioseki and Kawaharu. Hopefully they were safe. Hopefully Shio would understand what happened.
The snow continued to fall and he left uneven black foot prints behind him. He made his way through the winding streets of Naaru to the docks where everyone agreed to meet. He could barely make out the two figures he saw through the snowy breeze.
"Shio, Kawa, is that you?" He called out as he approached. Kawa rushed to Shio as she fell limp to the ground.
"Tsuru, help!" Kawa called to him. He ran to her side and then noticed the unnatural spray of water on his face. He looked through the snowy veil and beheld a watery snake with the face of a beautiful woman coiled above him. His heart felt heavy and his knees betrayed him. "She made a deal with it. She traded her life to keep Kinuito safe." Kawa sobbed. His face was frozen in denial.
"What? No, not Shio." Tsuru shook her in his arms unwilling to accept her fate. "What kind of monster are you." He yelled to the creature.
"Monster is one of many a name. I do not fight, but I can offer you the same on this night. If it is vengeance you seek, you have to act. We can make a deal, just agree to my contract." Tsuru wiped his tears from his cheeks.
"What could you possibly do for me?" He yelled into the wind.
"Whatever shall I do? Could I bring her back for you? I will reverse Life and Death, but not for free. Our pact shall be made, but you must do the same for me." Tsuru looked the watery visage in the eyes. He was unblinking and unflinching and so was she.
"Do it." He wiped the snowflakes from Shio's closed eyes. The watery snake retreated back into the sea and all that could be heard was the wind and waves. Then her eyes did flutter and her mouth opened.
"Tsuru?" And he hugged her close.
"Shio."
o o o
The moonlight reflected in through the cracks in the rocks and bounced off of the dust that was still settling. It was silent, but it was not empty. The wreckage of the flying castle was strewn about. Rocks began giving way from the ceiling, bouncing down through two floors of rock and metal.
She felt liquid dripping on her hand. It was cold. Her eyes opened weakly. She rolled herself over and laid on her back. She wiggled her toes and fingers. Her arms and legs both worked. She was fine? How could that be? She felt her stomach and her face. No scratches. No pain at all. Was this being dead? She sat up.
"Hello?" She was inside the flying castle. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth. "Hisanaga." she whispered. "Hisanaga!" she yelled, but there was no answer. Nothing but dripping fluids and wrent metal. She tip toed her way through the wreckage and scanned her surroundings. They had crashed into a mountain. There was two floors above them, she could see where the castle had broken through the floor of an underground building. Around her was the familiar smooth stone that they had found under the university and inside The Circle.
Then she saw, at the far end of the room, was a chair. No, it was a throne. There were no lights, save the moonlight, but the throne glowed. The being on top of the throne glowed. Kinu's first instinct was to bow to it. It commanded authority without speaking it. Her hair was long down to her hips. She wore a simple white robe over one shoulder. Her hair was a glistening aqua like the sea and in her hand was a long golden trident.
"Come, daughter." It called to her. She rose from her knees and approached her, shaking.
"You have no reason to fear me, I am no danger to you. I seldom receive company, especially not bursting through." It tried to seem reassuring, but Kinu swallowed hard and still could not attempt a response.
"You have questions no doubt. I am in a gracious mood, so let them out. Speak." Kinu's mouth was compelled to open.
"I'm Kinuito, of Kiyoshima."
"I know who you are. Welcome home Kinuito. You are back on Kiyoshima. Though you are alone." She waved her hands in a grand gesture. "Do you know who you are? Listen to me." Before should answer she continued. "You are a Proxy. A servant meant to serve humans. Everyone in Yamato, in every place, everyone left in the world are Proxies left behind by an ancient race. They are our creators. We are combinations of animals and clones of those from times long past. We are all that is left and maybe the last." Kinu struggled to make sense of it all.
"I am not a Proxy, you may have guessed. I have many names, but I technically don't really exist." She got up from her throne. Twice as tall as a normal person. Faster than Kinu's eyes could follow she thrust her trident into her stomach. Kinu flinched, but then saw the trident passed right through her. Like a spirit.
"I exist in a machine as a protocol. I'm a program. I have no mass. I am not really here. Just a fragment of a dream long passed. I too served the humans. I fought for them, but I failed them. You are the property of Administrator Motoo Kimura. A very high ranking scientist that lived here on Kiyoshima. You gained the Administrator's Priviledges when you came here and activated one of my agents. Hisanaga you called him. He must have been damaged in the earthquakes. The Fellowship gathered all of my agents and cut my connections, even with everyting at stake. They quarantined me here, so only I remain. I couldn't stop them from from finding it. One of my last directives. Kasai. The protocol I am meant to contain." Kinu tried to follow along.
"Ah yes, as a matter of fact," it continued. "You are alive because I brought you back." Kinu gasped.
"Oh, thank you!" She bowed her head.
"No thanks needed for my aid." She smirked. "The price has been paid." Kinu looked confused.
"All of this is so new to me, I don't mean to impose on you, but what am I supposed to do now? What about Hisanaga? I'm sure he brought me here for a reason."
"I only act in deals." Her piercing gaze fixed on Kinu. "and my graciousness has lost its appeal." Kinu stepped back.
"For a price, though it may be steep, I can see it in your eyes." She took a step toward her. "I believe I could arrange something. If you can pay the price." Kinu thought back to Gennai when he had offered her a deal. Her mouth hung open but nothing came out.
"Your parents loved you so. Or do you miss the Drone from below?" She said with a laugh. Kinu froze realizing she could read her mind and her laughter echoed off the walls.