Chapter 16: Healer
"NO!"
"You humans are foolish, look at you all! You're barely standing and you're still trying to fight? How unseemly," the vampire said.
"MITSUBA! Please! Hang on!" Shinoa was screaming, tears pouring down her face as she went to her cousin, sheltering her with her scythe as she tried to stop the bleeding. The sight of Shinoa, disheveled, tears sliding down her face in quick torrents, and her white-gloves soaked with the blood of someone she loved brought back painful memories of the past, some of which, Yuuichiro desired to never remember, but they came, and something inside him broke, and his hand tightened upon the hilt of his sword as his eyes went from their normal warm emerald, to an icy shock green.
"I honestly don't understand you livestock. It's just one stupid human, what can you do to save her? It's useless, give us the two we want, and we might let you live. Being livestock isn't so bad, in fact – "a blade sliced the monster in half.
"Do you want to know, what being livestock is like? It's like living in an unending nightmare…" the group looked to Yuuichiro, his bangs shadowing his eyes as he stepped forward, his blade drawn as the other Vampires stared at him in confusion.
"How would you know? Unless… you must be one of those two children that escaped four years ago after shooting Lord Ferid," the female stated as the others looked at the boy.
"I am…" one of the males grinned.
"Then that means the blonde boy is the other one who fled… I heard you left a girl there to die. Saving your own skins, that's just like a human being, willing to do anything just so you can survive, but you carried that boy on your back, half dead and somehow the two of you lived… I guess it shows you though, that if we were to harm or threaten the ones you blood bags call family or friends, you'll grovel and do anything we ask like well trained dogs," the Vampire said as the black-haired boy paused, a shaky breath leaving him.
"Your right…" the others tensed, Mika keeping himself prepared for the attack to come.
"Well then, that's nice to know," the male nearest to the boy stated.
"We'd adorn the powers of the things we despise, strain our bodies to the point of death, we'd kill, die for someone we love, we'd even make contracts with demons or become devils ourselves… just so long as the one's we love are safe… but where you call that pathetic…. I call it honorable!" the boy locked eyes with the vampire, revealing electric-green orbs, and as he did so, his pupils contracted, a crimson flush appearing around them as he swung at the Vampire, cutting it down as Yoichi took post near Shinoa and Mitsuba and the others rushed the creatures, cutting them down in swift strikes as Yuuichiro attacked a handful of them, his Gift active as they attacked together, working as one entity to destroy those who opposed them.
"Bear your fangs… FENRIR!" a whirl of ice and silver-toned ash flooded the area, erasing a few of the Vampires from existence as Shinoa gripped her weapon while Mitsuba took in steady breaths, pain clouding her vision and oblivion pulling upon her consciousness.
"I'LL KILL YOU, DAMN LIVESTOCK!" an arrow shot just past the Vampire.
"Lend me your power ASURAMARU!" black and green wind and flames tore through the area, startling the Vampires, and sending most out of the world of the living as one of them came to closer to Shinoa.
"Come to my aid! Shikama-Doji!" the orange and black formed beast chomped it's jaws down upon the Vampire who screamed as it was destroyed.
"Flare your wings, Gekkoin!" four arrows shot from the bow as Yoichi remained close to the two girls as Kimizuki joined the battle, the Demons aiding their humans as the Vampires began to disappear in ashes that floated around the area.
"Sharpen your claws Kiseki-O!"
Flashes of black, of blue, of emerald, firelight orange, and deep teal shot around the area, catching the Vampires off guard as the attacks kept coming until finally, the noise of cloth hitting the ground came and nothing else was left. Exhausted, the group took in deep breaths, until a wet cough came to their attention and they went to Mitsuba, most of them dropping to the ground far too hard as they tried to start working on the wound in her abdomen. She felt their presence there, the warmth of the others, the sounds of their voices that came to her muffled as she tried desperately to make out who it was. Mitsuba knew she was dying, and knowing that, peace slowly started to claim her.
The group thought frantically as they tried to stop the bleed while crouched nearby to Mitsuba's right was Yuuichiro, his eyes scanning her form, his thoughts going by frantically as he kept trying to figure out what he could do. There was one thing he could think of with his mind in its hazed state; and while he wanted to handle this in a better manner, he knew there was no time, and if he wanted to save this girl's life, he had to act fast. Emerald eyes looked to the blonde as he took in a steadying breath, and he cast aside any notions of concern, because he couldn't bear it again, he couldn't lose someone that had become part of this little bizarre family they had again.
"Mika…" his voice caught their attention as the blonde looked to his brother.
"What is it, Yuu?" there was this strange look on the other boy's face, one of calm, composure that showed in his rich emerald eyes as he came closer, settling atop his knees as he locked eyes with his brother.
"I want you to bind her," he stated in a calm tone. The others couldn't contain the shocked gasps or stares that they displayed as Mika looked at the boy.
"No! I can't do that Yuu! Do you get what you're asking me to do?" the black-haired boy nodded, causing the blonde to stare in disbelief.
"I'm well aware of what I'm asking, but you need to do as I ask," he stated before he bit the finger of his right glove and pulled it off before tugging off the other as he placed them into his pocket.
"There's no way I can do that! she's already in a lot of pain, and she's not going to make it back to Shibuya in time for us to get to a hospital! There's nothing I can do, nor is there anything that you can do, she's dying, Yuu…" emerald eyes looked to the others.
"I know she is, just do as I asked," he stated.
"I'm not going to inflict that kind of pain on her like this! Absolutely not!"
"Please, Mika…" the blonde again shook his head.
"Are you insane?! Think about what you're asking here! That's to cruel too her. She's going to die, just let her do it in peace!" Kimizuki snapped.
"Kimizuki's right, Yuu… just – "Shinoa felt tears slide down her face.
"Just… let me… die…" the others looked to Mitsuba as she weakly opened her eyes, tears pricking the corners of them.
"I'm not letting you die, not like this Mitsuba," the black-haired boy stated.
"P-Please… I… won't m-make… it." She felt her breath growing shallow.
"Mika, we don't have a lot of time, please! "the blonde glared.
"Yuu, there's nothing I can do! Just because I'm an Abjurist doesn't mean I can –"
"MIKAELA!" the blonde jolted at the other's tone. It was harsh, bitter, and seething, something none of them expected when it came to the black-haired boy when addressing his brother of all people. Shinoa looked at the boy in questioning as Mika continued to stare at his brother.
"Yuu, I…" his voice failed him as his brother shot him an icy glare.
"I can save her if you'll just do it already!" Mika stared at his brother as did the others.
"You can –" Yuuichiro glared.
"We're wasting time, just hurry up!" he snapped. The blonde took in a deep breath and removed his gloves before he pulled a knife from his boot and settled onto his legs in the same position as his brother, but at the blonde-haired girl's other side.
"You can't be serious! You're really…" Mika ignored Kimizuki as he focused.
The blonde cut a slit in his palm and took Mitsuba's arm, removing her glove before he used the end of the knife to cut a slice into her hand. From there, he took some of the girl's blood that was splayed upon her arm and drew a cross of Salem upon her forehead. The double-barred cross looked unnatural and stood out in stark contrast to her pale, sweat slicked skin as he took the blade in his uninjured hand and reached for her arm. This would be painful; however, Mika decided it would be best of Mitsuba wasn't aware of that. he pulled her arm to him and took the knife before making a small line of the same cross on the inside of her arm, the blade barely cutting the skin, but leaving fine cuts behind as he repeated this on her other arm and then marked her rib area. Tears pooled in her eyes as the pain began to spread throughout her body.
"Stop… please just… let me…" Mika took in a shaky breath, swallowing around the lump in his throat as he leaned back, now stained with blood smears and reached down, grabbing her hand with his injured one that was now starting to drip blood as he tugged off her glove and cut the same length across her palm, the injury welling up with blood as he clutched her hand in his injured one, intertwining their fingers.
"Don't struggle, Mitsuba, you aren't going anywhere for the time being," he stated, locking eyes with her own as she felt her tears slip down her face, pooling in the collar of her uniform.
"Mitsuba…" the girl's near lifeless eyes locked onto the boy's emerald ones.
"Please… Yuu… I…" he took in a shaking breath, steadying himself.
"This is going to hurt."
He placed his hands atop her wound, pressing them down a fraction and causing the girl to scream in agony as he flinched along with the others as he tried to keep his focus as he felt of the wound, his hands becoming coated with her blood. The Vampire had run his hand through her abdomen and out the other side, damaging her organs and the tissues of the abdominal wall. Without question, Yuuichiro knew that this kind of wound came with near unbearable pain; however, Mitsuba did have a fortunate advantage in this case, because this was not the first time he'd healed such a wound. Mika and the others stared at him as he kept his eyes focused and panic settled upon them as he continued to check the wound, working quickly as the girl let out pained whimpers and screams, tears welling in her eyes. The black-haired boy took in one more steady breath, examining the wound once more as he placed his hands flatly against the wound, stopping the bleeding as Mitsuba let out a ragged sob.
"Stop! You're only making it worse!" snapped Kimizuki as the boy shot him a long glare.
"Please!" Mitsuba's fractured voice almost made Yuuichiro lose his focus; however, he steadied himself, knowing that he couldn't stop now.
Sapphire eyes watched with the others huddled in this dark, dismal place with their dying comrade as the black-haired boy closed his eyes and Mitsuba began to hyperventilate as pain spread through her while Mika turned his gaze to his brother's bloodied hands as a strange opaque greenish-silver hue formed around them. The others, as they witnessed this, felt their eyes grow wide as the slight, and soft glow spread to the boy's entire body, the energy around it causing his bangs to move just a fraction almost as if a breeze had started to pick up in the area around them as he kept his breathing steady and his hands upon her. Mika and the others were stunned speechless, unsure of what they were seeing as the girl screamed, arching off the ground, her voice reaching a fever pitch as she bowed back to the point that she was nearly standing on her head.
"Yuu! Please! Stop it! You're hurting her!" Yoichi pleaded, but the boy only shot him a glance, his emerald eyes looking as though they had gained a silver hue to them as he turned his focus back to Mitsuba as Mika kept his grip upon Mitsuba's hand.
It was as though someone had pierced her body with a hot poker, her own body feeling like a cage, her screams of agony sounding foreign to her. Mitsuba found her voice failing as she desired nothing more than to verbally plea for death, for someone to kill her; however, she knew it was impossible because of Mika's Abjurist ability. It had locked her inside her own body, making it impossible for the time being for her to die, or for the pain to end.
"Come on, stay with us Mitsu," Mika stated, trying not to break his brother's concentration as the boy took in a faintly shaky breath, his hands shaking a fraction as the girl continued to cry.
Tears rolled down her face as warm hands stayed atop the wound in her abdomen, and she felt her mind go momentarily blank, almost as if she had forgotten everything that existed, and everyone, and everything that had made up who she was had been erased, but just as the sensation came over her, everything came flooding back, who she was, what had happened, and who was with her now, and as those memories and senses came back, she felt her cloudy vision clear, the pain ceasing entirely, and instead an overwhelming warmth flooded through her like a comforting embrace as her tears slowed, and her breathing evened out.
"What… "her voice broke as her gaze turned to the black-haired boy, settled next to her with his eyes closed and a faint glow surrounding him.
Mitsuba's near-death addled brain couldn't find the right words to describe what she was seeing as she watched the boy she had known to be such a brash, careless person. Right then, he radiated calm, comfort, safety, and warmth almost like an open flame. What had he done? She wondered as she considered that those same hands that had caused her pain and had become a source of fear, had changed into a form of security and peace for her.
The black-haired boy's hands were warm, gentle, and soothing, making her feel as if she was safe as she felt Mika's hand tighten around her own and she glanced to him, the sunlight from behind him causing a strange hue to appear about him as he watched her, his calming smile allowing her to relax as she realized that in their hands: she was safe. Her vision finally cleared completely, and she looked to the black-haired boy as she blinked, the final tears falling as the glow about him ceased and she took in a steady, deep breath, the others slowly coming to her.
"Mitsuba! Thank God!" Shinoa said, looking down at the girl with relief flooding her features, tears welling in her tangerine eyes.
"You're okay!" Yoichi's voice came to her as she looked at the others and then to Mika.
"H-How did…" the blonde smiled.
"Can you sit up?" the girl looked to him, confused before the black-haired boy next to her opened his eyes, feeling a sudden drop in his energy, his vision swimming in and out of clarity.
"I-I think so…" she stammered as he helped her up and the group found themselves relieved as Mitsuba looked at her abdomen, where the hole in her uniform was still apparent, but there were no injuries, not even a scar had remained.
"Am I the only one confused about what just happened?" asked Kimizuki.
"No, Yuu? How did you…" Mitsuba felt her throat ache, letting her know it was dry as Yoichi stepped into ask the question for her.
"Yea! How did you do that Yuu? I mean it was… Yuu? Hey! Are you okay?" Mika let Kimizuki take Mitsuba from him as he moved to his brother who he got to just in time to see the boy's skin go almost chalk white before his eyes lolled back into his head and his body fell sideways. The blonde caught him, and held him close to him, concern flooding him as he pulled the collar of their uniform open, revealing to the others the choker that they both wore around their throats, making them raise an eyebrow at the sight of it as he felt of the boy's pulse and his breathing became more apparent.
"Is he alright?" asked Shinoa as she looked at the boy in his brother's arms as his breathing picked up to enough of a pant to make it apparent that he wasn't in good condition.
"I think he overdid it… but that's beside the point. Shinoa? Do you know where the nearest outpost for the Moon Demon Company is?" the girl nodded.
"About four miles northwest of hear, there's a small encampment. I received a communication early this morning from Guren telling us to meet him there to recover and gain a few supplies for Shinjuku… he'll be going on ahead of us after we've checked in with him," she explained.
"Good, then that's where we need to go…" Kimizuki looked at the blonde girl still leaning against him.
"So, what do you want us to do? We're all injured, but Mitsuba's probably not strong enough to walk that far, and Yuuichiro's out cold, and even if he was awake he'd probably be in the same shape." Shinoa nodded.
"Right, Yoichi? I want you to radio in and tell the Company that we've got civilians down here that need to go to Shibuya, and that we've also got two wounded comrades coming in with us and to have medical aid ready and waiting, the camp should be on channel four" she ordered.
"On it!" he went just a hairs-breadth away from them and pulled a radio out of his pocket and began to dial into the camp to contact them while Shinoa looked to the others.
"Kimizuki, I want you to carry Mitsuba, I agree with her not needing to walk right now. Mika? I'll leave Yuu in your hands. We need to get out of here immediately and see to it that we check in with Guren's Squad members, Yoichi! Inform the camp that we are in route and that Lieutenant Colonel Ichinose's group needs to be awaiting our arrival," Shinoa stated, taking control of the situation as Mika nodded and pulled his brother onto his back, being careful to pull the boy's arms over his shoulders and to catch his legs in his own arms before settling them against his sides as he stood, Fenrir secured into its scabbard.
"I'm ready here." His statement was returned with a nod as Kimizuki pulled Mitsuba onto his back as well, not wanting to take to many risks with running with her in his arms.
"Yoichi?" Shinoa questioned.
"They're ready and waiting Shinoa," he stated as he came back to them.
"Good, now, let's move out!"
Mitsuba let out a soft sigh as she kept her head leaned against Kimizuki's shoulder, not wanting to put any strain on the other as they slowly exited the tram way, informing the humans there that people would be on their way soon to get them to safety away from the Vampires. It brought some relief to her and the others to see light and hope return to their dulled expressions as they soon exited the tram way and headed towards the road that would lead to the checkpoint campsite. As they were met with the sunlight and the crisp air, Mitsuba turned her gaze towards the black-haired boy on Mika's back.
He was deathly pale, his breathing a bit on the shallow side, and he showed no sign of registering that he was being moved. Her mind wandered to what had just happened in the tram area, and questioned how the boy had managed to save her life; however, despite questioning that, and all of her other jumbled thoughts and feelings, Mitsuba knew one thing was for certain: none of them were going to speak of this to any soul save for Guren, if not for anyone but the black-haired boy's sake; because, as the Lieutenant Colonel had told them, they were family, and they protected their own.
{Checkpoint Campsite: 2:34pm}
Guren Ichinose was not an anxious person, and even if he did become nervous, he never let it show: that was the requirement of being a leader. Showing weakness or worry could upset the balance within the ranks, and could even cause a loss of morale amongst those within his company; therefore, he never once dared to show any signs of being weak, save for one acception, and that was his children. Though Yuuichiro and Mikaela weren't his biologically, he and Sayuri had raised them as if they were theirs, and had seen to it that both the boys were well taken care of. Between all the rehabilitation, and therapy the two had to endure, Guren had wondered for quite some time if they would ever be fit for combat, but now as he thought back on it, he had been a fool for thinking such things.
Since they had joined the Japanese Imperial Demon Army, both his two brats, in all their stubbornness, their fierceness, their strengths, and their weaknesses, they had proven him wrong countless times, that they were more than capable of surviving this world, of doing something to change it, and that they would one day become incredible members of the Moon Demon Company, and so much more as Cursers, and those who were granted special Gifts in their cursed world. Knowing all of this though, Guren had begun to question why he was wearing a deep grove into the ground at this point if he had known that they would be fine.
The answer was somewhat simple: it's because they weren't fine. Yoichi had been the one to radio in and tell them that they had completed their mission; however, Mitsuba had been wounded, and while she was stable – as he had put it – Yuuichiro was also greatly hurt, and that they would be in route soon. That had been the thing that began his current groove making session in the ground just outside the border of the medical tents where the children would be heading once they arrived.
"Guren, please, they'll be okay," Sayuri stated as she watched her suitor of six years pace back and forth.
"You do realize what this means, right? Sayuri?" he kept pacing.
"I believe so, but I don't want to admit it aloud," she told him.
"Shit… I knew telling him the truth before he joined the Army was a bad idea." Guren lit a cigarette, puffing it like a pipe never once stilling as he continued his pacing.
"It would have been worse if we hadn't told Yuuichiro that he was a – "she stopped as the man stopped his pacing, drawing off his cigarette before exhaling.
"I know, but he can be so reckless! Even if Mika is there… I just hope it's not serious," he stated.
"Well, I doubt you'll have to be too concerned, especially seeing as they're coming up now," Goshi interjected as he walked up.
"How bad is it?" the blonde-haired man looked at Sayuri.
"Well, they're beaten up, and Yuu is on Mika's back, he's not responding at all, and he's extremely sallow looking, and… wait… where's Guren?" the pipe-user looked around and Sayuri glanced to where a faint kick up of dust had appeared.
"I'm guessing wherever that dust trail is leading," she stated as she started to follow and Goshi went with her.
"I think you need to know that when I said Yuu was just sallow, I was trying to sugar coat it…" he glanced at the caramel-haired woman as her matching eyes looked to him.
"Something tells me that Guren knew that too… but Goshi how…" the man looked down.
"Mito started crying she got so worried, you know how that wife of mine is, she hates seeing those kids hurt," he said.
"I know, Shigure is probably no better… we helped raise those boys, so naturally every time we see them hurt we can't help but feel worried about their well-being, and I –"Sayuri stopped as she rounded a corner and saw Guren guiding Mika back their way with the black-haired boy still on his back.
"Guren, where are the others?" asked Goshi.
"They've gone to get medical attention ahead of us, Mika's got a spranged ankle, are you sure you don't want me to take him?" the blonde's sapphire eyes narrowed at man.
"I don't want your help! I can carry him on my own," Mika snapped, bearing his teeth a bit as he walked past the man who stared after him while he headed on to the medical tent that had been set up for them to treat the blonde's brother while the three adults walked a bit behind him.
"Is Mika alright?" Guren sighed at Sayuri's question.
"Yuu did something in the tram area that I think you can guess is why Mitsuba is still alive…" Goshi and Sayuri took a look at one another before realization came upon them.
"You've gotta be kidding me… he… did Yuu really? In front of his teammates?! He said he'd never use it! What in the…" Goshi found himself almost lost for words as he gawked at his commander.
"Yep, the cat's out of the bag," he said.
"Oh, this isn't going to be easy to explain... did Mika know?" the Lieutenant Colonel looked down at his girlfriend's question.
"Yuu never told him anything… he kept it quiet," he stated.
"So, Mika must know that you were aware of it, but never told him."
Guren frowned as he turned around one of the tents and was met with Mika glaring at the ground, blood stains on his uniform in random areas, and a concerned expression upon his face as they approached. Without question, the twenty-six-year-old knew that his oldest son was angry with him, and deeply concerned for his brother, and potentially his teammates. Sighing, the man came to stand before the blonde boy who kept his gaze down, his bangs shadowing his eyes as he refused to meet the eyes of his adoptive father. Sayuri and Goshi watched the two momentarily and Guren sighed as he placed a hand upon feathery-cut blonde hair and mused it a bit while looking down at the sixteen-year-old.
The dynamic between Guren and his two boys had always been a bit odd. While there was no relation, and originally, Guren had only adopted the two boys so that he could keep them away from Kureto Hiragi, he had grown to care for them even though he admittedly was concerned with taking care of two children when he had never raised a child before, seeing as Shinya had raised Shinoa by himself. Thankfully, Guren had Sayuri at his side to help him with a few things that it seemed women knew instinctually as opposed to men, or at least to some degree. The man could never quite grasp how important it was for those two boys to know that he loved them, which he had never outright stated that he did; however, everyone who saw Guren with his two children knew very well that the man loved them with all his heart. Sayuri smiled as she watched the man stay standing, but do his best to ease his oldest son's worries.
"It's not your fault, he chose not to tell you the truth," Guren stated.
"You knew, didn't you?" the man sighed.
"Yes, I did. I've known since I plucked the two of you out of the snow four years ago, I found out during your time at the hospital," he said calmly as the boy's bit his lip.
"What is really going on with Yuu? I saw what he did in the tram area, but…" Mika trailed off, causing Guren to sigh as he looked at the boy.
"Where's the rest of your team? I think it's time I explain a few things while Yuu is recovering," the man detailed as the blonde finally looked up to him.
"E-Explained a few things?! What are you talking about? Guren!" the boy was standing now, right in front of the man while Sayuri and Goshi stared onward at the boy, and Guren met the blonde's sharp eyes.
"Listen, your brother is going to need some rest, let the doctor's take care of him, and I want the rest of your group – including you – to meet me in mess tent in ten minutes, am I clear?" the boy glanced to the side.
"I'm not just going to – "the man glared at him.
"That's an order Mikaela, now move it!" Guren snapped as he grabbed the boy by the back of his uniform and tossed him forward, the boy stumbling a bit before he started walking forward, glancing momentarily at the man before marching forward to find his teammates.
"Whew, Mika sure has a bit of a bite to him, now doesn't he?" the man sighed as he heard Goshi's comment.
"He's just a teenager, Goshi, that means he's gonna be rebellious," Guren stated as Sayuri watched the boy leave.
"Normally Yuuichiro's the rebellious one, right?" Sayuri looked to see Mito coming up to them.
"Was that Mika?" she asked as she approached and Goshi came over to her.
"Hello, my lovely wife, are you feeling better now?" the red-haired woman nodded.
"Just concerned I guess… Guren, are you going to talk with them?" she inquired as she met the man's gaze.
"Yea, I think I need to clear the air on some things…" the woman looked after where the blonde had left to.
"Mika sure has grown, I haven't seen him since that Vampire attacked the high school," Mito mentioned.
"I guess that means that Yuu's gonna be a shrimp for a while, I mean, Mika is half foreigner after all…" Guren sighed.
"Yea, yea, now, go get our team ready, Shigure is surveying the area around Shinjuku right now, and should be returning soon. We need to be there before the Vamps, the kids are coming as soon as Yuu is up and moving, now excuse me, I gotta go and talk to some brats," he stated as he walked off to the mess tent where he was supposed to meet up with the others soon.
"I wonder if he realized that Mika's almost as tall as him now…" Sayuri smiled at Goshi's statement.
"They're growing up fast. I bet they're find some nice girls and get married before we know it," Mito mentioned as Sayuri gave her a dismal look.
"Guren will have a melt-down when that happens, saying he's too young to be a grandfather…" Goshi laughed.
"It'll happen eventually, I mean Yuu and Shinoa are going together, who knows, maybe Mika and Mitsuba will start to get along," he said as the two women gave him imploring looks.
"Why would you think Mitsuba would like Mika? From what I've understood, she can't stand either of the boys." Goshi hummed.
"Well… it's just that opposites attract, take me for instances, I'm more of a pacifist, and I'm also a long-distance fighter, much like Shinya is… now as for my lovely wife, she's close quarters, likes to get rough, and has no trouble going up to you and crushing your skull in with her bare hands, my girl is a fighter, and I'm fine with that," he explained as the two sighed.
"Goshi, I don't know about that…" the blonde man shrugged.
"Whatever you say sweet cheeks, but I don't doubt that they'll end up together," he said proudly as the two women looked to one another.
"Mika is a sword user, Mitsuba is an axe wielder, they're both blonde. Mika is close to his brother, Mitsuba isn't close to her sister Aoi at all… " Sayuri pointed out.
"They're both skilled warriors, but Mika is sure footed, stern, loyal, keeps his distance from those he's unused to, and he's very reasonable, and understanding, as well as being very level-headed, and far sweeter tempered compared to Mitsuba, I don't know if they're more likely to hook up or kill each other," Mito finished in her explanation.
"I'm betting by November they'll be together…" the two women glanced to one another.
"You're on!"
{Mess Tent: 2:50pm}
Guren sat down in front of the group of five teenagers, all of whom looked uncomfortable as they sat there with cups of coffee or tea in front of them while he sat there with a cup of black coffee with a small saucer for his cigarette present. Mika wasn't meeting his eyes, and he knew why; however, he wasn't sure why it was that the boy seemed so concerned, then again: it did deal with his little brother. Ever since he'd found those two boys, they'd always been by each other's sides, even when they'd wake him up in the middle of the night when they were still living with him and he'd end up with them crawling into the bed with him to sleep because they'd have nightmares. It was a slightly silly, but fond memory he had of when the two boys were much smaller.
"And when they didn't cause me so much trouble, let alone nearly give me heart attacks twice a week…"
"You wanted to speak with us? Lieutenant Colonel?" asked Shinoa.
"Yea, I wanted to know something, first though: are you feeling well Mitsuba?" the blonde girl looked at the man, having changed her uniform once they'd arrived and she'd been checked on by the doctors.
"I-I um… yes sir! I'm fine, thank you for asking," she stated.
"Don't mention it, now… I wanted to congratulate all of you on your first mission being completed, so I will do that now; however, it seems that Yuuichiro is out of commission for the time being…" the group looked to him.
"Is he going to be okay?" inquired Yoichi.
"He'll be fine, just needs some rest… using his Psychometric Gift like he did is pretty straining on the body. Let me ask you something, did he cough up blood?" the group nodded.
"Yes, he did… is that a bad thing? I mean… more than it would usually be?" questioned Shinoa.
"Not really, it's just his body reacting to him not being used to the strain, he over did it and went further than sixteen minutes. Everyone was given a standard issue pocket watch with a timer system on it, I expect him to be careful and be more aware of when his body is starting to feel the drag from the Gift being over used… otherwise, there could be some pretty nasty repercussions," Guren explained.
"I'm sure he's learned his lesson by now… but, Lieutenant Colonel… what happened in the tram area?" the man rose an eyebrow.
"What are you talking about? I'm not sure what you –" Mika slammed his hands on the table, causing the others to jump a bit.
"Hey man, calm down, don't just…" Kimizuki trailed off when he saw the venomous glare in the blonde's eyes.
"Cut the bullshit! You know what happened, and you said you wanted to tell us, so do it dammit!" Mika snarled, giving the man a vicious look as Guren smirked.
"He's got so much fire in him compared to how he was when he was younger, always trying to placate Yuuichiro when he got aggressive, Mika had no choice but to be the reasonable one, but even the most complacent of people have an end point… guess I just found his," Guren thought as he took a draw from his cigarette.
"Right, very well then… you want to know what is going on? Fine then, allow me to explain some details here," he said.
"Go ahead, we're listening…" the man sighed.
"Yuu is a bit of a special case, you know, and I suppose that the lot of you assumed him saving Mitsuba's life was magic or something," he stated with a smirk.
"Well… we don't know what it is, actually…" the man looked to them.
"If you want to know, that was one of his Gifts. Or, to be more specific, the first one he ever showed signs of having. Through a lot of trial and error, we deduced that both Yuuichiro and Mikaela here, have three Gifts a piece that work in unison. That doesn't mean that can be used one after another without draw backs, like with the problems Yuu suffered in the tram way when he coughed up blood a few moments later. It took too much on him, but he wouldn't have been able to without your training, Shinoa. However, in addition, he used another Gift, and that is why he is cataleptic right now," Guren explained this and the others looked to Mika.
"T-Three Gifts?! Are you joking?!" the man shook his head.
"Only one each is incredibly rare, for Mika, that's the Abjurist ability which allowed Yuuichiro to save your life, Mitsuba," he stated.
"I-I know… but… what did he do that saved me?" Guren hummed.
"Mika, I'm going to guess that he was very adamant that you bind Mitsuba, so he could do something, correct?" he inquired as the blonde nodded.
"Yes, he even yelled at me… it kind of startled me." The man shrugged.
"He never raised his voice to you before, that's why. Now, as for the things that he did in the tram way… are you five certain you want to learn the facts about this?" Guren questioned, not wanting to toss this information on them if they weren't prepared.
"Yes! We want to know what's going on, please, Guren…" the man's burgundy eyes narrowed as he took a pull off his cigarette.
"Listen, I found out what Yuu was by mere chance, but do you know how?" he asked.
"No… wait… what are you talking about?" the man looked at them and then to Mika.
"I gotta admit, back four years ago, you stumped those doctors Mikaela… you see, the reason for you living through a severed arm and an abdominal wound, has been by your side since before you were even taken into Shibuya and brought into my custody," Guren stated.
"My reason for… are you telling me that Yuu did the same thing for me when I was in the hospital?" the others looked at him, Mitsuba being confused by the statement.
"Hospital? Four years ago? What is he talking about?"
"Bingo, your little escapee friend, your family, your brother, comrade, best friend, and healer has been by you since you both entered that underground city, and has been with you since then. So, tell me, Mika? Do you know what Yuu is?" he probed as the blonde glared.
"I'm not telling them something I'm not certain about, that's your job, jackass!" Guren sighed.
"Fine then, I'll lay this out simply for you: Yuuichiro is a Naturopath," he stated, and the room became deathly still.
Mika felt the word sink in alongside the others who were nothing short of shocked by the revelation. All this time, the crass, short-tempered, mouthy, fiery, stubborn, surprisingly sweet, yet loyal and strong boy, had been a Naturopath, and judging from Mitsuba's state, an incredibly powerful one. Mika thought of all the times his brother had told him that Abjurists worked incredibly well with Naturopaths, and how he had dropped these little hints to find a way to tell him the truth, but had been too concerned to do so. However, he also realized that this explained how the boy recovered so quickly from things, how he healed as swiftly as he did from injuries, and why he had such an effect on people's emotions.
"I guess this explains why he can calm people if he touches them," Mika admitted.
"Yep, strong Naturopaths are capable of easing a person's tensions by doing nothing more than just touching them, and sometimes by looking them in the eye. That's why his eyes are so unsettling, because he can read you like an open book and see if you're hurting somehow, emotionally, mentally, physically… it's very impressive…" Kimizuki looked down.
"That letter that I received just before this… about you finding a Naturopath strong enough to potentially heal my sister… that was… are you telling me that the person was…" Guren nodded.
"Spot-on, Yuu was the one I had in mind all along. I just think that the five of you should be grateful my two brats have such incredible abilities on hand, otherwise if something like this were to happen on normal circumstances: you'd all be dead," he stated.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Kimizuki.
"Exactly as it sounds, I congratulate you on your first mission, and I'm happy that all of you made it out; however, there is some discord that I noticed since I put you on a team twenty-four-hours ago!" the man's voice became sharp, telling them that they were in for a very, very long lecture.
{…..}
The light that guides me through…
{….}
Author's Note: I know, this is very different from the original story's chapter where the group discovered this; however, this was actually the genuine original idea from when I first scripted the story. Guren was supposed to inform them of what Yuuichiro was capable of, and then go into a long lecture about teamwork and morale and how arguing with one another and slapping your teammates didn't help the situation. We'll get to see how Mitsuba feels once the next chapter starts. Well, let me know what you guys think of the chapter.
Sincerely,
ShadowDragon94.
Chapter 17: Honorable