You know, I take a small amount of pride in actually learning things about what I write. For example, survival techniques that Kodori has used. I've used some personally, and to make the story more authentic, learned some new ones, just so I could write it out properly.
Military terms seem to be next on the list. I've learned a little, for example, if anyone remembers when Akeno threw Kodori at a bunch of enemies, and said 'Fox Two' (or three, I forget exactly), that's an actual term for a type of guided missile.
So, as usual, I'm going to do my best. But for those with actual military expertise, please no bully? I mean... unless I get something incredibly wrong.
Chapter 16
Itami stepped up to us, and I could see 'his girls' watch as he got closer to us. "Ah..." He paused, took a good look at us, likely noting that we looked like we'd just run through the jungle for a couple of days and at the last minute saw combat that was rather bloody. Especially me. Ripping that... it was probably an Ironfang, horse/gator in half had been messy.
He tried again, "We can talk on the way. Do you mind being apart from your... friend?"
"Ha...ga...ne."
"Pardon. My name is Yoji Itami. Just Itami is fine." He gave us a moderately energetic salute, "Question stands though?"
"I'd like to keep him in sight, if reasonable. If that means I have to get buckets of water dumped on me to clean whatever it is that bled on me, off, I don't mind." I replied, "Aisha?"
"Sounds good. Any water that isn't humid will do for me." She nodded, "And... who are they, and why are they glaring at me?"
Itami had a 'professional stuttering idiot' moment (like Bell, except without blushing or locking up in place), "Urk... well... They're just keeping watch. We've had some issues locally you see."
I gave Aisha a nod, then, "We actually came here, with Roku, to talk about that." I said, "That Gate has caused a great deal of damage, and it needs to be moved from where its sitting on our side." They might also have been glaring at Aisha because she was tall, very pretty, and dressed like a proper Amazon (hardly dressed at all).
Itami paused in mid step, turned to look at us, then turned left, "Let's get you... well less unsanitary at least."
"What was that about?" Aisha asked, using Kione and not Eastern.
"Confused that we aren't more curious?" I replied in the same language. Then in Eastern, "Where are we going? It's further from our friends than we would like."
"We call it the Motor Pool. Where we put all of our vehicles, err, horseless wagons." He replied, "We can clean you and your friend off so you..." He looked back at me with one eye and poked his nose, "And maybe the CMO won't kick you out the instant you walk into her office."
Yes, after all that time in the jungle, I was starting to think my scent was getting close to sentience too.
It was a short walk, a couple minutes or so. But just so we wouldn't raise too much suspicion, Aisha (mostly Aisha) and I started to look at everything. We didn't stop walking, but we did a lot of looking. We didn't however ask questions. We were dealing with 'old business' first, and that meant making sure my party was safe.
Behind us, staying just within sight, but not getting closer, was Itami's entire squad of girls. Sure, they tried to look like they weren't following us, but when you are trying not to stand out, you should start by not looking so unique.
We got to what was basically a public parking lot, except there were actual three metre high walls all around it, lined with barbed razor wire. There were a couple of heavy concrete buildings too, likely where they actually parked their vehicles, or maybe mechanic bays? I could actually hear the heavy 'RRRVVVvv' of some kind of power tool working on something from inside one of them. Huh, noises I thought I'd never hear again.
Itami walked up to the entrance of one of those heavy concrete walled buildings and stopped. He waved at someone, then looked at us and held a hand up for us to stop.
"Wow... I have never seen such a functional, lifeless, utilitarian place." Aisha said.
Itami actually looked a little apologetic, "Function over Form ma'am." He said, "This is the Pit Boss." He did a lazy 'here is your prize' wave at a guy who stepped out of the building. As you'd expect a mechanic to dress, he had a 'this size fits me get your hands off it' grease stained overall, and looked like he was about to punch the next person to give him something extra to do. Aside from looking grumpy enough to have his leathery face look like that forever, he still had a full head of salt and pepper hair, and a name tag that said 'Boss' over his left pocket.
"You are not giving me babysitting duty, Itami." He said flatly, looking at Aisha, Hagane and I, "Her tails violate so many safety regulations she shouldn't be within ten metres of this place!"
"Ahh no no. Just want to borrow a washing station and a corner someplace." Itami said, holding his hands up defensively.
"Am... not... an... animal." Hagane said slowly, his head moving just a little so he could 'look' at the Boss, before going still again.
Aisha gave Hagane's head a pat, but I looked at the Boss, "My friend is not taking the trip well. We also have an injured friend who I would really like to get back to."
The Boss was certainly not a fool, and he put things together quickly, "Ah, with you covered in... what ever that is... Wait? Came through the Gate? There were people over there?!"
"Later later." Itami said, "Wash station?"
"Bay four is clear." He replied, seeming to finally get a good look at Hagane, "Wait... How the hell..."
"His name is Hagane." I said, "A golem body with a dragon soul."
"You... pet... head... not... pull... apart..."
"So he says." I said seriously, making sure to give the Boss my best (non-aggressive) serious face.
"This way." Itami said, "Walk between the lines on the floor here." He added.
"Huh." Aisha looked at the bright yellow lines, "We use red."
"What?" Itami looked over his shoulder.
"Back home, we use red. Not yellow." Aisha said.
"Ah. Well, you at least know what they mean then." He seemed relived.
He led us past three stalls with REALLY muddy Humvee in them. These looked like they'd driven through a landslide, and smelled like a giant bird had crapped on them. "Giant bird?" I sniffed.
"Huh? No, that'd be Wyvern." He looked back at me again, but motioned with his head to the forth stall. It was basically a thin walled stall you'd find in a car wash. At the back was a faucet with a long coil of hose attached to it, and in the floor near the middle of the stall was an all purpose drain. "Okay, to make it work you-"
"Turn it like so." Aisha said, "What is this stuff... oh, feels like rubber?" She had walked past Itami and figured out the 'hose' with a glance. It made me wonder just how... primitive this world was before the JSDF showed up. I mean yes I knew they were by no means equal to them, but wow.
"Try not to use too much. It's well water, so you might not want to drink it without boiling it. I'll just step over here and wait until you're done."
He stepped just out of sight, and by 'just' I meant it. We could see his shadow falling across the entrance of the wash stall. Eh well, he was under orders. A moment later though, as Aisha took the end of the hose and pointed it at me, two more shadows joined him. Both of them were soldiers judging by the silhouette profile.
"Seems we're under actual guard no-phhbbt!" I started saying in Kione, before Aisha started hosing me down.
Mostly clean, far better smelling, and looking like a soggy fox, I let Aisha hose herself off since I was still carrying Hagane. So while Aisha went about that, I took exactly one step away from the stall and looked towards the three who were waiting.
The two soldiers looked serious, but Itami had the look of 'meh what ever I'm paid by the hour' on his face. "You're not going to do that tail shake thing, are you?" He asked, completely tactless, but honestly worried since my tails might still be holding my weight in water still. "And are you going to put him down someplace?"
"I am... clean. Go with... her."
"So he says. And yes, I am going to shake them dry."
"All done Fo-AHH!"
The two guards were holding in their chuckles rather well. But Itami laughed, "Well, that's fine I guess." He then quite tactfully averted his gaze from Aisha and I. Mostly Aisha I was guessing, since the water was cold, and she wasn't wearing layers like I was.
The Pit Boss came over, giving me a disapproving look for getting water all over the place, but handed Aisha a clean rag to mop her face. "Not going to leave him here then?"
"I'll bring him by when he's feeling better." I said.
"Just how heavy is he anyhow?"
I considered how to answer this, since if I said the words 'ton' or 'kilogram', well, that would give things away. So, I reached out with one hand, put it on the Boss's shoulder, and gave him a bit of a shake, "Twenty or so of you. More or less?" I didn't want to say, pick him up or anything, since there were two guards, with rifles, standing right there and looking a little nervous.
They all were now though, but Itami recovered first, "Well, lets get you squared away with your friend then so you can get that off your shoulders."
"Sure. Lead the way Itami." I said.
Another short trip, giving us a little more of a tour while we went. As Aisha said, the construction here was all very blocky, simple, and made for pure function. There were thin strips of grass along the walls of buildings, but aside from that, no greenery anywhere. So of course when we passed by a building that actually had flowerpots, Aisha spoke up.
"What's that building there?"
"Ah, those are the barracks. Means we're almost there." Itami answered, glancing at the only building so far that wasn't 'concrete white'.
I also noticed one of Itami's girls, Tuka the 'light' elf, veer off here. This still left Rory, Yao and Lelei following us. At least the only one who was 'armed' was Lelei. "Ah, I know that smell." I said, sniffing the air, "Medicine."
"That's right." Itami said, doing a right turn and stopping in front of a building's front door with a red cross over it. "Can you stay here for just a moment?"
Aisha and I looked at each other, and we both shrugged. Itami then ducked inside, leaving the two guards standing behind us, "I'm going to get you for that Fox." She said in Kione.
"Good." I replied, "You know how I get after a good fight."
"Make an Amazon out of you yet." She grinned, "Ah, he's coming back."
"You can visit, but..." He looked at me, "He's not going to fit down the halls like that."
"Go." Hagane grunted, "Don't be long?"
"You two." Itami looked to the guards, "Make sure no one touches him. Anywhere out of the way is fine."
"Sir." They replied as I knelt and eased Hagane off my shoulders, laying him by the door on the grass that was just off the walk.
I gave the nightmare cat a good headpat, then stood up. "Aisha? Hand those over."
"Even better." Aisha smiled, kneeling down, giving Hagane a headpat of her own, then lifting one of his paws and putting both her sword (totally not Welf's sword, nope) and Ryuu's stick under it. "Oh, this too." And her bone sword as well.
Itami had waited patiently, and started walking as soon as Aisha stood up. Unsurprising, from just inside the medical ward's front door, another pair of guards started to follow us from behind. "Well, I don't hear any yelling." I stage whispered to Aisha.
"Girl is tough, but she was basically numb by the time I set her down." Aisha said, "Not a great sign. Think she got to it in time?"
"Sister is a great healer." I smiled, "Ah, seems we've arrived."
Yes, a long hallway of sterile smelling rooms, some open, some closed, then a turn, and we spotted another pair of guards. They weren't fooling about with security at all, but at least they weren't looking nervous. They gave Itami a salute, then returned to 'port arms'.
"Ah, Kurokawa-san. No problems?" Itami stepped into the room, nodding his head at us to join him.
Maki was laying face down on a bed, her tails limp, her pant leg cut off just above the knee, and her calf was looking VERY angry red. This was good, considering the last time I saw it, it was looking mostly gone. Both her boots were off too, and in the corner on top of a somewhat bloody towel.
"There are many problems, Itami-san." She said, "But we can discuss that later."
I looked to Ryuu, who looked a little tired, but okay otherwise. "How is she then?" I asked the doctor.
"When she arrived here, her calf muscle was missing about sixty percent of its mass. On top of blood loss-"
"i know where my blood went. is not lost, jusss not where it should be..." Maki mumbled into her pillow, her tails trying to move, but only managing a little twitch.
Kurokawa had a really good, "Ahem. On top of blood not being where it should, and a few signs of severe bug bites, she was fine otherwise. I've given her something for the pain, but..." She looked at me and Aisha, "Kodori-san?"
"That's me." I nodded.
"Ryuu-san asked me to point my questions at you. Would you be willing to tell us how those pills work? Can you make more?" She was holding on to her professional calm, but it was just barely.
Instead, I looked to Ryuu, "How bad?" I asked in Japanese, figuring she'd help me explain a little without actually answering directly. You know, Mysterious Kitsune style.
"My spell alone wouldn't have done it. I had to layer the pills over the torn muscle, and help them along with my magic. I used almost all of my supply for her."
Potions, even my much practised recipe, were not 'miracle' makers. They had limits, and some of them were pretty nasty if you didn't use them properly. For a wound like Maki's, or say, someone getting a C-section, you had to knit the layers of muscle and flesh together one at a time. The body knew what 'shape' it was supposed to be, but force healing large wounds would cause it to tangle itself up. Twisted muscle, bones that weren't quite aligned properly, blood vessels that didn't flow properly...
It was no wonder that Ryuu looked tired, or that she'd used most of both her potion pill vials. So I turned to Kurokawa, "Part of it was her magic, a spell made for healing. But the other is alchemical, and I lack much of what I need to make more."
Now, Mari Kurokawa was a rather pretty lady. Black hair like most Japanese, but blue eyed. I almost couldn't help but want to give her a headpat when she looked like she wanted to pout at me. "I see. Do you have more? Can I study some? Ryuu-san? Does this magic work on anyone?"
Poor lady was probably overworked too. "Something like that was exhausting." Ryuu replied, "But later, if we have time?" She looked at me.
"If we have time." I agreed, knowing that yes, we would unfortunately have time. "Maki? You good for the moment?"
"leg is sore. feel my toes though." She wiggled the toes on her unharmed leg, "oh wait..." Then the ones on her wounded one.
"Where's her blade?" Aisha asked.
From just outside the door, "Here Ma'am." Though no move was made to return it.
"I'll take it then." Itami said, stepping exactly one step outside, then back inside with Maki's sword in his hand. "Has Roku come by yet?"
"He's waiting in another room." Kurokawa said, "I didn't want to leave her alone until talking with them first."
"We did our best to get him here intact." Aisha said, "Being a soldier must make you pretty tough." She gave Itami her standard 'hungry' look, but didn't lean close to him like the would have me.
"No teasing the green man." I said with a sigh. "Can't take you anywhere..."
She then looked at me, "Sure you can."
That seemed to break a little tension from the poor doctor, and she managed a little bit of a laugh, "I'll make sure she's comfortable, and get her something to help her walk when she wakes up. Itami-san? Are they staying long?"
"Not sure." He said, but the tone of his voice hinted at 'talk later'. "You three hungry?" He asked us, "The Commander will want to talk to you, but he's not heartless... usually."
Ryuu Aisha and I shared a look, "Sure, was getting really tired of snake." I said.
Now, I knew that we were 'guests' here. But I was starting to suspect things might not end up being so cut and dry. The Mess Hall was, to be very practical, right across from the Dorms. No point in waking up early, then wasting time walking half way across base just to eat.
The Mess was much like I'd imagined it would be. Rows of tables inside a functional structure that would keep the weather off while a soldier stuffed his face before duty. On one side, behind a bunch of glass food displays, was an older lady who looked like she may have been a professional body builder in her prime, but had started to soften. She was looking kind of bored, but perked up when she saw us coming over with Itami.
But why was I starting to suspect something might be wrong? Well, it wasn't lunch time, or dinner time, yet there were a dozen soldiers here. All armed, they were using the tables for dice and cards. Not my job to keep them in line of course, but it seemed odd that we were picking up more and more guards with each place we visited.
Ryuu of course picked up on it, and asked quietly in Kione, "Are our weapons going to be okay?"
"Have you tried to move Hagane while he's napping?" I replied.
"Well, it looks like food at least." Aisha said, "And doesn't she remind you of Mama?"
"Ah... any of you have problems eating anything?" Itami asked, not commenting on our little slip into another language.
"I don't eat most meats. By preference, not out of need." Ryuu said.
Both Aisha and I shook our heads and the nice lady behind the counter ladled out a few things on one of those segmented plates. Ryuu got an extra helping of... the local salad maybe, instead of what ever meat it was she put on Aisha and my own platter. Itami declined, and came to sit with us, relived we seemed to know what to do with the simple metal cutlery.
"I have to apologize in advance, military food isn't the greatest, but, we've been working with the locals for some variety." Itami said as we started to poke at the food.
"When you make food for so many, you're bound to lose something." Aisha said, "Not terrible at least. Certainly better than what ever that critter was."
"Roku said it was better?"
"Better than an MRE." I corrected, looking at Itami with a clear question.
"Oh, that's short form for 'Meal ready to Eat'. Last resort for the hungry in most places, but most people would rather that than starve."
"If it's most, I don't even want to imagine it." Aisha chuckled.
After a moment or two of eating in silence, I decided to ask a question, "I don't want to be rude, but we are in a little bit of a hurry."
Itami sighed, "I know, but until the Commander wants to deal with it, I can't really do anything. Though I'm curious, what exactly do you need?"
"Our more magically inclined said I need to put him in contact with whomever locked the Gate. From there, I'm hoping there will be a way to move the Gate in our world, some place other than where it is." I explained, nibbling on something that had the 'leafy texture' of lettuce, but tasted closer to spinach and onion mixed together.
"Yes. The other side of the Gate is in a very wild jungle. About a thousand years worth of careful culling vanished when it showed up." Aisha added.
Itami looked very surprised, "You... wanted those monsters left there? You -hunt- those things?"
"Those, no. Those were the biggest, who gave birth to the things we hunted." Aisha said, waving off the obvious question of 'why', "So, we need to move, or remove, the Gate, so we can maybe get things back on track in the jungle again."
I heard him mumble, 'yet another crazy place', then ask, "So, you hunted things like those? I don't suppose you might have some advice on how to get rid of them? Like giant mosquitoes?"
I put my fork and knife down, looked left and right at Ryuu and Aisha, "This sounds like an exchange."
Itami gave us 'the squint eye', but nodded, "I'll mention it to the Commander."
"I don't suppose you could do something about those girls trying not to stand out at the entrance to the tent?" Aisha said, "I'm trying to be diplomatic, but if they keep glaring at me, I'm gonna have to take steps."
Poor Itami looked horrified. I wasn't sure if it was because he'd seen part of how strong we were, or because he knew how strong 'the girls' were. He just didn't want to be caught in the middle. "I'll talk to them." He mumbled, "But at the very least I suspect the Commander will want to chat with you in a few hours, before sun down at the latest."
"Is there a place to get a real bath then?" I asked, "Maybe a little bit of privacy."
He facepalmed, "Right. If you ladies are done, I can show you the other creature comforts."
By the time we'd turned around to leave, his Girls had vanished from sight. But they were simply hiding around another corner near our next destination. Before we got back to the Dorms, we did pass the medical building, and I made sure to stop, give Hagane a pat, give him a few words about what was going on, and made sure he was still 'aware'. I had suspected something might happen to him when he got separated from Shinkage, but I had no idea it would be this bad.
"As I mentioned, these are the Barracks. What you want however, is just around the corner here..." Itami said, playing the tour guide thing properly, if not enthusiastically.
"Am I reading this correctly?" Ryuu asked, "Showers?"
"Military life or not, we do try and keep our traditions alive during down time. But, my orders do not extend to giving you a tour of the inside. Or rather, they technically do, but that's not happening." Itami laughed nervously, "So... Tuka? Yao?"
As if by magic... Well, if we were two years old and blind, it might have been 'by magic'... Two elves stepped out from behind the nearest corner. One, a soft brown skinned woman with medium length silver hair and rather nice purple lips (I wasn't sure if it was lipstick or not, but it looks perfect for her somehow). The other, blond haired, pale skinned and sporting clear blue eyes. Both had long triangle shaped ears, and now that they were close enough, I could tell they had a respectable amount of magic ability.
"Hello, I'm Tuka Luna Marceau." Tuka waved, instantly giving me the vibe of 'perpetual morning person'. Kind of like Irina now that I thought about it. "Just Tuka, please." She even bowed, Japanese style.
"Yao Ro Dushi." Said the other, sounding less 'sparkly', but at least not grumpy. She also didn't bow, but instead gave us all a good once over and added, "Yao is fine."
We introduced ourselves in return, "Ah." I gave Itami a look, "Delegation of tasks."
He nodded with one of those 'back of head scratches' then said -something- to the two girls. The language was unfamiliar to me, and this was apparently not a world where I could understand any language (like Earth was). What ever it was though, they both nodded, and led the way in.
"Oh..." Tuka looked at me, then my tails, "Um..."
"You have more fur than a beast-kin." Yao said bluntly. "We are told not to use too much hot water."
"Don't worry about it." I said with a smile, "Thanks to a little emergency care earlier, they won't need much effort." I looked at Aisha, who quite deliberately pinched one of my tails and tugged out a bit of fur. "Ow."
The shower was divided up into male and female, and like most public showers, had nooks for people to put their clothes before they used the facilities. I had to use two of them, since my bracers, gauntlets and greeves were all solid. My boots, still in perfect condition somehow, went in with the armour, while the rest of my clothes and coat came in with me.
"Oh, did you need that washed?" Tuka asked, handing Ryuu and Aisha a towel as they followed Yao to the next room, "We have a machine for that here! It's really neat!"
"Oh, no, this isn't actually real." I said, tugging my all black under armour catsuit. I took off my Fenrir coat, then made the catsuit vanish, "See?"
"Quit showing off Fox." Aisha called from the other room before a quiet, "Huh, same symbols here too..." Before the sound of running water filled the air.
"I've treated the coat to shed most dirt, but I'm gonna make sure." I walked past Tuka with my coat slung over my shoulder.
If you've ever used a locker room shower, you'd know what to expect. No real surprises, save that the shower heads here were really good, and the water pressure was something we could only get at the Manor after Welf and I had tried making special shower heads like... a dozen times before getting it right.
One thing did give me a raised eyebrow however, and that was Yao. She was obviously quite pretty. Something about being 'long lived' and 'magical' tended to give races a more exotic look to them. That weird magic vitality drew in the eye. But she also had more than a few scars. Most were old and faint, but a couple of them were from getting clawed by something, as well as a few lighter patches of skin to signify burn marks.
Tuka had a couple of those as well, though far fewer, but they were harder to spot with her super light skin.
Aisha had to help me finish brushing all my tails, but if this were a 'traditional' Japanese bath, then it meant there would be a chance to soak. After all that time in the jungle, I was going to be as polite as possible for something like that.
"Ah good, you're not in the bath yet." It was Mari. I then heard a quiet, "Are you sure?"
"It's pretty sore, not going to lie. But adventurers are tough." It was Maki. A couple of moments later, she hobbled past the divider between the change and shower rooms, took a look at us being all serious in the shower, and gave me 'the angry little sister' glare, "You forgot about me." She had one of those bog standard hospital crutches under one arm and was of course favouring her good leg, but otherwise looked like she'd just had a good nap.
"Didn't think you'd recover from what ever it was she gave you." Aisha said, "Come here you, lemme..."
There was something funny about watching Aisha 'mother' someone. She wasn't very gentle, but she did help Maki scrub her back with one of the all purpose cloths, and keep a hand on her shoulder while Maki worked her fingers through her poor tails. It was as close as she usually got to gentle, but it was one of her charms.
Speaking of charms. I felt a little pride in seeing Maki no longer looking like a hunted animal. When we'd first met, you'd only have been able to tell she was a girl if she were naked, or if it was REALLY cold in the room. That's how underfed and hunted she looked. Now though, she'd gained 'adventurer's muscle' from long days in the dungeon and training, and looked like an actual girl no matter what angle you looked at her from. More of an Amazon build still, but nothing wrong with that.
Poor Ryuu however... Well, I doubted she'd ever lose the 'traditional Elvish build' of our world. I had yet to see a single elf from Orario with more than a handful on either end, but knowing that, there was still no way you'd mistake her for a boy.
"You seem very familiar with these things." Yao said bluntly.
"The materials are different." I said smoothly, "But our world has something similar for everything we've seen so far."
"Oh?" Tuka asked, turning off her shower, "Even the horseless wagons?"
"We have a thing called a Train." Ryuu said, turning her stall off as well, and maybe (highly possible I imagined it) looking at the other two elves with jealousy. "The front Engine pulls many large carts behind it on a rail."
"Oh, that sounds quite useful." Yao nodded thoughtfully, as we all walked/hobbled to the next room, "Does your world have mash-eens that can fly like birds?"
The third room was indeed a giant bath. It was a temporary structure, so the 'bath' was actually just a huge filled plastic bag, but the steam coming off it still gave me the same 'home from the dungeon' feeling.
"We have a thing called a Glider." Aisha said, "It's not very safe, but there are things that fly around that could eat you if you got its attention."
"Don't forget the platform." I said, "We fill a bladder with hot air, and lift a platform off the ground. We use it for mapping the landscape."
"Hot air? Steam? Do you use fire to do this?" Yao asked.
"Magic." Maki said, holding out a hand and summoning a tiny puff of fire. "Though there are other ways, magic is the safest." She put the foxfire out, then yawned, "Huh, still tired..."
The two elves looked surprised by the casual use of magic, but not in a bad way at least. "So you really did come from another world. We were hoping you came from Itami's world." Tuka said, "That's where the Gate should have opened up last time..."
"If it had, we wouldn't be here." I said, leaning back and reaching across Aisha's shoulders to give Maki a pat on the head, but also feel her temperature. "But, hopefully we can fix that, and be on our way."
"It's strange you find no urge to stay here." Yao said, "Before the JSDF arrived, we had very little of the wonders you've seen in this place."
All four of us shrugged, "We all have our reasons, but home is where we belong." Ryuu said.
"Yeah, as much fun as it was getting here? I've got things to do." Aisha said, her hand sneaking under the water to tug me a little closer by my butt cheek.
"It's really just business." Maki said, "As adventurers, you go out and solve problems. The Gate showing up where it did caused a lot of problems."
I repeated what I told Itami, then said, "We just need to talk to whomever put the lock on the Gate, and maybe we can fix everyone's problem."
"Oh, you want to speak to Lelei." Tuka smiled, "She's the blue haired one with the magic staff."
"We saw her when we arrived." Aisha said, "This high, adorable, sleepy eyes?"
"She works very hard." Yao said, "I do not know if it is a human trait, or because she is a genius, but she has learned many things in hours, that have taken most others people here days or months." She sighed, "Like driving."
"She's also the youngest to have ever become a master with magic." Tuka said, "When she went to the other world, where Itami is from, she started to learn really complicated stuff like... fizz-icks?" Tuka swayed back and forth excitedly, making the water ripple.
Maki yawned again, and she gave my hand (still over Aisha's shoulder, but not still giving out headpats) a tap. "I think I'm at my limit. Leg feels much better though."
"Good." Ryuu said with a smile, "You need a proper sleep to recover, but you should be fine otherwise."
"Hope so. Would mean what ever the nice doctor fed me was worth eating." Maki made a classic Buckley's face, "Gimme a hand?"
It was a bit of a signal it seemed, and we all got up and started to dry off. Sadly, I had no fuzzy bath robe or anything, but mana-cloth was always clean. With a deep breath, I was suddenly clothed again in the 'Xenovia catsuit', "Ah good, dried perfectly. Was worried about the humidity getting to the treatment." I said after giving my coat a couple of pats.
"Oh, if you need clothes." Tuka started, "Here are some 'one size feets all', overalls." She said that bit in English, so her pronunciation was weird, but we nodded all the same. She was also making VERY direct eyes at Aisha, who's 'clothes' were basically nice tight fitting leather shorts and tank top.
"Because someone left her armour at home, it might be a good idea." I said, giving Aisha my very best (pale imitation) Eina glare.
"Not all of us have magic fur coats." She laughed, "How do you... huh... and..."
While Tuka helped Aisha puzzle out all the straps to adjust the overall, Yao looked at me as she stood next to a nice stainless steel refrigerator, "Here's something you won't have where you are from." She said proudly, opening it up to reveal several rows of glass bottles. None of them were labelled, but the caps on top were cork, not plastic. "After a hot bath, it is tradition to have cold milk!"
She then took a bottle, took the cork out, and chugged it down with the usual enthusiasm you'd see from any hot spring resort enthusiast.
We helped ourselves of course, "Ah, we have these too. Not as nice looking, but almost every home has one now." Aisha said, sniffing the milk, "Oh?" And she too downed her bottle, "Ah, strawberry?"
"That's right!" Tuka grinned, while everyone but Ryuu performed the same ritual. (I love my sister but she never joins in for the silly stuff, sadface. She just sipped hers like some kind of square.) "Maybe it will help you grow?" Tuka looked to poor Ryuu, who just tugged her hood down to hide her face.
"Say. How's Hagane?" Maki asked.
Itami was waiting for us when we left the building, and actually looked relieved when Aisha came out looking like a mechanic who was about to go to a fashion magazine studio. Also amusing to note, he'd taken over for the two guards that had stood by Hagane, and was giving him headpats.
"All done then? The Commander says he'll be able to see you in about a half hour, and if you wanted an actual room to put your stuff in, we could set you up with a dorm." He stood straight, and looked down at Hagane, "Should be enough space for him to rest inside as well."
We all gave each other a look, and nodded, "Sure. Let me just..."
So, I once again put Hagane over my shoulders, and we were led around the Barracks for a moment. "This one... yeah, this one is for four, and empty." He opened the door and stepped aside, "Try not to wreck the place, but it's yours until we figure everything out."
"Oh, those look better than that hospital bed. Bottom bunk." Maki called out.
"These two gentlemen will be right here if you need anything." Itami said, "And here you go." He then handed Ryuu our weapons, and Aisha a small key.
Once all inside, Itami spoke a couple short words to the guards, and left with his two elves walking behind him. So, Aisha closed to door, and found a place to plunk her rear, "Oh, these aren't bad." She bounced up and down on the bed, "You okay kiddo?"
"Not standing feels good." Maki replied, "Thanks again Ryuu."
Ryuu smiled, but made no comment while I carefully put Hagane down in the middle of the floor. "This room seems very cold, but functional." She said once I'd set him down.
Two bunks, a tiny (like... two metres long) kitchen, and just enough space for a couple of dressers. This was the peak of modern efficiency for living. There was also a folding door that I suspected led to a toilet. But otherwise? It had no real space for any personality. But, we weren't going to stay long.
"So, how much did you tell her Maki?" I asked, kneeling next to Hagane and brushing my fingertips over his metal shell.
"Just enough to hint at the kinds of magic we use. A little bit about being an adventurer. Like why I expected to be on my feet in a couple days, not weeks." She replied with a yawn, "She asked more about the potions and stuff, but I can't tell her what I don't really know."
"We shared a little with the two elves." Aisha said, "And tried to hint at an exchange for them helping us along with the Gate problem."
"If they take us seriously, we should do well." Ryuu said, kneeling next to me and also giving Hagane some headpats.
"If the Commander is as smart as he should be, in the position he's in, we should have no trouble." I agreed. "Hagane? Talk to me. What's going on?"
"I can't hear her." He said, his voice no longer coming from a distant place anymore, "Not surprising, but... It feels like I have to re-learn everything again." He managed to move his head to look at me, but the motion had lost that nice 'organic' smoothness he once had.
"Hm, well, now you really are independent. I hope she's okay." I said, putting my hands under his chin and moving my leg to give him a lap pillow.
"She has a proper body, limited only by her height and the need to eat." Hagane rumbled, "This feels like the first days when you put my 'soul' into the other metal shell. But all of the wires are crossed."
"Don't worry big guy. We'll get you on your feet." Aisha chuckled, "Anyhow, he said half an hour, right?" She then flopped backwards on the bed, "Call home Fox, gonna nap."
I nodded and reached into a pouch for the Tarot. "Ha-chan?" I waited a moment, spoke her name a second time, then smiled as the metal card started to feel frosty, "Hey Love."
Haruhime's face was smiling, and before answering, she reached over and scooped up someone, "O-ma!" It was Toshi, "Hi!"
"Hello Toshi." I said, "Are you okay?"
A pause, then, "Yes!" And just like that, Toshi vanished from the picture.
"He's missed you terribly." Haruhime said with a smile, "You arrived safe?"
"We are a little beaten up, but nothing permanent." I nodded, "We've gotten the diplomatic wheels on the ground, but it will be about a half hour before we get them rolling. We hope. Any trouble?"
"Nothing past the usual for a house as alive as ours." She said, "The Oni have gone back into the dungeon, though they said it was only for a day or two, to 'stretch their legs'. We haven't heard anything from the other Amazon recently, so we are... relaxing a little for that."
"Well, let's hope. Those girls from Telskyura are pretty crazy." I sighed, "Once we talk things out here, I'll contact Fels and hope he has an idea for us. Otherwise..."
"Be sure to take care of yourself." She nodded, "I think Ganesha Familia will be heading into the dungeon very soon as well, so please, do hurry."
I nodded, "I don't want to be home any later than need be. Too many things to do." I smiled, "Good night, Ha-chan."
"Good night Ko-san."
I put the Tarot away and gave Ryuu a look, "What?"
"You are a different person when you talk to her." Ryuu said with a smile, "It's good to see you relax, even so far from home."
"I don't want to be given time off." I shrugged, "Hagane? Gonna lift you up, lets see if you can keep your feet under you."
"Oh joy. This again." He sighed, but didn't resist as I picked up him and set him on his feet.
NOTES!
Well then. We're officially on the other side, and things are about to roll. Of course, we know it's not going to be so simple as 'Lelei does a magic dance' and everything is fixed. So look forward to that.
Daeore on Ko-fi, Inkitt, and right here!
Five days etc etc.