A small world expanding
AN: Wooohooo, we are back in business! Of all days to have a headache it had to be the weekend which I had to sleep off (シ_ _)シ Good news, I can now see my view count in FFN! The thing about it is that I can see a breakdown of views per day/month and from which countries viewers are from XD not stalking you guys or anything…（．．）
Ehem! Fun fact!The FFN View count and AO3 Hit count are both over 600! :3 (I'm currently lurking on quotev to see the UI :D) Yey! Here is a preview of a wip drawing to commemorate! Totally didn't distract me from writing… Sadly can't give direct links in FFN (｡•́︿•̀｡) Please see my tumblr (シ_ _)シ
Anyway, onto the story!
The next day, Kinrou and Ginrou were taking turns spinning the gear the Kingdom of Science had made The strings were easily produced even with only one person spinning what was once Kohaku's beloved shield. With the help of that and the gear, the two brothers were making consistent strings of gold.
Meanwhile, a black haired girl was innocently twirling the golden strings to make the so-called gold wires that they needed for the phone. Blue eyes sparkle at the thought of what her hands were making. A small smile had long since formed on Kuuki's face, despite it being the same task they had done the day before.
Today, she got up early, met up with Kohaku and Suika. Together the three, just like the day prior, went to the Kingdom of Science.
Since Chrome wasn't around, Senku had decided to temporarily forgo any speaking exercise for them to do, and just continue the assigned arduous task. Kuuki sat by herself a distance away from all the children and elderly doing the same scientific task.
A few distance away from her were the young children and elderly doing the same thing as her. Due to the upcoming winter, the strong men and women of the Ishigami Village were out foraging, gathering and hunting, preparing for the coming cold winter season. Among them was Kohaku of time earlier, her best friend had to leave to help out with the village preparations.
Or so she thought…
Hm? Kuuki stops her hands from twisting the strings. Someone's shadow figure with quite the distinct hair covers the silent girl from the morning sunlight.
Kuuki was deciding if she wanted to look up or not as she felt this person's eyes pierce into the top of her head. When she finally decided to look up and see what her friend wanted, strong hands and arms picked her up. Soon, the dark haired girl realizes she was hanged over the shadow owner's right shoulder.
Eh?!
A sharp intake of breath leaves Kuuki's throat in surprise. Whatever items she was holding drops onto the ground.
The sudden commotion of the village mute being put in someone's shoulder catches the attention of everyone currently in the Kingdom of Science, from the children, the elderly and the remaining core members. Without exception, all eyes turn to the two friends.
"Upsy daisy~" She hears those words come from the mouth of her kidnapper.
Kohaku…
The black haired girl was just as shocked as everyone. She involuntarily reaches out to innocent bystanders as she meets their eyes.
"Yosh, Kuuki! You are coming with me!" Kohaku finally addresses her. She then turns around to face the people Kuuki was trying to reach out to for help. Unknowingly, the blonde cuts off her friend's plea. "Senku, Gen, I'm taking Kuuki for the day. We'll be back later."
It was shocking when she was suddenly turned around but when Kohaku's words sank in her brain. Kuuki manages to twist her head to look at the back of Kohaku's head. What are you planning, Kohaku? Blue eyes widen in remembrance of something.
Before the black haired girl could make any sort of response or even protest, her blonde kidnapper slash friend turned to stalk away from the clearing to get to the forest. A saddened and helpless Kuuki waves goodbye to the modern timers, Suika, the rest of the bystanders and her satchel.
ლ(･ω･*)(*╥﹏╥)┛ ? (゜- ゜)(゜- ゜)(゜^ ゜)o
The leftover people in the clearing were left wondering what had just occurred.
"What just happened?" Gen curiously asks, directing his question to the scientist beside him.
Senku answers. "Who knows…"
Even when Kohaku was absolutely certain that her friend would not run away, she still kept Kuuki hanging on her shoulder. If circumstances were any different, she would have done this much earlier. For example, if the black-haired girl ran away from meeting the Kingdom of Science. Well, in the end, Kohaku had Kuuki on her shoulder to take her from the Kingdom. Only for the day anyway~
Kuuki was certain that even if she didn't see her friend's face, Kohaku would have her signature feline smile on her face. How could she not suspect that, when the blonde was practically whistling. She stays frozen on her unwanted perch.
Only when the blonde warrior was satisfied with the forest area they arrived at, did she let her shoulder cargo down.
Finally… Kuuki thought as her feet met the ground again. To be upright once more on her own two feet. The black haired girl massages the part of her torso that was on Kohaku's shoulder. Her eyes scanned the area they were in. There was a pout forming on her lips.
Trying to guess the reason for the sulking on the other's face, Kohaku teased her friend. "Come on, had you joined earlier, you'd have been in on all the fun science stuff."
Belatedly they realize that it had been awhile before the two of them had been alone, truly alone again since Kuuki had joined the Science Kingdom. Yesterday's speaking exercise barely counted. During that time, outside their little bubble were the other team members waiting for them. So, yeah it didn't count.
While what Kohaku said was a part of the reason for the look on her face, it wasn't everything. Kuuki was reminded of her vow, the black haired girl quietly says. "About that…"
Her eyes were soon looking at the ground. Her head bowed in shame. "Gomen, Kohaku. I should have trusted you."
Not expecting an apology to come out of her teasing, Kohaku was unable to respond quickly. A beat of silence came in between them as the apology sinks in.
The blonde was only joking but Kohaku smiles in appreciation and acceptance. It was nice to know, nonetheless. "Don't worry about it now."
Hearing such a response, the black haired girl looks up at Kohaku with a nod. Even if she knew Kohaku would never hold a grudge against her, still, relief flooded her chest. Smiles were exchanged between the two friends. A sound from a bird overhead brings them back to reality.
"Now let's get to work. Prey won't exactly hunt themselves." The blonde handed Kuuki some ropes. "Time to hunt!" The blonde unsheathes her dual knives, having left her katana back home for this event.
The black haired girl nods. She suspects, if she tries to run away, she'll be Kohaku's prey.
The group of elders and children were busy with the gold wires when afternoon had set in. The adults were out and about to prepare for the coming winter. Suika was almost left in charge of this particular group. The blonde little girl had her hands busy when she heard the violent rustling of some leaves.
Suika looks up in time to see Kohaku emerging from the forest. Soon, the girl lets out a shout in surprise upon seeing the older blonde girl alone. "Kohaku? Where's Kuuki?"
The group's mentalist comments as he and Senku emerge from the lab to see what was going on. "Hm, Kohaku-chan's back?" Gen wonders from only hearing Suika, only Kohaku came back? But he stops as he takes in the sight of the blonde and what looks like a backpack.
The white haired scientist beside Gen speaks out loud. "What the?" Senku blinks at what he was seeing.
The group realizes where the black haired girl was. Once more the blonde warrior was carrying her dearest friend. This time on her back, the blonde girl's hands supporting her friend's legs.
The aforementioned girl on Kohaku's back was dangerously swaying sideways. Her hands were tightly clutching on the blonde's shoulder but her head was leaning as far as it could. Upon looking closer, was that a tiny soul coming out of the passed out Kuuki's mouth with a little clipboard saying Bye?
What a sight…
"Kuuki?!" Suika shouts worriedly, running up to the two. The little girl reaches up to the black-haired girl's back to stop her from swaying and pushing her forward to Kohaku's back.
"Did Kohaku kill Kuuki?!" Ginrou loudly asked beside his brother. Just like everyone else, they had stopped from working to watch the spectacle that had arrived.
"AS IF!" Kohaku angrily answers the blonde guard. The girl hmphed as Ginrou hides behind a bemused Kinrou.
"Don't worry, Kuuki's just exhausted." The blonde defensively explains to everyone as she readjust her hold on Kuuki. "I'm just gonna leave her at Chrome's hut for a while. I got some stuff to do first."
She directs the later part to Senku and Gen. Upon receiving a nod of approval from the modern scientist, she walks off to the hut with Suika following behind her. The little girl was trying to help make sure Kuuki doesn't fall off Kohaku's back.
Making sure Kuuki was settled in, the two girls come back down from Chrome's hut. Suika returns to her twisting golden task while Kohaku is heading back to the forest. Before leaving however, she pointedly looks at the two modern timers. "You better not do anything to her."
The blonde glares at the two for good measure.
"Hai, hai." Senku nonchalantly replies, scratching the back of his neck. Once more returning to the lab. While Gen just sweat drops at the leaving girl.
Groggily, our black haired girl wakes up in the middle of the night. She opens her eyes to a darkened room. She sleepily wonders how many times she has woken up in a place that was not her hut. She removes the blanket that was pooled on her waist as she sat up from the bedding she laid on.
A quick look off to her side were some fruits left for her. She wonders if Kohaku left them for her knowing she liked these red ones. Her blue eyes now fully adjusted to the darkness.
The moon illuminates where she was at.
Night has settled already…
She bemusedly realizes. Once again she was in the same place she woke up to not too long ago. The moonlight streams in from the open doors of Chrome's hut.
Kuuki noticed that the spot where the moonlight was at its strongest in that dark room was focused on some scattered leather. Within those pieces of animal skin were drawn scientific plans.
Hm.
The girl carefully gets up trying not to wake up the modern timers sleeping surrounding the writing materials. She looks for something in the darkness. Only when she finally finds it did she silently maneuver to get outside of Chrome's hut, fruits tucked on one arm.
She carefully closed the doors but not after making sure that the sleeping figures of Senku and Gen were wrapped up in the blanket she used and another that she found.
When she makes her way down the hut, she realizes that her satchel was nowhere to be found. Only the fruits were found beside her.
Not having much of a choice currently, she decides to look for it when morning thought as she stretched her body sideways. Trying to get the stiffness away. Her neck next as she let her eyes wander all around the quiet Kingdom of Science.
Now what?
She stops her stretching as she realizes she is fully awake after what was clearly a long nap. Searching her memories, it was midday when she fainted from exhaustion. Now, in the middle of the night, she was alone in the Kingdom of Science by herself. Hm, should I make some paper?
Well, the girl would feel guilty to use any scientific materials without permission from the science leader himself. She waves the idea away.
With no satchel, no leather, no clipboard, no charcoal, how was she going to communicate with the others?
She could feel a bit of anxiety start bursting from her chest. She tries to reassure herself. Well, there's no one to talk to right now?
Ah.
But, where was her satchel? Senku just gave that to her. Two nights ago? And there wasn't a lot of leather and she just lost them? Along with the clipboard…
Oh, then there was the knife too?
As she spirals even more into her own head, a sudden rustling from the forest stops her. Her train of thought is now broken, as she hears Chrome's voice.
"Kuuki?"
The familiar voice of the brown-haired scientist calms the anxiety within Kuuki. "What are you doing here?"
Chrome? The girl blinks. She opens her mouth and realizes. Ah, there was no way she could communicate. Kuuki frowns.
There was an awkward silence between the two.
"Ah, sorry, guess you can't respond to me." Chrome scratches his head, unconsciously expecting a response from his question. He opts to instead explain why he was here. "I was just gonna get some stuff here and get back to Kaseki."
Kuuki slowly nods at his words. I guess I should go back to the village myself.
The black haired girl watches the brown haired boy go into the lab. She was holding herself back from wanting to join Chrome and Kaseki.
"The rules say you have to let little scamps carry out their pranks without spoiling the surprise." Gen's voice echoes in her mind. Well, guess she'd leave them alone.
She blinks and realizes the appearance of Chrome right now and a day before. The boy did not look like he had a wink of sleep. Were they even eating? She frowns.
"Ah that's right. Kaseki made this for you." Chrome hands her some sort of tool, when the scientist exits the lab. She used her free hand to receive it. "Senku told the old man to make it. Well, I'm gonna head off now, Kuuki."
Chrome tries not to be awkward around her. It's the first time the two of them were alone. And it's gonna take some time getting used to one sided verbal conversations. He stops when the girl taps on his shoulder.
Looking back, some fruits were shoved onto his face. He grins at the girl. "Thanks!"
The girl nods at him. Some of her worries about Chrome and Kaseki were fading, which she didn't realize that she had. Years of knowing each other but even then she had only cared for Kohaku and her mom. What a strange thing. Did she feel a bit happy?
Yes. In a way, her small world was expanding.
When the boy runs along a few distance away, Kuuki opens her mouth.
"Itterasshai" (AN: Has several meanings, but let's go with. Take care! Come back safely. )
Maybe, the little speaking exercise does work, afterall. The black haired girl smiles as the brown-haired boy raises an arm as if to wave back at her. He verbally responds. "Oh!"
Unknown to her, Chrome was pleasantly surprised at what he heard. But as per Senku's instruction, they should not be too surprised when their resident selective mute speaks. Even when it occurs very rarely. So in response he waves his arm at the girl. "Oh!" He unintentionally yells out. Ugh so much for that, responding might have been a mistake though.
Still, the two of them part ways on good terms.
Having no way of getting sleep that night, Kuuki observes the tool Chrome handed over to her. She wonders what it was called.
Since it was Senku who told Kaseki to make it for her, she acknowledged that it was most likely a tool for wood carving. She holds it up to observe it more clearly in the moonlight as she heads towards the village.
It had rectangular gray material.. She suspects it was made out of the same material the katana was made from. The edges seemed sharp but not as sharp as the mentioned weapon. She wonders how it would compare to the knife she got from Senku. She was holding it by the round wooden edge.
She puts the tool down as she passes by Ginrou and Kinrou at the village bridge. Lest she be suspected of having a dangerous weapon. Hm?
How mysterious.
She thinks as the brothers made their gestures to acknowledge her. One waved at her and the other nodded at her. She in turn slightly bowed her head at them in greeting. She realizes that indeed, her world was expanding. Kuuki tightly clutches her scientific tool to her chest, fluttering with joy.
The next morning, in the Kingdom of Science, Kuuki finds herself among the children and elderly group.
Having felt guilty of driving her into exhaustion, Kohaku leaves the black-haired girl in the clearing instead. Well only for the morning anyway. As she proposed to fish for dinner to her friend later instead.
Kuuki bemusedly recalls. Suddenly the girl feels someone lightly pull on the sleeve of her dress. Looking at the source was a child with short blonde hair staring at her. A familiar satchel clutched on the child's hands. Searching her memories, the little girl with a tooth sticking out of her mouth was Namari. (AN: Introducing, the original cell phone roadmap artist :3)
Namari hands the older girl her bag. The girl seemed shy and looked like she wanted to say something. Trying her best to start.
Similarly, having no way to say her thanks, Kuuki was panicking. Eto… anoooo… (Uhhh… )
The thing about Namari was the girl rarely speaks but still was able to speak unlike Kuuki who totally was known as a mute to the village. When the girl saw Kuuki draw up the cell phone roadmap the other day and again when the older girl was drawing in some leather, she wanted to ask. Now knowing, the curse wasn't a real thing. She approaches Kuuki with the intent of asking, being an artist herself. "Kuuki-san…"
When the black-haired girl hears the other's shy voice, she stops her panic and focuses on Namari.
"C-can I have some drawing items?" The girl stutters her request.
Being given a chance to show her gratitude at her returned satchel, Kuuki decides to give some of the extra charcoal and some piece of the paper to the other.. She'd make more of those having already learned how to, she supposed. Nodding at the little girl, with an awkward smile.
She wonders if she made another friend. Kuuki thought as the other smiled up at her in response. Namari then sat next to her as they twisted the golden strings into a wire.
Later, when Kohaku returns to get her for fishing, Kuuki looks so comfortable even with Namari and Suika beside her. The blonde, not wanting to intrude, leaves her alone for the day. Maybe, Ruri-nee could help with tonight's meal.
Another day passes by before Kuuki hears Chrome's voice once again, albeit very weakly.
"W-we finished it, Senku." An exhausted Chrome utters from the ground. "A-af-ter three full d-days w-with-out sleep." He was clearly weak already but still manages to share the news to the group. Kuuki was feeling sorry for him.
However, the core members of Kingdom of Science took off in a run towards the direction Chrome points to. Kuuki quickly followed them once she made sure that Chrome had some drinking water. She was able to catch up to the group taking the shortest route she knew going towards the river. The river… The girl waves away her thoughts. When she hears someone's footsteps follow her, she looks over her shoulder to see Chrome running after her? What the? How in the world?
She shakes her head as she leads Chrome towards their destination. Soon, her blue eyes widened at the large contraption in the river as they arrived.
Just in time too, as she hears Kaseki show off his new tool. "Oh-ho~ Although I, myself, am amazing, the blades of Science are quite amazing too!" The old man excitedly praises the tool. "Without this iron blade, this would have been impossible!"
So, even her chisel was made of iron. Kuuki stares at the blade in amazement. The tool she received from Chrome had the same color and the same handle. The day before she had already asked the modern scientist what it was and had gotten an answer. Senku's response rings in her ear.
"Chisel, it's a cutting tool with a sharpened edge. You drive a hammer on the handle on the wood."
Kuuki wonders how that serrated blade that the old craftsman had was used.
"How is it, Senku? Isn't my invention amazing?!" Chrome loudly chimes in. "This is my revenge for that time you had no reaction to my magnet!"
Kuuki sweat drops at the brown-haired scientist's visage. He was ready to pass out not too long ago… Was this one of those science things? Was this thing in the river giving him energy? Nevertheless, what they made was really amazing! Kuuki observes it with sparkling eyes.
"Come on, you can look more surprised." Kaseki adds on. The two inventors were trying to coax a reaction from Senku.
Blue eyes turns her focus to the shocked modern scientist, watching for a reaction.
"It's a waterwheel." Senku breathes out what it was called. When he does so, his two craftsmen drop down on the riverbank.
Ohh~ Kuuki returns her attention to watch the waterwheel turn with the current of the water.
"So you already knew about it! Damn!" Chrome shouts in protest. Clearly, they should have known better than to try to surprise the science leader himself.
"Waterwheel." The stern village guard tries to mouth out the name of the invention.
"To think I came up with a name too." Kaseki gets up from the ground to complain. "The forever spinning cotton candy machine."
Ginrou comments, visibly deflating at the weird name. "I think waterwheel is a better name."
"Uh, I'm pretty surprised. You did incredibly well to make something you have zero knowledge on!" The modern scientist praises the two.
Kuuki couldn't help but feel glad that the invention the two made was praised well. Chrome and Kaseki hook their arms with each other.
Once more off to work they went that evening, Kuuki and Kohaku were sharing the heavy load of tree trunk between the two of they headed off to the Kingdom of Science with Senku and Gen beside the two girls. Kuuki had expected it from Senku but even Gen was panting, as they had their own load to carry.
"This isn't on the same level of some automatic cotton candy machine. It has far more uses than that."
Blue eyes stare at the modern timers in wonder, if the people of the modern era normally lacked stamina. Kuuki knew she did when compared to Kohaku, but seeing them pant with a lighter load, she couldn't help but wonder.
Soon, together with Kaseki at the behest of their science leader, she made a smaller version of the waterwheel from wood that they carried in the kingdom. Admittedly, Kaseki had praised the girl as it was clear that wood crafting even as a hobby greatly helped.
Next, it was Suika's team. The kids help polish off to make the wheels smoother after the crafting was done. Namari was amongst them. Kuuki notices.
The strong men of the villagers were the one to deliver the large and heavy gears off to the river side. Also doing the heavy carry, were the brothers and Chrome bringing the spinning thing to the riverside.
"Particularly, the thing that Kinrou and Ginrou worked so hard to spin." Senku explains as the final touches are made.
Kuuki couldn't help but be touched at the contribution everyone from the village made. Slowly the revised version of the waterwheel started to spin.
"Don't tell me… You mean?" Gen gasps in shock at what was being assembled before his very eyes.
"With the completion of the gear and the waterwheel, the age of manpower is over."
Faster the gears and waterwheel were turning. Blue eyes sparkle in amazement.
"Using the unlimited fuel-free device, we can finally access the resources of nature."
Everyone watches on in surprise, amazement, shock. Each having their own emotions.
"It's easy beyond manpower. The era of energy has begun!" Their science leader, Senku declares to them.
Hydroelectric power plant acquired
AN: That's a wrap! We have done episode 20! Next up Episode 21/Chapter 53! Woohoo!
I really can't help but feel guilty not having this out last weekend. Sorry everyone, when the headache came in I was supposed to write this up. And when it was at its worst, I had to scour the whole house for that one tablet of medicine. So I say, make sure to have it on hand. Was it a migraine? Nope. Did it hurt? Hell, yes! A stinging pain on my left eye, hurt covering the left side of my brain. Binaural beats massaging my brain are all so helpful as I awaited the medicine to work! Science is the best!
Thank you to all who have been patiently waiting for this update!
Procrastination was not so nice as well. I get distracted easily, drawing Suika and Kuuki. Thinking about this chapter, thinking about a side story, thinking about kids (you know who you are putting it on my mind, I don't blame you tho) This is getting too personal. Here another WIP that distracted me
"If I… inherit her position, Ruri-nee's will to stay alive will disappear, right?"
What if…
"Then, I just have to make my father hate me. Right Kuuki, I'll be a bad girl." She looks up at the girl holding her. "A girl who's completely incapable of being the priestess."
Kuuki doesn't answer her. There were tears gathering in those blue orbs.
No matter… Kohaku already made up her mind.
"I'll get the spring water for her treatment. No matter how many pots, I'll carry them over. I'll cure Ruri-nee's illness first." Before her sister…
Dead…
Her older sister…
dead
She was dead…
Ruri-nee
Thank you all for reading! Comments, kudos, reviews, views makes me happy!
.com( slash )technology( slash )chisel