Now that Lindow's back, the plan can commence.
Chapter 40
There's no denying it, our Leader was crazy. I can't believe she pulled off a stunt like that. Not only did she rip a Hannibal's face in two, she Resonated with its core.
All we could do was watch in horror as her, Lindow, and the Aragami fell into the black tar that consumes all Aragami after their core's been extracted. But then a bright golden light came from the tar, blinding us. As it faded, we saw that the tar was gone. In its place was Lindow and Okami.
Lindow's Aragami transformed arm was still somewhat glowing only to concentrate into a yellow stone-like core on the backside of his hand. I got the feeling that everything was going to be okay so I relaxed some.
Soon Lindow began to stir, sitting upon his upper body he looked at his God Arc which had three holes impaled in it, making it beyond repair, then he looked at the core on his hand. "Ren... thank you." It glowed as if responding to him. Then he turned, looking at the sleeping form across from him. "You too... Okami."
"Lindow!" Sakuya cried out with joy. He turned to us at her voice.
"Hey guys."
"Lindow!" Alisa and Kota said joyfully. Sakuya then stormed passed them, running to Lindow she fell to her knees and embraced him in a tight hug.
"Woe, easy there Sakuya. My sides are tender." He grunted jokingly.
"You're alright... thank God!" She began to cry, burying her face into his chest.
"Sakuya," he said wrapping an arm around her too. She didn't flinch when it was his Aragami transformed arm. "Thanks for worrying, I'm sorry it took so long to get back."
"You're always... showing up late. You're such a bonehead." She joked around with him.
"Hey, did you save some beer for me?"
"Yes, I can't stand the stuff. It's been accumulating since you've been gone."
"Man, that's awesome! What I wouldn't do for a beer right now."
"Hey," I say gaining everyone's attention. "Is she going to be okay?"
They all looked down at the sleeping form of Okami, her face covered by the fur of her mask as she laid on her stomach. Lindow grinned at her.
"She'll be fine, she's just pooped out. Not hard to image when you fight Aragami non-stop and dive into people's minds to fight their inner monster."
"What?" Sakuya and I said in disbelief.
"She... went into my mind and grabbed my consciousness. She saw all my memories...and at the same time I saw all of hers."
"You mean..." Sakuya said, not needing to finish her sentence.
"Yes, I saw it all... the Aegis Project, Shio... and other things she kept hidden to herself." Lindow told us all about Ren, how she saw things through the Resonance. How she kept quiet along with Paylor and Tsubaki about the Aragami Infection so the others wouldn't have to suffer. And how she dove into his mind, fighting Aragami after Aragami alongside Ren to save him.
"Oh, while I was in her mind I found some pretty sweet information." He then turned to me with a grin that only spoke 'evil.' "Did you know that in her mind she has a very special pot for So-" Okami's hand grabbed his arm.
"If you finish that sentence, I'll throw away all the beer that I've been saving up for your return." The once sleeping girl then turned her face so she could look up at Lindow. "And let me tell you something. I could almost make a small fort out of them."
"You saved up all those beers for me. You Angel."
"Again? This is the third time, why is everyone calling me an angel lately?"
"I guess it's cause you always come in to save the day when all hope is loss."
"Hm? Well keep talking and I'll become your devil."
"Hehe, fine, fine. My lips are sealed."
"Good."
"Okami, you're awake." Kota said, overjoyed that she was okay.
"Hey, Kota." She turned to look in his direction, giving him a warm grin. "Thanks for worrying about me."
"Man, I can't believe you lied to me. I didn't expect that from you." I said somewhat disappointed.
"I didn't lie. I told you I was going on a Special Mission in coding and at the time I didn't know you couldn't see Ren. I honestly thought he was just one of the New Type recruits. So to the best of my knowledge at the time I didn't lie to you."
"Hm, far enough. But you still had us all worried with that damn stunt you pulled."
"Ha, for real?... I'm sorry. I was ordered to keep quiet and I acted on instinct with Lindow's situation. But you guys still came for me... Thank you."
"Can you get up?" She tried but her body would plop back on the floor.
"I'm afraid not... I don't have the strength to get up."
"Hm, that's too bad." I had to grin at what I had to say next. "Tsubaki said she'd only exempt you guys from discipline if you both came back alive AND unharmed."
"Well..." She turned to Lindow. "You're not hurt right?"
"For the most part no."
Then she turned back to me. "Well then tell her that we fell off the Chopper or a flight of stairs. Better yet, tell her I'm just sleeping. Besides that... I'm so tired... Can one of you be so kind as to carry me back... I think I'll... rest some more." With that she fell back to sleep.
"Man, you're a handful." I then blew out a breath then turned to Lindow. "Hey think you can carry her since you don't have to carry a God Arc."
"No can do kid. I am taking my God Arc back with me, I'm too tired, and I can barely walk." Lindow said as he weakly got to his feet, God Arc in hand as Sakuya supported him from his other side.
"I think you should carry her Soma." Kota said with a grin.
"What? Why the hell should I?!"
"Didn't you say it was our job to back up our Leader?" grinned Alisa.
"She didn't give any order..." They all just looked at me. "Damn, fine." I gave in, not really reluctant at having to bring Okami's warmth close to my body as I carried her bridal style. The only thing I had to suffer through was the others jeering at me being a 'prince charming.'
****** The Entrance ******
At the Den everyone cheered at the safe return of Lindow. Dr. Sakaki began to examine Lindows transformed arm while Tsubaki approached him and gave him a gentle tap on his head with her notepad.
"Welcome back... little brother." Lindow grinned at her, rubbing the back of his head with his normal hand.
"Thanks. Sorry I'm late big sis, that last mission was a dozy."
"Well... showing up late seems to be your style." Tsubaki grinned making Lindow pout.
"Thanks alot sis." He said sounding playfully upset.
"My, what a fascinating sample of Oracle Cells and control of an Aragami Infection." Doc said excitedly. "Mind if I examine your arm sometime?"
"No way in hell, Doc. I'm done with being anyone's Ginnie pig."
Dr. Sakaki's shoulders slumped down at this and he sighed. "I was afraid you'd say that. Very well, I'll respect your choice. And only hope that one day you'll change your mind."
While the others where ranting on I noticed something...
it's Day 3
"Dr. Sakaki..." They all turned to the form that just a few seconds ago was still resting in my arms. They all noticed she said his name correctly, but only me and him knew what that meant. Was she upset about something? But she didn't look upset, perhaps to tired to try. "If it's alright, I'd like to have a word with you. Alone, if you can."
The usual grin was wiped off of Doc's face as he re-adjusted his glasses. "Very well, meet me in my office when you're feeling well enough to move."
****** The Director's Office ******
"What was it you wanted to talk about, Sport?" Saki said to me, sitting at his desk while I stood on the other side.
"For the past few weeks I've been forced to keep silent and suffered alone, hurting my pact in the process. Ignoring their worries, I continued to loyally do your dirty work like a lap dog. You've hurt me in a way I most likely will never be able to look at you the same way again. I respected you, I looked up to you, I admired you. And I thank you with all my heart for all the things you did for me and taught me when we first met. But I have re-payed that debt and so much more. Now I've come back for what's owed to me."
"What is it that you want?" Saki was serious for this rare occasion, but I could hear the hurt in his voice.
"I take it you won't let me return to my home or allow me to bring my brothers to the Den?"
"You know I can't do that. You're far too valuable for mankind to let you go. And your brothers are not like Shio, I can't sneak them into the Den without anyone noticing."
"I know that. Besides, I don't think I could will myself to leave. The bonds I formed with my pact are too strong to break. And I know the other choice isn't possible."
"Then I take it you have an alternative request."
"It's been nearly a year since I've been in the Den and throughout that whole time I was never given leave time to visit my family like the others nor 'vacation' time. I've come to collect them."
"You don't mean..."
"Over the last couple of months I purposely said nothing about this so that they could all add up. I've come for my vacation leave which should have added up to equal a month now. No more orders, no sudden call-ins, no HQ, no tracking me down with my armlet until my vacation time is up. That's all I ask."
"And what if I didn't give you this 'vacation' time?"
"Then I will hate you." His face turned pale. "I'd hate you with everything that I am. I'd never forgive you for this and despise you to my last breath. You wouldn't be Saki anymore... you'd just be Director, or worse, those nameless men from HQ."
"Well, then... it's a good thing I'm giving you your vacation." He said somberly. Feeling a little bit bad for having to do this to him, I went around his desk to hug him.
"Thank you, Saki... You'll look after my God Arc tile I come back, right?"
"I'll even let you take your God Arc with you."
"Really?! That would make things so much easier... Thank you!" I peak him on the cheek.
"But I'm afraid you'll have to wait a few days before I can give you your vacation. Wouldn't want to miss Sakuyas and Lindow's wedding now do we?" Ah good, at least he was back to his old spirit. But wait...
"Wedding? What's a 'wedding'?"
****** Outside the Story Extra ******
"So Rookie, how are liking living in my room?" Lindow asked.
"You can have it back!"
"Woe, woe, woe. I was just kidding. Keep it, I got a better place to crash."
"If I'm right you're now rooming with Sakuya now. She was talking about how your feathers are all over the place. Funny thing, if she sold them to the Merchant she'd make a small fortune."
"Yeah, I'm a walking gold mine."
"But she is really happy to have you back. We all are, but she is the most."
"Hehe, yeah... that really means alot to me."
"I can't wait tile you guy's wedding."
"Which reminds me of something I need to talk to you about."
"About what?"
"About things like the Honeymoon. You see Okami, as a married couple we're going to be doing things that normal couple's do."
"And that would be?"
"It's time to tell you where human babies come from."
"You mean you guys are finally going to tell me."
"I don't want to, but I want to do things with Sakuya without having to explain to you why we're making so much noise."
"..." He leaned closer to her as if to tell her a secret.
"Well Okami, you see, the thing is..." Then he covered her ear with his hand as he whispered into it.
"... Oh... OH. OH!... OH MY SWEET EARTH!... oh." He moved away from her a little, with his job now done. "So that's what mother and Saki were trying to hide from me. But... are you two planning to have offspring so soon?"
"Nay, we're not ready to settle down."
"But then why-"
"Cause it's great, trust me on this one kid."
And so Lindow left Okami somewhat traumatized and a grin on his face. No Kota didn't, Lindow did.