For those who may be interested there is some new fan art I posted on the Dokuga site
Chapter 36 Tokyo Missing
The sun shone through the windows in shafts of gold that gently caressed Shippou and transformed the orange of his hair into a mane of molten copper. His face screwed up in concentration as he weighed out the variables and debated how to unify his daimyo and lead them in conquest across the island.
His opponent, he had learned, was deceptively crafty. Twice he had clashed with her in pitched battles that stalled his advance across the map and in one instance forced him into a desperate defense of his territory.
With Rin and Shippou successfully distracted by the Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan board game, Souta made an excuse about needing to get some fresh air and excused himself. Heading to the front door, he paused as he grasped the doorknob in his hand.
Something is very wrong here.
Although not able to pinpoint an exact reason for his feeling of disquiet, Souta felt a strong sense that his house was now situated in the eye of an otherworldly storm.
A whisper in his ear made his heart skip a beat. "Something troubles you?"
Souta did not really need to turn around to know it was Kohaku. He knew the teen exterminator, quiet as a shadow, had followed him.
Couldn't you just stay with Rin? You like being near her obviously.
"Like I said, just need some fresh air," Souta replied calmly, careful to keep any nervousness out of his voice while turning the knob. He wasn't about to look as though he was being made jumpy by nothing in particular.
"I think I will join you," Kohaku said. "That game is only for two players and sometime outside would be nice."
"Well, your clothing might have people asking questions," Souta pointed out as the door hung open. He wasn't really looking for company and trained killers made him edgy anyway.
"I'll tell them it is a costume," Kohaku replied. "For a play."
"Alright then," Souta conceded. "Let's just go for a walk around the block."
Fifteen minutes later, staring at the roadway nearest his house, Souta knew his intuition had been spot on and something was not just wrong but extremely wrong. The grey, featureless cement, which usually played host to dozens of vehicles a minute, was a barren desert devoid of any traffic.
No cars, trucks, motorcycles or vans of any sort sped along its six lanes. A graveyard could not have been as total in its stillness.
"It isn't normally this quiet, is it?" Kohaku asked. Even completely out of his element, he could see the obvious.
"No, even on the weekend at a slow time it shouldn't be this quiet," Souta replied with a barely discernible measure of anxiety.
This is my time and no matter what, I refuse to look like a tool in front of Kohaku, Souta thought determinedly. Turning to the left he took several long strides forward and a few moments later, Kohaku was at his side.
"And now?"
"Maybe the traffic is being diverted for some reason. About three blocks this way is my school and across from it is McDonalds; a restaurant. It has food that is bad for you, but is addictively good. It never closes because people need their fix of golden fries at all hours of the day, so no matter what people should be there."
"I'll have to take your word on all that," Kohaku said, while privately wondering if the food had opium in it. If so, that would explain why people were addicted to it. Won't be having any of that then.
Even before arriving at their destination, Souta felt a hopelessness overcome him as the emptiness of the city around him became impossible to deny. The walk, although short, seemed impossibly long, as their lonely footsteps sounded with absurd loudness. When they actually did arrive in front of his school it really wasn't any surprise that the McDonalds across the way was vacant. The clear Plexiglas windows offered an unflinching view of the deserted interior.
One detail stood out to them both in its obviousness, even from across the street. On the tables nearest the street side, food remained uneaten on them. Drinks were still standing where they had been set down, burgers both wrapped and unwrapped rested on the tables, boxes of the iconic fries could be seen spilling their golden contents onto the trays beneath.
"Usually I am opposed to wasting food," Kohaku observed, "but this time I think it is best left to whatever scavengers may be in this time."
"Yeah, I can't say I am too eager to get anything," Souta agreed. "Although this is no doubt pointless, I'm going to check my school. Maybe someone is there."
"Since we are here, I guess it wouldn't hurt," Kohaku replied.
Pulling on the door handle, Souta swung it open with a loud whuffing sound as the bottom of the frame slid across the doormat.
I'm such a good student that even with school out I am still here, Souta thought sardonically, as he stepped through the main entrance into the lobby area. As ever, the first thing any visitor saw as they entered was the trophy case with its collection of golden mugs, bowls, and cups. Positioned so that they caught the sun's rays as they entered through the front doors and windows of the main hall, they gleamed in the lighting and demanded attention and praise from whoever saw them.
No one really cares though, do they? You may want to be remembered but you will be forgotten and only a golden knickknack everyone ignores remains. Souta reflected that he was getting amazingly cynical as he went into his teens.
"Is that real gold?" Kohaku asked from behind, as they strolled past the display into the side halls.
"Nah, its fake, just meant to look like it," Souta answered and then held up his hand to signal the need for quiet. From farther down the hall, he heard the unmistakable sound of chalk being used on chalkboard.
Souta looked at Kohaku out of the corner of his eye. The exterminator soundlessly produced a blade as long as his hand and Souta felt his heartbeat quicken. Simultaneously, he found himself terrified of that sound and the room it was emerging from, but driven to find what was making it.
By silent agreement Kohaku and Souta, spoke not a word as they moved down the hall, drawing closer to the sound of chalk scraping against the dark grey slate of its companion board. Tracing the sound to room 113, they halted just outside the door. Souta heard the sound of chalk being placed down and his heart thudded with impossible force in his chest. At the edge of knowledge or ignorance, of fight or flight, his life hung in the balance as he considered whether he really desired to enter the room and confront whatever it was.
There was a whisper of sound and Kohaku made the decision for them both as he vaulted in, blade at the ready.
Souta's heart damn near jumped out his chest as he awaited the inevitable sound of Kohaku clashing in battle, but heard only silence.
"Ummm, no one is here," came Kohaku's voice.
Souta let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and entered the classroom. Kohaku stood in its center, between rows of neatly arranged desks, and pointed to the blackboard. "What does that say?"
Souta felt a moment of jarring unreality as he took in the message on the board. "I think we should keep quiet about this until my sister and Sesshoumaru return. Let them handle it."
"Why? What does it say?" Kohaku asked with irritation bleeding into his voice. A moment later he regretted asking.
"It says 'Souta, your homework for tonight is to write a one million word essay on the death of all that is unholy.' "
