11th Shot: To Destroy and To Save
Prying herself from Kohaku's hold, she sprinted towards the figure. Kohaku called for her, but she ignored the young woman–her mind currently only focused on Ukyo. Dropping onto her knees without a care for additional bruises and scratches she received, she immediately turned him onto his back although still careful–revealing a long, bleeding gash from the left side of his chest and stopped on the right side of his waist.
"Ukyo-san, hang in there!" she shook him, trying to keep him awake. Her hand flew to his neck, to check his heartbeat. It took away some of her panic as she felt thrumming of his veins underneath her fingertip. If he's unconscious, it would be fatal. Thankfully, he replied to her with a low groan of pain.
It was enough. Shinko took off her clothes, not minding her figure only clad in thin chocolate colored inner top. She ripped it until it became a long single fabric to act as an emergency bandage. Quickly, she pushed Ukyo's clothes away, patching up the wound around his chest to his waist–wrapping tightly in order to stop the bleeding.
The pain from her own wound almost nonexistent at the point–probably from how high she was from adrenaline pumping through her bloodstream.
She let everything happened without her acknowledgement, she didn't give a damn. Senku and Tsukasa's conversation went through her mind as if it was only a breeze, Kingdom of Science charging forward in respond of Tsukasa and Hyoga's participation in battle went completely ignored, she didn't even bat an eye as Senku, Gen, and Chrome ran past her into the cave on their mission to create another scientific weapon.
Once she made sure Ukyo's bleeding stopped–the red no longer trickling from the gash even though the makeshift bandage was completely drenched, that's when she knew she had to be back onto the field of battle.
Their deal still stands. It will be over if the battle was.
Even with the capable forces in their hands, going against both Tsukasa and Hyoga at the same time would only results in despair. Handling one of them already gave them an extremely hard time, defeating the two of them is impossible–especially if the two tag-teamed.
Kingdom of Science didn't think facing them head-on–they just needed to make time long enough for Senku to made something that would help them.
Using shock cannon was out of option, seeing as Tsukasa already destroyed it–throwing his sword in such force it sent Nikki, Magma, and Mantle hit a tree. Hyoga keeping the others on their feet as they defend themselves.
"Alright! Go!" the backup force Tsukasa brought along would give them a more disadvantage in number.
Before they could even take a step forward, Shinko snatched an explosive arrow from her quiver–she sent it whizzed through the air and landed right in front of the group, instantly exploding from the impact. They yelped and immediately fallback, eyes darting towards her instantly.
"If you even move a step forward," Shinko threatened, eyes looking at them murderously. "I'll blow you to bits."
It was enough for them to freeze on spot–fearing for their lives. An arrow successfully served as a warning they wouldn't want to cross or there would be severe consequences.
Tsukasa managed to defeat Magma, Kinro, and Ginro with ease–knowing him it wouldn't be a problem at all even if it's three on one. Meanhwile, Kohaku was handling Hyoga by her own, constantly dodging and defending herself from his spear.
Shinko felt her heart dropped when Hyoga successfully sent Kohaku's swords away from her grip, leaving her vulnerable. He thrusted his spear, only to be caught by her–the two were holding a tug of war.
"This is what I after," Kohaku remarked. "Impale me. I still won't let go. Hyoga without your spear, you're powerless."
Answering her statement, an arrow soared in such high speed towards the spear. It hit right through, breaking the wood in half. Kohaku was taken aback, she looked at a certain direction–smiling at a certain pink-haired young woman with bow and another arrow ready.
"Shinko!"
"Like what she mentioned. Without your spear, you can do nothing, Hyoga-san!"
However, Hyoga only scoffed. Holding his hand to a certain direction, he ordered. "My spare."
When the person who brought his spare coming out of hiding, Shinko sent a row of arrows flying–embedded to the ground in front of the person. He was surprised of course, halting on his tracks.
"That's a warning." she stated. "Move an inch and it will cost you your life."
"Mediocre people are quick to resort to futile resistance when they despair." Hyoga commented. "And Shinko-kun, today you're especially keen on interfering me."
"Hah! I don't remember ever despairing!" Kohaku snorted. "Don't you get it? All things build up upon something else, whether it's might or science. We might be weak individually, but everything is made from the accumulation of all of our efforts. We make enough time for Senku and the science team to turn the tides.
"We believe in science–in Senku."
Hyoga was occupied, however Tsukasa was still on the move. But no other person could longer stand on their feet to prevent him running towards the cave. Fortunately, Taiju blocked his way–still holding his shield. It made Tsukasa skidded to stop.
"You're not going!" Taiju shouted. "Not to where Senku is!"
Shinko switched to her last explosive arrow, she didn't need to move from her spot knowing she wouldn't even miss with the distance. "I'm not hesitate to blow you if you so much as take a step, Tsukasa-san!"
Instead of charging forward, Tsukasa stood frozen on his spot–attention focused on something else right above. Both her and Taiju followed his gaze, instantly found the reason for his gaze. Everyone else seemed to be looking at the same thing–stopping their movements. It easily stole the spotlight right in the battleground.
A paper airplane flew above their head.
Senku chuckled. "This isn't a battle between might and science, Tsukasa. Might is science. Do you know the ancient Greek word for 'power'?"
All of them watched as the plane hit a tree branch.
"It's dynamite."
An explosion occurred–easily double and triple folding the explosion from sulfuric acid and coal ash from before. It sent gusts of strong winds and debris. Automatically, they covered their eyes from the bright light and dusts that flew. It only lasts a few seconds and showing the results of their latest invention–trees losing half of their upper parts. It only need one evidence to hammer a primal knowledge into their brain;
Human strength is laughable compared to science.
"We made it just in time," Senku chuckled. "You held up well, battle team."
Then he turned towards Shinko, who's taken aback by the sudden attention–not expecting herself to receive a smile from the scientist. "You too. You did well."
She couldn't help but smiled in return.
"The Kingdom of Science has just completed dynamite!" Gen announced and then smirking evilly as he continued. "It has power of ten billion megaton joules."
That's a lie of course, strategy to frightened their opponents.
"Megaton? Dynamite? In this age?"
"They'll never be able to hit us with paper planes, though."
"Yeah, It's all or nothing!"
A very familiar breathless chuckle reached her ears. "We have dynamite arrows, too. These are a little more accurate than paper planes."
Shinko threw her gaze towards the source–a figure cladded in yellow, standing on his feet with his bow and arrow with dynamite tip ready to be launched. His grip wasn't steady, however he still managed to speak clearly. It was enough to remove a huge burden resting on her shoulders.
"Ukyo!/Ukyo-san!" Chrome and Shinko exclaimed at the same time.
"Or, we can have an extremely accurate aiming," Gen added, gesturing towards her–which she responded with a smirk.
"Of course," She pulled out an arrow. "I never missed my whole life. Do you want to witness limbs flying next?"
Then, Gen clapped his hands. "The war is over! That's it! The end!"
It was non-negotiable, their opponents realized it–the only thing they could do was to surrender. Now, that they had the underlings under control, they have to tackle the bigger problem–seeing both Tsukasa and Senku didn't move an inch indicated that the two of them understood the situation.
Tsukasa couldn't fight dynamite bare-handed or he'll get severely injured from his incapability of dodging, on the other side, Senku wouldn't want to risk anyone or caused anymore damage along with the fact that he didn't want to sacrifice himself.
They're both stuck–a stalemate, deliberately made by Senku.
"Which means, Senku, your objective is…"
"Yeah, to negotiate, Tsukasa." the scientist confirmed Tsukasa's thoughts. "Gen, you said you first met Tsukasa on a TV special."
"Eh? Yeah, that's right." Gen replied.
Senku explained. "Don't you think that's a bit odd? He could've had everything in the world, yet he's pushing forward with the noble goal of purifying established powers or whatever. That's the kind of man Shishio Tsukasa is.
Yet this guy has been participating in a ton of fights and showing up on TV all the time, making a ton of money. So much he earned the nickname 'strongest primate high schooler'. It's just doesn't add up. That just doesn't seem like his style."
"That's true…" Gen hummed in understanding. "Making a ton of money seemed like such an obvious thing to do that I never thought about it."
"What do you need all that money for?" the scientist continued. "For whom? She's alive, isn't she, Tsukasa? Your sister, I mean."
Sister? Tsukasa has a sister? It's something that never passed her mind, not even once. However, Senku's explanation was logical–if Tsukasa was so keen to build an ideal world free from greed, he wouldn't fight for public nor did he want to gather piles of money for himself. He did it because he was forced to, he did it for someone else–someone he didn't dare to let go.
"We might be able to heal her." Senku said, pouring the revival fluid on a petrified swallow. It worked perfectly–the bird broke out from the stone to flapped its wings and fly away. "With the peripheral healing effect of reviving from petrification. It's all or nothing, but there's a chance."
"He's right Tsukasa!" Taiju added. "Even Senku's neck was healed after you broke it!"
"So, as for that rejuvenation fluid," Senku placed his hand on the cave's wall, before continuing in a mocking tone. "Oh, look at that! We have all of it!"
So scummy… Shinko thought in distaste, and looking at how both Kohaku and Ginro didn't even bother to hide their displeased expression told her they have the same thoughts.
"What are your terms?" Tsukasa asked, voice still calm.
"We're offering one chance to revive your sister." Senku answered, face turning serious. "In exchange, we want a truce."
"What reason do I have to believe you?"
It took a moment for Senku to find an answer for it. "All you have is my word. I don't lie when it comes to science. Is that not enough?"
Tsukasa took a deep breath, eyes closing. Shinko was sure he didn't need any more to convince–Senku's words already held so much assurance on its own, even for her. "No, it's plenty. That's plenty."
Finally, it's all over.
Shinko couldn't feel her knees anymore–she let it buckled underneath her. She didn't mind if she ended up crumpling on the ground, but it didn't happen. Both Kohaku and Ukyo were already by her sides, preventing her from falling–Kohaku holding on her shoulders while Ukyo held onto her waist, minding her injured side.
"We have to take care of your injury first." Kohaku said, reminding her of the gash on the left side of her waist. She nodded, wincing as she tried to sit down with their help–her adrenaline already ran out, it's obvious the pain returned now that she's calmed enough.
"Here." thick rolls of bandage were dropped onto her lap. When she looked up, Senku stood towering her–casting his shadow upon her and blocking the sunlight. "You know what to do, right?"
"Yes," she gave him a smile, which he returned. "I'll manage on my own.'
Kingdom of Science was leaving for a while to make new arrangements for their next plan–reviving Tsukasa's sister. Kohaku bid her goodbye after she helped her search for some yarrow leaves and turned it to paste. Shinko applied it on her wound, then Nikki helped her to wrapped the bandages around her waist. It was quite awkward, but she was thankful for her help.
Next, she did the same for Ukyo's long gash. Discarding the previous makeshift dirty bandage, she changed it into a new cleaner one. It was a huge help for Ukyo to get rid of his shirt, making Shinko's job easier in wrapping the new bandage around his stomach to his chest. After she finished, she wiped some sweat away from her forehead.
"It's done." she informed.
Ukyo put a hand upon his injured area. "Thank you."
Tsukasa approached them, bending down to offer a hand to Ukyo. He accepted it without a second thought, letting the taller pulled him stand on his feet. Shinko smiled in so much relief–Ukyo was fine, maybe it will take a little while for his wound to completely heal but it wouldn't matter. She could feel her eyes starting to water each second passed–piling emotions completely breaking down her dam.
Ukyo noticed it, of course. He gave her a smile, the smile he knew only reserved for her.
She wasted no time to wrapped her arms around his neck, not minding stares from people who witnessed them (or even how Minami squealed in glee and how Nikki's face turned into flaming red). Ukyo was taken aback at first, however he soon returned the gesture–wrapping an arm around her waist and a hand on the back of her head, holding her close.
"It's finally over, Ukyo-san." she whispered to his neck. He nodded, burying his face into her hair–sighing in content.
"Yeah, it's finally over."