I thought it was a bit forced that Gen had to stay back with the drone team. Narratively, sure, he has to be at the cove to talk Moz down later. And yeah, he's tallish, but ladies can also be tall and rock it. Rude.

So what if he went with the spy team? What would change? How might the Kingdom of Science's 'happy ending' still be reached?

(POV character is Kohaku for this, and the pairing is SenHaku.)

"Well, even if I am a bit tall," Gen said in his high-pitched voice, "I think I should join the infiltration team. Who better to analyze and take advantage of the social dynamics of an unfamiliar place than a mentalist?"

The rest of the group looked at each other, apparently not seeing a problem with it, then to Amaryllis, who broke into a wide smile. "I think it's a great idea!" she said. "And honestly, you're so pretty I don't think your height will matter at all!"

Gen smiled and giggled, holding his hand daintily over his heart. "Aw, thank you, Ami-chan!"

Amaryllis squealed in delight and ran over. "Nicknames! How perfect!" Then she just…started talking, an endless flow of words that Gen nodded and cooed along to. Kohaku thought it might be a kind of sorcery—the woman didn't seem to be pausing for breath.

When Senku groaned, Kohaku chuckled. He was still dressed up and she poked his shoulder. "What's the matter? Do you want to be called pretty, too?" she teased.

He glared at her, his hands on his waist like normal, but the whole effect was a little softened by his delicately colored eyes and lips. "I don't care a single millimeter how I look. Not my fault Amaryllis is good at playing dress-up."

She clicked her tongue. "Well, you make a handsome man and a lovely woman." Then she grinned. "But Gen was right. You ruin the picture when you open your mouth, no matter how you look!"

Senku rolled his eyes. "Ha ha, hilarious."

Kohaku laughed and tugged on one of his ponytails. His hair had needed almost as much taming as hers, shampoo and conditioner and all, but now it was quite soft and touchable. He swatted her hand away with a scowl (but she could see the far corner of his mouth curling up—he thought it was funny, too).

Amaryllis seemed to have calmed down a little, even if her eyes still looked like they were shining. There was a beat of anticipatory silence.

It seemed it was decided, then. Kohaku nodded firmly. "Alright. Gen, Amaryllis, and I will try to get chosen for the selection. Can the rest of you handle the work on your own?"

Senku nodded without hesitation, as did Soyuz and Suika. Ginro, who had been hiding behind Soyuz (coward), groaned but ultimately nodded as well.

Amaryllis clapped. "Then let's get going! There's only an hour or two before they're supposed to show up, but since they're in the area already, they might come early."

Soyuz ferried them out of the cove and they started walking to Amaryllis' village, which Gen and Amaryllis turned into a lesson. "What's wrong with the way I walk?!" Kohaku sputtered as Amaryllis watched her gait with a narrowed gaze.

Gen sighed, using his normal voice. "There's nothing wrong with it, but we're trying to be chosen for a harem. To make it as incredibly blunt as possible, since Suika-chan's not here to talk around, they're picking girls for the Master to have sex with. Sex appeal is a big factor here."

Amaryllis blushed and squeaked. "Wow, that was as blunt as possible!"

Gen patted her arm. "Sorry, Ami-chan. Kohaku-chan likes explanations that are as hard and fast as she is." Then he looked at Kohaku. "Again, going to be crude here, but you have a figure that a lot of men find attractive. The way you walk can emphasize it." Quietly he muttered, "And maybe distract from how unladylike you act."

Kohaku scowled but nodded. She would try. Neither Gen nor Amaryllis were fighters, and they'd need protection. She had to be chosen.

They used the next half hour to practice. Gen also made Kohaku practice introducing herself, which went incredibly badly at first, and then he and Amaryllis brainstormed while Kohaku went and kicked a tree in frustration.

Gen clapped once and the others turned to him. "I've got it! You enjoyed the play we put on for Tsukasa-chan's soldiers to explain everything, right?"

"Yeah?" That had been a lot of fun to plan and practice, so different than anything they'd done before.

"So let's think of it like that. We're not trying to change Kohaku-chan, but trying to build a character she can play. It'll still be tough, but Kohaku-chan is one of the most determined people I know, and if anyone can do it, I know she can!"

Kohaku knew Gen was just trying to cheer her up and maybe trying to trick her into doing it right. But it did work a little and she smiled. "Okay. Let's try again."

They didn't quite perfect it, but someone from the village called, "They're here! The selection team is here!" Their time was up.

Gen smiled and hooked his arms through theirs to start walking to the center of the village. "It's go time, ladies!" he said.

After stopping a man from attacking the selection team to rescue his wife, Amaryllis ended up going first. Her naive, brainless act towards the men (of course it was all men) was expected, but it was still a bit scary how big a difference there was in her behavior. She was picked immediately.

Gen giggled. "Ami-chan has certainly gone all out! Let's break a leg, Kohaku-chan."

She blinked, startled, then remembered the phrase from when they put on the play. A superstitious way to wish good luck to actors. She nodded and took a deep breath. They'd practiced this. She was an actor playing a character, a character that would get picked for the harem, because she couldn't let her friends down.

When it was her turn, she stepped forward and popped her hip to the side, putting one hand on it. I can do this, I can do this. "Nice to meet you! I'm Kohaku!" she said in a bright, cheerful voice that she was sure sounded as fake as her wide smile looked. She said exactly what Gen had her practice, being sure to stick her chest out and move her shoulders a little (ugh): "I just love being active and having a good time!" She kept the smile on her face, even as her heart pounded. There was no way they'd fall for it! It was so obviously an act!

But Minister Ibara seemed far too distracted by her breasts to notice anything amiss. "Well, well, I'm sure we'll have plenty of good times together, blondie." Then he was reaching one hand towards her chest, and she went to break his wrist clean off—but was stopped by a spear, wielded by someone who turned out to be named Moz, who said that he thought she was strong and wanted them to…she wasn't quite sure what he meant. Maybe spar?

The whole interaction was confusing, but it ended with Ibara saying, "You pass!"

Kohaku had never felt such an odd mix of relief and utter disgust. She stepped back with a nod and then it was Gen's turn.

He'd decided to play the part of an elegant, demure woman. Partly because he felt it would be the most natural, he'd told them earlier, and partly to save his voice. If it was in character for him not to speak often, he could rest his voice from the high pitch he was using and thus have it be more convincing when he did have to speak. He stepped forward and bowed a little, hands held in front of his stomach. He straightened and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear, then slid his hand down to his throat. "A pleasure to meet you." There was the slightest flush on his cheeks as he kept his gaze lowered. "Please call me Genki."

"Oh ho! What a classy lady! And so polite! You're in! My, this village had quite the selection this year!"

Gen bowed again and backed up. Kohaku glanced at him and saw his very smug and 'unladylike' expression, hidden from the group of men. She had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. She understood Gen a bit better now—he really did just like messing with people sometimes, especially dumb people. And he was maybe having a bit too much fun with this, so she nudged him with her elbow to remind him to not blow their cover by being happy his plan was working. He made a little face at her but his expression evened out and he straightened up. .

Then he quietly said, still using his high-pitched voice, "Moz-chan was flirting with you, you know."

It was her turn to make a weird face. "What? Why?"

Gen shook his head. "As practical as Senku-chan. It means he likes you, or at least likes the way you look. He was propositioning you."

Her expression didn't change. Ew.

Gen laughed. "Just be careful, Kohaku-chan."

Then it was time to head back to the Master's harem. They met up with girls from the other villages and all started walking. The three spies didn't dare talk and raise suspicion so early on, so while they walked together, they walked in silence.

Kohaku saw a glint in the air as they went, right above their group and aimed to fall in front of her. She snatched it quickly. It seemed to be a…decoration?

"An earring?" Amaryllis muttered. "We've already been picked. No need to doll us up more."

Earring, huh? It looked like it could slide over her left ear, so that's what she did.

"Hey, Kohaku," said a tiny voice she recognized immediately. She gasped. "Tell Gen that little present I sent over is an earpiece. He can explain it to you. Well, kind of. Anyways, keep this thing on and I'll stay in contact with more information. It's one-way, though, so don't bother replying."

To the others, she said softly, "I can hear Senku's voice. He said it was called an earpiece."

"A what?!" Gen hissed, then he sighed. "Why am I even surprised anymore? What, did he invent a microchip while we were gone?!" He continued muttering to himself.

Amaryllis, meanwhile, looked amazed. "You can really hear him? All the way from here?"

Kohaku grinned. "That's science for ya."

Then Senku continued, "Hm. I actually didn't get a chance to test this. We were trying to hurry. Uh…if you can hear me…fix your shoe?"

She did so immediately, kneeling and retying a knot that didn't actually need it, then quickly caught back up, raising her arms above her head as if in a stretch and giving a thumbs up to where the earring had been thrown from.

"You got this, spy team. We'll work on the drone."

Inside the boundary of the palace, Amaryllis distracted the guards and Gen distracted the irate Kirisame who came to reprimand the guards, giving Kohaku time to check out the glimpse of something that looked rather out-of-place in this low-tech village. She flipped back up to them, then told them that she'd found what they were looking for.

The three of them walked and talked quietly. "But how do we let the others know?" Amaryllis asked. "Do you have some sorcery for that?" she added, looking meaningfully at the earpiece.

"Science, not sorcery," Kohaku reminded her. "And Senku said this was one-way. There is a way to talk back and forth, but it's large and very obvious."

"Yes, the radio would be a one-way ticket to being discovered for sure," Gen added. "Maybe…hm, we could try to do something with firelight and Morse code? Or…make a little boat with a letter inside?"

"What's a letter?"

"Oh, right. It's a way to send information by writing it down." Gen eyed Kohaku. "Say, I don't recall seeing you at writing class, Kohaku-chan."

She shrugged. "It didn't seem important."

Senku spoke in her ear again and she held up a hand for the others to stop talking. After a moment, she told them, "Senku said he was sending a gift our way. What does that mean?"

Almost immediately people started screaming. Kohaku and Gen both sighed. "Probably whatever's causing that," Gen said for Amaryllis's sake.

They ended up catching a little motorized 'rat' that they realized they could use to send a letter. Kohaku ripped off a part of her dress for Gen to use to write on, and he laboriously scribbled out a message with a twig and some berry juice. Kohaku sent it back where it came from, hoping her friends got the message.

Gen smiled rather genuinely when Senku confirmed that they'd received the message. "Glad I came along! I can't imagine how that would've worked out otherwise." Then he poked Kohaku's shoulder. "And so you need to learn to write. You've seen how useful it is!"

"Ugh, you sound like my sister," Kohaku said with a grimace, but she sighed. "I guess I will. You're right—that would have been a lot harder without you being able to write for us."

Kohaku hesitated.

"Don't worry," Gen said, smiling as if his dress wasn't covered in their friend's blood, as if he wasn't pressing his hands against the holes in Amaryllis's abdomen as she whimpered in pain, as if his whole body wasn't shaking. (As if Kohaku hadn't failed to protect them, utterly and completely.) "I have a plan. Go tell the others what we found out."

So she ran as fast as she could, dodging and knocking guards over as she went. It took longer than she liked, and she saw the light of the Medusa through the trees as she glanced behind her and realized that Gen's plan was to use the petrification itself—it would stop Amaryllis from dying and keep the guards from attacking him. She desperately hoped it worked, but she didn't have the luxury of stopping and checking.

Finally she lost the guards. Moz had given up chasing her long ago, at least, proving that she'd been extra right in calling him a man without determination. She reached the ocean and dove in, swimming the rest of the way to the grotto where her friends hopefully still were. She swam under the surface in case anyone was somehow still watching.

As she entered the grotto, she looked up through the surface of the water and saw her friends—more of them than before. They'd done it! And there was Ryusui, whole and well! It had worked!

And then she remembered why she was swimming in the first place and her stomach twisted.

She shot out of the water and onto the shore, bracing herself for a moment to catch her breath.

"Kohaku?!" Chrome cried, running over to her.

She shook her head and angry tears filled her eyes now that she didn't need to run anymore. "They found us out. They turned Amaryllis and Gen to stone." Expressions of horror filled the other's faces—except Senku's, of course, stoic as ever. She had to finish explaining. "But the—"

"You almost lost me, Kohaku," said a voice that made her blood run cold.

She whipped around, fists up. There was Moz. Damn, she'd lost her makeshift blade while escaping. The others gasped behind her. "I didn't hear him…" Ukyo whispered.

Moz smirked. "Almost lost me. You're not all that fast."

How, how?! How could she have led him here? She shouldn't have assumed he'd given up when she hadn't seen him!

"Looks like you betrayed your friends after all," he went on, looking around the grotto, "despite all your pretty words about keeping them safe."

She was going to throw up.

"Couldn't even keep the two with you alive," he went on in a falsely sympathetic tone. "Abandoning them like that in an enemy camp. What did you expect? Now the rest will die, too."

It couldn't be! Gen had said…

What if his plan hadn't worked? What if the guards had just killed him and Amaryllis instead of turning them to stone?

The bastard smirked. "Since there's not much point in fighting me…"

And a calm determination filled her. It didn't matter. She would fight, no matter how impossible the odds, to protect her friends.

He seemed to notice the change in her. He sneered. "Really? You're still going to try? Even after I already beat you? I outmatch you in every way. There's no way you could win."

"Winning doesn't matter. I'll always fight for my friends." And if she gave them enough time, she was sure the others could think of something.

That actually seemed to make Moz angry. She stood her ground, though, calm in the knowledge that while her death was assured, it would be in an effort to save the people she cared about. Then Moz snorted and looked around. "Is it one of these guys, then?"

If he was trying to get information from her, she wouldn't fall for it.

"The man you spoke about so loyally?" He said it like it was something detestable.

"I've literally never talked about anyone with you." Maybe she should keep him talking, talking and not fighting. She had to make time for brains to work. "So you'll have to be a bit more specific."

"Already forgot our lovely conversation about your ideal man? You sounded like you had a pretty specific guy in mind, listing off those qualities." He glanced around. "Hm. I know you said you didn't care about strength…but one good round with you would snap some of these boys like twigs, especially if you were riding."

Was he talking about fighting? But she heard Yuzuriha make a somewhat disgusted noise behind her, so he must have meant something else, something gross.

Moz had heard Yuzuriha, too, and his smirk grew. "Hey, look at this. You didn't tell me you were hiding such cuties here, Kohaku."

Kohaku tensed, ready to intervene. Behind her, Taiju immediately moved, probably planting himself in front of the girl he loved. And Nikki muttered, "Not a chance, you creep."

Right. She wasn't alone.

Moz snorted. "I'm guessing…" Then he was gone, and someone grunted—she spun and Moz was holding his spearhead against Ryusui's stomach, one hand around his throat. "…this one. You probably like a guy in charge, right? He looks like he fits the bill."

Kohaku stared, horrified. Ryusui didn't have a shirt on and the edges of the spearhead were cutting into his skin, blood starting to bead up. "S-stop it!" she cried. "Why does it matter?! Let him go!"

Ryusui was grimacing and tried to grab Moz's wrist to pull him off, but it was like Moz was made of steel. Immovable. Moz chuckled and tightened his grip around his throat. Ryusui's eyes bulged.

Kohaku leapt forward, aiming a kick for Moz's elbow. She had to get Moz away from Ryusui before the bastard killed her friend (because she did consider the man a friend, oddly enough—it had been easier to trust him after coming to understand Gen). Moz moved his arm to avoid the kick, which left him open for her to plant an elbow in his gut. He grunted and let go of Ryusui, who stumbled away, coughing and gasping.

Moz growled and straightened. "You bitch. Know your place!"

And then he moved again, faster than she could track, and suddenly she was flying through the air, then slamming into the side of the mobile lab. Things fell and shattered inside on her collision, and there was a pretty sizable dent left as she slid to the ground, unable to catch her breath, unable to move. Everything hurt.

Yuzuriha and Kaseki raced to her side while Nikki joined Ukyo and Ryusui in taking up a battle stance while Taiju moved himself between Moz and the others.

Kohaku gritted her teeth. None of her friends would go down without a fight. But they wouldn't stand a chance. They needed her. So she gasped in a breath—she had to keep going.

"Sword," she hissed. "And shield."

While the adults protested, Suika ran and collected the items Kohaku'd had to leave behind when going undercover. Kohaku pushed herself up and started to stand despite protests. Instead she whispered something to them, and there was a pause before the two craftspeople looked at each other, nodded, and got to work. She didn't let herself think of the pain radiating down her spine, how her legs shook at first.

Suika handed her her weapons once she was upright. The generals were attempting negotiation with Moz, but without Gen, talking their way out of this would never work.

"Ready," Kaseki said after a minute or two and Kohaku nodded, then slowly walked backwards.

The 'conversation' with Moz seemed to be escalating in a way that had Ukyo and Ryusui sweating and Chrome gesturing more frantically. Senku's hands were closed into tight fists. It was now or never.

With a final nod to Kaseki, Suika, and Yuzuriha, Kohaku started running.

Something the people of the twenty-first century had decided to introduce to the villagers was diving boards. It was the most fun Kohaku could remember having in years, bouncing as high as she could and launching herself into the lake. She even tried going for distance instead of height, and got pretty good at shooting herself out and away over the water.

This board was much smaller, compact and efficient. She had to make the most of this chance.

There was a straight shot to Moz as Chrome moved erratically away, so she jumped, landed on the edge of the board, and angled herself correctly as she shot forward. She held out her sword, braced with her shield, aiming true, going for a stab instead of a slice.

Moz saw her, eyes widening. He'd probably thought her out of the fight. Ha! He swerved, but not fast enough to miss being hit entirely. Instead of piercing him, her sword only cut him as she went past him. Nothing life-threatening. Nothing that would stop Moz from killing her friends.

She turned her momentum into a flip to land on her feet, and she slid to a stop, turning as she did to face her foe, sword held out to the side. Blood dripped from the edge of her blade as the dust of her landing settled around her.

Moz put one hand against the cut and pulled it away, looking at the blood on his palm, seeming incredibly surprised to have actually been injured at all.

Kohaku readied herself, holding her shield and katana and bracing for attack—her weapons made from science gave her an edge. She wouldn't go down easily, and if she couldn't take him down with her, she'd made sure everyone else had a fighting chance. She didn't have the energy for another leap, but she could stand her ground and let him bring the fight to her.

He just stared at her, though. Then he huffed, closing his hand and smirking. "I think I understand the appeal."

She narrowed her eyes. Why did he keep bringing up random things?

"Someone who never gives up…I've never met anyone like you before, Kohaku. I take back what I said before. You're gorgeous."

Her eye twitched. Was he seriously trying to flirt with her right now?! After calling her a bitch and throwing her into the lab?! She sneered and said, "To borrow a phrase, I don't care a single millimeter what you think about me."

Then he grinned and spread his arms. "Didn't you say you liked a man who pursued his goals tirelessly, step by step? I'll make you my goal."

She legitimately shuddered. "Don't. Seriously. Do not." Moz would never be her type, no matter what act he tried to put on. She knew what kind of man he was.

He just laughed. "Damn, playing hard to get?"

She didn't understand what was happening anymore, although at least everyone else seemed just as confused.

"Here's my deal, cutie," he said, walking forward a couple paces but staying out of cutting range. "I'll leave your friends alone. I won't tell anyone where you are. Hell, I won't even try to stop whatever coup you're planning. All I want…is a kiss."

She almost dropped her pose, almost dropped her guard. "I beg your pardon?"

Her friends were freaking out behind Moz, Nikki blushing furiously, Chrome screeching something, Ukyo looking distressed but out of ideas. Ryusui rubbed his throat as he talked to Ukyo. And Senku was scowling, breaking away from the group and stalking over to her and Moz.

Kohaku's eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat. Moz would threaten Senku. Senku was so scrawny that Moz might kill him without meaning to.

For a moment, it was years ago. She watched two men she'd never seen before converse as one held a woman hostage. She watched a man die for his friend, saw the foe hit his neck and break it, saw that noble man fall to the ground and the woman scream and run to his lifeless body.

She didn't talk about it. It seemed he was fixed as soon as he was broken, this impossible man who cheated death, so what was the point? But it didn't change the fact that she had watched him die once.

She would not watch him die again.

"I accept," she said, forcing her expression to remain neutral. She ignored the protests of the others and lowered her sword and shield. She walked to Moz and looked up at him. The smug bastard was grinning.

She leaned forward and barely pressed her lips to the skin just above where she'd cut him.

Then she kept walking to put herself between Moz and Senku, who was only an arms reach away but frozen, expression unreadable to her. She glanced over her shoulder. "Get better, Moz," she said dryly. "I'd just hate for you to get hurt again."

He snorted. "You're lucky you're cute." There was a whoosh of quick movement.

Kohaku waited a few seconds, then whispered so Ukyo would hear, "Is he gone?"

He nodded slowly, focusing on something he was hearing. "Yes…he's swimming back to shore."

And she collapsed to the ground with no further preamble.

There was a bit of screaming and yelling, and then someone was picking her up.

"Come on, big guy," Senku said, "lay her on the table here." She was gently placed on her side. "Chrome, see what's not broken in the lab."

Oh, all the shattering sounds when she'd crashed into the vehicle. "Sorry," she muttered.

"What for? You didn't backhand yourself against the lab at frickin terminal velocity." Senku sighed. "Your back and ribs are probably a mess." And someone started pushing the strap of her dress off her shoulder.

"Senku!!" Taiju screeched, and she heard a slap.

"Ow! What the hell, you idiot? I need that hand!"

"You can't undress a girl!!" Taiju sounded properly scandalized. Kohaku felt a little smile lift her lips. An honorable man, Taiju.

"What, you want me to let Kohaku have ten billion cracked ribs because she has breasts?!" And his blunt and practical best friend, Senku.

"You didn't ask!!" Taiju went on. "You have to ask, at least!!"

Senku groaned. "Fine. Fine. Kohaku, can I undress you to make sure you aren't a walking pile of cracked bones and possibly internal bleeding and don't die in two minutes? There, you big oaf, happy?" Taiju made some kind of noise she couldn't interpret.

She huffed lightly. "Yes, you can. Thank you, Taiju." If it had been anyone but her friends here, she would have killed them for trying to undress her, especially after her experience in the harem (some people were just the filth of the earth), but she trusted these people with her whole heart.

Uh. Maybe…maybe not Ginro…

Senku seemed to think the same thing. "Taiju, if you want to protect Kohaku's honor or whatever, take Ginro somewhere he can't be a sleazebag."

Taiju immediately walked away and she heard the yelps of Ginro being manhandled to the other end of the cove. Good. She didn't need Ginro trying to sneak a peak when she was literally unable to fight back.

"You care if the rest see you?" Senku said, his fingers pressed against her neck like he was checking for something. She winced at the slight pain of it. "I know you're still a brazen lioness, no matter how much taming Gen and Amaryllis tried to do, but since you're down…"

She thought about it. "Not Ryusui."

"Ha! Sure, I'll keep our greedy captain busy."

"And…not Suika."

His hands paused, then resumed their gentle searching pressure. "…yeah. She's been following Ryusui around, you know. He lets her ride on his shoulders."

She smiled. "Really?" She hadn't imagined him as the brotherly type, but people could surprise you.

"Ten billion percent adorable and heartwarming," Senku said sarcastically, but she knew he meant it. "She made Ryusui and Ukyo those paper hats, too."

"So resourceful," Kohaku murmured. Senku was reaching a part of her back that was very sore. She hissed.

He sighed. "Damn. I think some of your vertebrae have compression fractures, and that's no joke." When she hummed a questioning noise, he explained, "Traumatic bone injury. Your spine's a bit cracked."

"He broke my back?"

"Just a bit. Once we get the Medusa, we'll heal you up." His tone changed, becoming firm. "In the meantime, take it easy. Seriously. If you don't, you're liable to make everything ten billion times worse. A cracked spine isn't a broken spine, but it's a lot easier to break." He sighed. "You'll need a brace, for sure. Don't try to twist too much, or at least do it slowly. If you feel any tingling, numbness, or weakness, stop whatever you're doing and call for me."

She was feeling a little uncomfortable at the severity of his explanation and tried to laugh. "It can't be that big a deal. Don't be such a worrywart." She just needed to rest and then she'd be fine.

He came around the table and glared down at her. "If anyone else here had been thrown like that, they'd be dead. Except Taiju, but he's Taiju. You broke the mobile lab with your spine and you can still walk and move. Let's keep it that way, alright?"

She swallowed and nodded slowly (it hurt). Then scowled. "I'm not a fragile little flower, you know. You better not leave me out of anything."

"Wouldn't dream of it, lioness." He started pressing his fingers against her ribs through her dress from the front.

"I'm not a lioness, either!" Then she realized she hadn't finished sharing the information Amaryllis and Gen had risked their lives to obtain. (They must've been turned into statues—they had to be.) "Oh, also: the Master is a statue. He looks just like Soyuz."

Senku smirked. "Ten billion points for the spy team. I'll tell the others and they can start brainstorming. Stay here."

She snorted. Like she was moving anywhere anytime soon.

The next thing she knew, she was waking up as something cold brushed her back. She tried to move away but groaned as moving made everything hurt—right. Her whole back was probably a giant bruise.

"Sorry," she heard Yuzuriha say. "Just cleaning you up. Senku's working on some medicine for you, too."

"And then I'll bandage you!" Nikki said from near her head. "I have plenty of practice with bracing from all my athletics clubs, and Senku told me the general idea was the same, so you'll be better in no time!"

Kohaku smiled. "Thanks, guys." All of them working together…that's what would win the day.

Magma, possibly the stupidest person Kohaku had ever known, shot at a boat of islanders once before Kohaku knocked him down and snatched the gun back.

He got back up with a roar, and she roared right back. He backed off a little, eyes wide, and she held herself back from knocking him out because they needed every fighter.

She saw Kirisame approaching, alone. A perfect opportunity. Kohaku threw the gun at Yo without waiting to see if he caught it and sprinted towards the islander warrior. She ignored her friends telling her to come back. She ignored the pain of her ribs and back.

There hadn't been time (nor did she have the inclination) to tell the group everything about her time in the harem, but she had realized that Kirisame was a lot like someone else she knew well—Kinro. A rule-follower. Full of integrity. But only because they believed the cause they fought for was honorable did they follow those rules. If the cause was proven false…

Kirisame saw her coming and readied herself. Before any banter, Kohaku hissed, "The Master is a statue." Kirisame's eyes went wide and she missed an opening, but Kohaku didn't press her advantage. That wasn't why she was here.

"You—you lie!" the older woman cried, but Kohaku could see she was confused.

"And we can revive statues!" Kirisame stumbled a little as she went for a swipe and Kohaku pointed to Ryusui. "You see that man? Does he look familiar to you?"

"The…one we brought in to…wait, all of those people…" Kirisame was stunned, then looked at Kohaku. "They were all on the ship!"

Kohaku nodded. "We want to take Ibara down. He's misusing his power and lying to your people. The Master hasn't been in charge for years."

Still skeptical. What could she say…? Evidence. Scientific evidence—observations. "Have you even seen the Master in the last twenty years? Seen him, with your own two eyes, out and about? Or heard his voice?"

That did it. Kirisame's eyes filled with tears. "No…I…if what you say is true, then…! What have I done…?"

"You're not a bad person!" Kohaku said quickly. "You're a good and faithful warrior. You…you were deceived." People like Kinro and Kirisame tended to assume others behaved as they did, honorably and for the greater good. Such malice and deceit…it would not be easy to forgive, and perhaps not even possible.

Kirisame's expression changed from anguished to determined. She looked to the ship where the islanders were gathering. "You say you can revive petrified people? Any petrified person?"

"Yes, all of them." Eventually, with enough time.

Kirisame nodded. "So be it." She pulled out the device and whispered to it, then whipped it around and threw it out and up. The ship was once again bathed in mysterious green light from end to end. Ibara had been inside the ship itself—nowhere to run to or hide.

Kohaku saw her friends on the shore, watching in awe as their main obstacle was taken down for them in mere seconds.

"Kohaku," Kirisame said, pulling back the device. "I have taken a massive risk, based on only your word." The woman stared at her, her steady green eyes unnerving. "I think it goes without saying how this will end if you are proved wrong."

"I won't be," Kohaku said, knowing every word she spoke to be true. "Our Chief, Senku, will revive every statue." Well. Maybe not Ibara. Maybe that one would mysteriously go missing, courtesy of some former harem members.

Her friends approached the two women and Kirisame stood proud and tall. "Tell me," she said, "who among you is Senku, the sorcerer that has the power to revive the petrified?"

"Scientist, not sorcerer," Kohaku corrected. She saw Senku's serious face break into a small grin for a moment.

Then he said, "You're Kirisame." The woman nodded stoically. Senku's eyebrow went up. "Not that I don't appreciate the help, but why…?"

Kirisame frowned. "Kohaku said the Master was stone…and that you can revive those turned to stone. And I know Kohaku to be straightforward and truthful." Then her eyes narrowed. "Wasn't your name Thelab?" She said 'the lab' squished together like one word, and Kohaku pursed her lips to keep from laughing as she remembered the deception to keep Kirisame from killing them while desperately hoping for someone to be alive on the ship…only to have it be Ginro.

Senku scratched his ear, then glanced at Kohaku with a smirk. "Only my girlfriend calls me that."

Kohaku scowled, then rolled her eyes. Senku's idea of a joke wasn't always funny.

The statue of the Master was broken. Part of his face was missing, even after Yuzuriha put him back together (Ibara had smashed him). The other bits of his face were present, but the edges were far more aged and worn down. The crafty woman was doing her best to put all the pieces in place.

Senku held the device, having agreed with Kirisame to revive the island in exchange for it. 'The Medusa,' the modern-timers called it. "I don't know if this will work," he told Kirisame, "and we might ruin any chance of reviving the Master for real."

Kirisame considered this seriously. "The Master was a kind man, but he was also very brave. He believed that people working together would be what did the most good." She nodded. "I believe he would have wanted to do this. Even if it does not end well, I will not blame you. But I believe it would be better to try and live, despite the risks. And if he dies…at least we can honor him and move on."

Their plan was this: depetrify the Master, instantly repetrify him, then depetrify him again. Hopefully the extra petrification would heal any damage from being broken.

Senku then handed the device and a bottle of depetrifying liquid to Kohaku. "You're our best pair of eyes," he said, "so I'll leave this part to you."

She nodded. As soon as the stone shell started to slough off, she had to petrify him following the instructions Kirisame had given them.

Taking a deep breath, she tipped the bottle over the Master's head. The stone cracked, and as soon as she saw an instant of flesh, she said, "One meter, one second," and swung the device so the light would hit the Master and not anyone else.

The repetrified man's face looked odd and indistinct. Kohaku turned to Senku, her part done.

Senku handed the other bottle to Soyuz, who blinked with wide eyes, then firmly nodded and stepped forward.

Senku retreated to stand by Kohaku, and she saw…a rare moment of longing in Senku's expression. Ah. His own father. He'd never see Byakuya again…but he could help others revive their parents. She closed her eyes and smiled. Senku was such a prickly man, full of pride and biting wit, but he was still a man, with one of the kindest hearts Kohaku knew, and he missed his dad.

She leaned slightly so their shoulders were touching but didn't look at him or draw attention to it. She felt his gaze on her for a second, and then he was looking away and leaning into her a little, too.

Soyuz tipped the bottle. The statue sort of glowed and Kohaku gasped. Senku hummed. "Yeah, that's what short-term depetrification looks like."

Then a man was sitting there, whole, blinking, then looking up at Soyuz.

Kohaku and the others left then. Let them have their reunion.

Kirisame took up a guard post next to the door, and Kohaku saw the sparkle of a tear escape her eye before she brushed it away. The older woman cleared her throat. "Thank you, Chief Senku," she said with a bow. "You have proved your integrity to me. As promised, I'll tell you where your friends' statues are, and once I've talked with the Master, I'm sure I'll assist with depterifying my people.

"Sure," Senku said, "but don't call me 'Chief.' I hate titles."

Kirisame smiled. She looked much kinder when she did. "Then thank you, Senku."

The islanders and the rest of their friends were revived. The Master was quite possibly the most generous man alive, with such a gentle soul. Once he heard Senku's name, he knew the man from the hundredth tale had returned to life.

The Master hosted an island-wide party to celebrate and reconnect with his people, as well as to convince everyone to assist Senku. It went well, Kohaku thought. The villagers were predisposed to like them once they understood what Ibara had done and that Senku had saved the true Master, and could save those petrified by Ibara. Gen and Francois had thought up a few ways to impress the islanders with science, and Senku and Chrome had, too, filling the night sky with colorful explosions called fireworks.

Later, as the party wound down, the Master sought out Senku again, sitting next to him on the beach. Kohaku, who'd been admiring the cloudless night sky nearby, almost left to give them some privacy, but Senku subtly reached over and held her wrist, tugging her back down, so she stayed.

The Master sighed. "How wonderful that I was able to meet you, that you have helped me and my family so much."

Senku shrugged. "I just needed the petrification device, old man. Don't get mushy about it."

Laughing, the other man leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Well, I thought I'd take this opportunity to ask if you'd like to hear some stories about your father and his family."

Senku's hands curled into fists. "I've heard some of the Hundred Tales."

"No, no. Those are the stories Father Byakuya crafted for us, yes, to teach and guide us, but I mean what happened to the founders, their stories. The stories their children told of those first six people."

Senku was quiet for a long time. The Master waited patiently, as did Kohaku. At length, he said, in a rough voice, "Yeah, I wouldn't mind."

So the Master told the stories handed down not from priestess to priestess but from chief to chief. Kohaku listened in quiet wonder at the stories of the astronauts and their children. Her ancestors, her history, but people that Senku might've known, had things turned out differently.

The story ended with Byakuya's death, of his tireless efforts for the future that he had complete faith in.

"Father Byakuya fell into a strange sleep that none could wake him from, no matter what they tried. His children buried his body in what would become the memorial garden, where our people leave offerings to remember those who came before us. It is in a solitary place, on the east side of the island near the sea, between villages."

Then all was quiet. Kohaku sneakily glanced at Senku and saw something shimmering running down his face, and she quickly looked away to preserve his pride. But her heart broke for him. She knew what it was to miss a parent, to know they'd done so much to help you…but all you wanted was them, back with you.

The Master stood and bowed to Senku. "Thank you," he said, "for all you have done for my people. I am forever in your debt."

Senku didn't respond beyond a nod, but the Master didn't seem to expect a response and quietly walked away.

Kohaku noticed Senku clenching his fists but not moving. He was so stubborn sometimes… "I'm going to go to the memorial garden," she said, rising and brushing herself off. "Will you come with me?"

He slowly stood, then gestured for her to lead the way, still not speaking.

They walked down the beach, the sky starting to lighten. Birds called, waves crashed, and it was altogether a lovely early morning.

They eventually reached the monument, a tall pile of earth, stones and trinkets left to remember the dead over thousands of years.

"Oh," Kohaku said in surprise. "It's like ours." It made sense, she supposed, but she hadn't expected it. She closed her eyes and suddenly longed for home—so she knelt and bowed deeply to honor those shared ancestors, and those whose path her village had diverged from. Both were needed. All were loved. After a quiet moment of prayer, she stood again and looked over at Senku.

He had turned his head and was looking towards the sea, but he hadn't walked away. He sniffed and said, "There's nothing left of them. Just a few shards of stone."

"That's not true," she said back, knowing he was talking about the astronauts and more specifically his father. "They left us stories, and resources, and each other. They gave us the tools to reach for the future. They passed their knowledge down—that's science! You taught me that." She smiled. "They're always with us."

He chuckled and relaxed a bit, turning back to the memorial. "Yeah. You're right. Thanks for reminding me." He closed his eyes and she saw one of his hands press against his chest, so she looked out at the sea and gave him some time. What an infuriating man Senku was. She wouldn't change him for all the world.

After Senku had (finally) taken his moment to mourn at the memorial, they started walking back. The sun was starting to rise on the horizon and they watched it as they slowly walked.

After a while, it felt like someone was watching her. She turned to Senku, who was not looking at the sunrise anymore and was instead observing her with a little frown. She tilted her head. "What's up?"

"Your back feels okay?" (They'd healed her with the device.)

"Yep! Better than ever!" She flexed her arms and back, delighted that it didn't hurt even a little.

He smirked. "Lioness is back to her full strength."

And she scowled. "I'm not a lioness!"

Then he suddenly started laughing.

"What? What is it?!"

He ruffled her ponytail and she swatted his hand away. "You're not going to call me my nickname? I'm hurt."

"What nickname?" Then she raised an eyebrow. "Unless you mean Thelab?"

He grinned.

She rolled her eyes. "I thought only your girlfriend called you that."

He just raised an eyebrow.

She frowned. "Senku?"

He looked out over the water. "So, I know you probably haven't thought about it, because you're you, but watching Moz throw you into the lab was terrifying."

"I'm sure you would have thought of something," she said. "You would've found a way to protect everyone."

"Not for me. I was terrified for you."

"…what?"

"You hit the lab and I heard things shattering. I thought you'd cracked every bone in your body. Then you didn't move and I was ten billion percent sure you were dead. That we'd all just watched your murder."

He was being very…open. Was he tired? Had he had alcohol at the party?

"Then you come shooting out of nowhere with your sword like a vengeful Valkyrie and cut the guy who threw you. Then he asks to kiss you and you say yes."

Kohaku no longer had any idea what he was trying to tell her.

"You were a smartass about it, at least. To sum up," he turned to her, eyes piercing, and stared counting on his fingers: "I watched you die, I watched you ignore said death to be awesome instead, and then I almost watched you make out with your murderer."

Her face bloomed red. "Never!"

Shaking his head, he put his hand down and went on, "All of which to say…those things may have…opened my eyes a bit." He suddenly was very serious. "I don't know what we're going to find as we set out. My expectations have been disproven at every step. When I tell everyone that we're all coming back home safe…I'm trying to convince myself, too."

Very open. It was a bit frightening, honestly. But exhilarating, too.

"And I don't want to…leave anything unsaid."

He paused on the beach then, mouth opening and closing without saying anything. She stopped walking as well, even scooting closer. He'd been uncharacteristically vulnerable for the past few hours and she didn't want to miss any of it. "Yes?"

His eyes locked with hers. "I…" Then he turned his head away, pursing his lips.

She felt her shoulders drop. His openness was fleeting, it would seem.

"…I wouldn't mind if you called me Thelab," he said at last.

She frowned. That was a bit random. What…?

Then her eyes widened. Was…was he asking her to be his girlfriend?

In possibly the dumbest way she'd ever heard of?!

A smile stretched across her face even as she felt like her eyes would roll right out of her head. "I can find a different nickname for you," she said, scooting even closer.

His shoulders relaxed. "I dunno, I think it's kind of fun. And we can confuse everyone, which is extra fun."

Of course his idea of fun was to mess with people. "For now, then. You like the name too much for it to be much fun for me."

He smiled, still not facing her, just glancing at her. "How mean, lioness. You'd make fun of your own boyfriend?"

It gave her a thrill to hear him say that—it made it real. "Of course." She bit her lip as she thought of something. "Can I kiss you?"

His eyebrows shot up and he looked at her fully. "What?"

Her cheeks were bright red, she just knew it. But she wasn't a coward. "Can I kiss you?"

"Like…on the cheek?"

"If that's what you're okay with, yes."

He swallowed and looked away, then glanced back at her. "On the mouth?"

"Only if you want to."

He seemed to be having some kind of crisis.

"Senku. I'm seriously not expecting anything. You can say—"

He kissed her, his lips against hers. Quick and fast, pulling back away after a second. "Don't want to say no," he mumbled. "Which is weird." Then he kissed her again, a few seconds this time. "I've never wanted to kiss anyone before." Then again, his head tilting, even slower. "Sorry if I suck at this."

She wrapped her arms around his neck to hold him closer. "You don't," she murmured against his lips, then kissed his jaw up to his ear to whisper, "But you're talking too much."

He chuckled. "Rude." Then he kissed her again, and the warm sunlight of a new day washed over them.