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Throwing Stones
Chapter Fourteen: A Place to Call Home
Kagome observed the group as they took in the extensive damage that was done to the market square.
Buildings had virtually collapsed in on themselves while the streets were full of potholes.
Ohagi curled up against the back of her neck as he tucked himself underneath her hair. She'd attempted to leave the cat at home that morning but he'd yowled and cried endlessly until she'd finally picked him up and let him remain perched upon her shoulders. Every now and then, she could feel him stir and bite at the strands of her hair playfully.
She'd set up a vet appointment later that day to get his shots taken care of. Most of the group wanted to go with her. Unfortunately it'd be too many people inside the tiny vet's office in the nearby town. Plus they had their own work to finish here. So it would just be her going this time around.
"They expect us to fix this in one week?!" Himiko gaped at the damage incredulously.
Kagome sighed, "Believe me, I feel the same way however I managed to fudge the assignments just a little bit." She flashed them a wide grin, "In the report we just need to focus on the old restaurant this week. Officially we'll have six weeks in total to work on this area. So I managed to buy us some time."
It also helped that she'd had Sesshoumaru send the Safety Commission a very firm certified letter about their ridiculous deadlines and good faith clause.
Honestly, Sesshoumaru's involvement in all of this was the only reason the Safety Commission was playing nice in the first place. He had enough dirt on them to bury them a thousand times over.
Kagome pressed her palm to her chest as her heart gave another painful twinge.
That was yet one more thing she wanted to fix before she left this world.
"So was this place caught up in the fight too?" Touya came to stand beside her. She felt his hand press at the space between her shoulders, as if to guide her away from the upturned pavement and dangerous potholes that'd lined the street.
He'd been oddly touchy with her lately. A simple brush here and a small touch there. All of which were innocent enough, but she couldn't deny the slight flushing that'd warmed her cheeks. Outside of Houjo's unwanted obsession, she wasn't used to being the object of someone's attention but she couldn't allow herself to be swayed now.
"Not exactly," She answered him truthfully. "This was the result of the fight between the townspeople and the combined forces of law enforcement, heroes and the Safety Commission." Kagome then gestured towards a half-broken plaque at the center of the square. "When my father was arrested, the people weren't happy. At first they tried to appeal his sentencing but when all their legal avenues to free him were denied, it culminated into this."
She peered up at the splint of a tree stump that remained behind the plaque. It once used to be a towering oak tree that'd grown with their village since its very foundation. She could still recall the canopy of emerald and soft colored limbs that stretched across what she felt was the entire sky. She still missed that tree and everything it symbolized.
"A battle soon broke out between the city and every law enforcement agency. The Safety Commission declared martial law and our town became completely barricaded. Reporters weren't allowed inside and during that time, our people went to war." She peered at the rest of the group, "Virtually all of the youth of this town participated in that fight. It was bloody, violent and ultimately ended in the near destruction of this city. Those who participated in the fighting were either arrested or killed in battle. The elderly refused to leave even after the orders to vacate were issued to the remaining townspeople." Kagome shifted as Ohagi emerged from his napping place to knead her shoulder. "This is the destruction that was left behind. This town may be small but the feelings of unity they shared with each other could never be broken. We are what remains of an era that's been left behind by this evolving society."
Hawks shot her a look.
It was evident he hadn't wanted her to discuss the city's past with them, but she felt like they were owed that much. If they were going to piece together the fragmented shards of their city's past, then it was only fair that they heard it from her directly.
"You know," Touya began. "You guys really are ride or die."
Her lips curled into a small smile, "Well that's because this used to be a prison town." She then led the group down several blocks to a slab of concrete. Its foundation was broken apart and only a few inches of brick remained of its exterior. "So a little history lesson. When quirks first appeared, those who possessed powers were often discriminated against. Especially those with heteromorphic traits."
Shuichi tensed as she pressed on.
"This town in particular was established as a sort of penal colony for the nearby city. All of those who were born with quirks were sent here whether they violated the law or not." She turned to face what remained of the building before them, "They were sent to this prison here and were expected to endure hard labor. Eventually the prisoners rose up against their wardens and destroyed the whole building. Afterwards they'd settled in town and fought hard to keep any outside influences from reaching them. They were what you would call a rogue society."
She held Ohagi as he began purring with content, "Since its establishment, this had always been a place to welcome those who've been shunned by society. It's a place that's fought hard to maintain its independence and twice now it was nearly destroyed for that show of solidarity." Kagome straightened her shoulders, "Which is why I'd like to see it restored to its former glory. This place has the potential to be a safe haven for those like yourselves. So I'd like to see it become populated again."
Kagome then offered them one last smile, "This town was originally named Kanna village in honor of the woman who'd first defended it. She was part of the first generation of quirk users and possessed the power of controlling mirrors. She'd used her ability to deflect the attacks of the nearby city's law enforcement and even managed to defeat the early heroes of that era. As her namesake, I believe that this village should be a place for those to take refuge from the world beyond."
Mirrors still held an important purpose to the elderly that chose to remain. However that was something they could discuss later.
Touya pressed his palm at the space between her shoulders once more, "So in other words, you'd like for people like us to become the new life blood of this town."
She felt herself flush before nodding, "That's assuming the Safety Commission will honor my last request of this program." Kagome sucked a breath through her nose before she continued, "One of the final conditions I'd asked for was that there'd be consideration of your sentences being commuted. I know they'd agreed to judging your weekly performance and doing a year-end personal interview with everyone, but there's no real guarantee that they'll allow anyone to commute their sentence."
"And you didn't want to give us false hope." Touya accurately surmised.
She nodded again, "So with that said, there is a chance it could happen. If that's the case, then this town would be more than welcoming of you. We just need to get it in working order first."
She'd be the first to admit that this request was entirely selfish of her. She could neither help them in this journey nor join them afterwards. Her body's limitation prevented her from doing even the most menial of labor. Still, if she could give her hometown the fresh start it so desperately needed with these people, then she'd take any risk necessary to ensure that would happen.
"Well you heard the lady," Touya strolled back towards the restaurant they were supposed to be working on this week. "If we want a place to call home, we've gotta fix it up ourselves. What do you guys say?"
There was a collective cheer as the group descended onto the chaos of market square in a cohesive unit.
A small smile pulled at the corners of her lips.
Maybe, just maybe, Kanna village could be restored to its former glory.
