Koutetsujou no Kabane-Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress- (Ikoma Love Story)

08

"So you are telling me that a watchtower has fallen over the rails and is blocking us from passing to the next station?" you asked as Hikari nodded while you groaned in frustration, "And according to Ikoma's plan, if we go to the boiler room at the heart of the station, and light the boiler; we'll be able to operate the central steam crane and after that, we'd have to go another route to the boiler room where the Kabane will attack in single file?"

"Yeah," Hikari said while he leaned against the train and thought about the plan, "He also said there was nothing to fear because he had you and Mumei and  he was going to ask Takumi and Sukari to operate the machine."

"That plan is going to fail," you replied back to Hikari, "There is a whole bunch of Kabane...enough to build a colony actually..."

You thought about his plan in full action and given that there was a lot of Kabane...something was bound to go wrong.

"Ayumi asked if you and Mumei would help," Hikari said, "Mumei replied that she was going to fight solo and I told them that you are too weak to go into the plan and focusing on fixing the train was your main priority."

"That's my boy!" you replied, "While they go about their foolish plan, we shall make a back-up."

"Foolish!" yelled someone.

"Shit...the dumbass is near..." you thought as you turned around to see Ikoma. 

His fingernails were digging into his palms, squeezing his hand into a fist. His eyes filled with anger and sadness, probably at the lack of hope you had for him.

"You have been ignoring me for three days because I forced you to drink my blood and Hikari repeats my plan and you call it foolish! At least I am trying to do something for these people and try to bring us closer to our destination while you complain about the train and how dirty it has gotten."

You walked towards Ikoma and looked dead in his eyes as he held his stare, filled with fury and determination to try and get a point across.

"You injured your nose?" you asked, "Did Mumei kick you in the face?"

"H-hm...."Ikoma replied while he blushed until he gasped.

You pursued your lips and raised your hand back. You threw your hand forward as hard as you could, whipping it across his face. The crack of skin contacting skin echoed off the walls. Vibrations of pain started in your palm and spread all the way to your finger tips. Your palm was bright red, the same red mark that matched the one on Ikoma's face. He started at you with his eyes widened as his hand slowly made it to his red cheek.

"Yuki..." Hikari muttered.

You should have felt some type of remorse. but you didn't. Not one organ in your body could produce the slightest guilt of your actions.

"Your plan is foolish and cowardly," you replied in a cold tone, "You plan on running away from the enemy by taking the long route to try and attack them one-by-one. While it is intelligent in the safety of the humans it actually taking more time to accomplishing the goal and allows for faults to occur."

"Yu-"

"Shut up!" you yelled, "maybe if you thought about making the plan swift you might get the train to the next station... and since your dumbass can't comprehend reasoning, let me know when your plan fails."

A triumphant grin spread across your face and with a flick of your hair, I whirled on your heel and marched away with Hikari following behind after apologizing for my actions. You  never looked back to see him watch you leave.

"I liked the Yuki in my dreams..." Ikoma muttered.

"My suspicious to the other day was correct!"Takumi yelled, "I knew you didn't have a nightmare, you horny dog!"

"It is not true Takumi!" Ikoma defended.

"Admitting to your guilt!"

"WHAT!" Ikoma panicked.

You tsked at his previous remark and walked off to tend to other things. You turned around the corner and sighed pushing your hair back in frustration.

"Onee-chan..."

"Listen Hikari," you said, "We are going to let them go ahead and if they need help you may have to use your power...there is a lot of Kabane's around and I need you to focus on using your power to possibly help them,"

"I got it!" Hikari said out of determination.

"But once we are at Shitori station we will separate from them," you replied, "They are endangering us."

"F-fine, but I think you should at least let Ikoma know the truth..." Hikari reprimanded.

"I cannot believe I am getting scold by a little kid,"  you thought walking away from him as you looked out to see a hoard of Kabanes running towards the crane while Ikoma tried to defend Takumi and Sukari.

You  and Hikari watched as the Kōtetsujō pulled out to the south part of the crane to pick up the humans. You then looked to see Mumei losing a fight against a hand to hand combat wazatori.

"Yuki we need to help them!" yelled Hikari getting ready to rush out as you held him back and continued to watch to see Ikoma running to aid her before picking up the crane. Instantly the raging pressure from the boiler explodes triggering explosions around the station.

At that moment, a giant shadowy figure heads towards the train with a black smoke revealing a colony of Kabane fused together into one giant beast.

"Yuki..."

"Now we fight," you replied as you pulled your sword from your back.