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

13

Staring at the ceiling of the room both you and Hikari were in, you waited for time to pass. Today was the day you was going to be separating from Ikoma and the others. You woke up way too early, and could for some reason, could not fall asleep again.

You turned your head to see Ikoma beside you next to you.

He held you against his chest, still fast asleep. It would be soon that you could still make a  decision of staying with him or still proceed on leaving them from Shitori station. You knew even in your predicament of confessing your love for Ikoma and telling him about your engagement that ultimately your heart belongs to Ikoma but it conflicts with your goals in finding a cure.

Flashback

"E-Engaged..." Ikoma muttered in a low tone.

The shock on his face....you knew exactly what he was going through this second. It must have felt to hm like his heart had stopped beating and his world shattered. Sadly, it had shattered mine as well.

"Yeah," you replied, "That is why I can't be with you...don't get me wrong Ikoma, I am in love with you but this is something I need to do for Hikari's and my sake in living."

"Who is he?" Ikoma asked, the wave of rage going off of him as the disbelief washed through his actions.

"Do you really want to know?" you asked back, "I didn't want to tell you because at this moment of time we are at peace."

Ikoma looked around to see everyone enjoying themselves and having a great time, sharing their wishes and conversing amongst themselves. He then focused back towards you to see you jumping off the trains and heading into the village.

You were walking through the crowded village. You were pushing their way through the crowd and grunted when you got elbowed in the stomach. Before you could hit the ground, someone caught you. You looked up to see Ikoma looking down with a faint blush on his face, matching yours.

"Sorry," you replied rushing out of his hold and through the crowd once more.

"Wait!" Ikoma replied as he ran after you, grabbed your waist, held you in place, and tilted your head after grabbing your chin. Your heart pounded in your chest as you gazed into his ruby color-coated eyes. In the heat of the moment, you shivered once his hand went down your neck from your chin to your shoulder, his  fingers caressed your skin. "Forget it then...let's just spend this time together," he whispered as his face came closer to yours, he faintly brushed his lips against yours before making solid contact.

Your eyes fluttered close as you easily gave into the kiss but sadly knew that this would be the  few that you guys would share.

"End of Flashback

I carefully lifted myself from Ikoma's left side of his chest and out of his arms. He squirmed a bit, but didn't wake up. Sighing, you ran a hand through your hair, removing some stands from your face. Hikari's birthday was over meaning, you no long had to abide by his wishes.

After getting dress, you left Ikoma in the room not before looking back and smiling. You  went outside to see Hikari with his stuff already pack.

"Have you slept well?"

You merely nodded in reply before sitting down on the staircase of the place you both were hosted at and looking towards the beautiful sunrise. The sky in the opposite direction was still dark, but in the east, a mixture of yellow and orange on the horizon beneath a dark neon blue ocean of night that had begun to evaporate. Against the tri-colored rainbow sky, trees, power lines, and the roofs of houses were like shadows.

"Are you happy about your birthday?" you asked.

"I received the wish that I wanted," Hikari replied, "I know that you are focused on making sure that I don't have this virus in me but sometimes I would like to see you happy as well, Onee-chan."

"I know," you replied ruffling his hair, "And you helped me confess feelings that I have tried so hard to ignore for a long time to someone very special to me...but you know my situation...why did you push it?"

"You don't love him...the way you love Ikoma,"

"That is true," you replied, "But to help you, I agreed to marry him for your sake..."

"I rather die of the virus than to see you suffer unhappiness with him," Hikari pouted causing you to chuckle.

"Well then if you die, I would be unhappy knowing that I won't have my Otōto-kun and my best friend," you answered looking back towards the horizon.

The sunrise had become even more beautiful as the sun peeked over the horizon. The sky had now become pink like a sea of cotton candy, with the light of the sun coloring the clouds above with a pinkish hue. As the sun slowly ascended, the sky in the west became a deep neon blue as the light reached further out.

"When this is all over, then let us start living happily rather than surviving," Hikari replied smiling as you smiled and hugged him tightly.

"That is my goal for you and hopefully for the both of us," you replied.

"I see a dream that will become a reality, where we can all be a family and you can have many of my Mei-chan and oi-Kun with Ikoma and let Ikoma's dream of taking back all the paddies and reopening all the stations"

You blushed at the thought of the first part of his so proclaimed prophecy and slapped him upside the head as he cringed out of pain and you looked away.

"How about we focus on just getting this virus out of us first," you said.

"Yuki!" yelled Ikoma barging through the doors causing you to look back at his disheveled appearance. His glasses were crooked, shirtless, and hair more messy than it usually was.

"Why are you yelling?" you said cleaning your ears.

"I-I thought you left..." Ikoma muttered as he began to calm down and took a seat beside you.

"I am leaving in the next 5 minutes," you replied, "Hikari and I wanted to see the sunrise before we headed out."

Ikoma turned his head towards the sunrise to see now that the pink had become a pale yellow mixed with blue.

"It is beautiful," Ikoma said.

"When there is peace," you began, "You can appreciate what nature has to offer sometimes; you should leave,"

"So you aren't reconsidering..." Ikoma replied.

"No, this is something I need to do for both Hikari and my sake."

Ikoma gave you a small smile while Hikari slipped away towards the gates were we would be leaving. You smiled and stood up with Ikoma following.

"Compare to him...It felt good to be around Ikoma. He is one of the few who understands me and I know in my heart... I will... always acknowledge my love for him..."