It had been several days since Amanda had met Yuri. She’d introduced Amanda to her sister Yuko the very next morning, and they’d had a long talk, spanning most of the morning. Amanda had left Yuko feeling rather more thoughtful, but cautiously hopeful. Which was hardly surprising since she’d given her a lot to think about regarding the nature of ability, or lack of, and the desire to live.

Amanda had felt awkward sharing her own struggles, during the dark days immediately after the accident. Although in a flash of morbid humour she’d pointed out that every day was a dark day for her. That had surprised a laugh out of the stoic Oni girl.

After that, they had talked more freely. Yuko had confessed that she’d had thoughts of ending her life too… but she felt that it would be a betrayal of her sister, and the doctors trying to treat her. Amanda had agreed with that, although as she pointed out, Yuko really needed to find a reason to live, for herself, not just others.

It was mid-morning, a few days after they’d talked, that Amanda went to visit Yuko, and found that she had a visitor. She had no idea who the strange woman was… at least the laughter she’d heard coming out of Yuko’s room had been feminine. As soon as she knocked and slid the door aside, she felt the woman’s presence, like a summers sunlight on her face.

“Oh.. hello Amanda. This is Kiko, Kiko, this is Amanda.”

“Hiya Kiko… wait, Kiko? The Kiko?!”

The woman’s laughter sounded like a combination of bird song and a stream burbling over rocks on a spring day.

“Ah, I see you’ve heard of me then!”

Amanda nodded, cautiously. As Kiko continued.

“Yuko told me you asked to be transferred here from the military hospital to meet me?”

“Um..yeah. I know that was presumptuous of me but… ”

“It’s okay, I understand. You were desperate for a miracle, since nothing short of one could heal you. Well, shall I take a look at you and see what I can do?”

Amanda nodded slowly. She had thought she was prepared for this, but now it was upon her, she was suddenly afraid. Scared that she’d be told no, that she couldn’t be helped, or worse, wasn’t worthy of it somehow. She knew she wasn’t necessarily what many would call a good person. She smoked too much, drank like a sailor when she was on shore leave, and had rather more casual sex with multiple partners than most people would regard as virtuous.

She could feel the sweat slicking her palms as she rubbed them on her pants legs.

“Umm, now? I mean, don’t I need to make an offering or do some sort of atonement for past sins first?”

Kiko laughed softly, almost musically.

“Oh no.. not really. Well, not unless you want to that is? Do you?”

“Fuck no! Oh cra.. um, pardon my language!”

Kiko laughed.

“I was a collage student until not that long ago. A little swearing is not going to make me faint, trust me. Which is just as well, because my beloved Inari has a bit of a potty mouth at times!”

Amanda chuckled, then did a mental double take.

“Wait, what? You and Inari? You’re a couple?”

“Of course. I mean, she’s at least five thousand years old, and a kitsune who can change shape and gender at will.. So naturally she’s rather flexible when it comes to who or what she’s attracted to. Inari loves who she loves...and never mind the details.”

Amanda couldn’t help herself, she whistled in awe, then blushed.

“Sorry, sorry… I’m... I’m just impressed you landed someone so awesome, but I guess since you’re a goddess as well...”

“Oh no, I was as human as you are when we met. And yes, she is. I wake up every day wondering how on earth I could be this lucky!”

“Huh, well, maybe there’s hope for the rest of us then. Even crotchety old engineers who spend way too much time being ‘just one of the boys’...maybe!”

Kiko laughed.

“Oh yes, even you… and you’re not that old. You’re, what, high side of thirty?”

“Pretty good guess, 38 last birthday. Mind if I ask how old are you?”

Amanda could feel the smile in Kiko’s voice as she answered.

“Twelve years your junior, next birthday. Although with everything that’s happened, I feel like I’ve lived a couple of lifetimes longer than that.. Oh and I’ve only been a Goddess since last December, although I’ve been studying hard to make it up to the next rank.”

“Huh? There’s ranks?”

“Oh yes, certainly. A newly ascended God or Goddess, that is, one who wasn’t born as a kami, starts off as fifth rank. Someone like Inari is a Goddess of the first rank, and the ranks are subdivided into stone, then copper, bronze, silver, gold, sapphire and diamond, as well… So, technically I am a Goddess of the fifth rank, with a bronze seal. Not quite as junior as it gets...but not far off. Then there are those Kami who were born of other older Kami and are on a different scale altogether, although there’s a quite a bit of overlap between those ranks and those of the ascended Kami.”

Kiko ran out of breath, judging by the inhale. Amanda jumped in.

“Ok, that’s… complicated. Sounds a bit like the ranks in the navy, with NCO’s and officers, which technically is straightforward, but there’s enough exceptions and sideways career tracks that it gets complicated.”

“An astute observation, yes it’s rather similar… although it’s all rather moot since Inari is the only original Goddess still extant as far as we know. The Celestial Realms, the home of the Kami, is sealed, maybe no longer even exists.”

“Riiight… you weren’t some sort of academic before your promotion were you?”

Kiko laughed.

“My turn to apologize! You’re right, I was, as well as being a Miko… a shrine maiden. I was studying to be a historian of religious texts and a librarian specialising in conservation. I get a little carried away and drop into lecture mode still, for which I apologise.”

Amanda shrugged.

“Hey it’s ok… if it means you know what you’re doing, then I can stand a lecture or two.”

“Well… to be utterly fair, I only know what I’m doing some of the time. But in your case it won’t matter because your body knows how it’s supposed to be. I’m just lending it the energy to heal. It’s when I have to get creative, and go beyond just fixing what’s broken, that things get complicated.”

Amanda chuckled.

“I get it, DNA and stuff. You just have to RTFM and we’re good. Now if I wanted an extra pair of arms, not that I do even it would be useful, but that would make it more difficult, right?”

Kiko laughed.

“Precisely! And RTFM?”

“It means Read The Fu… Fricking Manual. And yeah, I thought as much. I’m an engineer, and the body is a machine when you get down to it. Granted, 4 million years worth of kludges, workarounds and legacy shit, but still…”

Kiko laughed, giggling until she snorted in a very un-goddess-like manner.

“Oh that’s too true! Yes, precisely! But at the same time it’s wonderfully resilient and has multiple backups. So fixing it is quite possible.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Turning sober suddenly, Amanda asked.

“Alright, I’m sold. Can you patch me up?”

Kiko’s voice was just as serious.

“With your permission, I’ll take a look. But I think it’s quite likely.”

Amanda chuckled and in her crisp ‘officer’ voice replied.

“Permission granted, scan when ready!”

“Done… and yes… The damage to your spine is finicky but doable, but you’ll have quite a bit of muscle weakness afterwards because I’ll need to prioritize fixing what won’t heal by itself given a bit of time and exercise. The eyes and your inner ear are easiest, it just matter of making them regrow missing parts. But yes, I can fix it all. I can even remove the scars if you wish, but again, that’s a low priority, apart from anything that would affect functionality of course.”

Amanda sat for a moment, her nose running as her non-existent tear ducts tried to cry. She rubbed at her nose and eyes trying not to.

“I...I had hoped.. but I didn’t really believe it possible… thank you!”

Amanda twitched as Kiko suddenly wrapped her arms around Amanda’s shoulders, hugging her.

“It’s ok, you’ve been helping Yuko, I’m just returning the favour. Although I would’ve helped even if you were a complete stranger. I have the ability, so why would I not use it?”

“Right, yeah. When you put it that way, you’d have to be a complete a-hole not to… Ok. So.. what do we do now?”

Kiko sounded thoughtful.

“Well… I’ve been working with Yuko to remove the clots and heal the damage to her lungs. That’s delicate work and slow going. It takes time for lung tissue to regenerate. So, it would be best if we used another room to avoid any ‘spill over’ affecting that.”

“Ok, that makes sense. My room, it’s in the other wing and down a floor. Would that be far enough away?”

“Uhm, yes I think so. Do you need help pushing or can you manage?”

“I think I can manage for one last time!”

Kiko sounded cautious as she spoke, slight hesitating.

“I should warn you not to get too eager. I can fix the nerves, but your muscles might not support you at first. You’ll need to exercise to build your strength back up and strengthen new nerve connections. So, please don’t be disappointed when you cannot walk all that well right away.”

Amanda sighed.

“Yeah, I should’ve guessed I wouldn’t be dancing straight off the bat. Thanks for the reality check, I mean that sincerely actually. Thank you. I was getting carried away.”

“Well, miracles I can do straight away, the impossible just takes a little bit longer.”

Amanda was still chuckling at that by the time they reached her room.

Healing Amanda took the rest of the morning. Kiko had concentrated on the more important and difficult areas first, tackling the finicky business of reconnecting spinal nerves first. Amanda had found it difficult to stay still during that, as it had caused the worst case of pins and needles she’d ever felt.

Still, once Kiko had finished, Amanda found she could at least feel her legs, and with some considerable effort move them a little. She couldn’t help grinning.

“Gonna need someone to do P.T.”

Kiko hmm’ed thoughtfully before saying anything.

“You know… we could solve two problems at once if Yuko agreed to do that.”

“That’s a pretty good idea. Giving her something to do would help. Ok, eyes next? Oh, and if you’ve got enough left in the tank afterwards, could you get rid of the scarring? I was never anything much to look at, but I don’t want to spend the rest of my life looking like a Halloween fright night special.”

Kiko chuckled.

“I shall see what I can do, at the very least I should be able to make them less noticeable. I would have to heal them a little anyway, so you can blink without it hurting. I’ll have to bandage your eyes first though, we don’t want anything getting into them and getting trapped while they’re regrowing!”

“Fuck no! Ok, there’s some gauze still in the night stand. I think.”

Kiko moved to stand behind Amanda after bandaging her eyes, placing her hands on Amanda’s temples, either side of her head, Kiko’s slim hands about parallel with Amandas eye sockets. The process itself caused tiny star-bursts of light in the darkness, phosphine sparks caused by random nerve firings. The equivalent of pins and needles for visual nerves.

“There, done. Do you want me to unwrap your bandages or do you want to do it?”

“You do the honours please… I’m not sure my hands are steady enough!”

Kiko softly asked.

“Nervous?”

“Hell yes! Of course.”

“It’s ok, I can tell it worked already, even the scars will only be faintly visible and will fade completely in a week or two.”

Amanda sighed, and nodded.

“Ok, can we…?”

“Of course. Just a minute.”

Amanda closed her eyes until she felt the bandages fall away, and then with butterflies in her stomach slowly opened them to look Kiko in the face. She saw the look of shock and surprise cross Kiko’s face.

Worried Amanda snapped.

“What?”

“Your eyes, I didn’t expect them to be so beautiful… they’re the bluest I’ve ever seen.”

She could feel the blush on her cheeks, glancing downwards. She blinked in dismay as she saw herself.

“Shit! I’m skinny! Why did no-one tell me I’d lost so much weight?”

Kiko laughed, shaking her head.

“That’s not entirely true… here, let me…”

Amanda couldn’t help admiring the young goddess as she glided across the room, then she felt her eyebrows rising as she noticed that Kiko was walking an inch or two above the ground, and seemed to have a faintly pinkish-gold aura surrounding her. Kiko noticed Amanda’s astounded expression as she wheeled the full length mirror across to her.

“What? Oh.. bother! Sorry, I haven’t quite got the hang of that, I can’t help floating.”

Amanda smiled.

“Yeah.. leave it alone.. Goddesses should look like you do!”

Kiko blushed, and fussed with the mirror, getting it lined up just right. Amanda studied her reflection in surprise. Her legs might be wasted and skinny, but her arms and shoulders had clearly benefited from six months worth of heavy exercise! Amanda pulled up her sweatshirt and t-shirt, and whistled as she took a look at her abs.

“Whoa.. I’m jacked! Guess it really is an ill wind that blows no good.”

Kiko blushed and looked away.

“Um, yes… well, your core muscles had to do a lot of the work holding you up I’d imagine, and of course your arms would be getting a work out.”

“Yeah...I mean I knew that, just hadn’t realised how much.”

Amanda grinned, and continued.

“Well, wanna walk with me to go see Yuko? I mean...I should probably take my wheelchair, but wanna give me a hand walking that last bit so I can show off for her?”

Kiko laughed, nodding, and helped Amanda navigate down to Yuko’s room. Which turned out to be rather necessary since she knew the way blind, but trying to do it sighted proved unexpectedly difficult. As Amanda put it, she had a different set of navigational beacons to go by.

Once outside Yuko’s room, Amanda set the brakes on her chair, and borrowed Kiko’s shoulder to lean on. Three steps towards the door and she was beginning to sweat, by the time she’s knocked on the door and entered her legs were trembling from the effort of staying upright, despite Kiko’s assistance.

Two more steps towards the surprised Yuko. And her legs gave out on her. Kiko tried to hold her up, but Amanda was too heavy for her. They were saved from an embarrassing tumble by Yuko diving forward and scooping Amanda up in her arms.

“Amanda! What the hell do you think you were doing?!”

“Er.. showing off the fact I can walk?”

Yuko sighed.

“Look at you, you look like you’ve skipped all the leg days! What made you think you could just get right back up after six months of sitting on your ass?”

Amanda hung her head and mumbled.

“Guess I just got carried away.. I mean, c’mon. I just got my legs back! How could I not try?”

Kiko laughed.

“Oh Yuko.. let her alone, you’re no better. I mean the first thing you did after I healed you was take a deep breath! Then you spent the next minute coughing.”

Yuko grinned sheepishly, as she put Amanda down in the chair next to her bed, and went to fetch the wheelchair from outside.

Amanda didn’t comment either, she was too busy seeing Yuko for the first time. Why hadn’t anyone said she had green hair, she wondered. Amanda also couldn’t help thinking that Yuko cut an impressive figure, dressed as she was in a sports bra sort of crop top and yoga leggings.

Amanda shook her head. She wasn’t gay, she told herself firmly… but if anyone could convince her to play for the other side, it would be Yuko. Her back muscles.. no, her whole body was a work of Art!

Kiko noticed Amanda’s gaze, and smiled slightly to herself. Despite what Amanda had said to Yuri, as told by Yuko, she could see the colours of Amanda’s aura, and had noticed what she was just beginning to realise about herself, if the way that thread of colour was brightening was any guide.

Kiko thought about saying something, but then decided not to. It was far too easy to meddle and not entirely a good idea. Better to let them work it out for themselves, and enjoy the process of discovery. Besides, if she said anything, it could get awkward, especially if Amanda decided that she didn’t want to act upon the possibility.

Still, Kiko thought to herself, it was going to interesting watching their relationship bloom, if it did.

They would make such an adorable couple! Even if they decided to remain just friends it would be sweet!

Kiko giggled quietly, secretly thrilled at the idea… and then caught both Amanda and Yuko staring at her. Embarrassed and bit flustered, she coughed and composed herself.

“Ahem, I was just saying to Amanda that she would need someone to help her, or at least keep her company, during her physical therapy.”

Amanda picked up her cue.

“Yeah… wanna be my work out buddy Yuko? Help keep me motivated?”

Yuko’s look of delighted surprise couldn’t be any more obvious an answer.

“Um.. yes! If you want me too I would be happy to! Ah.. that is.. if you wouldn’t be discouraged by me that is? Oni are a lot stronger than humans and…”

“Nah. That would just make me work harder trying to keep up, you know. If you promise not to let me slack off, I’ll spot you, deal?”

Amanda smiled lopsidedly at Yuko, and stuck her hand out. Yuko carefully enfolded Amanda’s hand in hers, making sure the points of her nails only dented the skin of Amanda’s wrist.

“Deal. Please take good care of me.”

“Likewise! Tell you what, there’s a small gym downstairs, wanna go hit that now? Burn off some of the carbs from lunch?”

Yuko visibly perked up at the idea, a bright smile wreathing her face.

“You’re on! Let see how much you can bench press, your shoulders are almost broad enough for an Oni’s!”

Amanda grinned and flexed her arms, causing Kiko to chuckle.

“Ok, I’ll leave you two muscle-heads alone, I have other people to see today.”

Amanda abruptly sobered, and looking seriously at Kiko bowed from the waist.

“Thank you Goddess… if there’s ever anything I can do, just ask. I owe you more than I can possibly say.”

Kiko blushed, and shook her head.

“I won’t say it’s nothing, because it’s not, at least not to you. But really, seeing you well again is worth the effort. Be well Amanda Fielding, grow strong and make the most of your life.. oh and have fun!”

Amanda laughed.

“Hear that Yuko? As the Goddess commands, lets go have some fun!”

Kiko was still chuckling as she walked down the hall… she didn’t get why some people regarded exercise as ‘fun’ but it was obvious that Yuko and Amanda were kindred spirits in the respect.