“!”
Kanashi sat up with a gasp, his body covered in sweat and head throbbing.
I had it… it had it again. That dream, the one I had every night at the Venator Society. I haven’t had it in weeks so why Would I have it now? And the most frustrating part is that I don’t remember a damn thing about it!
Looking around he saw the net cafes booth empty, Kenji nowhere in sight.
“What time is it then?” Kanashi wondered, looking at the small digital clock in the booth's corner. “9:00!?” He read aloud
Shit, what’s going on? Did something happen!? Why didn’t they wake us up to kick us out? What's going on?!
Tensing up, Kanashi flicked his wrist to conjure Itachi, the feeling of unease palpable, the air growing muggy.
With a slow motion he peeled the booths door open taking care not to make much noise nor do it fast enough to be noticed.
“...”
After a few seconds of nothing he peeked his head out and saw nothing to either side of the booth, it looked pretty dead with the entire hallways empty. Still confused, Kanashi crept out of the booth and walked down the right hallway. He heard a few snores which he relaxed at slightly yet not enough to deconjure Itachi. The feeling of something being wrong was still permeating his mind. Something was definitely happening but he just couldn’t tell where.
It was just off, everything was. It was difficult for him to put into words other than something being wrong. Severely wrong, imagine waking up at the earth being tilted a few degrees, while you wouldn't be able to exactly pinpoint why things felt different you’d still know they were. That’s how Kanashi felt at this moment and it made him more than anxious. He tried to swallow but couldn't, like a large lump was blocking his throat.
“!”
Sensing something coming at him from behind he quickly spun around ready to bring Itachi down onto whoever was aiming to attack him. The thought of him potentially killing them was void in his mind. He was in a pure panicked mindset.
“Kanashi! They have Solitary Bear and Cub!” Kenji yelled in excitement as he appeared before Kanashi, a trail of dust behind him.
“Oh… nice.” With a sigh of relief Kanashi dropped his shoulders and deconjured Itachi. His body falling limp finally realizing it’s only just awoke from a deep sleep. As long as Kenji was there with Kanashi, things would figure themselves out. He could trust in that.
“It’s been a while since I’ve read anything but I’m really happy I found it. I can feel the literacy returning to my brain!” Kenji laughed, tracing his fingers along the book's cover.
You know Samurai were normally well educated right? Kanashi thought with a weak smile. “Kenji, do you know why we’re still here even though our time has expired?”
“Hm? Oh, I bought another few hours. I tried to wake you up at six but you were out like a log. Nothing I tried could even make you blink.”
“Oh, sorry about that then.” Kanashi said, bowing his head slightly. No wonder I feel so good, another night like that and I might be at a full tank. “Say, Kenji, do you feel something odd?”
“...” Kenji frowned at this question, his face growing slightly more stern. “It started about an hour ago, it seems like no one else here has been able to sense the change but I did.”
“Do you think it has something to do with the Toumeikan? Especially now that they know we’re here in Tousen?”
“No, whatever's happening probably isn’t in Edoland. I’d imagine it’s on the mainland.”
“In Taiponbo?”
“That’s what I’d guess, but I might be wrong. For it to be something this big yet that far away means something really serious is going on.”
Kanashi flinched at Kenji's words, if something serious was going on just over the Jade Sea on the Taiponbo continent then it would really have to be something major for them to feel it. Something huge, like a clash of Gods.
But it’s too early to tell… so far it’s only a slight hum rather than anything else… like the calm before a storm. But I can feel that something more is going to come from it… hopefully it doesn't affect us in any way…
“Ah, when I extended our stay they gave me this as a part of the purchase.” Kenji said, reaching into his pants pocket and pulling out a wad of vouchers.
“What’re those?” Kanashi asked, tilting his head to the side.
“Meal vouchers!” Kenji hummed, puffing his chest out as he flicked through the vouchers like you would to count money.
“They gave you that many?”
“Of course not! The bastards only gave me one, so I snagged the stack from right under his crooked nose when he turned away.”
“Normally I’m one to disagree with theft but in this case I think they deserve it.” Kanashi sighed with a wry smile.
۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞
After Kanashi did his morning routine of washing his face and brushing his teeth he met Kenji who’d done so earlier back in the lobby of the net cafe.
“Kenji.” Kanashi called out as he took a seat at the booth.
“What’s up?” Kenji hummed, his face stuffed with fried fish.
“I noticed that in Edoland you shower at the end of the day whereas in the western world we shower in the morning. What do you think about that?” Asked Kanashi, trying to make small talk.
“When you bathe it’s to wash away all the curses and bad things that have accumulated on you over the day, think of it like washing away your sins. If you shower in the morning what’re you washing away? The bad things from the day before have already laid in your bed with you.” Said Kenji.
“Hm, I was thinking more about the cleanliness of it but I guess you sorta addressed that if you replace the curses with germs. Maybe that’s what they were trying to say; they just didn’t know the term for germs?” Kanashi hummed, rubbing his chin.
Speaking of germs, I'm surprised I haven’t gotten any of my wounds infected, especially the one on my stomach from Satoshi since it’s basically just an open cut. But it’s not like it really bleeds either because of the seals placed onto it. Hopefully they can reapply the seal when I meet back up with Akatora. Their sealing might have even been better than the one Naori put on it, surprisingly. I’ve barely felt any pain from it.
“...”
“...”
“...”
“Say Kenji…”
“What now?”
“What part of fighting do you find fun?”
The question clearly piqued Kenji's interest and he looked at Kanashi with an awkward expression like he didn’t know what to say. “What makes you ask?”
“Well… before everything with Azhar happened, I never once in my life experienced a fight of any kind. I mean I guess I had a few with my older brother but those never escalated to the point of blood… at least not recently. Anyways I’m starting to realize that I don’t like fighting.”
“Why not?” Asked Kenji, his mouth still full of fried fish.
“I mean… in the moment I feel strong, and I like that. Winning feels good but once it’s all over and the realization sets in I’m only left with a feeling of disgust. Like I’m in the wrong. I can only ask myself If that was really the only way to get my point across. Maybe even if we talked about it then things could be resolved without either of us ending up hurt.”
“...” Kenji watched as Kanashi bit his lip, the visibility of his anxiety impressive.
“And if one day I end up having to kill someone… I don’t want to believe that the end of all this conflict is death. It seems meaningless and like a waste of time. And endless cycle until we’ve all killed each other and nothing is left. I mean doesn’t that scare you? To think that what we're fighting for is pointless? We’re only causing more suffering in the long run?” As Kanashi spoke his voice cracked and sweat dripped down his cheek.
“Kanashi.”
Kenji's voice and inflection was one in which Kanashi had never heard from him before. It wasn’t angry nor crazed, no it was more like the voice his dad would speak to him with when he was having trouble with something.
“I won’t say that your feelings are wrong, the world is filled with people who feel the same way as you do. But there’s also people like me who find words to not properly express our thoughts. Only through violence can we get our point across. Our fists and swords are our words. And when you meet someone like that you’ll never be able to get your point across through words alone. If you want to understand them and have them understand you then fighting is the only option. Remember that from their perspective fighting is their conversations and losing (death) is no different than losing an argument to them.”
“Is that so…” Kanashi frowned, burying his head into his arms on the table with a weak sigh. “Maybe there’s a middle ground out there somewhere…”
“Welllll moving on from that, the question now is where do we go next?” Asked Kenji before drinking a can of soda in a single shot. A horde of food rappers, bottles and cans surrounded him. The stares they got from fellow customers were surprising and humorous while the employees gave suspicious glares unsure of how exactly Kenji had that many vouchers.
“I was actually thinking about that when I was trying to fall asleep this morning and I think I remembered something we could use to our benefit.”
“Ho?”
Kanashi reached into his backpack and pulled out the map they’d looked over yesterday. Unraveling in on the table they sat at he traced his finger along the beach of Edo bay until coming to the very edge of it.
“I remember learning about this in high school last year. There's a strange current here that collects the trash which settles at the ocean floor. It goes along a majority of the route we need to take with only a few openings. But the amount of trash depends on the season.”
“What’da ya mean?”
“The current is caused by an Eunice aphroditois charybdis or it’s common name the Giant Bobbit worm. Basically it’s so big that when it eats the current changes for about a week or two and all the trash that's collected on the floor of the Edoland bay washes up on the shore. About once a year the Edoland government cleans it all up but that’s normally at the start of the year. So we have two seasons worth of trash to hide behind.”
“Why don’t they kill the Bobbit worm? It seems like an issue.” Kenji frowned.
“Well it was believed to be a God, I think it was called something like [水強欲の神: Instabitable Water God] so now it’s more like a national treasure, like how some temples keep rats because they're believed to be holy even in their a nuisance or pest… Wait a minute, why am I explaining this to you!? You’re an Edojin you should know this!”
“I told you I haven;t been to Tousen in decades, and besides some giant water god worm doesn’t mean anything to me unless I can kill it.”
“Why would you want to kill it!?”
“Because that’d mean I can kill a God right?” Kenji asked with a grin.
“...I mean I guess so but it’s not a true God. That’d be a Celestial.”
“Celestial?”
“A being of pure mana created through collective human beliefs in a divine force behind natural events. I think the Edoland head Goddess is Yamato right? Well I can’t be certain but she probably does exist out there somewhere in Edoland.”
“So I can kill a God?”
“On paper yes, but as it was explained to me a Celestial is on average equal to a Pillar God.”
“Pillar God?” Kenji asked, tilting his head.
“Oh boy…” Kanashi sighed, rubbing the space between his eyes. Is this what it feels like to talk to me?
۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞
“So this Jinen guy is the strongest on the planet?” Kenji asked.
“As far as I know, yeah.”
“Could he beat the other Pillar Gods if they all jumped him at once?”
“That’s what he told me, but I can’t really judge for myself since he’s the only Pillar God I’ve seen in action.
“If I kill a Pillar God do I become one?”
“I’d think so, Jin first became a Pillar God after he killed one. But I’m not sure how the ranking would work exactly. If you replace them as their rank or you start out as #10 and everyone else ranks up.”
“Hmmm, and the #10 is here in Edoland?”
“That’s what I was told. Hanajo Rika, God Pillar Of Domination.” Though that name makes me shudder somewhat.
“So If I kill her I can become #10?”
“What is it with you killing people!?.. But In theory, yes.” Kanashi sighed. Looking around he saw nothing but piles of trash stretching into the horizon. It was a good thing they wore shoes since their feet would have been sliced apart by all the shards of glass and metal which composed the sand they walked across.
Most of said trash was the kinds of things you’d expect to be at the bottom of the ocean. Plastic, wrappers, furniture and machinery. But there was also the odd thing which made you wonder how did that even get there. And though Kanashi looked he could find nothing he wanted to salvage. Not a sign from a retro arcade nor a legendary sword to claim as his own.
“Kenji if you lose to Julius then what?” Kanahis asked out of the blue.
“You think I’ll lose?” Kenji frowned, his eyes squinted.
“Well… I’m not saying that I’m asking what if you do.” Kanashi corrected.
Though I’m certain you’ll lose and I want you to. I really don’t want Julius to die and you’d probably take it that far. Julius on the other hand would never kill you he’d probably humble you severly, which could be just as bad as a physical death depending on the person you are but Kenji seems to take things in stride.
“I’d commit Seppuku.” Kenji answered immediately.
“WHAT!?”
“Hahaha, I’m just joking. Of course I’d challenge him again after I’d gotten stronger! The more I lose the stronger I become. That's why I’m at a plateau right now. I’ve yet to encounter someone stronger than me.”
“What a horrible problem to have.” Kanashi grumbled, his own strength coming into question. “I’ve met nothing but stronger people this whole time.” But at least no one has been stronger than Kenji. As long as he’s with me I wont die.
“!”
The drop in the air temperature was instant, an ironic occurrence of fate taking place. Kanashi fell down onto one knee, each breathing harder and harder to take.
What is this!? No WHO is this!? Kanashi wondered, an overwhelming aura threatening his life. His observation didn’t flash red, no it was a constant red, the danger overwhelmingly present. “Kenji…” He croaked out looking to his left.
“...” Kenji didn’t respond, he simply stood upright, the widest of smiles across his face and eyes narrowed like a cat who saw something that piqued its interest.
This aura… it’s almost like Titans how inhuman it is. It’s less like a man and more like a beast! I haven't encountered a Dragon but I imagine this is how it feels… It was like a loaded gun was pressed firmly against his head and the trigger half pulled by someone's finger.
“I just need to breathe…” Kanashi muttered trying to calm himself.
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Kenji had begun to walk towards the source of the aura and Kanashi could only attempt to croak out a warning. His mouth was dry and throat was empty. With a grunt he forced himself up off the sandy ground, his hand sliced apart from the shrapnel and debris which he’d grabbed a handful of.
“Kenji stop!” Kanashi managed to choke out as he leapt over the sand and tackled Kenji. “I-I can't’ tell exactly but this aura whoever belongs to their someone we, not I can’t handle right now!”
Kenji looked at Kanashi with narrowed eyes of annoyance. “I won’t start anything, I just want to see who is causing this.” Kenji growled with a frown.
“Promise?”
“I’ll swallow a thousand needles if I break it.”
With a weak nod of his head Kanashi let go of Kenji's arm and tried to follow behind him. Every step was heavy like he was knee deep in mud, his body trembled and sweat broke down it. As they got closer to the auras center the more Kanashi felt like he might fall over and die right there.
Kenji came around the corner of a large green refrigerator and smiled widely as he saw the source of the aura. Kanashi after a few seconds managed to move next to Kenji and peer out at whatever creature was exuding such pressure.
“!”
Upon Kanashi seeing the man who the aura came from he recognized him immediately from a picture Akatora had shown him. His wild black mane of hair and dark skin matched with overblown muscles and flat square nose.
“Chiba Iwainu, Hachibuto of the Toumeikan!” Kanashi croaked out his teeth chattering.
“Hachibuto…” Kenji repeated, rubbing his chin in thought.
In that moment the two mens composure couldn't be more different. While Kanashi felt intense fear and an overwhelming weight pushing down upon him Kenji stood tall and confident not only did the auras extreme pressure not seem to affect him he was filled with excitement from it.
I- I don't know why he’s here. Or why we’d see him but this is just as good as it is bad! If Kenji really is able to stand here like this he must be at least equal to Iwainu in strength. We can do it! Kenji can beat a Hachibuto. I won! Kanashi thought with a weak yet wide smile, his lips curling into his cheeks.
Iwainu sat on an old rusted yellow refrigerator which had been tipped to the side, the metal bending under his immense weight. In his hand he had a large fishing rod, no it was too big and thick to be a fishing rod. It looked more like he'd ripped a pipe out of a wall and tied some string to the end of it. You could probably pull a damn small whale out of the water with the thing. To his side were multiple differently sized and shaped fishing rods resting on the refrigerator and waiting for a bite. Despite the pressure he exhumed he was calm, upon first encountering it Kanashi thought whoever the aura belonged to would be full of murderous rage. However this appeared to just be how Iwainu was. His existence being cursed by his own strength.
“!”
With a sudden pull on the rod in his hand Iwainu flexed his arms and arched his back which rippled with exaggerated muscles, the fibers on each one nearly visible through his dark brown skin. With a grunt he flung the rod overhead and salt water splashed into the air coming down onto the beach like a rainstorm.
On the end of the rod with a literal anchor for a hook in its mouth was a massive fish, no it was a reptile, Wakayama Soryu, a massive mosasaur nearly the length of two cars laid in a line.
The mosasaur crashed to the beach with a grunt, its body flailing around and kicking up shards of sand which flew everywhere. When the sand flew at Iwainu however instead of slicing him apart the debris bounced off him like he was made of pure metal.
Reaching to his side Iwainu pulled out a large black cleaver like sword, what he did with said cleaver was so fast Kanashi didn’t even see it move until it had already been plunged into the Mosasaurs head cleaving it cleanly in two and killing the beast.
Ripping the cleaver out of the reptile's head Iwainu flicked the blood from it onto the sand and sheathed it back to his side.
Pausing for a moment he put his hands together like would to pray and looked down at the carcass of the beast. Muttering something inaudible under his breath as he frowned deeply. Like he was at the funeral of his beloved pet and was praying for it to be accepted into the afterlife with good fortune.
The whole time Kenji and Kanashi were stunned, unable to speak both for different reasons. Kenji, surprised at the man's strength, wondered if he could match him in brute force, not only that but the speed of his strike was incredible as well. He’d barely been able to follow it with his well trained eyes. The tiniest sliver of doubt in his mind was quickly drowned out by pure excitement. Like a kid waking up to find presents under the tree on christmas morning.
Kanashi on the other hand was also amazed by Iwainus' strength but for a different reason, just how alien to him it was. He’d seen greater feats of strength sure but nothing as quick and simple as what he saw Iwainu do. It was so effortless and weightless you’d think that he’d plucked a minnow from the water with a twig as a fishing rod. He’s not as strong as Jin. I know that, I can’t say how he’d compare to Titan because I was never able to gauge his strength but I do know that from what I can assume right now at this moment. Julius would have some difficulty in fighting Iwainu. He could probably win but not without being beaten to hell and back. Meaning I have no chance in this at all. I doubt I could land a single attack before he killed me, all it’d take is a single strike from that cleaver and I’d be split in half. How horrifying. This is what I’m fighting against.
After finishing his prayer Iwainu wet his lips with his dark thick tongue and put his fingers to his mouth, inserting the tip of his finger into his mouth he inhaled a lung full of air and then let out a ear piercing whistle which echoed for miles around.
“!”
Kanashi quickly slapped his hands over his ears as hard as he could to avoid damage but he still felt the pain deep in his head.
Kenji on the other hand was exposed to the brunt force of the whistle, blood trickling down his ear, though he gave no reaction to the injury.
The whistle was sharp yet short, lasting only three maybe four seconds at most. The moment it ended a rumbling called back to Iwainu. The rumbling of shifting trash around them.
“!?”
Kanashi conjured Itachi and spun around ready to confront the horde of whatever was going to be coming for him. Knowing the Toumeikan there was a high chance Iwainu had an army of beasts and Yokai at this beckoning call ready to devour whoever he called them upon.
Breathe, breathe, breathe. I have Kenji here, he’s going to protect me if things get bad right? But will he be able to protect me while also fighting Iwainu? He’ll lose! There’s no way I’ll die here then. I got this close and I’ll have lost everything!
“Meow.”
The sudden appearance of a cat from under an old flat screen tv made Kanashi shoulders slump and head tilt in confusion. It was a small orange cat not too unlike one which had been his elementary school's local stray.
“Meow.”
“Meow.”
“Meow.”
From everywhere came more cats meowing with hunger as they licked their lips. With a pounce they all sprinted forward jumping over Kanashi and running between his legs to where Iwainu had been.
Kanashi whipped around and watched as Iwainu let out a warm smile and pet the cats as they came to eat the mosasaur which he’d fished out from the bay. With happy tail wags they all quickly tore into the freshy killed reptilian.
“...” Kanashi stared at this sight, one which bewitched him. Iwainu, who Akatora had described as a heartless inhuman man, was sitting on the beach feeding stray cats. His aura from before while still immense had begun to die down most likely due to his happy mood.
This sight was not something Kanashi liked, not at all. He didn’t want Iwainu to be a heartless monster who killed stray cats that came to him looking for food. But that sorta of man would certainly be much more appealing to put an end to. Instead he was faced with a man with a clear compassion for animals, the things which normally get lumped together by the majority of the population as nothing more than living objects.
“Meow.”
Feeling his pants being tugged on, Kanashi looked down to see a small sphinx cat pulling at his pants playfully. While Kanashi didn’t hate cats he certainly wasn't a fan of them. This however had nothing to do with the cats as much as himself as he was horribly allergic to them. He quickly learned that touching cats led him to nothing but pain as a kid when he’d pet the local stray at school. His burning red eyes would swell shut with tears and his nose would inflate with dripping snot. His throat would burn like he’d poured hot lava down it and he’d be covered in itchy red bumps.
His association with cats = pain was a thing that took him some time however. Even now the urge to pick up the cat pulling at his pants and cuddle it with kisses nearly over took him but he was able to resist the urge. Decojuring Itachi he knelt down and picked the sphinx cat up.
As it was pulled high into the air the cat let go of Kanashis pants and simply stated at him longly its eyes dilated in interest.
“...” With a weak smile and sigh Kanashi pet the cat a few times before throwing onto a nearby moldy mattress with a bounce. The cat sat down and looked at him curiously.
“Kenji, let’s go.” Kanashi said, looking at Kenji for the first time in a few minutes.
“Okay.” Kenji muttered as he pet a cat with a fat tummy in his arms.
۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞
Iwainu watched out of the corner of his eye as the two men walked away from where he was. His black coal-like eyes follow their every moment.
Those are probably them. He thought with a stern frown.
“Meow?”
Iwainus' smile returned as he looked down and pet a small kitten with cinnamon brown coarse hair. The kitten rolled onto its back and played with his large calloused hand as he rubbed its stomach.
I could have killed the small one easily. But the tall one with the sword… I can’t say we wouldn’t have destroyed the entire trash heap in our battle. If we did then all these cats would be left without a home and many of them would perish… and I can’t allow that. Sorry Kobe, but I’ll pretend I didn’t see them this time… Besides, can men who pet stray cats be that bad of people anyways?
۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞
“Wryyyy!” With a screech to the heavens Kanashi struck a strange pose, his muscles flexed and legs shaking.
“You’re that happy to be out of the trash?” Kenji asked, tilting his head to the side.
“No, it’s just me letting out all that stress I built up while in there. I feel like I can pass out right here and now from how tense that was.”
Chalking it up to a difference of opinion Kenji didn’t push the topic any farther and he continued to walk down the beach with Kanashi beside him.
It took around three hours of walking to get through the trash piles mainly because of its maze-like structure. If it was a straight stretch it would have taken not even half of that time. Not only that but they’d also encountered Iwainu on their long journey so it might have not even been worth it in the first place.
“Well I guess what’s done is done. There’s no use in crying over spilled milk or so the saying goes right?” Kanashi muttered.
But that rumbling in the air… I can still feel it. Since we moved further east it’s died down slightly so Kenji was probably right about it being on the mainland of Taiponbo. But what could that be? Is the Emperor Orochi going to make a move? But would he announce himself like this? Or is it something else going on? I’ll have to ask Akatora, he should know more since he’s still technically working under Toumeikan…
“Kenji, we'll meet up with Akatora after about another hour of walking if things go right.”
“Got it.” Kenji nodded.
“You won’t pick a fight with him right?”
“Why are you treating me like a child? I’m over double your age.” Kenji frowned.
“You know why.” Kanashi replied with his own frown which was exaggerated to be bigger than Kenjis.
“You don’t need to worry as long as he doesn’t start anything with us I won’t either.”
“Us?” Kanashi repeated.
“Yeah us, you’re my friend. I won’t let anyone sully your name either.”
Kanashi tried to hide the smile which crept across his face. For someone as strong as Kenji to call himself his friend, it was ridiculous he was unworthy of such a relationship. Even if it was slightly less ludicrous than Jinen being his friend it was nonetheless insane.”
That makes two… no three friends I have now right? Jin, Kenji and Yuya. I’m not sure if I should consider Hayai and Julius my friends. I think they like me and I’d like to call them that but I’m not sure if our relationship is that solid…
“What’re you smiling like that for? You’re gonna make me regret telling ya.” Kenji huffed with a grimace.
“Oh, nothing.” Kanashi said, hiding his face and shaking his head. “I’m just happy, this is the first time in a long time I’ve had [friends].”
But it almost feels like I don't deserve it, this happiness. Sure there’s been hardship but what did I do to deserve any of these people? I’m a complete loser, I have nothing of value in me. I’m a weak coward who couldn’t even face the reality of my public schooling career. Yet here I am having these people around me. It’s not fair. I didn't earn this.
“Hey Kanashi.” Kenji said suddenly after a few moments of silence.
“Hm, what's up?” Kanashi asked, cocking his head to the side.
“Those clouds, were they always there?” Kenji asked, pointing into the distance over the ocean.
“?” Kanashi looked to where Kenji indicated and saw what he was talking about. Massive pitch black storm clouds the same color as the smog from burning coal churned in the distance. It’s body flowing and bubbling over itself ominously. “Where did those come from?” Kanashi wondered aloud, raising one brow. Then the smell hit him, that of rotting eggs or oil from a restaurant's grease trap. The urge to vomit overcoming his sensitive nose Kanashi curled forwards with a gag.
“Does the sea normally smell like this?” Kenji asked, wrinkling his nose.
“I wouldn’t know but I hope not. This would really sour my opinion of it.” Kanashi complained, pinching his nostrils closed.
۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞
The number of people was immense, a crowd of them around the oceans edge playing in the sand and swimming through the dark blue salty water.
Kanashi was tempted to strip to his underwear and join them but his mind held him in check.
“Looks interesting.” Kenji hummed, rubbing his chin. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen this many people in one place at once.”
“I can see what you mean, there has to be at least a thousand…” Kanashi muttered looking out and over the crowd.
They were about a mile and a half from where they wanted to be and the large crowd made it extremely difficult to easily travel that last bit. Ahead of them in the distance they could make out the shape of a long and tall wooden peer which stretched out over the ocean. People diving from the side railing into the water despite it being prohibited.
“That’s where we want to go…” Kanashi muttered.
“In times like this I wish you’d let me open the way myself.” Kenji frowned.
“No way, that just means cutting them all down doesn't it?”
“No, you only need to knock down one or two, the rest will get the message and clear the area.” Kenji corrected with his finger in the air and a proud smile.
“You’re sick. Stop talking to me.” Kanashi sighed, shaking his head. Though he didn’t agree with Kenji he could certainly relate to his impatience. They could also clear the crowd by leaping over them with enhancement but that's not only a spectacle for the non magic users, it’d also drain Kanashis mana pool more. Not exactly enough to make a significant dent but at this point he wanted to savor every last bit until he needed to use it.
Really he should sit down and rest these last few days before the liberation if he’s to take part in it. But that wasn’t something he wanted to do. He wanted to keep moving, to keep going. That was just his selfish desire and he knew that it was dangerous. He was just kicking the can further down the road, and soon enough the road would end and he’d only have a single option. Rest or die from the stress.
It wasn’t a choice he wanted to be making but that wasn’t because he didn’t want to die. Well that was a part of it of course but not the main reason. No, the main reason for not wanting to make this decision was that it meant stopping. He’d obviously have to stop and rest, which would only delay his desires more.
That's my future problem. Kanashi thought, shaking his head empty of those thoughts. The peer came closer to their person as they weaved through the crowd of people.
While Kanashi tried not to gawk at women he was nonetheless a man and occasionally spotted a real beauty. However something strange happened. He didn’t feel anything. He recognized their beauty and appeal but nothing happened. His heart didn’t flutter nor did his blood flow. It was if his body refused to recognize the women and only his mind did. This normally wasn’t something he'd be too concerned about but a few of the women he spotted were his type and as such it was strange his heart didn’t even waver for a moment seeing them.
I felt nervous when meeting Rasetsu, didn't I? Kanashi wondered, flipping through his mental archive of memories. He did in fact feel nervous in her presence and his heart fluttered but looking back on it he still didn’t have the correct reaction.
Maybe it was because she wasn’t his type that he didn’t feel anything of the sort. It was more embarrassment at her teasing and the nervousness of being in a Hachiutos presence that caused him to act the way he did. When he saw her he felt nothing.
The same with Rebecca when he saw her he didn’t feel anything either. She also wasn’t his type and he didn’t find her really attractive in a romantic way. He saw her as a friend and not anything else but that was only after becoming her friend. Even before then nothing happened.
Now that I really think about it, I don't think I’ve had a boner since everything happened with Azhar. Kanashi thought, his mind being overcome with a slight hint of shame at that being something he even noticed. But it was true he didn’t even wake up to an erection in the morning like men normally do. Was it stress? Maybe, would that also mean he didn’t feel anything inside his heart or mind either. It was as if that switch had been turned off, and he didn’t find women to be attractive to him in a natural way. It was more like admiring a piece of art or a handsome man. He thought Oh that’s cool. But nothing else. Far from a natural reaction an 18 year old boy should be having.
Julius said he formed a contract with himself and Gaius to not love anyone until he defeats Bjorn right? Is what’s happening to me similar then? But I don’t remember making any such kind of contract… so that can’t be it?...No that’s not important right. Kanashi thought, shaking his head.
Whether his body was working that way wasn’t something he should even be considering right now. He needed to divert his entire mind to the present situation. Put all of that energy into the goal before him.
“!”
As Kanashi set his determination in place the ground began to tremble and the sound of people yelling at the beach turned deafening. The ground quickly went from a slight tremble to a full on thrash as if it was break dancing across the planet's core.
An earthquake!? Kanashi wondered with a grimace. He’d never before in his life experienced one and for his first to be this severe was horrifying. Like the earth has shifted to one side, people fell down hill towards Kenji and Kanashi.
[Bog!]
Slamming his foot on the ground, Kanashi turned the sand into a thick bog which caught those who fell to the floor breaking their fall into a wet splash.
“Kanashi! Do you sense it!?” Kenji asked, grabbing Kanashi firmly by the arm.
“Sense what!?” Kanashi yelled back confusedly as he caught a child who flew towards him.
“Focus on that sensation before!” Kenji barked, a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead.
Kanshi immediately felt fear at seeing even Kenji being shaken up by the earthquake, this must have been something titanic even for Edoland standards. Obeying Kenji's command Kanashi activated his observation beyond the normal passive level and focused on that tense mood from before.
“!”
The moment he sensed that vibe it felt like he was going to be crushed to the floor. If Iwainu was frightening then THIS must have been something that would make even Iwainu tremble.
“What is that!?” He yelped, kneeling down on the sand trying to catch his now fast breath.
“I don’t know, but whatever is it, it’s something the whole world must be feeling!” Kenji barked back.
The whole world is feeling. Kanashi repeated in his mind a few times, mulling it over. Something even bigger than the destruction of Azhar. What could it possibly be!?