CHAPTER 9

Jun Matsuoka's luck was running out, and she knew it. Sure, they'd found the document that Akira gave them, but it was encrypted, and these sectors were all but empty. There were no one in the houses, no animals, no nothing. As soon as they stepped into the barren forest that occupied sector 16, Jun felt as if they'd stepped into another dimension, one where life didn't exist, and it bothered her. Satoshi was in front of her, and Manabu dawdled behind them like a lost child, they all knew that they weren't going to find Mamoru without that information about Takahashi, but they kept going. They had to, for Mamoru.

Up front, Jun spotted a house in the distance, "let's go check that one out." She suggested, and thought she heard a groan coming from Manabu. The house was in tatters when they arrived, the door practically falling off its hinges, but like the other ones they'd found, it was empty. All over, there were little titbits, indicating the existence of a family that had lived here pre-fertility wars. The picture on the fireplace illustrated the perfect Japanese family, the strict father, and small mother, with the picture book, cookie-cutter kid standing with accolades printed on her blazer, as she held a trophy she'd won at an ancient Kansai competition. Jun's heart clenched, knowing she'd never gotten a childhood like that. When Jun was younger, she wasn't exactly the cookie-cutter Japanese child, sure she was good at school, but that was about it. She couldn't play an instrument, nor was she athletic, she was just Jun Matsuoka. She had no real talent, and now she was in the military, at the top of her class, handling a gun like it was an extension of her hand. If only her mother could see her now, she'd probably cry, and maybe, her father would've been prouder, perhaps, if she were better at... everything, her mother would still be alive.

"What you got there?" Satoshi materialized next to her, looking down at the family portrait she'd taken into her hands without registering it.

"Just some picture," she put it back on the mantelpiece, "looks like the perfect family used to live here, pre-fertility wars."

"Aren't all these old houses like this?" Satoshi joked, "come on, we're raiding the kitchen, maybe they've still got some canned food or something. These nutri bars they put in our survival kits are death incarnates."

At this, Jun laughed, "now that I can agree with. These things taste like actual death."

"Hey!" Manabu exclaimed, "there's food in their pantry!" Looking like an excited child, Manabu turned to them, holding a can of something Jun couldn't make out, and frankly she didn't care what it was, as long as it wasn't one of the nutri bars they were forced to eat, she would be fine. She and Satoshi walked over to the pantry, where Manabu was sifting through the different types of canned food, it was mostly fruits, but neither of them minded.

"Who's got space in their pack for this?" Manabu asked with a laugh, while Jun offered hers.

"You know, we're supposed to be lawful individuals," she said, as Manabu stuffed a can full of pineapples in her pack, "but here we are, raiding a house like a bunch of doomsday preppers."

"Hey, you can be a lawful individual all you want, Minori-chan, but this lawful individual is not eating another one of those nutri bars, even I get tortured because of it." Manabu stated overdramatically, as he put the last can in Jun's pack.

"Fine," she laughed, "then you're carrying my pack. It's heavy." She handed him her backpack, while he swapped his with hers, and then they were off once again. They hadn't even stepped foot outside the house, when Satoshi's stylus starting beeping in his pocket.

"Must be Kuramoto." He shrugged as he pulled it out, and answered the call. Kuramoto's triumphant grin overpowered the screen.

"I did it, sir, I decrypted the document." He said. Jun looked up at the sky, it wasn't close to sunset, and she was happy, because that mean they could go looking for Takahashi.

"Well done, Kuramoto," Satoshi praised, "we'll come back."

"Actually, you are a lot closer to the house than the campsite is, I'll just send you the document, and meet you there at a later stage, sir." Kuramoto proposed, as Satoshi nodded.

"Alright, thanks." Satoshi answered with a smile, and Kuramoto hung up, but not before he saluted Satoshi. His stylus pinged not long after, with the document as an attachment from Kuramoto. Jun almost couldn't believe it, they were going to find Mamoru, and it was going to happen sooner than she thought.

"We did it, Minori-chan!" Manabu exclaimed, his grin everlasting.

"Don't get too excited," Satoshi turned his stylus to face them, "we've still got at least six hours of walking to do."

"We won't make it before dark." Jun stated dejectedly.

"We'll just camp," Satoshi pointed to a spot on the map that seemed about halfway between the house and their current position, "here, and hope for the best."

"We could probably make it to about here, though," Jun pointed to a spot closer to the house, and watched Satoshi consider it.

"If we start walking immediately, then we can." Manabu said, and true to his word, he started walking away at a brisk pace. They were going to find Mamoru, and Jun couldn't wait.

Meanwhile, not too far away, in the living room of a house Mamoru never thought he'd be sitting in, sat five faces he barely knew, and they awaited the sixth. The only two people he did know was Hitomi, and Naoki, and when his old Japanese teacher walked into the room, he was a little bewildered.

"Takahashi-sensei?" He asked her as she struggled to sit down, due to het bulging belly.

"Hello, little Mamoru Nanami," she answered with a laugh, "I didn't recognize you as you lay in my living room, dying, apologies."

"I didn't recognize you at all," Mamoru stated with a nervous laugh, "I think it must be the belly."

"Yes, Nanami-kun, pregnancy does that to a woman." She laughed along with him, using the name she'd used on him when she still taught him and Satoshi Japanese in elementary school, "how's Kaneko-chan?"

Kaneko-chan, Mamoru almost laughed, Satoshi was always a little effeminate growing up, "he's okay, he's in the military with me. He just made sergeant, actually."

"That's surprising, you were always the athletic one." Takahashi remarked.

"That's why I'm captain, sensei." Mamoru answered with a laugh.

"Why'd you join anyway?" Naoki couldn't stop herself from asking.

"It's compulsory. All men above a certain age must join the Repopulation Forces, I didn't exactly have much of a say in the matter," Mamoru shrugged, "plus, my father was so proud when they selected me, I couldn't say no."

"Ken'ichi was always a little too patriotic for his own good." Takahashi said underhandedly.

"Alrighty!" Kohaku entered the room, with bowls on a serving tray, "dinner is served, and if you have a problem with it, deal with it. I'm a doctor, not a chef."

Hitomi rolled her eyes, "Haku-chan, your food is fine."

"Yes, I know that but he doesn't." She pointed at Mamoru, before placing a bowl of what looked to be miso soup in front of him.

"It's not exactly the kind of stuff you're used to eating in the Hiyokuna, but it's good," she said with a smile.

"No," Mamoru answered after he'd taken a sip, "it's better than the crap they feed us in the Hiyokuna. We get these nutritional bars that contain everything we need, and they're good because they keep you going for days, but they taste awful."

At this, Kohaku snorted, and almost spat out her soup, "sometimes I wonder how Yu handles it."

He assumed she was talking about Yutaka, "he's captain, his quality of food is slightly better, but not much, I can vouch."

"I heard from Yuichi, my older brother that he'd made captain, but couldn't exactly do anything to congratulate him," Kohaku shrugged, "besides, he chose his path, I can't do anything to make him see the truth like Yui did."

"If you don't mind me asking, how did you all end up here?" Mamoru asked, trying to be as polite as he could possibly be.

"Don't worry about it, cap," Kohaku answered with a grin, "my story isn't as bad as Hitomi's, or even Mako-chan's."

April in the Hiyokuna was always Kohaku's favourite time, she could never get enough of the sakura blossoms dancing along the soft spring breeze. She loved walking through the streets before her classes started, but it usually resulted in her being late.

She felt a presence behind her, and suddenly, her vision was obscured by two large hands, "guess who?"

"Yui, stop." She let out an uncharacteristic giggle, as she tried to pry her older brother's hands off her face.

"Aren't you and Tadashi supposed to be in class?" Yuichi raised a golden eyebrow, flicking a lock of bright blonde hair out of his eyes.

"Obviously, but you know I love the sakura trees," Kohaku said, happiness sparkling in her amber eyes, "I can't help it."

"Of course, you can't, Haku, that's why mom sent me." Yuichi laughed, "gotta keep an eye on you and Yu, otherwise you end up gazing at the sakura trees the whole day."

"Yukata's busy with kendo practice somewhere, I haven't seen him all day," Kohaku remarked, "where's Ren-chan?"

"Ren's busy helping dad out at the university, you know how it is," Yuichi shrugged, "he wants to be a professor like dad is, but I doubt he will be. Civic duty and all that. Let's go find Yu."

"I think the gyms are this way," Kohaku pointed in a direction, and started walking to what she thought was the gym, "why are you here, anyway, Yui? Mom couldn't just have sent you to come check on me."

Yuichi smiled sheepishly, "busted, she wants to see all of us. Dad's bringing Ren."

"Sounds important," Kohaku gazed back at him, "did she say why?"

"Something about you, apparently." Yuichi shrugged. Kohaku's stomach shifted, and suddenly she could feel the butterflies building up. She'd managed to skirt her civic duty for a while now due to her family's importance, but she knew she couldn't keep staying away from her duty of becoming a Yōki. She'd gotten enough time to pursue her dreams, but now it was time to serve Japan, even though she wished she didn't have to. They approached the large building, hearing strange noises coming from inside, Kohaku dismissed it as simply the kendo club having practice, but when she and Yuichi entered, there stood Yutaka, the only one in the gym, surrounded by military officials. He held his usual icy stare, staring down the officials because he was a Nakamura, but Kohaku could see straight through him. As soon as his golden eyes caught sight of her bright gold hair, his eyes went wide, "H-Haku-chan?" He stuttered, "what are you doing here?" She could see he was rattled and a part of her was ready to dash out the door, and straight into her boyfriend's class to get him the hell out of there.

"Everything alright here, officer?" She asked one of the officials politely, and he turned around to face her.

"Are you Nakamura Kohaku-san?" His Japanese was pristine, the kind you'd hear from a Hiyokuna-raised kid. She gazed to Yuichi, who's face had shifted completely. Gone was the Yui she was used to, and immediately he rushed into overprotective older brother mode.

"Pardon me, officer, but why do you need to know?" Yuichi stepped forward, trying to be as polite as possible, but Kohaku knew, if something was going to happen, Yuichi was going to step forward.

"We are looking for Nakamura-san, because she has been called to serve the nation as a Yōki." The soldier spoke. And then Yuichi changed.

"Well, Kohaku isn't here right now, so perhaps you can go looking at the Nakamura residence later, officer." He suggested politely, but the undertones of threat betrayed him.

"Who is that behind you, then?" The soldier asked.

"This is my girlfriend," Yuichi spoke, "we were just coming to fetch my brother, he's over there."

"Are you Nakamura Yuichi-san?" Another one asked.

"Yes." Yuichi answered without looking at him, "Yutaka, please come. Mother wants to see you." When Yuichi used Yutaka's full name, he knew, it was serious. Immediately he scooped up his bag, and walked over to the door where Yuichi and Kohaku were standing.

"Come on," Yuichi searched his mind for a typical Japanese name, "Nagi, we are leaving." He looked at Kohaku as he spoke and as soon as he could, ushered her out of the gym.

"We're in trouble." Yutaka spoke as soon as they thought they were safe from the soldiers, "what are we going to do, Yui?"

"We're getting Haku out of the Hiyokuna," Yuichi said, and it sounded dramatic, but it was the only thing they could do, "you need to find that woman you heard about."

"Who, Takahashi? It's only a rumour, the only person who would know for sure is my old Japanese teacher, Kaneko-sensei." Yutaka pondered aloud, "I still remember where she lives, if we can find her, maybe she can help us."

"Yu, she barely knows us. Why would she help Haku?" Yuichi chewed on his bottom lip.

"For the same reason she's helping Takahashi-sensei," Kohaku spoke, "she doesn't believe what the government is doing is right, and believes that women have to right to free choice."

Yuichi exhaled, and then looked at Yutaka once again, "okay, I'll get the car, you keep Haku safe." And then he left.

Kaneko-sensei's house looked like all the other Hiyokuna houses Kohaku had ever seen, blocky, grey, with a sakura tree on the side of the street. The yard was next to the blocky, two-storey house, filled with garden furniture and a vegetable garden that was in full bloom. Yutaka took a breath, and knocked on the door, hoping that Kaneko-sensei was home, and still remembered him. She opened the door, and still looked the same, but slightly older.

"Yutaka-kun, what are you doing here?" She asked, with a genuine smile on her face, but soon it faded as she saw both Yuichi and Kohaku behind him.

"I apologize for intruding, sensei, but we'd like to ask a favour." Yutaka replied, his voice low and unsure.

"Never thought I'd see the day the Nakamura's need a favour from me," she said with a laugh, but ushered them inside, "come in, it sounds serious."

"Excuse my forwardness, Kaneko-san, but it is quite serious. My sister, Kohaku, has just been drafted to perform her duty as a Yōki. We've tried to skirt it for as long as possible, but the Nakamura name will only get her so far," Yuichi explained, "we've come to you, because we heard what you were doing for Yu's old teacher, Takahashi."

"Don't say that too loudly," she shushed him, "I am helping Takahashi, but what makes you think I can help your sister?"

"We believe you share our beliefs," Yuichi answered, "we believe you believe that what the Japanese government is doing is unfair, and quite frankly inhumane. That's why you're helping Takahashi-sensei."

Kaneko chewed on her bottom lip, "well, you're a lot more observant than your brother is, I'll give you that, but I don't think I can be of much assistance here."

"Please, Kaneko-san," Kohaku spoke for the first time, "I beg of you, please help me."

Kaneko looked visibly shook, but she sighed, "okay, listen. If you can make it to a train station in the Hiyokuna centre at 4 am tomorrow morning, you can get out of the Hiyokuna on the supply train, but if you can't then you are stuck here, I'm afraid, and there's nothing I, or your brothers can do about it."

"Thank you, Kaneko-sensei." Kohaku said with tears in her eyes. Kaneko stood up, and fetched a stylus from somewhere. She showed them a map of the Hiyokuna, and pointed to a train station in sector 1, "that's the one. I can only give you this, nothing more. I'll risk getting involved. But I will tell Takahashi you are coming."

"We are in your debt, Kaneko-sensei." Yutaka spoke, with gratitude clear in his voice.

The supply train station wasn't as pristine as all the other CloudRail stations in the Hiyokuna, and Kohaku thought it was outdated. The entire Hiyokuna was run by the CloudRail tracks that swooped over the citizens' heads, she was used to it, Yuichi was used to it, she doubted her mother even rode trains when she was younger, but here Kohaku was, ready to get on an outdated train, to save her life. Yuichi and Yutaka were with her, for moral support, but she had a feeling Yuichi was planning something Yutaka wasn't going to like. They approached the only other person on the station, she was a tall woman, with long, silky black hair, hanging in perfect curls right down to the small of her back. She had a protective hand curled around her stomach, and clutched the handle of a bag in her other.

"Excuse me, miss," Yuichi spoke as he approached her, she looked visibly shaken as she turned to face him, "my name is Nakamura Yuichi, and this is my sister Kohaku, I think Kaneko-sensei told you about us?"

"Kaneko Miyuki?" The woman asked, her voice was soft, and unsure, and her eyes filled with anxiety.

"Yes," Yutaka answered for her, "I'm a former student of hers, and I know her son, Satoshi."

She exhaled, "my name is Takahashi Akane, but please, call me Akane," she tried a smile, "I'm sorry that it had to come to this for your sister," she looked to Yuichi, and then to Yutaka, "but I'm glad you're willing to help."

"We're sorry too, Akane-san, but we don't want Kohaku to become one of those Yōki, no one deserves a fate as gruesome as that." Yuichi's words were sincere as he spoke. Kohaku couldn't hold herself back anymore, she dived into his arms, and started to cry.

"Yui, what's going to happen to you and Yu? And Ren-chan? You're all going to go to the military and die!" She exclaimed, unwilling to let him go.

"We'll be fine, Haku-chan." Yutaka smiled for the first time, she let go of Yuichi, and tackled her youngest brother, almost to the point where he fell to the ground.

"You better be! I don't want to come back to the Hiyokuna after the Hanran kills the prime minister, and hear one of you idiots went and died." She tried to laugh, but it only made her cry more.

"Shall we go?" Yuichi asked.

"We?" Kohaku looked at him, her brow raised in confusion.

"Yes, Haku. You're not going alone, that's for sure," he turned to Yutaka, "I can't let her go alone, she'll die out there without anyone to protect her. Tell mother I love her, and father I'm sorry, please, Yu?"

"Wait... what? You're going with her?" Yutaka looked confused, "but... I thought you were going to... Yui?"

"I'm sorry, Yu. But Haku-chan needs someone to look out for her out there, I can't join the military, I was never made for that, but maybe the Hanran will take me." Yuichi said with a shrug, "either way, I'm going with her."

"Then... I'll join the military, so I can keep an eye on both of you." Yutaka stated with pride, "you don't have to do it on your own, Yui. I love Haku as well, and there's no way I'm going to let her die out there either."

"You two are too much, I'm going to miss the train if you keep going." Kohaku wiped her tears, and stood close to Yuichi, "tell Tadashi I'm sorry, and I love him, but I'm never going to see him again. From this day, Kohaku Nakamura is dead, basically." A loud noise interrupted their chat, and the rusty train pulled up in front of them.

"I'll miss you, Yukata." Kohaku looked at her youngest brother once more, using the nickname he hated.

"Yeah, yeah, Haku. I love you too, now go before you miss your opportunity." Yutaka smiled, trying to hide the tears forming in his eyes, but failing miserably. Kohaku hopped onto the train after Takahashi, and Yuichi followed shortly afterwards. It pulled away with the same loud noise it came in with, and as they were just starting to pick up speed, Takahashi turned to Yuichi, and smiled.

"You really do love your sister, don't you?" She asked him.

"Of course, I do, Akane-san," Yuichi smiled, "she's the only one I've got."  

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

can i just say how much i LOVE yuichi???? hes my bby child and he loves kohaku so much!!!!!

ah spread the love yuichi is bae