Chapter 27: Ziku’s decision!
A day goes by and those resting are close to being fully recovered. Aiko, Yumi and Kanju gather together as they work to try and find a way to save Ziku and Tora.
Aiko: "Where's Izumi?"
Kanju: "She has a family. She can't be here at this moment because her daughter is sick and needs her."
Aiko: "What about Asuna?"
Kanju: "Being the emperor keeps him busy, as of right now we're all we got."
Aiko just sits down by a tree with a sad look
Kanju: "Are you ok?"
Aiko: "What if we can't save Ziku and Tora? I don't want to let anyone down."
Kanju just smiles at her doing his best Ziku impression.
Kanju: "Hey, don't worry we'll save them."
Aiko sees Kanju smiling and she immediately thinks of Ziku and his smile. She smiles and stands up.
Aiko: "We're gonna save them!"
Yumi closes her eyes and tries her best to sense Ziku or Tora to see if she can even connect with them. Her mind travels through dimensions. She connects with Ziku.
Yumi: "Ziku? Ziku can you hear me?"
Ziku: "Yumi?"
Tora: "She was able to connect with you."
Yumi: "Ziku I'm going to use your mind as a guide to find you and Tora. I'm gonna need you two to stay where you are while Me , Aiko and Kanju work out a way to bring you guys back."
Ziku: "Alright."
Tora: "What did she say?"
Ziku: "That her, Kanju and Aiko are working on a way to bring us back."
Yumi: "I can still connect with them! Like always it drains my chi considerably. I think we have a ten minute window before my body completely gives out."
Kanju: "Lets get started."
Yumi sits down in a meditation position and closes her eyes. Aiko grabs hold of both of her shoulders getting ready to lend chi and heal her head so she could communicate longer. Kanju stands in front of Yumi and places a hand on her forehead. He closes his eyes and puts his hand out open palmed. Yumi connects to Ziku again and it transfers to both Aiko and Kanju. As they all can see and hear Ziku along with his thoughts. Kanju opens the seal he placed on both Ziku and Tora and creates a magic circle. Aiko and Yumi's body begin to glow along with Kanju's. The circle gets bigger and bigger and then suddenly it appears to where Ziku and Tora are. Ziku and Tora both look at the circle and then look at each other and smile.
Ziku: "That's our ticket back."
Before they could make a move Tora's leg gets grabbed and she gets pulled away from Ziku. Ziku looks at the circle and notices that it's getting smaller.
Kanju: "Ziku you have to hurry!"
Ziku dashes to Tora and grabs her arm, but then Mettanica's army of lost souls surround him and Tora. They fight them creating an opening to escape but only Tora gets away. She looks back and sees that Ziku is surrounded again.
Ziku: "Tora just go!"
Tora: "Ziku I can't just leave you here like this."
Ziku: "It's fine I'll catch up, just hurry and go and make sure you get out before it closes!"
Tora makes a run for it and gets to the circle. She just looks at it and it gets smaller.
Kanju: "Tora! Just jump through!"
Tora gulps and then jumps through. She falls to the ground, but she made it. She smiles, but looks back into the circle and can see Ziku still in the same spot. Kanju falls to one knee as he's never had to hold a circle open for that long. Yumi starts shaking and Aiko begins to fade as all of their chi is being used. Ziku looks at the circle and it gets even smaller, but then he looks around and sees that he's surrounded by his own clan. He falls to his knees and puts his hands over his head.
Ziku: "So when they all died, they didn't go to the afterlife? Instead they're stuck here, having to do Mettanica's bidding! I can't."
Tora: "Ziku! You have to hurry!"
Ziku just looks up and has tears falling down his face.
Ziku thinks to himself: "I wonder if my father and Jin are here ."
The circle begins to shrink as Kanju can no longer hold it open. Ziku watches it as it gets smaller and completely vanishes. Kanju falls to the ground hyperventilating and then Aiko falls completely unconscious. Yumi still has consciousness, but she's stagnant as she wonders why Ziku just sat there.
Yumi: "Why didn't he jump through?"
Kanju: "I don't know. I know he was more than capable of doing so, with his speed."
Tora: "While we were in there, I mean I didn't notice it at first, but he told me that those in there with us being controlled by Mettanica were his clan members."
Kanju and Yumi just stare at Tora.
Tora: "I'm not saying it's the case, but I feel like Ziku stayed on purpose."
Kanju: "Why would he do that? After all it took to save the both of you."
Tora: "Ziku must have had a reason."
Kanju stands up as he helps Yumi to her feet. He goes over to Aiko and picks her up.
Kanju: "Well whatever the reason I'll follow and trust him."
Yumi: "Well we should tell Natsumi."
Kanju: "Not it!"
Yumi: "Not it!"
Tora: "Not it!"
Kanju: "Well guess that means Aiko is telling her."
Tora: "That seems a bit unfair."
Kanju: "You want to tell her?"
Tora: "Aiko it is."
They all go the hospital.
Kanju places Aiko on a bed as they wait for her to wake up. Yumi contacts Izumi and Natsumi telling them to come to the hospital. When they show up they get excited because they see Tora. Izumi runs up and hugs Tora as she's in tears.
Izumi: "I'm so glad you're ok!"
In the midst of celebration Natsumi looks around, but can't see Ziku.
Natsumi: "Where's Ziku?!"
Kanju looks at Tora, Tora looks at Yumi, but then Yumi looks at Aiko. Aiko is still asleep, so Tora as the adult decides to tell Natsumi what happened.
Tora: "Good news and bad news. These kids found a way to save us, it took all they had to bring me here. Bad news is Ziku decided to stay."
Natsumi just stares into Tora's eyes without saying anything. As her face goes from concerned to confused.
Natsumi: "I...I don't get it why?"
Tora: "He found your clan."
Natsumi: "What?!"
Tora: "He told me that the crest on their back was a Nakamura crest. I think Ziku staying has something to do with him finding out that's where his clan went after death."
Natsumi: "Oh no! Ziku!"
*Natsumi has a flash back of a conversation she had with Ziku*
Ziku: "What would you do if you got the chance to talk to members of our clan, or even be with them?"
Natsumi: "That's a good question. I never really thought about it. I guess hear their stories of how they've been and I would tell them about life here."
Ziku: "I think about it all the time, yet I still don't know what I would do or say. What I really want is to grow the clan back. Well, I guess what I want the most is to talk to my father again. Jin too!"
Flashback ends and Natsumi is just staring off into space.
Tora: "Natsumi! Are you ok?"
Natsumi: "I know why he chose to stay. If he saw members of the clan, he most likely thinks that he will see his father and cousin Jin."
Tora: "That's reckless! How does he know we can even create a way out again?!"
Natsumi: "I don't know, this doesn't seem like Ziku. To just do something like this and not think."
Kanju: "It's because he has trust in us."
Tora: "Trust or no trust his decision was stupid!"
Natsumi: "Are you guys Ok?"
Kanju: "Yeah, I'll manage."
Yumi: "I'm fine."
Natsumi: "What about Aiko?"
Yumi: "Guess we won't know until she wakes up."
Izumi takes Tora to go see Asuna. Natsumi leaves, but not before placing a hand on Aiko's forehead and it.
When all the adults leave, that's when Aiko opens her eyes.
Kanju: "You're awake!"
Aiko: "I've been awake this whole time, I just didn't want to talk about the Ziku situation."
Yumi: "You think you're ready to try again?"
Kanju: "I can't, I need at least a day to recover."
Aiko: "Yeah, same."
Yumi: "Yeah, me too. I actually might need more since I want to work on a few things."
Kanju: "Hmm three days? Gives you time to recover and work on what you need to in order to better prepare for this."
Yumi: "Sounds good."
Aiko: "Three days won't be too long Ziku is trapped there?"
Yumi: "He's in a hollow dimension. Meaning for him everything stays the same and looks the same. He won't know how long he's there."
Aiko: "Oh, umm ok."
Yumi: "Don't worry he'll be fine. A cutie like Ziku,
with his speed and skills he should be able to manage."
Aiko thinks to herself: "A cutie?"
Kanju laughs
Kanju: "Well I'll see you guys in three days. Take care."
Yumi: "Take care Kanju. Hmm he's pretty cute too. Don't you think Aiko?"
Aiko blushes and just puts her head down.
Yumi starts laughing and remembers that Aiko is a shy girl. Then she gets behind Aiko and grabs her breast groping them.
Yumi: "Ya know these are pretty big for your age."
Aiko blushes: "Umm can you please not do that please!"
Yumi: "What? This? You don't like it? Would you like it if It was Ziku?"
Aiko completely turns red as Yumi just starts laughing.
Yumi: "I'm kidding Aiko. You don't strike me as that type."
Aiko: "What do you mean?"
Yumi: "Now that I think about it, Ziku doesn't seem like the type either."
Aiko: "What are you saying?! What do you mean by this?! Why are you smiling?! Do you know something?!"
Yumi: "Oh, nothing just thinking aloud."
Aiko thinking to herself: "When did Yumi get so weird?"
Yumi: "Weird is fun, normals boring."
Yumi just walks away as Aiko stands there realizing that Yumi read her mind. Then Aiko runs after her.
Aiko: "Hey I didn't mean..."
Yumi: "No, it's fine. I embrace the fact that I'm weird. I am the way that I am and no one could change that. Yeah it's takes me awhile to get comfortable around people, but when I do that's when I can be myself. I don't force people to like me, but I just try and live life to the fullest because of how this world is. That's why I say anyone who's normal is boring, life's too short to be normal."
Aiko: " I would have never thought you'd feel like this."
Yumi: "Why?"
Aiko: "I just thought... well, to be honest I'm not sure."
Yumi: "Hey I got it!"
Aiko: "Huh?"
Yumi: "Let's have a sleepover tonight!"
Aiko: "What's that?"
Yumi: "You don't know what a sleepover is?"
Aiko: "Haha, Of course I do, I just never had one."
Yumi: "Me either, to be honest you're my first and only friend. Well, we're friends right?"
Aiko: "Yes, of course we're friends."
Yumi: "Great, so what do you think? Sleepover tonight?"
Aiko: "Sounds fun!"
Yumi: "Should we invite the other girls?"
Aiko: "Yeah, why not make it a slumber party!"
Yumi: "You must have read my mind."
They both start laughing as they continue walking. They get to Aiko's home and both go in.
Aiko: "So how do we invite everyone else?"
Yumi: "Don't worry I got that taken care of."
Airi walks out.
Aiko: "Oh, hey Airi. You stayed home all this time?"
Airi: "Yes, I have no where else to be."
Aiko: "Well, a lot happened. I'm pretty sure it's settled though. Oh, and we're having a slumber party!"
Airi: "That's good Aiko."
Yumi: "Yeah, well now we just wait and see who shows up."
Yumi and Aiko wait hours just waiting in Aiko's living room. Both of them with a face of disappointment. Then they hear a knock at the door. Aiko goes to open it and Haruna has her hand up as if she were about to knock again.
Aiko: "Hey Haruna."
Haruna: "Hey! Sorry I'm late I had to do lots of cleaning in order to come."
Aiko: "Haha it's fine, I'm glad you came."
Haruna walks in and looks around, she sees Yumi and goes to talk to her. Then when Aiko turns around she gets another knock at the door. This time when she opens it Kireina and Chiori are staring at her. Nobody says anything and it gets awkward as Aiko just forces an awkward smile. Kireina closes her eyes folds her arms and then smiles.
Kireina: "So can we come in?"
Aiko: "Oh, of course. Sorry about that."
They all walk in and Aiko is about to close the door, but she hears from far away a soft voice.
Poku: "Hey wait!"
Aiko: "Oh, look! It's Poku!"
Poku gets to the door and walks right in, she sees everyone and she smiles.
Poku: "Hey everyone!"
Kireina: "Hi there."
Yumi: "Ahh this slumber party just keeps getting more and more interesting."
Poku immediately blushes and gets nervous. She goes to the door and tries to leave, but Kireina puts her arm around her and closes the door.
Kireina: "You can't leave now. The fun hasn't started."
She walks Poku to the living room as everyone sits down. Aiko goes into the room and comes back out with Airi.
Aiko: "Umm, guys, I want you guys to meet my sister Airi."
Everyone just stares as they look at Yumi. Yumi just nods and they all immediately understand.
Aiko: "How come you all looked confused? Is it that much of a surprise I have a sister?"
Kireina: "It's nice to meet her, sorry to change the subject, but did you invite anyone else by chance?"
Yumi: "Well Mikoto and Mireko were invited, but I doubt they would show up."
It pans over to Ziku as he's just walking being cautious. He starts to think to himself how long he's been there and if he made the right decision. Then as he's walking he feels a malicious presence of chi closing in on him. He turns to face it, but then it disappears. He gets a confused look on his face and right before he's about to turn back around he gets grabbed from behind by Mettanica.
Mettanica: "My plan seems to be working. I just have to wait a bit longer and your friends will be coming back to save you."
Ziku struggles to break free and just keeps moving in order to leave her grasp.
Mettanica: "Awww can't break free? So you're all speed? No strength? Truly pathetic. This must be all a Nakamura has to offer."
As soon as she says Nakamura Ziku wastes no time as he swings his head backwards hitting her making her release him. Ziku dashes away gaining some distance from her.
Ziku: "What plan are you talking about?"
Mettanica: "Aiko."
Ziku gets shocked and confused which quickly turns into anger.
Ziku: "What could you possibly want with her?!"
Mettanica: "She's a special girl. Having her power and yours would make us unstoppable. Not even the elder Gods could stop us!"
Ziku just stares at Mettanica He looks around and sees members of his clan following her. Ziku stands up straight and drops his sword not even wanting to fight. In his head he remembers that he doesn't like to fight and now he's being forced to go against undead pawns of his clan. He walks up to Mettanica and puts his hands up.
Mettanica: "Ahh surrendering? Wise choice?"
Mettanica commands her pawns to tie Ziku's hands and guard him making sure he stays close to her. Ziku just continues to look down in sadness thinking he'll never get to see anyone ever again and now he has to continue living his life in a woman made hell.
It pans back to the girls at their slumber party. As Aiko is thinking to herself how she hopes Ziku is alright. Yumi places her hand on Aiko's leg smiling at her basically telling her he'll be fine and that they will save him. It makes Aiko feel reassured as she gives a smile.
Kireina: "Lets cut to the chase!"
Poku: "What do you mean?"
Yumi: "I think we all know what she means."
Yumi and Kireina just keeps winking at each other as the other girls just keep staring at both of them.
It pans over to Kanju and Senpu who are walking to Aiko's house because Kanju has to show her something he found at his home.
Senpu: "I don't understand why I have to come."
Kanju: "Well I told you I didn't want to come alone."
Senpu: "The things I do for you because you're my best friend."
Kanju: "Best friend? Making a lot of assumptions right now."
Senpu just stops walking and stares at Kanju.
Kanju: "I'm kidding, you're my best friend. I've known you ever since were little and I'm truly glad I met you. Although I don't agree with your tenacious attitude towards females, you're still my best friend."
Senpu smiles and continues walking by Kanju's side.
Senpu: "Thanks, I'd always want to walk by your side like this Kanju."
Kanju: "I feel the same way."
Senpu: "Oh and by the way, the whole girls thing. I'm only human and with that I'm a guy, you can't blame me."
Kanju: "Hmm, yeah I guess."
Senpu: "Besides one day I could get lucky enough to feel some girls breast or just cop a feel on their butt. Ohhhhhhhhh I can't wait for that day!"
Kanju: "I'm worried about you."
Senpu: "Ahhh tighten up."
Kanju: "Hmm, well anyway we're here."
Senpu: "Alright, hurry up and get this over with I'm pretty hungry."
Kanju: "Impatient too? Man you're a real catch."
Senpu: "Your sarcasm annoys me. Hurry up!"
Kanju walks over to her house laughing. Before he knocks, he looks through the window and sees all the girls laughing and having fun. He chooses not to knock and walks back to Senpu.
Senpu: "What?"
Kanju: "They're having a slumber party I think, I don't wanna intervene."
Senpu: "Oh, wait back up! Did you say slumber party?!"
Kanju: "Yeah but I don't see why....."
Senpu runs towards the house and goes straight to the window he starts drooling as he's just looking at all of them.
Kanju: "I'll just show her another day, you coming Senpu?"
Senpu: "You go ahead, I'm gonna stick around and see if they get naked."
Kanju: "Huhhhh."
Kanju just walks away not saying anything else as Senpu stays at the window drooling.
Senpu to himself: "Oh my gosh, the sweet curves of Aiko, the big butt of Kireina, top heavy Yumi, I'm in heaven! It's a babe trifecta!"
Yumi: "How about we compare sizes?"
Senpu: "YES, YES, YES, please compare sizes!"
Aiko: "I'm sorry, but I really don't feel comfortable with that idea."
Haruna: "Why what's wrong with it?"
Poku: "Yeah me either."
Kireina: "I'm out too."
Yumi: "Chiori?"
Chiori: "I'll pass on that as well."
Yumi: "Awe you guys are no fun."
Haruna: " Haha, what do you propose we do instead?"
Kireina: "Hey Haruna, who do you think is cute?"
Haruna: "Hmm, that's a good question. Well I think Ziku is really cute, only thing is he's not my type. Hiroyuki would be cuter if he showed some actual emotion. I think that's it."
Kireina: "surprised you didn't throw Omoi in there. Chiori how about you?"
Chiori: "Well umm Ziku is really cute, oh and Shizuko too. I find Omoi and Hiroyuki attractive as well."
Kireina: "Oh my. Poku?"
Poku: "Like everyone else I find Ziku really cute, Omoi too. Shizuko's cute, just can't handle the temper, oh and Kame. His work ethic makes him ten times cuter."
Kireina: "Ahh, I see. Yumi, you're next."
Yumi: "If I'm being honest Ziku would be at the top of my list, then Hiroyuki, then Omoi, then Jiro."
Kireina: "I like how Shizuko wasn't on that list when him and Jiro are twins."
Yumi: "Well yeah, but looks alone isn't what makes someone cute."
Poku: "Yep, well said."
Haruna: "Well what about you Kireina?"
Kireina: "Oh, well I've had the opportunity to work with Ziku. He is really cute, but also on my list I would go with Kame, Omoi, Hiroyuki and Kanju."
Chiori: "Wow, was Ziku on all of our lists?"
Yumi: "Haha yeah, just about."
Haruna: "What is it about him?"
Yumi: "Thats a good question, oh wait Aiko. How about you?"
Aiko: "Oh, umm well umm I uhh."
Aiko just turns completely red as all she could think about is one person.
Aiko: "Umm Isamu! He's cute and Omoi and also Kanju, Kame, Hiroyuki and Bezune."
Yumi: "Wow, that's quite the list."
Senpu is outside just staring through the window as his eyes tear up.
Senpu: "Not one of them said me. What is wrong with all of you."
Haruna: "Huh, did you guys hear that?"
Yumi: "Yeah I heard someone outside?"
Senpu: "You all should have just got naked and put on a show for me instead of making me feel ugly with your lists!"
Senpu just goes on rambling and when he finishes he looks back in the window and nobody is in sight.
Senpu: "Huh?"
Kireina: "Ahem!"
Senpu immediately feels his heart stop, as he slowly turns around and as soon as he gets all the way around Kireina throws a punch making Senpu fly all the way back and hit a tree.
She tries to walk over to him and hit him more, but Yumi and Haruna grab her.
Haruna: "Yeah that's enough Kireina. I think he's learned his lesson."
Senpu gets up and immediately runs back towards Kanju's house.
Kireina: "Hmph, can't stand perverts!"
Kireina just walks back to the house and they all follow.
Haruna: "Is anyone else hungry?"
Chiori: "I think we're all hungry."
Poku: "Oh! Hey, I'll cook!"
Haruna: "Really Poku, you sure?"
Poku: "Yes!"
Poku goes into Aiko's kitchen and starts preparing food.
About 2 hours pass and Poku comes out of the kitchen telling them it's time to eat. They all walk in and their eyes get big as Poku prepared basically a whole feast.
Yumi: "Oh my gosh, Poku this looks amazing."
Poku: "Haha thanks, dig in everyone."
Kireina: "Wow Poku, This taste great!"
Yumi: "Yeah, where did you learn to cook?"
Poku: "Well, I'm not a fighter. My father wanted a boy, but was disappointed when I came. He tries to train me, but it's just not in me to fight. I mostly spend time with my mother we clean, cook, and shop all the things a woman is supposed to do while the men fight."
Kireina: "And where did you get that?"
Poku: "Get what?"
Kireina: "That women are supposed to be maids and stay at home caretakers while the men do all the fighting."
Poku: "My mother told me that's how it's always been. The women stay at home while the men fight. Obviously some women are fighters but it just doesn't seem like it's for us."
Kireina: "Fighting doesn't belong to just men! Fighting is for anyone who has the resolve to fight for what they believe in and fight for their loved ones! Men have tried to change this world! Men have failed! It may be up to a woman."
Haruna: "You really feel strongly about this topic. May I ask why?"
Kireina: "This a man's world. Men rank themselves high in terms of strength, overlooking us women. Like Asuna, I overheard him talking he only gave praise to Kame, Shizuko, Hiroyuki, Omoi, Bezune, Kanju, and Kotai. Not a single one of us girls were recognized."
Haruna: "Ok, but may I ask why that bothers you?"
Kireina: "We attended the same academy, I feel we should get the same recognition as the boys. If not more."
Haruna: "I feel different about it, and maybe it's just me, but I don't care. Because I'm my own person, my strength is mine alone. Like you said we all attended the same academy not one of us is superior to the other. Yes, you could be stronger, but I bet I will work my ass off to close whatever gap there is!"
Kireina: "I like how you think, but you have your beliefs I have mine."
They both just end up staring at each other.
Yumi: "Wait, you said Asuna was talking about all of them? How come Ziku wasn't mentioned?"
Kireina: "Oh, well he was, but he didn't receive praise."
Aiko: "What do you mean?"
Kireina: "Asuna said that Ziku isn't fit to be a warrior."
Yumi: "You sure he was talking about Ziku?"
Kireina: "Yes, he said Ziku is too kind hearted. Yes Ziku is strong, but he doesn't know how to control his strength. He said Ziku is too merciful and dwells on the past too much, it makes him make hasty decisions ultimately leaving him in a state of melancholy."
Aiko: "Lots of people are kind hearted and don't know how to control their power..."
Kireina: "Yes, but Ziku is just different. He just feels Ziku isn't fit to fight. Yes his strength would be a great asset, but what's the point if it won't be used?"
Aiko: "Oh I see."
Kireina: "He went on to talk about his father, apparently he was the same way. Only thing was he knew what had to be done. His father held that burden with him all the way to his death wishing there could have been another way. Reality is that there wasn't."
Aiko to herself: "I haven't forgot about you Ziku, just hang on we will save you."
It pans to Ziku as he's just following Mettanica not resisting just a look of despair.
It pans back to Kanju as he's in front of his house trying to figure out how he could make the circle last longer. He tries it again, but after some time it closes and he falls to the floor completely drained. He lays on his back hyperventilating.
Kanju: "The time was shorter than before. I mean it's Ziku, does he really need lots of time? What am I saying I should strive to keep it open as long as he needs."
Kanju spends the entire day just working on his seals. It's night out and he is just outside laying on the ground. His mom looks out the window of their house and just sees him laying there. She tries to go outside to talk to him, but Kanju's dad stops her and tells her not to go help him. Both of them just watch as Kanju stands back to his feet and looks off in the distance.
Kanju changes it up, he forms hand signs and he holds them in place gathering as much chi as he can. He feels chi flowing and the aura building and once he feels it's at the peak he forms the circle and holds it. He holds the seal for awhile and then eventually his body just collapses. His mom runs out and goes by his side lifting him up trying to see if he's ok. His father walks out slowly behind her just looking not saying anything.
Nia: "Kanju! Kanju! Wake up! Kanju!"
Kanju's eyes slowly open and he looks at his mom and smiles, she wipes her tears and smiles back at him happy that he's ok. Kanju looks over at his father and smiles.
Kanju: "That was the longest I've held my seal. I'm getting stronger!"
Kanju's father smirks and then gives him a thumbs up. Kanju falls asleep due to fatigue, but he keeps the smile on his face.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone