Kids Will Be Kids by kingfishers_game

Chapter 9: A Parent's Superpower Is Showing up at Exactly the Right Moment

Chapter 9: A Parent's Superpower Is Showing up at Exactly the Right Moment to Spoil Their Kids' Fun

Kamui pushed the shell-shocked Kagura out of the way before leaping up to meet Sougo. Sougo swung the broadsword, but Kamui parried it with his umbrella and took note of the faint wince on Sougo's face when he jarred the arm that had been broken. The next blow hit Sougo in the chest, sending him flying back until he landed slumped over on the deck.

Kamui approached his opponent. "You shouldn't have strained yourself, earth policeman. If you'd left her, I would have let you go. That arm is still injured, isn't it? Even if you were used to that sword, you would have a hard time keeping up-"

Sougo's supposedly-broken arm jutted out to elbow Kamui in the ankle. It took only a millisecond for Kamui to notice and move himself out of Sougo's range, but a millisecond of uncertainty was enough for Sougo to cleave his sword through Kamui's thigh. Kamui pulled back sharply and Sougo jumped to his feet.

Both wore matching smiles.

"I guess your arm's just fine after all."

"Falling for the same trick again, space criminal?" Sougo taunted. "I thought you were smarter than that. Well, not really."

"Not bad. But I seem to remember that trick was more successful last time." Kamui was enjoying this. Sougo's sword—an unwieldy Western-style blade that he looked uncomfortable with—had missed a major artery in Kamui's thigh by just centimeters. If the policeman had been using his usual sword, Kamui might have lost the leg. Still, Sougo was panting hard from the hit he took earlier. Bruised ribs, broken maybe?

This was going to be fun.

Kagura trembled as she watched them. Why were they fighting? It was her fault, right? Sougo wanted her to go. Nii-chan wanted her to stay. But Kagura didn't know what she wanted. And now they were fighting. They were both so quick she could barely keep up. This fight was nothing like any she'd ever seen before. It was amazing and terrifying. The slightest moment of miscalculation would mean death.

Would one of them have to die to end it? Kagura didn't want that. That couldn't happen. But how could she stop those two? She'd be dead if she got close.

Speaking of getting close...there was something in the distant space getting closer fast. Kagura squinted to try to make it out. Was that...a ship?

Kamui noticed it too. The fight with Sougo was too intense for him to stop and scrutinize it, but there was definitely a ship in the distance. If it was Takasugi's, Kamui would be in trouble. He wouldn't need to fight with the policeman if the Kiheitai showed up to take possession of their hostage, but it was still too early. He hadn't expected them to come so quickly. The battle downstairs was still going. The Yato weren't having trouble against the other Amanto—probably dragging their fights out for sport if he knew them at all—but the arrival of the main Kiheitai forces could change that.

Was it Shinsuke's ship, though? As it neared, Kamui could see that this ship wasn't the right size or type...

A slice from Sougo's sword nicked Kamui's jawbone, barely missing his neck. "If you don't pay attention, this is going to be too easy," Sougo drawled, even as his attacks became faster and sharper. Kamui's focus snapped back to his opponent and he returned the blows with renewed vigor.

The mysterious ship was getting closer and closer. Kagura could make out two figures standing on the prow, one dark and one pale. A cloaked man and a white...horse?

No, that wasn't a horse. It was a dog!

A ripple reverberated through the metal floor of the 7th division ship's deck as the new ship crashed into it agonizingly slowly. Kagura felt her teeth rattle from the force of the impact, but Kamui and Sougo were too engrossed in their fight to allow themselves the distraction of looking.