Koutetsujou no Kabane-Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress- (Ikoma Love Story)

01

Visions of happier days with my friend and I rolled through my subconscious in waves. All of the disagreements, the gossips of the village hottie, who we would marry and the possibility of saving humanity from the Kabane; all of them seemed so pointless now. I can picture my friend's innocent-childlike smile as we would go back to her home to heal most of my bruises. 

You see, I was hired to fix and cater to her weapons and never trained to kill. I was more of her apprentice to protect the villagers and make sure no threat came to them...but the Kanabe came so quickly and completely wiped most of them out...so what did I really protect.

The tight squeeze on your hand as you looked down towards the only person that you did protect; Hikari. He was small for his age and stuck out like a smudge on a white shirt. Before the attacks, we were often bullied by the others in the village. For one, his clothes were too big. It looked like he was swimming in them rather than wearing them. His eyes were too wide, making his light pink ocean hue around his pupil stick out and compliment his greyish/white hair.

"So...where are we going now?"

You stopped and squatted down to his level and smiled looking towards him.

"We are going to Aragane Station," you replied while ruffling his hair, "Remember, these bandages can't be taken off from around our arms, legs, and chest; the necklace we wear this small green stone to keep the virus at bay. It has been five years and the virus hasn't spread as much at it has been rumored to have spread to those affected.

"Hm..." he said out of assurance.

"Remember, resistance is key and we must maintain our covers as train mechanics to not get anyone to notice our current disposition or they will give us suicide bags to end our own lives," you replied, "And I don't have a death wish just yet until I fulfill my promise to Sayaka as her apprentice and find a way to rid our bodies of this disease.

"Alright..." he mumbled.

"I know it is hard considering you are 8 and you have to live like this," you said in a low tone," but, I not only swore on my promise for Sayaka but for you as well."

"Yes," he replied more assured as you smiled and rubbed his hair as he chuckled and smiled and continued to hold your hand while you both continued onwards into Aragane station.

You picked his body up with ease considering the minimal diet you both had especially in be discreet in storing the store in a container to prevent others from seeing it; wine wasn't really the cheap item to get on the market.

"But, doesn't the government do a search check to see if there are any bite marks to determine if anyone has been infected by a Kabane," Hikari asked.

"Yes," you replied, "However, with our reputation of having our mechanic skills on the Koutetsujou, a Hayajiro that hasn't been able to suffer a single dent within 5 years it has come in contact with   the Kabane has given us a pass on many of today's challenges and invited by the Lord of Aragane himself to assist with the train maintenance." 

"Oh..." Hikari said with a smile, "So, we get a free pass?"

"We get a free pass anywhere around here," you smiled.

You and Hikari soon entered where the lord has asked for you to meet. Everyone was getting straight to the train maintenance: fixing the repairs on the train, cleaning the remains, and giving the train a nice steam bath to continue its purpose of transporting and getting goods. and start the train's cycle of life once more.

"Ah, Yuki-dono!" yelled the lord.

"Ah, Yomogawa, Kenshou," you replied.

"I still find it unbelievable that a prodigy of the era at your age could have extraordinary skills in creating the ultimate defense against these abominations." the lord replied.

"When you experience being around them and come in near-death with them one too many times, you begin to learn about the species as a whole and counter against their ability," you replied, "Now, I didn't come with my companion to give you or your men a lecture on the Kabane, you asked me to come check on the Koutetsujou; rumor has it that its metal is starting to become "malleable" to the hands of the Kanabe.

"Ah, yes,"

"Thank you for your hospitality; however, I am needed in the main city as well and I hope to fix this train that way it is prepared for its next transport in the next couple of days."

"AHHH!" someone yelled as a man ran out of the train.

You and Hikari turned to see the threat and glanced swiftly at the lord as he yelled, "Don't let him get away!"

You quickly rest your hand on Hikari's leg as you felt his fear control his actions of his boy. Immediately, he calmed down and looked down towards you as you smiled and looked towards him.

"Don't worry sweetie," you replied, "They will never come in your way and harm you."

"I swear I am not one of them!" the guy yelled at the soldiers has their weapons aimed towards him ready to shoot.

"Stop!" yelled a voice.

Your eyes soon shifted to the voice that was objecting to this behavior. There stood a young man of average height with golden-brown eyes, messy, light green hair wearing a pair of glasses; one missing lens on the left frame and one tinted green lens on the right. You soon sniffed the air to smell the amount of dead corpse that came strongly from the purse he had.

"As interesting this sounds, my lord, I do have a schedule to upkeep." you replied.

"Yes," the lord said, "Please follow me to the train."

I turned around to see the guy who would be, as stated by the soldier, a "lowly" steam smith get beaten the crap out of close his eyes from the beating he was receiving and lock eyes with me only to have his eyes widen towards my figure.

"Something told me...at that instant...he knew me...but I couldn't remember him."