Micchi Versus the New World - Chapter 87

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Chapter 87

"So, Chika got herself roped up in this shit all the way back then?" Anya asked after I finished recounting what I saw.

"That's right," I nodded, considering what the implications meant for us in this world with her. "From what I could tell, she wasn't being forced or anything."

At least not until Yui and I showed up. That was something more than just a memory. If it was all in my head, I shouldn't have known more than what I experienced that day. However, it let me roam the city like I actually lived in it at the time. It felt like I'd been sent to the past.

When I threw Kaoru a look, she had her eyes shut and was deep in thought.

We had all gathered back to the longhouse so that I could recount to everyone what I saw. I still wasn't sure if they were real. Maybe Kaoru was in cahoots with that beastling shaman to fuck with my head. Maybe they were real and were meant to be a chance to catch a glimpse of how things might have turned out differently.

If Yui and I had found Chika that day, would we still be in Japan with her? Or was I being too naive hoping for one big happy family?

"I can't believe it," Yui mumbled, her shoulders trembling and face twisted with betrayal. "When I first came to this world and joined the demon armies… I wonder if Anego knew? Why wouldn't she come talk to me? I just want to see her again…"

Anya grabbed Yui by her pigtails and tugged on them. "Now ain't the time to cry. We know for sure Chika's the demon lord in this world. It's just a matter of finding her."

None of it was adding up. Chika accepted a deal from someone to become a demon to protect me and Yui. But what was the point of dragging us here to begin with?

Later at night when everyone turned in, I was kept awake by the swirling thoughts of what I'd seen. I stepped outside to get some air and hopefully clear my mind, but Anya came out a few minutes later. She sat down next to me on the bottom step, pulled out a carton of cigarettes to my surprise, and offered one to me.

"It ain't tobacco, but I got people in Ash'tar growing something similar," Anya said.

I put one in my mouth and waited for a light, but Anya seemed to have lost it. Instead of waiting on her, we used Sacchan as an improvised lighter.

The taste just wasn't the same, but inhaling the smoke brought me back to simpler times. Back then, all I had to worry about was how bruised my knuckles were getting the next day.

"Realized something else out while in that memory. Chika was in Kansai, you were in Tohoku. The two of you sandwiched us in on purpose, right? Make a cushy little playground for me and Yui to duke it out in?" I asked.

"Truth is, Chika did contact me once after we split ways from Motonari." Anya pulled the cigarette out of her mouth and blew into the canopy. "In my first year of high school, she sent a messenger, telling me to keep Hokkaido and Tohoku punks out of Tokyo. So I did. Never heard from her again after that."

I sucked one last puff and tossed the rest of the smoldering cigarette to the ground, then stomped on it to put it out.

"It wasn't protection that we wanted. It never was." Satisfied that Anya caught my drift, I left her there and returned inside.

Breila visited our place in the morning to tell us the wagons were fixed. However, things were beginning to look hectic around Yowan. A distant drum beat powerfully in the distance. Beastlings were gearing up and arming themselves to the teeth. The few who were weak and frail retreated into their homes.

"Geez. What's with all the commotion?" Anya asked as she groaned from her bed.

"Raiding parties. This is normal for us in Kazaar, who are always vying for control of ruling the vast forests. Opposing factions often form against the leadership. Which, this time around, is me." The chieftain pointed to herself.

Kain groaned into his hands. "I really wish your people would stop with this senselessly violent tradition. It makes maintaining relations with Kazaar very difficult."

"So, what? A fight's about to break out?" I asked, brimming with excitement.

"A fierce one." She nodded. "Champions of Lannarkis you may be, you're still outsiders and need not involve yourselves. If you leave now, my hunters can provide safe passage away from the fighting."

Who the hell in their right mind would want to leave after hearing that? I had a lot of pent-up frustration to work out, especially since Kaoru copped out last night in the fighting pits. What better way to release some stress than a fight?

"L-Lady Micchi, I don't like that look on your face. May we just depart and leave this to Chieftain Breila? Kain asked.

"Oh, no. The brutes are at it again." Mildred rolled her eyes.

"Well, we ain't in that much of a hurry to get to Mou'nan." I cracked my knuckles. "Where's the fighting gonna be?"

"Eh? They're approaching from the west." Breila blinked absent-mindedly, answering out of reflex.

When we got to the western entrance of Yowan Village, a large group of hostile beastlings had also shown up. Many weren't carrying weapons other than the claws on their hands and fangs in their mouths.

"Oh, man." Yui pinched her nose shut. "What did the cat drag in? Because everyone stinks like it's a barnyard out here."

"Can't expect dogs to know the smell of their own stank." Anya grimaced.

Breila and the large wolf beastling Drox marched out to meet the opposing horde with one of their own.

The showdown between two large groups reminded me of how we did things back in Japan. Turf wars between schools and rival gangs were always fought until the last standing, and whichever faction that person belonged to would win. Typically that came down to the two banchos, what we called the gang leader at school.

"I'd prefer it if you lot didn't dirty my village with your filthy paws, Gallahorn. I happen to have very important guests today!" Breila flashed her fangs, causing some of the beastlings on the other side to cower.

"Oh, we don't care who's with ya, and it don't matter." Gallahorn, the muscular beastling with magnificent antlers reminiscent of a moose stepped forward to face her. "Two years you lost the Lannarkis Ring to some nobodies and soft meat. It's time you step down and let a real chieftain lead. I'll bring Kazaar the honor it deserves!"

"Oi, oi. Can't blame the foxy-lady. They were fighting me last year." Anya interrupted their stare down by making herself known.

"The current champions are here, too." I stepped forward with Yui, brandishing Sacchan in their faces.

"W-Wait… They are your guests?" Gallahorn faltered, but he quickly recomposed himself in front of his army. "There's no backing down now. We're going through you to take the city!"

Hundreds of beastlings charged right for the city. Breila and her people braced for the attack and were about to launch their own offensive until I put a hand out to stop them.

"Consider this as repaying the hospitality," I said, then turned to Yui. "Go ahead and go wild."

"Hmph. I don't need you to give me permission." Like a bolt of lightning, Yui ripped into the horde and tore through their forces.

"Kaokao and I'll be back here if you guys need us!" Anya waved, pulling up a seat and chewing on a jerky-like snack with Kaoru.

"You're going to let us do all the work?" I pointed to the fighting.

"Hey, you made your bed, now lay in it! 'Sides, it's nice to watch from the back every once in a while. Get in there, Micchi!" she shouted.

When I turned to Kain and Mildred, they gave a similar response.

"The last thing I want to do is explain to my father why I participated in a Kazaar civil war. Count me out of this one," the prince said.

"And I'm staying by my beloved's side." Mildred clutched onto Kain's arm and grinned.

Gallahorn was stunned by the sight of Yui making fried chicken out of his entire army. He didn't see me walking up to him.

"What's up? Lost your tongue?" I taunted him.

The beastling growled, lowered his head, and charged into me. All it took was one hand on his antlers to stop him in his tracks. Both of his hooved feet dug trenches trying to push into me.

I threw a single punch and sent him flying. Gallahorn rubbed his bruised nose, dazed as to what had happened.

"Hey, look at that. Now you got your red nose, Rudolph." I sneered.

"I'll make you regret that!"

The beastling's single-minded attacks were easy to read, especially if his idea of fighting is charging every single time. As he came at me again, I used Sacchan to smash his head, the impact breaking both of his antlers.

"Well, shit. Where'd your horns go, Bambi? Ya stuck 'em up your ass?"

Unfortunately, Gallahorn was down for the count and didn't hear a word I said. By the time my fight was over, so was Yui's. The ones who were left standing threw themselves to the dirt belly-up as a sign of surrender.

When I glanced over my shoulder to Breila and Drox, they, too, had laid themselves flat on their backs with their stomachs facing up.

"The fuck are you guys pissing yourself for?" I asked.

"S-Sorry. Seeing you two fight brought back traumatic memories of the Lannarkis Ring. I… I can't believe you defeated them so easily," Breila said, standing back up and brushing the dirt from her clothes.

As Yui and I were returning to our group, the ground began to shake with increasing intensity. The only thing that could create quakes like that were monoliths.

Mildred was the next to realize what it was. "Everyone, step back! This isn't a monolith, the demons have sent an obelisk instead!"

From the ground emerged a massive, black-stoned structure that was as tall and wide as the trees in the forest. Strange symbols along the length of it began to light up one by one, and a split in the obelisk opened to reveal a portal within.

"Demons? I was hoping for more, so bring it open!" I smirked, igniting Sacchan and getting ready to fight.

However, only a single figure stepped out.

"Not a demon, Micchi. Or has it been so long that you've forgotten who I am?"

The voice spoke a little too clearly in my ears that I almost didn't believe it. Sacchan slipped from my hands.

"Is that…who I think…?" Yui gasped, unable to finish her sentence and choking up.

Anya and Kaoru jumped to their feet, the look in their eyes filled with just as much disbelief that it left them speechless.

Because standing at the top of the obelisk, her long, black hair swaying from the breeze, and a gaze as piercing cold as the day she disappeared…

"Chika?" I uttered the name at last.