“Oshiro-san…” Hikaoke as I approached him. He was on the edge of the group of trainees, looking pensive, especially when he looked at the pale Keomi-.

  “Hikawa-san.” I returned his hesitant greeting. Gng around, I realised I couldn’t see Ren-san. Asking where he was, I got a surprising answer.

  “My son is down in the gym. Even though he’s injured, he said he wao get stronger.”

  I see. I guess the experience has ged him. “Well, those are udable ses.” I agreed. “I’ll speak to him ter. He shouldn’t push himself too hard, especially when he’s still healing.”

  “Just like you didn’t, or Mori-san?” Hikawa-san looked at Eri in her wheelchair with some guilt. “Look, Oshiro-san…” he hesitated again, searg for what words to say, before deg to be ho. “I’m sorry. We should have e to you first, rather than propping up Yamato-sama. But we agreed it wouldn’t do any harm, and that it would be an ideal way of fulfilling our itments…”

  I disagreed with his ses, but I let him speak, knowing he o get it off his chest. “… well, you know how it ended up. Susanoo is effectively destroyed as a fa. Uchida-sama is secluded in grief, Yamato-sama is in a a, and those of us who let our children, grandchildren and other retives die are wracked with guilt.” His smile was bitter as he tinued. “Tsukuyomi seems to have eoo, so now it’s just your fa, and Amaterasu. Even Saionji-sao be supp you to aent.” He let out a bitter sigh. “When I first met you at the behest of Izumi-san, I simply thought you’d be a good tool to boost Susanoo. Who would have thought that you’d end up saving my daughters…”

  “Speaking of the twins, how are they? They should be out of danger, but even so, healing such horrible injuries takes time.” I asked, ed. Shaeu and I do o give them a further round of Ether Healing to remove scars and other minor wounds we didn’t focus on, but sihey are stable, it doesn’t o be immediately, even though I want to prioritise them. Damn, I have too muy pte. If only there was someone else that could learn.

  “They surprised me.” Hikawa-san muttered, shaking his head. “Despite their terrible ordeal, they still want to return to the training school. They aren’t even out of middle school yet, but they have muts than their father, that’s for sure. Ren too. you say something to him again? He’s still bming himself.”

  “I will.” I agreed. “I uand what it is to feel guilty over things like this, but really, he did the best he could, and thanks to that… well, we avoided the worst. So, Chiaki and Chiasa are willing to tinue?” I was relieved at that. If they wao quit, of course I’d respect that, but coupled with Haru-san, they were invaluable as a learning tool, ahey to tinue gaining strength, they should be powerful assets iure.

  “Yes. They are here too, along with the girl there.” He Keomi-, who had turned out to be the oh the least injuries of the firls we rescued, despite looking so horrible initially, so her physical wounds were now healed. Though the mental shock she suffered was worse, along with Hotene-san, the girl who was blinded. I don’t think Hotene-san has been released from the hospital in Kyoto yet…

  “I see. Well, if I get ce I’ll do a little more healing to finish their recovery. The sooner we mend them the better, right?” I tried to lighten the mood a little.

  “Right.” Hikawa-san managed weakly. “Well, I’ve said my piece. As for the others, they are likely too ashamed to show their faces here. Other than the ral shrines, of course. Not that they are ral anymore.” He let out o long, bitter sigh. “To think the dream of uniting the faiths of Japan would be dely by an outsider. Well, I suppose with the noble Lady Diviner, Saionji-san and Kudou-san in your er, our traditions and history will endure. Well, I’ve taken enough of your time.” He stepped away, having said what he wao.

  With that I went to speak to Marika-san, Keomi- and Kana. The students from the ral shrines were there as well, and I exged some words with them, thanking them for their prudence, before speaking to Keomi-san. “How are you? You shouldn’t have forced yourself to e if you don’t feel well.”

  “Well, this is my shrine, isn’t it, Akio-kun.” She managed a weak giggle. “I didn’t e far. And my leg is healed, isn’t it.” She stood, showing us she could walk again. She was clearly trying to appear as the impish, airheaded young girl I knew her as, though her grin was a touch off, and her face ale.

  “I know, but mental scars are harder to heal. If Haru-san wasn’t so busy we could try her Mind Healing Light and a few other things. Just… hang in there, okay?”

  She nodded, faint tears in her eyes. “I’m okay. I promise. But maybe… maybe some cake from that super-good store would cheer me up?” she wi me adorably, pigtails boung, and I gave in with a ugh.

  “Sure, I’ll send someoo buy a lot.” I promised, and as she gave a happy “Yay!” iurn, I turned my attention to Marika-san.

  “How are you feeling?” I asked. “Your mother retty adamant about bringing you back to Nishimorioka, and I ’t say I entirely bme her. I do think you’d be better off here, learning more and being stronger, but… in the end, it’s up to you.”

  The group was silent as Marika-san thought about it. “Mother was very forward.” She admitted, in a quiet voice. “I was terrified. People I khey’d died.” She was as serious as ever, ag way beyond her age. “I’ve experienced a lot of fearful things here in Tokyo and Kyoto, since I chose to honour Chairo-sama by following you. But this is the path I chose. I’ll be a shrine maiden that Chairo-sama be proud of, that Japan be proud of. That grandfather, father and… most of all, my mother be proud of.” She gave me a wan smile then. “Perhaps it might be different if I was hurt like Keomi-san, but…” even so, I could see she was afraid, her hands trembling a little.

  Damn, she’s a very brave little girl. Reag out, I patted her head, surprising her. “With an attitude like that, you’ll definitely succeed. I ask you to look after Keomi- for me?”

  As she nodded, Keomi- protested. “But Akio-kun, I’m the older one, shouldn’t I be looking after her?”

  “Uh, well, I think that Marika-san is more mature, so… I’ll leave it in her hands.”

  As Keomi- protested, there was ughter, and the tense mood evaporated. Kana was o speak to me. “Hey Akio, if you are w, my friends were definitely shaken up by the whole mess, but… they’ll be back. Especially when I showed off the light element I gained.” She smiled. “So anyway, who’s the new girl?”

  Several others echoed her, ied. “She’s Zhao Daiyu, from a. A Cultivator, if you believe in such things. She’s also another Chosen by the Gods.”

  “I see. Colleg them, aren’t you?” She smirked, though I could see a touch of irritation in that smile. “Well, I’m sure she’ll be of use to you, assuming you trust her.”

  “Well, she swore an oath I don’t think is easy to break.” I reassured her, but strangely, that only served to irritate Kana more, and she tossed her head, making an indelicate noise of disapproval.

  “I see. Well, whatever, I’m not the boss of you, am I?” her expression softehen. “So anyway, seems there’s some big-shots about tonight. I remember them from the huge meeting we had.” She the group taining Miyu and Mayumi-san. “Her bodyguard is here too, outside with the people from Fujiwara Security Services. There’s more of them than ever. I guess it makes sense, with all that happened…” her voice dropped, barely more than a whisper by the end, and I khat Kana had been affected by the deaths as well. Seeing me looking at her with passion, her skin tinged pink, and she met my gaze.

  “Look, I’m fine, all right? Like Marika-, I’ve been through some horrible experiences. I’ve toughened up. I’m not the selfish girl I used to be. Well, not totally.” She paused. “I do have a request, but I’m not sure if it’s selfish or not, though.”

  Oh? “Well, you’ve been a real help to me retly, so ask away, and if I , I’ll grant it.”

  “Ugh, it’s saying things like that which lead to misuandings.” She pouted. “If I’m so valuable to you, why don’t you… you know what, never mind. It doesn’t matter. What does is…” she took a deep breath, steadying herself. “… I’ve been thinking. A lot. Unusual for me, I know.” She smiled mogly. “I’ve seen how hard you and Shaeu have been w, trying to heal the injured, granting power to so many… I’ve listeo Aiko- and her dreams of being someone who deals with fitness and magic. Maybe it’s because she’s older than me, she seems so determined.”

  “No, my sis isn’t as mature as you think.” I assured her, amused. “It’s just… she never really had a goal, now she does. A goal ges people. It ged me. I was drifting aimlessly as well. Now I ’t afford to any longer. It’s simple.”

  “I’ll say you ’t, Akio.” Kana ughed. “You have a lot of people to support, and not just your pretty girls. All of us. Japan. Now this girl from a too. I hear you promised the Lady Diviner as well. You’re stretched pretty thin.”

  Mhter all around, as I scratched my head ruefully. “Yeah, don’t I know it.”

  “Well, I’ve decided too. You said I should be proud of my gifts, my eyes, and my ability to sense fragmehoughts. Well, I’ve talked to my parents and grandfather when I got back from Kyoto, as well as Shirohebi…” she shook her head. “I still ’t believe I talk to our kami whenever I want. Well, Akio, I want to learn Chirurgery aher Healing too. I want to help, and I think this is something you need. You and Shaeu have been looking exhausted since Friday night. It’s kind of pitiful to see.” She teased me.

  “Really? Are you sure? You know how painful it be, learniher Healing. And while I certainly help with my Eye, I don’t have enough of a e to you to see your status to know when you succeed in Ranking it up.”

  “That’s quite a rude thing to say. But so very you.” Kana sighed. “Yes, I know, I remember the pain. It was awful. But I mahe first Rank of Ether Healing, right? So I get better at it. Look, didn’t you say you’d grant my request? Why the arguments?”

  “I just… well, I don’t like hurting girls. Eve’s necessary.”

  “Well, you’ll have to suck it up and be a man. After all, I have to raise my value, right? I’m Izumi Kana, and I’m beautiful, charming and I’m going to be somebody! You should be grateful that I’m choosing to do this, to help you out!”

  “I am most-most grateful, as is Akio, I am quite certain.” Shaeu said from behind us, making Kana jump.

  “You startled me.” She pined. “Well, he could stand to show it a little more. I’m starting to feel underappreciated.”

  “That is not-not it, you know he is simply unsure of how to act around you.” Shaeu looked at me, her face bright and her smile gently mog. “After all, you are very pretty, Kana, and he has a great deal of liking for you.”

  “Liking, yeah, I know. All the boys like me. But… he knows where I stand. But I’ve decided. I doubt I’ll ever be a fighter, not like Eri-san or Aiko-. It’s thtening, and… well, I hate admitting my fws, but I’m not that brave. But this… I help you two out, and iure, it’ll be a job not many do. I make a small fortune, right?” she winked, and Keomi- ughed.

  “That’s Kana- for you! Always after the easy money!”

  “You shut up, idiot! You’ve always been clumsy and airheaded, but to think you mao get yourself dragged into such a mess…”

  The hard versation over with, I looked at Shaeu, who nodded. I suppose Kana is right. Having skills is going to be very important as soon as the world finds out about all this, which ’t be much longer. Japan is already creaking at the seams with leaks and is, a is the same, and surely other tries too… and once irrefutable proof is out there, it’ll spread round the world in an instant.

  Telling Shaeu t Hinata, Daiyu and now Kana to the room Hinata had set up for the Healing, I headed down to the gym to see Ren-san. When I got there, I could see he was on a treadmill, running at a det pace, sweat dripping from him, his face revealing he was still in some pain. On seeing me e in, he pressed a button, and the treadmill slowed, leaving him panting and breathing heavily. Seeing that, I tossed him a towel from one of the racks. He caught it, wiping his sweat, before looking at me, a touch guiltily.

  “Did you need something?” he asked, all his usual arrogance gone.

  “Nothing much, I just came down to check you aren’t pushing yourself too hard. You’re not fully healed yet either.”

  “Well, I’m fine.” He insisted. “Save your efforts for my sisters, and those who more.”

  I know that look he’s giving me. Guilt. But it’s mispced. This isn’t Ren-san’s fault. In fact, he salvaged the situation. “Oh, I io. But they won’t be happy if they hear you’ve been overdoing it. Still, I approve. Growing your strength will never betray you. I wish I was strooo.”

  “You?” he snorted. “You faurarihyon and came back alive. pared to that, I…”

  “Don’t be a fool.” I chided him. “If Nurarihyon wanted, I’d have been squished like a bug. No, my strength got me through the door, able to iate, but it wasn’t suffit to save everyone, was it? I get it, I do. I feel your pain as well. But you did the best you could. More than anyone could have expected. You got out, and you sought us out. And so your sisters, Keomi- and Hotene-san lived. Your father is worried about you, but I’m not.”

  “You aren’t?” he asked, surprised.

  “No. Seeing you, determirying to be stronger, it means you realised what matters. I will keep an eye on you, to make sure you don’t push it too far, but I know you have the spirit to get through this and e out of it stronger. After all, it’s only when we have something to protect that we grow. Your sisters are important to you, aren’t they?”

  “Of course they are!” he snapped. “They’re my younger sisters! They be annoying, and… well, they always treat me like I’m someone special, calling me Ren-sama… well, in the past I thought that was cool, that as the heir to su important shri was only natural they’d look up to me, but… what the hell are you making me say?” he she old Ren-san ing bato focus. “Of course I care about my sisters, but I’m not obsessed with them like you are with yours!”

  “Ouch. Hurtful!” I ughed at his barbed words. “But I get it, I do. So… when you are fully healed, your sisters too, as I hear from your father they aren’t bag out, we’ll put together a raining regimen, ohat pushes you all to new heights. For now though, just don’t overdo it, all right?”

  “You already said that! Get lost, you’ve got things to do, haven’t you?” he scowled, and I retreated, ughing. Yeah, I think Ren-san will be all right. No, better than all right. This could be the making of him, strength growing fredy…

  ********

  Gathered in the room Hinata had modified for the fs was quite the crowd. The room was separated into two, with a soundproof one-way mirror, so I could see that oher side, several beds were set up, two elderly Caucasian men and one middle-aged ban occupying them. There was a doctor and nurse present, as well as Hinata’s grandfather, who was talking to the patients cheerfully, ughing. Hinata flicked a switch, and their words could be heard.

  “o worry, Mr Schwartz. I’ve been through the treatment myself. I’d hardly be so foolish as to reend something harmful. But don’t just take my word for it. Takatsukasa Ichijou, you must have heard the reports that his health has vastly improved, right?” he was saying in English.

  “Yes, there’s been a lot of rumours floating around about ges in Japan’s inner circle of nobility. I hear your pany is on the rise as well, Mr Fukumoto.”

  “It certainly is. My granddaughter’s marriage has been decided, though no wedding date is set. When you are better, you simply must e to the wedding. You tooldmeyer.” After that he started talking to the woman, who was sweating and clearly i pain, her fad body gaunt and hollow.

  On our side there was Hinata and Kazumi-san, Shaeu, Kana, aiting eagerly to see us work, Daiyu, atg quietly, still tense, uo uand those around her, as well as surprisingly Mayumi-san and her regal-looking bodyguard, who wore a sharp suit, cut to a male fashion, her hair pulled bato a tight ponytail. On seeing my surprise at her presence, Mayumi-san smiled. “I thought I would watething so exg. After all, I’ll be in your care soon enough, so I would like to see for myself first. I abhor pain, so be as gentle as possible.”

  “I must apologise, but the initial Chirurgery be quite-quite painful. This ot-not be helped.” Shaeu grinned.

  “Well, do your best anyway!” Mayumi warned. “Besides, there is another reason I’m here.” She poio the woman in one of the beds. “She’s the daughter of the President of Kumba-Stillwater. It’s one of the rgest mining panies in the world, aainly the rgest on the Afri ti. Grandfather has dealings with them, as their metals supply a lot of our industries, and when I heard Hinata here was looking for wealthy fners… well, I had heard that the President’s daughter was gravely ill. Bowel cer, supposedly uable.” She smiled at us then. “The President cherishes his daughter Miss Lindiwe. I have met her at a party hosted by Ichijou house before, along with her father. So I reached out. Obviously they were sceptical, but… well, she has less than six months left, acc to all the best doctors.”

  “Sorry about that, Akio. Mayumi-sama always has ways to worm things out of me.” Hinata apologised.

  “Worm? How rude. I merely keep my ear to the ground. Well, we will be starting a busiogether, won’t we?” she looked at me. “And from the designs your subordinate is suggesting, we will need an awful lot of precious and rare earth metals, to say nothing of endless amounts of iron, aluminium, tungsten… if you heal her, well, we each get a two pert stake in the pany, and access to all the metals we cost, with some even free. It’s an excellent deal! It could save us trillions of yehe loerm!”

  “So, you are managing to profit yourself?” I pointed out, and she met my gaze calmly.

  “Why of course. Referral fees.” She replied boldly, leading to Shaeu ughiily at her sheer cheek.

  “The other two are Mr Schwartz, who runs one of the rgest hedge funds in America. He had a bad fall retly, destroying his hip and upper leg. Due to a hereditary dition and the severity of the injury, it seems that a hip rept won’t work, so he’s destio be fio a wheelchair. If revent that, well, he’s prepared to pay us fifty million dolrs. He’s a man who cherishes being active and his hobbies, despite his advang age.” Hinata tinued.

  “Small ge pared to what I managed.” Mayumi-san said proudly.

  “True. But even so, fifty million dolrs purchase a lot of necessary property in our Territood job!” I praised Hinata, who leaned in, happily.

  “As foldmeyer…” Hinata’s expression ged, troubled. “He has retly suffered a rge cardiat, suffering damage to his heart, but worse, to his nerves, and he is partially paralysed. Doctors say that if he doesn’t have surgery he’ll certainly suffer further worsening of his dition, but that the surgery only has a forty pert survival rate. He is the rgest shareholder in a major puter chip pany, one everyone has heard of, and we use a lot in Nichibotsu products. If we improve his dition, we’ll receive a five pert stake, as well as preferential deals on their products… and also access to some of their stists and researchers.” She smiled. “He uzzled at that request when Grandfather gave it. He thinks Nichibotsu is intending a new product line, but it’s actually for Ixitt.”

  “I see. So, cer, shattered bones and the heart and his is going to be tough.” At least it’s neing lost parts. Though again, I don’t see why I ’t.

  I must have been frowning, as Hinata looked a little worried. Still in my embrace, she looked up at me. “ you do it? I should have asked first, but I just thought if it was you, it’d be possible. After all, you healed my grandfathers, and have mao save the girls…”

  “She has a great deal of faith in you.” Mayumi-san grinned. “I hardly wait to see if it is mispced or not.”

  “Don’t worry.” I reassured Hinata. “Shaeu and I will manage. And we’ll reap the rewards.”

  “Great. Well, I’d best go see grandfather a him know to start.” As she left my arms, a touch regretfully, Hinata ehe room, while I turo Kana. “Well, your eyes, they only pick up abnormalities, right? I think it’s going to be hard for you to make this work, but we’ll have to see precisely what you do.”

  Kana nodded, and soon we were ready to go. The nurse had sedated the patients, while the doctor was monit their vitals with portable medical maery. Exging a look with Shaeu, I asked which patient we should work on first.

  “The bohat seems quite-quite the challenge.” She grinned. At the bedside of Mr Schwartz our eyes fred amber, as we ied the damage. I let out a low whistle, indeed shocked. “Yeah, the hip-bone and parts of the upper thigh are barely fragments and powder, and most of the muscles are ruihere’s some nerve-damage here too. No wohey ’t just try a hip rept.”

  “How shall-shall we proceed then?” Shaeu asked, and I paused for thought.

  “Well, all, or at least enough of the bone is still there, even if it’s not intact. We gather it together in the proper shape, and…” as we discussed it, the doctor and nurse looked on, equal parts awed, terrified and curious.

  “Don’t worry, they are from the hospital in Kyoto.” Fukumoto-san chuckled. “They know how to keep secrets, and what would happen if they don’t.”

  That alyed, Shaeu and I started our work, extendiher through the body of the patient. It wasn’t as simple a matter as some of the injuries that the girls had suffered, grievous though they were. Just usiher tee the bones wouldn’t work, they were clearly tmented, and the damage around it was severe, iion starting to set ie the obvious presence of extremely potent antibioti his system. “Hmm…” I muttered, pursing my lips. “Shaeu, you work on sing the iion, repairing the surrounding damage and helping the muscles recover? I’ll try and gather all the fragments into a sembnce of the correct shape, and then we go from there.”

  She nodded, and I began to trate, all my Split Thoughts w overtime. It was like speed-running a ferociously plex jigsaw puzzle, but with the parison from his mostly undamaged other hip, I was able to see the ideal oute, though I o activate Body Enha for the extra processing power. I really should touch up that other hip and some areas of wear and tear while I’m here…

  Once I had assembled the bone, I noticed there were a few missing areas, but only small parts of the whole, worn away by age and time. As aether flooded into his body, knitting the boogether, I also allowed a little earth energy to permeate them, the idea striking me as my Body Enha and Might of the Furious Earth used it in that way. After an hour of stressful work, I mopped my sweaty brow, stepping away, Shaeu already having finished.

  “Do looks much improved to me. sider the tune-up to the a bonus. Right, I think we’ll do the other ma.” After a cool drink provided by Hinata, her grandfather watg us together with a sly grin, I ied our patient.

  “The heart is in a bad shape. Still, we have some experieh it.” I mentioned, and Fukumoto-san shrugged, no doubt remembering the pain he felt at my efforts. with my Eye, I pointed out to Shaeu the areas that seemed damaged.

  “I see-see.” She agreed. “Well, it is not-not much more difficult to repair tha male. I shall leave the heart to you!”

  The beats were slower, due to the ahetic, but still irregur. Looking at the damaged tissue, I elled iher, redug swelling, ing valves and more. I’m gd my memory is good and I studied some anatomy and medical textbooks in my free time. Free time… I remember that…

  The Doctor panicked as the monit equipment screamed a warning, saying the patient was ftlining, but that was because the heart had stopped as I did the most delicate work. A few seds ter I restarted it with a jolt, and after a while, we finished up, the damage repaired.

  “That was easier than repairing shattered and powdered bone.” I said, and Shaeu nodded. “Well, onto the st, most critical case.”

  The woman, miss Lindiwe, looked terrible indeed. I could see her bones under her gaunt, paper-like skin, ae her rich, dark skin tone, she somehow mao sport an uhy pallor. Poor woman. cer is a terrible thing. “Right the’s make this a sweep.”

  This was a different experieo before. cer was rife in her bowels, but had also spread to several internal ans. Removing the cer was easy enough with Ether Healing, but her body was so weak that even cutting free a little pushed her close to death, so Shaeu had to keep infusing her with vitality. It ainfully slow going, harder even than fixing bones, as a mistake here meah, but after around another hour, we were done.

  “Great job!” Hinata enthused, as I gave her a thumbs-up. “When wets around about these successes, in addition to my grandfathers, we’ll have no she of ts from America, Europe, Africa… there are already some from Japan’s nobility and business world who are ied as well…”

  “That’s great and all, but not for a week or two, please.” I groaned. “We have so much to do, and not enough of me to do it!”

  “A shame you are so short on time, I would have loved to invite you out for a drink, grandson-in-w.” Fukumoto-san ughed, and I promised him I would visit iure. Returning to the room behind the mirror, I saw Mayumi-san looking at me with some respect for a ge, while Kana was rubbing at her eyes, exhausted, and Daiyu seemed excited.

  “You… what did you do? That woman, her Qi was almost exhausted, the fmes of life ebbing low, and now she is regaining her vitality. What arts are these?” Daiyu asked me eagerly.

  “Healing arts. We discuss it ter.” I assured her. She pi that, that I was brushing her off, but I had other s right now.

  “So, how was it?” I asked Kana.

  “Difficult.” She sighed. “So hard the old me would have given up by now. I have much better trol over my sight, it’s true, but you are right, it only sees abnormalities. I could see the aether you ied in, and what you were healing, but little else. Now I have a fierce headache as well.”

  “Hmm, well, that gives me an idea. But that’s for ter. For now, I want to see the twins and run a bit of healing oo finish their recovery, before we go to the Boundary. We have to meet Primal Forest soon.”

  “Wait, before that.” Mayumi-san said. “While we are here, I believe you might as well give me this Chirurgery. Hinata here survived it well enough, and I’ve seen proof of your talents in a. I am no longer ed by it. So, go ahead.” She smiled at me challengingly, and I heard Hinata ugh a little bitterly.

  This girl. She really is a selfish little princess, far more than Shaeu ever was. Oh well, I suppose today or tomorrow, it doesn’t matter, but… A mischievous grin crossed my face. I wonder how little miss pampered will cope with the rather nasty pain…

  ShipTeaser