Chapter 58: Boarding Megashi

-1223, October 17th, Streets of Sanctuary-

'Today marks 17 days of me waking up in this place. I barely even know where it is still, if I'm being honest.'

Yaki walked down a dirt road silently as the hanging lights around her were bright and distracting. Her eyes gave only the road her gaze.

'I went from being the girl who knew everything to a demon who knows nothing…that doesn't sit well, at least it hasn't been sitting well. I still have nightmares of Natsuki. I think I miss the way her earrings caught my attention. That week with Tarin meant a lot. I like Tarin, and Ms. Ezzy is nice too, but I don't get how they all expect me to get used to it so fast.'

Children laughed behind her. She thought of her brother.

'Aku and Tarin left for the Megashi thing or whatever today, traveling on some train. I'm not sure about it all. Aku never said when he'd be back. I don't like being here, especially alone.´

Yaki felt a tug at her hand as a little girl grabbed hold of it. She turned to the toddler, who had a bright smile on her face and big puppy eyes.

´What the!´

¨It'll be okay."

The little girl said as Yaki could feel a warm presence radiating off the toddler.

"Wha-what do you mean?"

"I've been told I have a special power, that mommy says I can feel people's feelings around me. You seem sad."

"Oh, well-"

"Would you like to come play with me and my friends?"

Yaki looked at the other kids, as they all had a scary presence.

"Uh, I uh don't know I-"

She felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Good timing, Yaki. I was just wondering where you were."

She turned to Ms. Ezzy's warm smile.

"I'm sorry, Miranda, but Yaki here has an appointment with me today; maybe she can play another time."

Yaki looked back at the girl's disappointed face.

"Yeah, another time…"

The two of them started to walk away together underneath the city's lights.

"Are you ready for today, Yaki?"

"Yeah…"

'I'm not…I hate the tests because I have to take the patch off. With more tests, though, they say soon they'll be able to make it so it can recede.'

Yaki softly touches the patch on her right eye.

'Until then…'

Ms. Ezzy opened up a door for Yaki.

'I'm stuck here.'

***

-1240, October 17th, Aubu-Sector 2, Megashi Train Station-

'I'm stuck here…'

Aku thought to himself as the loud crowd of people surrounded him as they were all boarding a train.

"What's taking you so long?"

Tarin stood in the doorway of train cart 87. He wore a bright smile as he waited for Aku.

"What are we doing here exactly?"

Aku walked on board, following behind Tarin as he headed for their seats. He could sense all sorts of people through the dozens of carts.

'Other demons?'

"I wasn't completely honest with you, Aku."

"What do you mean?"

"I was given a tip a few nights ago about a group of people that would be boarding this train sometime soon."

Aku looked around them as they approached their seats and saw many people around.

"What kind of group of people?"

Tarin relaxed in his chair as he stretched outwards.

"Hmm, the kind of group you can't talk about out loud."

He cracked a smile and winked at Aku.

'A group you can't talk about out loud? If this is some kind of stakeout mission, why'd he bring me along?'

*Static*

"Welcome aboard, Megashi. We will be taking off soon, so please remain seated until the green light is on."

A woman said over the comms of the train. Aku continued to look at his surroundings as he saw families and strangers smiling.

'I bet Yaki would've enjoyed something like this…I wonder how long this will take?'

He looked at the digital clock overhead the front of his cart as it read 1245.

'I can't put my finger on it, but there's something more...I can feel it.'

***

-0750, October 17th, Yohama, Megashi Train, Cart 150-

"We are here to make a deal…Gunther."

The Boss sat on a luxurious chair holding a cup of tea. His deformed smile radiated with a monstrous aura.

"What sort of deal?"

Gunther lankily stood, leaning his back on a wall of the cart, throwing a knife up and down in his hand. He wore a Hawaiian shirt with a tank top underneath. The sun was rising in the windows of the cart, and as the landscape in the distance passed by, you could see the trees of Salan on one side and the city of Taihen on the other.

"A deal of great fortune, a deal I've been waiting for quite a while now."

'Hm, so some big deal, I guess.'

"A new power is rising in our world, Gunther, and businessmen like me should be ready to grab at the seedlings being planted in the soil. So, when it grows into a beautiful flower, I can call myself the gardener. Especially when those flowers are dangerous, it is better to make friends before you make enemies."

The Boss's smile struck a chord in Gunther.

'This might be as serious as The Boss is making out to be.'

*Knock*

*Knock*

Gunther looked over at the Cart door.

"Come in, daughter."

The Boss said as the door opened slowly.

'She's back already? She works fast for a human.'

Gunther looked at The Raven's long apparel. She wore a long coat with feathers on it that flowed over the ground. Her raven mask was sleek and dark.

'She's been extra quiet lately, wonder what's wrong with her?'

Gunther looked over at The Boss; his smile wasn't as big as usual.

"You've been rather down lately. Everything okay?"

"Yes, Father"

"Good, what is it that you have come to report to me?"

"I have the full rundown on the train's length and number of carts. There are 150 carts each, and the head is about 100 ft long, but it seems it is used for more than just controlling the train, and each cart after that is around 70 feet long. With us having bought out 20 carts for our operation, there are still 129 carts with unknown passengers. The one I did not take into account was the head."

"Good girl, Raven. I am rather impressed."

Gunther scoffed at the Boss's remarks, which The Raven had heard.

"Something you'd like to say?"

She looked at Gunther slightly.

"Oh no, nothing at all…"

"You know, with that other demon not being around as much, you seem to be a bit more cocky lately, Gunther…"

The Raven's aura started to emit a warning to Gunther.

"...I think someone should put you back in your place!"

Gunther laughed, feeling the aura radiating off The Raven.

"Listen, little girl, I don't know if it's that time of the month for you or something, but…"

*Clash*

Gunther caught The Raven's Scythe with his left hand.

"...Don't forget who's 2nd in charge around here!"

"Now, now, now-"

Gunther and The Raven felt her scythe be pulled away from Gunther's hand by a familiar force.

"-I think both of you should remember where we are."

The Raven backed down as she understood what her father was saying.

"Yes, Father..."

She bowed slightly towards The Boss and turned her head towards the side, giving Gunther a dirty look. She stood up straight once again as she put her scythe away.

"Is there anything else I can do for you, father?"

The Boss raised his hand and waved off his daughter.

"Not here, I'd like you to return to headquarters and keep watch for me."

"Am I not needed here?"

"No…no, you are not, that is why I'm asking you to return to headquarters."

Gunther's Karada is felt radiating off his body as he seemingly opens a doorway out of thin air. Raven lets out a soft sigh.

"When will you be back, father?"

He looked at his watch, which was sitting on a table next to him. The Raven walked up slowly to the doorway, waiting for an answer.

'It's 0703, the 17th of October, if everything goes according to plan.'

The Boss smiled

"I'll be back before you know it, dear."

The doorway closed behind The Raven as Gunther scoffed.

"Damn brat!"

"Now, now Gunther, that is my daughter you're speaking ill of."

"Sorry, Boss!"

The boss sighed as he leaned back, staring at the ceiling of the cart. He was eager to get this all over.

"Eagerness...now that's a feeling I haven't felt in quite some time. Oh, where are you, so-called child of the moon?"