Track of the Apocalypse Ch5 Ficbit – Space and Time

Escaping Kongokaku there’d been no time to give measured and careful consideration as to where to put the Hunters; not with a shamed mob of Kongokaku to find room for. Those she had taken some minutes to think on, and chosen the fourth car, because she would not let those Kongokaku who’d been a mob closer to either end of the hayajiro. Those of the Koutetsujou who’d been displaced had moved forward or back as they chose – and with that in mind, the last car, away from the locomotive, had seemed the best place for the Hunters. Put known fighters at the end of the hayajiro, where they’d be firing at the hordes as the Koutetsujou raced away. They needed room for their bikes, but… there were only four of those. Not to mention granting the Hunters part of the last car was the easiest way to keep them separate from the Kongokaku and any of Aragane and Yashiro who just couldn’t bear to look at them.

Only now the rain meant people would be forced to travel the entire hayajiro, instead of taking shortcuts over the roofs. Together with the three souls currently in quarantine, this was just going to wind Dogen’s people tighter.

Kibito glanced between his fellow warrior and his lady, and sighed. “Well, if we need Uryuu-”

Steel clanked, above and far back; the rear hatch, echoing down to the controls. Yukina glanced that direction, then resolutely turned back to her work, evidently confident that whatever it was, her steamsmiths and Ayame’s bushi would do their jobs and handle it.

Justified confidence, Ayame was relieved to see; Suzuki came down the stairs next, the steamsmith’s damp blond curls a head above Ikoma’s clipped green, Kajika’s brown, and-

Ayame almost started, then schooled her stance and face into polite welcome. She didn’t know what had brought Uryuu when she needed to talk to him, but that was the Hunter’s pale silver trailing the group.

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