glowfic | Kamiko at Milliways

The dragging of Kamiko’s feet formed a trench, snaking up the side of the muddy hill as the sun began to set over the God-forsaken battlefield. Two hundred of Kamiko’s guerrillas had died today, and Kamiko had wanted to die as one of them.

Too bad Tadao didn’t give her that choice.

Tadao’s hand had a firm, unbreakable grasp on the back of Kamiko’s shoulders, his arms looping under her armpit. His brow was furrowed and set like stone, his eyes gazing firmly into the horizon as if fixed on a destination that only he could see.

Tadao’s arms were massive, but had deep, clawing gash marks from his shoulder to his hand. He was as large as an adolescent bear, and though less bulky was every bit as intimidating. His relentless pursuit of being the Perfect Soldier had sculptured his physique to the extent that every sinue coordinated with deadly purpose.

Kamiko’s fingers were drenched with blood, an external marker of her horror at the actions of her so-called ally.

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Every tree of the forest felt like a soldier, as if it wanted to rise up at the injustices of the government. Kamiko knew that government soldiers saw rebels behind every bush, every tree, every nook and cranny. It was as if “Rebel Forest” really was theirs.

The local “Rebel trees”, as they had been renamed, were poised aggressively, branches thrust forward and fingers spiralling upwards in defiance. These trees surrounded the clearing like a shield, protecting the Rebels whilst giving them plenty of little holes with which to fire back on any invader. Kamiko had chosen this place well.

Kamiko’s stare equalled Tadao’s own, her brow furrowed but her resolution clear. Her chainmail combat armour followed her athletic lines, a series of badges of honour from her promotions over the years covering her breastplate. The shining star amongst the badges was an emblem of fire, from the time she had refused to give up Rebel secrets even under torture. She still bore the scars, most of them covered but plenty to see all over her face, worn like badges of honour.

Tadao came to a halt, releasing her vice-like grip on Kamiko’s shoulders and placing her reverently down. Advisor Cynid and his rebel men, their hair grown long in conscious defiance of government regulations, surrounded them inquisitively, curious as to what had happened. With all of them here now, Kamiko was safe.

Kamiko rose slowly to her full height, raising her chin and her eyes holding angrily on Tadao. “How could you!” spat Kamiko icily, “We lose two hundred men today. I might have saved them, if not for you!”

Tadao’s head was cocked slightly to one side, his eyes having a glaze over them and his face was almost expressionless. He calmly stared at Kamiko as if she were an Abhumanian wildflower. “At least you’re safe”, he replied absentmindedly.

“I am not the beginning and end of this war, Tadao!”, rebuked Kamiko, starting to pace in an arc around him. “I am not such a great strategist that I am worth Two. Hundred. Lives. This is a guerrilla war, or have you forgotten?”

Kamiko’s voice was beginning to rise. Though wavering with emotion, the ferocity of her resolve was evident.

“Kamiko”, Tadao said pleadingly. His look now calm and affectionate. Kamiko wondered if- no, but it couldn’t be- “I care about you-“

The illusion came crashing down like the bodies of the guerrilla soldiers.

“You’ve imprinted, haven’t you!” shouted Kamiko, continuing to pace in a circle around him. “You were never really on my side, were you?”

“Kamiko-“ started Tadao desperately,

“No”, interjected Kamiko, determined not to let him off the hook. “We fight to capture sites for the Ritual, to abolish imprinting! Imprinting is brainwashing, Tadao! How could you not see that?”

“It is brainwashing!” Tadao replied. “I know that. But I also know that I want you to be happy, whatever it takes-“

There was a sharp intake of breath from the crowd, as they realised that Kamiko’s guess had been right. Cynid, dog that he was, seemed to sigh, as if he didn’t like where this was going.

Kamiko snapped a branch off a tree, wacking Tadao over the head with it. Disobedience of orders was punished by 30 lashes- she may as well start now.

“You hated me!” reminded Kamiko. “You publically denounced me as the filthiest traitor in history. You were going to burn me alive!”

Kamiko couldn’t show Tadao any warmth or compassion right now. If she did, Tadao would clutch at straws for her affection, and his brainwashing would eat away at his morals, at his psyche, at his soul. Even if Tadao were to try and kill her, she’d prefer that to this.

“I respected you!” Kamiko exclaimed in admonishment, carefully using the same tone she used when admonishing her men. “You had your principles, and you wouldn’t break them for the world! You never abandoned your men, no matter what! You wouldn’t break even under torture!”

“That- that’s true!” stuttered Tadao. “It’s all true- I know it is! But I don’t care about that anymore! I just want you to be-“

One of the Rebel soldiers threw out up in revulsion. It had been a long time since they’d seen Imprinted men in action. For some, the horror of what they might have become was too much to bear.

Kamiko gave out a bitter laugh. She should have known. Tadao had once been given orders by the Government to retreat and leave his men to die so he could escape. Tadao had refused those orders, believing the situation was untenable but saying that he would rather die than abandon his men. How could he possibly ‘change his mind’ and join the enemy?

“Throw him out!” shouted Kamiko. Cynid’s men exchanged pointed looks, but they moved to obey her orders. Grabbing Tadao by both arms, they dragged him out towards the camp gate.

“I will not kill you, Tadao!” exclaimed Kamiko, as icy as the sleet around her. She didn’t even look at Tadao, staring into space as the men dragged him off. “Not here. I know you can’t go back to your allies now. But you still have your principles. Go fight for them. Be the person you chose to be.”

Kamiko would never kill him when he was like this. Not- not when he was brought low by something he couldn't control. She didn't know what she'd do, but she wouldn't accept him and she would never, ever take advantage.

Imprinting destroyed a man, and with it all that they were. It didn't matter that Tadao would rather die than betray the men under his command. It didn’t matter that he’d sworn an oath to crush the Rebellion or die trying. It didn’t even matter that Tadao once saw Kamiko as the worst traitor in Abhuman history. Now Tadao was such a pathetic wretch he didn’t even care anymore.

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Kamiko needed a drink.

To her shock and horror, after Tadao had left Cynid’s faction had started arguing with her. Cynid had said that the military intelligence more than outweighed the 'small immorality'. Kamiko’s own sister had said that since Tadao couldn't live without her until they'd won the war, why not make him happy in the mean time?

Those hypocrites! Did they even know the meaning of the word "principle"? If Kamiko believed in the Greater Good above all she would have signed on with the Utilitarians! Those cowards just wanted Tadao's information in order to save their own wretched lives!

If Kamiko had her way, she’d be back at camp revitalising morale after the previous disaster. But it seemed the same Fate which created the damn imprint bonds didn't agree with her there either. From what she heard of her sister’s trip Kamiko couldn't get out of Milliways until the bloody place let her, so she might as well trust Mariko it was safe and go have a drink.

Back in the old days, Kamiko would have ordered a beer. For every beer she drank, she spat in her Imprinted father's face for forbidding it to her. Now, however, she was a leader who had forbidden alcohol to her followers. How could she possibly break her own law?

Kamiko ordered a few Cokes. She’d heard that people who couldn’t drink alcohol often ordered a Coke. Maybe she could drown her sorrows that way.