Chapter 44: Meeting up a friend
When nightfall finally arrived, Owen easily broke into the city, having discovered that even though there were guard patrols, they were primarily designed to spot kabane. This meant the patrols were few and far between in order to keep watch over more of the area around the stations.
'Now, where is the train?' This thought dominated Owen's mind as he wandered around the land of the stations. The smiles of the people, along with their joyful laughter, lifted Owen's mood as he moved around the city, snacking on the fruit he bought from a vendor who offered him a discount. It turned out that a holiday had recently taken place, and everyone was still riding the high it brought.
'This is fun, but why do they keep praising that asshole Biba?' Owen thought, as the conversations of people talking about Biba became more prevalent. All of it was filled with nothing but praise for what Owen knew was a genocidal maniac who would use anyone who allowed it.
Sadly, the people around Owen would never understand this, but Owen didn't care. His attention shifted as a familiar face came into view. He stood near a stall where the vendor was trying to convince him to buy a nice-looking kimono, which had what looked to be a dragon riding up the arm sections of it.
"I suggest not buying that" Owen said as he approached kurusu who soon turned to him his eye's wide as he looked as if he seen a ghost but Owen didn't care as he soon dragged hi over to a nearby alley as he wanted privacy for their conversation.
"Go ahead ask your question now" Owen said as he leaned against the wall of the alleyway they were in as he stared at kurusu who has now seemed to calm down as a small smile entered his face.
"Lady Ayame was sad when she thought you died. Glad to see you're still alive, but how did you survive?" Kurusu asked. Owen wasted no time making something up. He said he got lucky and finished off the weakened Black Smoke. Not only that, but he also claimed he found a steam bike and rode most of the way here. He got picked up by Biba, who he explained attempted to have him killed. This brought a sharp look to Kurusu's eye.
"I knew something was off about him," Kurusu said as he looked to be in deep contemplation before his eye lit up as if remembering something as he smoke.
"Oh yeah, that woman Shino, who you helped become a kabaneri, has... changed," kurusu remarked, his tone carrying an unsure note.
"What do you mean?" Owen asked, slightly worried. However, judging by Kurusu's lack of sadness or sorrow, it seemed like it wasn't anything as severe as her dying or turning into a kabane.
"Well, her stomach has expanded by three times," Kurusu explained. These words left Owen confused, as he wanted to immediately dash over to check on her. However, Kurusu's next words left him slightly frozen to the ground.
"The doctor said she is due to give birth any day now, which is by her words 4 entire months head" Kurusu's words shocked Owen who soon shook off his shock and made sure to make a note to check in on shino but right now he had something just as important to focus on.
"Kurusu, I plan to keep myself hidden as I don't want Biba to find me, so tell no one that you saw me here. And if you can, please let me know when Shino gives birth," Owen's words earned a nod from Kurusu, who thought it was a good idea. However, taking this chance, he told Owen about how Biba seemed to have Mumei wrapped around his finger, something Owen already knew. It was the reason why he didn't want to alert everyone to him still being alive, as there was always a chance Mumei would rat him out to Biba.
"I will meet with you tomorrow at early noon in this same spot. We can plan again then," Kurusu said as he promptly left Owen in the dark alley. Owen didn't linger but instead went to enjoy the amenities this place had to offer and rented a nice inn because he had tons of money to spend.
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I didn't feel creative so another filler chapter but anyways i'm thinking of killing off biba early. also what do you guys think will pop out of shino?