[FIC] Sagashibito (The Searchers) - 8
Title: SagashibitoAuthor: Sfenc
Pairing(s): Non really. Maybe for now. And brotherly love of KoKame.
Rating: PG-13 for a bit swearing.
Genre: AU, fantastic.
Beta by: none.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot.
Summary: They are living in shadows, always hiding. Because they have something that everybody wants. It is a Gift. Gift of seeing.
Author Note: I fiigured out how I'll finish this, but there is a long way inbetween. And english isn't my native.
Chapter 8 - a bit of studying couldn’t hurt anyone.
It was another boring lesson of excessively tiresome social science. Koki chatted animatedly with Maru, not really minding the teacher Inamura. But then he heard something that made his ears perk up.
«…and Sagashibitos are representing very important part of our society. All of you know that centralized maintenance systems such as electricity, heat supply, air supply and electric pumps, providing water supply are working on mithril, a sole source of energy on our planet. And this source is rather hard to procure. As you know, mithril is an energy sphere enclosed into µ-magnetic field capsule. It is generated by the interior of the Chrysalis at a depth about five to fifty meters. But it cannot be obtained by any kind of mechanism. Only Sagashibitos can fetch mithril from within the grounds».
«Why it is so that only those freaks can take the stones from the ground?» - Asked one of the students, Miura-kun.
«Mithril is not a stone» - corrected him Inamura-sensei.
«Okay, gems…» - Miura rolled his eyes, puffing.
«Where have you fallen from? Kitalfa or Minkar? Everybody knows that these ugly freaks only useful for getting that energy balls!» - The class yankee Tadayoshi called from the second desk near the door.
«Tadayoshi-kun» - intervened Inamura-sensei - «this is Social sciense, not an Astronomy lesson. I’m sure you can wait for the fourth period and show your knowledge’s excellence in there».
All the girls in the classroom giggled, knowing too well, that the only thing, that Tadayoshi was excellent in, was starting a fight. And Astronomy wasn’t his strong point. Like Social science, for that matter. And Algebra. And History. Well, you’ve got the clue. The only course that held any chance for him to show off was Physical education.
«They are blind monsters. All of them! There is no way in hell I’ve could befriend one of their kind. It’s just yucky to even think of these freaks» - shouted his pal.
«Masuda-kun, you are being unjust here. May be Sagashibitos are blind. But they are the ones, who work very hard to let you inhale fresh air, drink clean water and sleep in your warm bed every day of your life. Be thankful for that. And it wouldn’t hurt you to befriend one of them».
«Now what?! Should I also befriend all the construction workers or janitors or what else are you suggesting?» - Tadayoshi was pissed off, rising the new wave of disturbance.
The classroom again resembled alarmed beehive. Some children shouted, some tried to make a use from textbooks and rulers in an attempt to calm down ringleaders of this ruckus, some simply covered their ears or didn’t mind rumpus at all.
«All of you don’t understand a thing!» - There was a shrill cry from the third desk near the window. It was Miki-tyan, sweet and docile girl, all curls and bubbles, and wonderful green eyes. Now there was rage in her orbs. «I’ve had Sagashibito as a friend in my previous school. He was such a good friend: very caring, always cheerful and easy going. We had so much fun together. But his parents constantly nagged him about searching. They thought he was failing his duties as searcher, wasting his gift. So they sent him to the doctor, who took away his eyesight» - she shuddered, remembering. «They blinded him! But something went wrong. And two weeks later… he died». The girl sniffed, trying not to wail, then she obviously wished she could do just so.
There were sounds of gasps of horror and whisper of condolence all other the classroom.
Miki looked up, gathering her courage. «He was a great friend. Never a freak. The ones who are freak monsters - his parents!» She slumped down her desk and hided her face, crying. Miki’s best friend, Eri, came up to her, trying to sooth and calm her. Everyone tried to digest new information, whispering to each other.
«This type of things regretfully happens all the time. The government is constantly trying to solve that problem, but it still happens» - true regret was dripping from the Inamura-sensei’s voice - «I’m really sorry for your friend. And class, can I hope that from now on you will think better of all this boys. Not because they are helping us to live. You should always remember about this too though. But because they are just a boys, who depend on the will of people who literally owns them».
«I still don’t understand, how they lift these stones or energy or whatever from underground. With shovels, eh?» - Miura still wouldn’t give up.
«No. They don’t need any kind of excavator devices, Miura-kun» - teacher started his clarifying. - «Every Sagashibito has a gift of seeing mithril through the soil. Then he places his palms onto the ground and upheaves the sheet of earth to the surface. Then he just cleans off excess, getting to the actual sphere»
«That’s all? Why couldn’t any excavator do this?» - wondered student.
«That’s because the soil on the sphere protects energy contained within. Scratch this sphere even a bit and you will not getting any energy at all. There is no excavator capable to clean that lay of soil off without breaking µ-magnetic field capsule. Only the best of Sagashibitos are capable of doing that delicate kind of fine work. If the lay of soil is thick, then the energy within can’t be extracted fully. Efficiency factor ranges from 5 to 50 percents. There are several truly gifted searchers, who can make this into 70 - 78 percents…»
«Johnny’s, of course» - came the witty comment from the distant desk.
«Yes, they are Johnnys’. In fact, if I’d drop out the Johnnys’ statistics, it’ll leave us with 5 to 8 percents efficiency factor. So, as you can see, the skill of Sagashibito is crucial for this».
«So this guy, sagashibito… You mean, that he works all alone?» - New question arised.
«There is no need for being skilful, if you need only to get the soil sheet up. This kind of work can do any sagashibito-helper. But it is tiring enough too» - Koki didn’t know, what made him speak like that. But he just couldn’t keep mum anymore, with this entire «freak thing» going around the class. - «Inamura-sensei didn’t mention, but all this sagashibito stuff is really tiring and stressful. One wrong move - and all of your hardworking was for nothing. Usually, sagashibitos work in pairs. The helper summons mithril to the blanket of ground. Then, the skilful one takes it out and cleans off-». Koki faltered, noticing astounded teacher’s look.
«Well» - Inamura-sensei cleared his throat. «Well, it’s uncommon knowledge, I’m amazed that you know such a details» - there was inquiring stare attached to this.
«My email-friend told me about this» - smoothly lied Koki, not even butting an eyelash. «He was an expert in all this sagashibito’s stuff. He knew a whole lot of curious stories. We don’t communicate anymore though».
«I see» - slowly said the teacher and tried to ask some more, but was interrupted by the sound of bell. The flow of students rushing out and into the cafeteria successfully blew Inamura-sensei to the hall.
«That. Was. Close» - pointedly said Maru and grabbed Koki to follow the river of students.