Chapter 8: Searching
"Do you have to appear in front of the enemy?"
"The human asked so why not?" The same hooded man scoffed.
"And you just announced what you are," the woman pointed out, "remember, this is not the same era as you once lived."
"So what of it?" He growled.
Disgust in his topaz eyes glaring at her while she hid in the shadows. He received only but a calm, emotionless gaze of two pairs of glowing light brown eyes from the woman. She spoke softly although her voice was intensely sharp,
"I know I'm merely one of your servants at your service and I understand the consequences of defying you," she said, "but you must know your condition is not stable yet and you don't contain much of your powers."
"If you really want to take back what's rightfully yours, especially what you're obessed from that boy then you must cooperate with us."
"Tch," the man turned away from her, feeling that he had already lost the argument.
Ironically for him being a god, he never lose in a battle, not even in an argument. Though he had lost once against the humans and this woman got the best of him. They were so naive and full of themselves, acting like they're the gods. Fools! Dare they do that to humiliate a god! Dare to take away his rule, turning against him and tearing his every judgement apart. They creator of all of this useless things of this modern era? As he said, fools are fools! These low beings think they were capable doing these things. Capable of creating such beliefs and pieces that they considered to discard and replace such as their so called technology as well as her, and him.
He had a short pause and began to speak again, "where's Adam?"
"Right now, he is at where your precious vessel is laid," she replied emotionlessly, "he's waiting for your next commands."
He sneered. "Good. Because I do have full of them for him."
The hooded man turned back to her, his evil smile didn't falter. "And since you asked for cooperation then I might need some of that this time."
Running and scrimming through data gives a person a headache. But they have to anyway. No, they must! Tiny Orbit and Seeker officials have been searching for a signal of Hiro's CCM with the help of the satellite. So far, the machine had searched for his wave signals but it will take some time as they said.
While they do that, Ban and the others already gone their search for the blunette. They spread out to the city and looked for him at certain areas that Yagami believed where the kidnapper, the Beast is hiding.
Ban, along with Kazu and Ami searched through the warehouses. Their CCMs on and active as they used them to track Hiro's CCM. Yagami and his co went back to the Memorial Tokyo Bridge and did the same while searching a few dark cavern places nearby. Jin, Jessica and Yuuya were also searching around restricted abandoned buildings that are off-limits unless have access as a member of a government. They easily entered with the help of Seekers and the Prime Minister informing the one in charge of the restricted area that they are a part of NICS and Seeker, including the fact that they have saved the world from Detector and Mizel. Haruka, Rina, Takuya and Ota X stayed in Tiny Orbit as they try to help with the tracking system.
So far though, Takuya noticed something off about the Professor. She seemed to be pressuring herself as she tried to get through the system. He stopped her work midway when he puts his hand on her shoulder. Surprised, she turned to look at him. It wasn't obvious to him that she was really worried and he could see it through those glasses.
"I understand you're worried about him," he told her, "but you must not push yourself."
She didn't say anything. Reluctantly, she looked back at the computer screen. Her fingers laid on the keyboard until one finger pulled in as the rest follows, forming her hands into fists. They trembled a little and she spoke,
"But I just can't..." She said, "Hiro is..."
He gripped on her shoulder tightly. He tried not to shook though his sweat trails down through his face. It cannot be helped. After what Jin told them, Hiro was injured and believed he was suffering blood loss. Then the Beast came in and took the blunette captive. Takuya could not understand what basic nature of the creature has in mind but he knew that thing is as wild as a vicious animal from the wilderness.
Silence is around the woods. No wind passed by as the trees stood still. No song sang by a bird or two among the leafy roof. It was quiet. Too quiet. Even if the daylights still lit up, Ran had to be cautious of her surroundings. There's no point of being carefree nor going in a hurry when there's always something behind the trees, ready to strike you down at the exact moment. Trust her, she knew mother nature's other side. It's hard to know whether earth is good or bad, so as the animals living in the wild.
She quickly, but quietly stroll through the woods. Her CCM tracking for EMM signals. She hoped they can find him somewhere around this area as well. The others hadn't called up so it's likely that they haven't found him yet.
As Ran kept on walking, she began to think about what Jin told them. According to him, before Hiro got captive by this so called Beast they were about to take their leave. Hiro though suddenly pushed him and Mongoose aside. They had no idea what happened when they found him being stabbed by an icicle on the shoulder. Her heart somehow ached when she thought the image of the blunette getting hurt and imagined him screaming in pain. It must've been hurt. But a sharp, cold ice is definitely painful than a normal knife.
She had been wondering why Hiro had to push Jin and Mongoose only to realize until now, he must have envisioned the future. Were Jin and Mongoose supposed to be killed by the attack? That she wanted to know. But she can't ask for answers. Not right when the blunette is suffering over his injury and worse, he is being held hostage by the monster.
Her walking increased in speed. Thoughts of negative things flooding in her brain. What is it going to do to Hiro? What's gonna happen to him? These questions only made her nervous and afraid of the fact that they'll only find him dead, either his whole body or what remains left of him.
She was close to losing it when a hand was placed on her left shoulder. She snapped, without thinking she yelp. Her scream was just as loud as a speaker that had the volume went up to maximum. It would actually hurt the ears when you get close to it.
"Geez cut it out!"
She stopped screaming. Immediately recognized that very masculine voice as she turned around only to meet Gouda. The older male teen had put up his index finger into his right ear as if the scream had made his ear drum explode.
"Gouda!"
"You sure have a scream there," he remarked sarcastically, "were you watching horror movies?"
She ignored the question as she asked, "what are you doing here?"
"Helping with the search," he said, crossing his arms, "I heard Hiro was captured by the Beast."
"And... Is he really okay?"
Ran merely blinked. He heard that part too? She thought.
It couldn't be helped. He has to know their reason of being in a hurry. She turned away from him as she replied, "I.. don't know. Even if I knew, it's better this way."
Gouda only remained silent after that until Ran spoke again, "we should keep looking."
Close to the coast of the sea, there lies the abadoned warehouses. It was quiet as the forest where Ran and Gouda went on searching. As they said it was abandoned, there were no boats floating by and no people working around the area. It was just Ban, Kazu, and Ami.
Kazu and Ami sat on one of the old crates while Ban makes a phone call back on Tiny Orbit. He is in perfect shape just after the fire incident and was still wearing the same outfit. The one who picked up was Takuya as Ban explained the situation.
"We've searched the whole area," Ban said through the phone, "so far we found no sign of Hiro here."
"I see," Takuya replied back, "come back to Tiny Orbit. But don't forget to bring Runa and Mami as well if you meet up with them along the way."
Ban was surprised at the last statement. "Why are they here?" He asked.
"They insisted of helping us with the search," he told him.
Ban had no idea they were also searching too but what's most surprising is that Mami is helping them as well.
"Okay, we will," Ban guaranteed.
With that, Takuya cut off the line as Ban did the same. He put down his CCM and glanced back to his two friends.
"You guys go back to Tiny Orbit," he told them.
"What about you?" Ami asked.
"I'm going to get Runa and Mami."
This only made Kazu raise his brow, "you're bringing that woman too?"
"Takuya told me so," he replied nonchalantly.
"Don't worry, I'll be meeting with you guys there."
Without making an argument, Kazu and Ami reluctantly obliged. As the brunette watched them leave, he turned to the other way and began to look for the other two. The search wasn't long as their search for Hiro when he found them being in a red rusted warehouse not too far from where he was at. He approaches them, only to have them both noticing him coming.
"Ban," Runa echoed.
"Runa..." He stopped midway only to look at Mami.
Both remained silent and Runa could feel the atmosphere being intense. No word came from either the two people that stood face to face. Ban looked at the woman closely before him. Mami is claimed to be Lex's long lost sister. Lex spoke of her once, and Ban had been wondering where she was all this time while her own big brother had to bring ultimate crisis and later died in the end. Reminescing his death pains him. He couldn't saved him that day and meeting up with his sister in these circumstances was very unfortunate. He didn't know what to say or what to feel. But he felt nervous about what she would say.
So far, the woman only stared at him. Her eyes don't seem to hold any sadness nor anger at all. But her not speaking only discomforted him, so as the silence.
Finally, the ice broke by none other than Mami. She spoke, "If you don't feel like talking then don't."
Ban blinked, dumbfounded at her words as he saw her turn away from him and Runa.
"That's all I have to say," she added.
She walked. Without looking back, she said, "I'll be waiting for you at the entrance."
Runa nodded, "okay."
They watched her figure digitizing into a smaller size and later faded as she was now far from where she left them.
Runa glanced at the brunette. He merely stood there, staring as well as speechless at the same time. He was brought back to reality when Runa nudged his arm. Then he found himself being dragged by her as she walked to the red warehouse without saying a word.
Though she did asked to come with her but he didn't hear it. He was curious of her actions as well as taking him to the warehouse. Although he wanted to ask, he simply couldn't when they entered.
He had seen what was the inside of all abandoned warehouses and they were the same. But the inside of this one is not compatible. Broken pieces of wood laid on the floor, with burnt tree-like patterns spreaded out to the surface. The windows were completely shattered and none was left behind. Old technology such as planes and such were damaged and they appear to be roasted as if something burned them instantly.
Runa walked up to a certain spot and stood beside it, she pointed out with her index finger at the burnt mark, "These burns don't look similar to the ones are made from explosives. But these tree patterns," she turned back to the brunette, "they are only made from electricity. Does it ring a bell?"
Ban nodded. "Yeah, the man in the hood."
Something off about the mentioned person doesn't seem right. Of course, he had seen him face to face but his voice. It sounded familiar as if his heart knows it somehow. He began to wonder what was his face look like under that hood.
"Ban," she called out, "come here."
He did. Now close to Runa, she gestured him to bend down as he did so. Then he followed her hand touching the smooth floor that was marked with black tilt burns.
"Did you see anything odd about these burns?" She asked.
Confused, Ban did not understand but he honestly replied, "other than the tree patterns?"
She nodded and glanced back at the floor, "they look fresh and I think they were recently made two days ago."
"How did you know?" Ban questioned, but he was quite surprise how observant she is when it came to look at things closely.
She looked back to him and made a playful smile. "I have ways."
"But let's think about this case," she suggested, "if these burns were really made by that same man then he must be here for something."
Ban glanced at the place. As he looked on, more burnt trees marks were placed on the walls and on wood. He also noticed there were scars on the left side of the wall which Runa noticed as well. It appeared to be made from a wild animal. Whatever he was here for, something else was here besides him.
Three hours have passed and the sun was descending though the sky was still blue. Ran and Gouda have walked through the forest non-stop. Although, it was Ran who have been walking without even taking a break and she had her legs moved faster, almost being farther away within a distance as Gouda tries to catch up with her. Their CCMs are still on and they kept tracking for the EMM signals from their friend's CCM.
While they're at it, the hadn't started a conversation since they first encounter each other again. But one felt like they wanted to talk about something as Gouda have broke the ice,
"I heard you and Yuuya are a couple, is that true?"
Ran remained silent. Though she looked a bit dazed or simply put it, doze off as if she wasn't paying attention to him nor looking at her CCM. Gouda this as she calls her name, yet she is still in her own world not even thinking the outside. This annoys Gouda as he tries to snap her, by landing a karate chop right on her head.
It worked, though she flinched when the hit ran through her spine like it was affected as well.
She yelp, "ow!"
The redhead had her hands reached out for her poor head and continued to ramble over the pain. This only made Gouda amuse as he watches her acting.
"For a martial artist they should know they weren't supposed to be in their own thoughts while they're wide open all the time," he said, but in sarcasm.
Ran put up her head and turned. Her neon yellow eyes glaring at the older teen. "And you should know boys like you shouldn't be hitting on girls," she told him sarcastically, "especially when those girls are younger than you!"
He merely looked away, ignoring her as the redhead felt her blood boil.
"Yeah, yeah whatever," he said, "anyway, I only did that because you weren't paying attention."
She huffed and murmured, "To my surroundings?"
"Yes that and also, you weren't answering my question."
"Well, what was your question?"
"The fact that you and Yuya are a couple," he replied.
She went silent. Like literally, she became quiet. Her flaring anger have faded and there wasn't any sign of annoyance on her face anymore. She was showing none, although there was this look. He couldn't describe it to be a blank or straight face but he could recognize it as a somewhat confuse expression along with shame. This reaction is what Gouda didn't expect. Although, it turn out to be rather suspicious to Gouda as he asked her again,
"Say Ran, do you really love Yuuya?"
Ran stood there silently. Of course, she had heard him just as she reluctantly turned away from him. She knew he was waiting for his reply and knew the fact that he isn't the kind of person to look away or drop this sort of thing.
Within a matter of seconds, she breathed deeply and exhaled. She finally answered, "actually..."
"..Yuuya didn't really love me."
Those five words rang to his ears. He couldn't believe it. Those words just left him stunned and speechless. Yuya didn't love her at all!
He regained himself from his shock as he started, "Then why..."
"I lied," she replied, stunning him again. "No. We lied to them and what they told you, was unintentionally false."
"But why did you lie?" He asked again, "and what for? To have them thinking that you two became a couple?"
"It's not that Gouda," she said as she turned back to him. Her face seemed to show more shame as well as remorse. This only questioned the teen. Remorse over what?
"You see..."
Barks echoed into the woods as they had their attention caught by it.
"Did you hear that?" Ran asked, her expressions changed back to normal with a look of curiosity.
Gouda nodded, forgetting what they were talking about. "Yeah I sure do. Sounds like a dog."
"Or a pup," she corrected him when they heard the barks again.
Like what she said, they were definitely a puppy's barks. This only leaves them wondering what and why was a puppy doing in the middle of this forest. To investigate, they ran straight for the barking sounds.
Ota X blinked at the computer screen, his face showed a sign of surprise as he looked at it closely. He called Takuya and the others, he even told them to put up a video call for Ban and the rest, except Ran and Gouda. They couldn't reach them due to the forest location that they were in and it was blocking EMM signals. But that was also his whole point of calling them in.
"Look what the satellite just found," he tapped the keys in a quick pace.
The screen on Tiny Orbit's and the players' CCMs showed a map of a forest area with a huge blue, red and orange circle in the center of the map.
They were all surprised to see the size and it was clearly huge.
Ban started, "That's..."
"An EMM signal," Yagami finished.
"Was it Hiro's?" Haruka asked.
"Not really," Ota X replied, "and this is the biggest EMM signal that I've ever seen. I know how technology and signals work and Hiro's CCM doesn't show off this big."
"Then it could be a wide EMM network," Takuya guessed.
"In a place like that?" Kazu find it weird to be located somewhere deep in a forest outside of Tokiosia.
"Where are Ran and Gouda?" Jin asked.
"They're somewhere in that area, right?" Jessica added.
"Yes they are," Rina replied, "but we couldn't find their EMM signals. And we can't even reach their phone line at all."
"Then why won't you try connecting with a probe?" Runa barged in while asking.
"A probe?" Takuya echoed.
"Just recently I heard a few people saying something about probes roaming around that area," she explained, and among those people were hikers and hunters. They were also being told not to hike and hunt there anymore."
"If I'm not mistaken, those were security probes," Yagami claimed.
"They were sent out just after a report of the Beast frightened a hiker the other night."
"Do you think we can connect to them?" Takuya asked.
"I'm pretty sure you can," Yagami told them, "but I'm going to tell this to the Tokiosia security about this when they get a report of one their probes acting strangely. For now, do what you have to do."
"Go for it, Nee-san," Runa cheered.
"Alright, here goes," Rina then began typing.
As she typed, data appeared on the screen and showed the functions and systems of the security probe. She typed the exact codes and were all coded into data. Transferring them into the connected probe, the probe reacted and showed an image of a forest scenery on the screen.
This delighted everyone.
"You did it!" Runa exclaimed, feeling proud of her big sister.
Rina sighed in relief and turned to Takuya with a nod. "Alright, I'm going to have it moving."
Using the arrows of the keyboard, she carefully moved the probe perspectively. In a matter of seconds, it or they found Ran and Gouda kneeling down behind a bush. They seemed to be hiding from something.
"Found them," Rina claimed.
"But they're looking at something," Ami pointed out.
"Will you make the probe turn to see what they're looking at," Yuuya requested.
"Okay," she typed the same commands, only for the screen which was the eye of the probe to turn.
It landed right where they were looking at. But everyone in the room including the players froze. Just in the screen, before their eyes was a strange animal that they have never seen and it looked rather terrifying.
"That's it!" Hosoi exclaimed.
"The Beast!?" Jessica gasped.
Jin nodded. "Yes, there's no doubt about it."
"So that's the thing who took my son," Haruka growled.
Before anyone realize it, the screen began to blur and shut off. This left them stunned in confusion and surprise.
"What happened?" Takuya asked.
"The probe shut off," Rina said panicky.
"What!?"
"I can't get it back on or connecting it."
"Can you try connecting with another probe?" Yuuya suggested.
She did. So far, after several attempts she failed to do so.
"Sadly, I don't think I can," Rina apologized, "I'm sorry."
"No need," Takuya assured her, "now that we know where it is..."
"Hiro must be there as well," Ban claimed.
"Meet me at the same area also," Takuya turned to Ota X, "send us the location where we found it."
"Do you think Ran and Gouda will go after it?" Jessica asked in concern.
"Of course they will," Yagami told them, "besides, Gouda had seen it in eye to eye."
"For now, head straight to the forest area."
"Hai!"
The video call went off. As it did, Takuya was about to take his departure unfortunately his steps halted when Haruka stood up and called out, "Wait!"
Takuya turned around, only to see her approaching him.
"Please let me come with you," she begged.
"I know you're worried about Hiro but you must trust us," he assured her, "we will bring him back safely I can guarantee that."
"I know how well skilled you and Hiro's friends are," she told him. Her tone changed though, and it was serious which Takuya happened to notice. "Even so, I cannot stand by and wait for a miracle descending upon Hiro's fate. I am his mother and it's my responsible to be worried and make sure he is out of harm's way."
The strange animal nicknamed as the Beast picked up an apple as it reached its head over to where it was hanged by a branch. It later jump down from a tree and put the apple into a sack which was held in the mouth of the helmed pup.
The pup wagged its tail as it watched the Beast climbed back up to another tree.
Silently behind the bushes, Ran and Gouda secretly watched them. They both seem to have no idea what was going on and they also noticed the strange pup.
"Are they fruit picking?" Ran whispered to Gouda.
"Seems like it," Gouda whispered back.
They watched the Beast come back down again and it opened its jaw to have a stack of bananas thrown into the sack. The pup twitches its nose as it looked down into the sack as the Beast did the same.
"Gouda," Ran whispered again, "are you sure that's the Beast?"
Gouda nodded and looked back at the two strange animals. "Yeah. That's the one."
"Gouda!"
Thunder crashed into the scene during that one night. They were all frozen. So as Gouda but he later regained himself when he heard the Beast growling. He looked at his original position. To their shocks, a lightning did strike down and it left a burnt mark on the floor.
He glanced at the animal. It was still growling. Its red eyes were not glaring at him but it seem to hold some protectiveness and had some pride of saving one's life.
This led Gouda to finally come up with words, "You... Save me..."
Their attention was averted when the lighting stroke again and a cyclone appeared once more. As it disappeared, the man in the hood stood in mid air. Leaving them stunned as they watched him brought up a ball of thunder in his palm.
He sneered under his hood, "Protecting them is futile."
He then threw at the Beast and Gouda. "It's useless!"
The animal merely growled at his words. It ran straight towards the ball of thunder and roared in the darkest night.
"..And it saved my life," he muttered.
She glanced back at him. Shock at what she just heard. It saved him?
"It did?" She asked, still in her lower tone.
"But what I don't get is why it took Hiro?" Gouda asked to himself.
They snapped in alarm when they heard the mentioned animal howling. They looked up and saw the helmed pup barking. Its tail wagging in somewhat exciting. The Beast took the sack into its mouth as it walked away while the pup tailed behind it. They watched them leave. Surprisingly, none of them, not even the Beast noticed the two of them there.
Ran glanced at Gouda who gave her a nod as she nodded back. Turning back to where the two strange animals left, they went out of their hiding and quietly followed them. Not losing their tail they hoped that they would lead to where Hiro is, whether he's alive or not.
"I wonder where they are now," Hiro asked to himself.
He stared at the opened field where he can see from the cave. All he see are trees and a yellow dirt road. Although it appeared to be rather beautiful when it bathed under the rays of the setting dawn. He heard a moaning growl seconds later.
He put his hand in his tummy. Hiro sighed, "And I'm still hungry."
He should have taken that breakfast meal earlier. He couldn't complain about it though, not even to himself. After having two worse days of his life, he had gone through hell and couldn't help but mop at the second one which was today. At the first day, he was being chased or simply put it trying to be killed by a weird LBX and today he nearly got killed by a fire breathing Killer Droid and lastly a group of LBX Deqoos. After that, he had heard the news of Ran and Yuuya being a couple. He thought this is his omen. Everyone was talking about the couple, saying that they were perfect together and all and believed that one day in the future, they'll get married.
He began to imagine of Ran wearing a white wedding dress. Adorned with white ribbons and accessories, her face covered under a white thin veil. He smiled at the thought when he imagined her face to be beautiful when taking off the veil and her smiling. His smile turned rather sad as his daydream continued on.
'She would be a perfect woman to any man alive out there,' he thought as he hanged his head down, his solemn smile never ceased, 'I wish... I wish I was the one worthy to be her husband...'
Thoughts of his hunger faded and were replaced with new thoughts. His thoughts of Ran and him being together. He would imagine, how things go on when he is not close to her. Not be able to reach out to her. Not able to tell his own feelings towards her. He looked like he was about to enter into a breakdown.
A few barks echoed into the cave. His breakdown state ceased. He glanced up to see the two strange animals again. The bigger animal came forward with a sack in its mouth as the pup tailed behind.
He began to wonder what was in the sack until the animal dropped it. An apple rolled in front of him and later stopped to his crossed legs. His eyes widen, surprised to even look at a bunch of fruits before him.
The large animal went to his left side while the helmed pup went to his left. Both sat down as he glanced at them and the pile of fruit before him. The large animal gestured him to take some which he hesitated to. Of course he knew this creature saved his life but he did not mean he can fully trust in it not after it brought this bunch.
The pup later went up to the pile of fruit. It randomly picked up an apple and walked towards the blunette.
He stared at it as the pup held out the apple. Its eyes gleaming, begging to atleast take it like he did with the pear. For some reason, it seems to be thankful as well as grateful towards him. Was it because he actually accepted them? Because he wasn't scared of them or not thinking of them as some kind of crazy monster? If he only knew, he would imagine how hard the storm they have to go through.
Hiro smiled as he looked at the apple. He lend out his palm which the latter let go of the apple and it landed in it. He took it up and ate. He chewed a few times and gulped it once. His smile grew wide as the taste was still clinging on his tongue.
"This one is good too," he exclaimed before taking another bite.
After finishing the whole apple, he randomly picked up a banana and bite it. The fruit is sweet as the apple as well.
"You guys are sure good fruit pickers," he ate once more and began to take another random fruit.
The helmed pup barked happily as the large animal somehow made a smile. A growl was heard though. The animal's smile faltered. So as the pup's barks. Hiro had heard it too but it was not his stomach. They looked at where it was made from. Both began to realize that it was the pup. They could tell just by seeing it wagging its tail, slowly in embarrassment. Even its face flushed under its skull helmet.
It nervously glanced at the pile of fruit. Its stomach growled again.
The large animal barked at the helmed pup as if it was scolding it if it ever try to take some. The small animal obliged, though its ears slowly put down. Its stomach continued on moaning as the pup sadly barked.
Hiro couldn't help but smile. He had no idea that the pup would be an omnivore since its appearance looked a lot like a puppy. He took a pear and held it out to the pup.
Both animals were surprised at this as his smile didn't cease. "It's alright, you can take some of it. I don't mind."
Seeing his kindness in delight, it gladly took a bite from the fruit. It barked joyfully, agreeing that it was definitely sweet as most of them. Hiro couldn't help but grin widely. He tells it to eat it all up and have the rest that he'll be sharing with. It continued to bark joyfully as it ate to fill up its tummy.
"You know what I'm going to call you?"
The pup turned to him strangely while munching on an apple.
"Tanoshi!"
Its left ear perched while it tilted its head. The large animal looked at him weirdly as well. Both did not understand what it means until he announced it,
"Tanoshi means joyful," he explained, "because you're always joyful as I can see you now."
It barked happily as it dropped its food. It began to run around the blunette as he excitedly watched it run enthusiastically. The large animal watched as well and its smile came back again. The pup continues to run and bark and it later landed into Hiro's arms. He secretly flinched when he felt his injured shoulder stinging but doesn't mind it at all.
He happily pet on the pup named Tanoshi and rubbed its golden tuff. It barked happily as he exclaimed, "I'm glad you like it!"
The large beast continued to smile once more only to have it falter later when another stomach growl is heard. They both stopped and turned their heads at the animal. They could've sworn their was a tilt shade of pink on its face as it caught their eye contact. It reluctantly looked away, not minding them or anything. But its stomach growling only gives it discomfort.
Without realizing, an apple was lend out to it.
"You want some?" Hiro asked with a smile.
Its two red eyes looked at the apple then at Hiro, remained silent and done nothing for about a moment. Though it turned away, meaning that it rejected his offer. But its stomach seems to be begging for it.
"Come on, just take it."
It refused. It turned its head a little more and so as its body.
"Admit it," he said, "I know you're hungry."
The animal merely growl, making a stubborn face and refused to take the fruit into its mouth. It only annoyed the blunette as the animal but his smile grew more amusingly than ever.
"At least take it, Tsuyo."
Its head shot at him. Its red eyes completely looking at him and its third eye opened in surprise along with a glare. But Hiro knew it didn't show that to him intentionally as his smile turned into a more amusing grin.
"Yeah I called you Tsuyo," he said, "because you're stubborn."
Tanoshi barked as the animal named Tsuyo, shot a glare at the pup.
Hiro lend out the apple once more. "Come on, Tsuyo."
Tsuyo growled wildly while stubbornly rejected the offer again. Both him and the animal will continue on unless either of them gave up their position. But another stomach growl was heard once more. Tsuyo couldn't help but ruffed lowly at this, hanging its head down in defeat. The victor is Hiro this time.
"Are you gonna take it?" He asked.
Hesitantly, Tsuyo finally nodded.
The blunette gave the apple up to the animal as it took a bite from it. Hiro and Tanoshi watched as Tsuyo chewed up the chunk and gulped it down.
"Does it taste good?"
Without denying it, Tsuyo smiled. It barked as Tanoshi barked happily while wagging its tail.
Hiro laughed, "Now you're satisfied!"
The sky that was painted in blue, now turned into a red orange one with a dark blue or perhaps purple color on top. Making a shade of pink line appear in between. The sun is midway to set itself to sleep. While the now big dark orange scorching orb slowly descends, Ran and Gouda continued their pursuit.
They hadn't lost their tail as the trip took about fifteen minutes. They arrived in a huge cave just beneath a small mountain. Both Ran and Gouda hid themselves again and watched the two animals entering the cave.
The sun is nearly close to the landscape. Ran and Gouda remained in their spots and waited for something to happen. It have been fifteen minutes or so. A few barkings were heard, catching their attention. Just among those barks, they could've sworn they heard a certain male voice coming from the same cave as well.
To further investigate, they quietly left their spot and slowly walked to the side of the entrance. They laid their backs on the wall, both heads looking at the same direction to where the two animals entered. They breathed slowly while their bodies stiffed. They could barely feel their heart beating really fast as they heard the barkings again. Finally, the voice came. Able to identify it, both stopped breathing. They just frozen there as they listened to the voice.
"Now you're satisfied!"
There was no mistaking. That was Hiro's voice. Without thinking, both quickly went inside the cave.
"Hiro!" Both called.
The said person glanced up. Knowing those voices, he saw their owners running towards him. He was surprised to see Gouda even Ran as they run towards him.
"Gouda-san?" He muttered, "Ran-san?"
But as the two named animals glanced their heads, they too saw the two teens running. Tsuyo growled, by instinct it later stood up its feet and was about to pounce at them when they came close. This caught Hiro's attention and so as the teens. The blunette stood up and grabbed hold of the large animal as it barked wildly. Ran and Gouda, in turn, simply halt their steps and moved back a little.
"Whoa!" Gouda gasped.
"Hiro!" Ran shouted, "be careful!"
"Tsuyo calm down!" Hiro exclaimed.
Tsuyo growled and barked at the same time as it tried to break free from Hiro's grasp. But Hiro simply won't budge and refused to let go until it calms down. Unfortunately, this attempt only had his wound opened as he twitched his teeth in pain. Finally, Tsuyo stopped barking. As if it felt his pain, it shot its head at him. Blood spread on his bandages, leaving both animals and the two teens stunned.
"Oh my god," Gouda exclaimed, "he's bleeding!"
"Hiro!" Ran rushed towards the blunette.
Tsuyo barked at Tanoshi as it barked back in response. The large animal slowly and carefully break free from his grasp as Hiro had both his knees kneeled on the ground and his hands touching on the rocky miss floor to support his weight. Ran came close and Tsuyo didn't mind her as it followed where Tanoshi went.
"Are you okay?" The red head asked.
She put her hands on his shoulders and looks at him in worry.
The blunette merely smiled and told her in assurance, "Yeah, I'm alright."
"You think?"
Both glanced up to see Gouda walking towards them. The older teen looked at the wound. Blood have spread all over his shoulder which the two noticed, his whole upper part were wrapped in bandages. This only made them frown yet confused at the same time. It wasn't the time to ask for questions, right now Hiro needed a medic.
"You're in a pretty bad shape," Gouda remarked.
"We should take you to the doctor," Ran suggested.
Both tried to support the blunette to back up to his feet. But Hiro, in turn, simply refused. He grabbed hold both of their wrists and stopped them. They looked at him in confuse as he shook his head.
"No need to take me one," Hiro told them.
His head turned as they followed as well. Tsuyo and Tanoshi came back as they slowly approach them. Although, Tanoshi quickly hid itself behind Tsuyo and nervously looked at Ran and Gouda. Tsuyo merely stood in its four paws while in its mouth, held a roll of bandages. They also noticed the helmed pup even hold an old battered but perfectly shaped emergency kit, leaving the teens wondered where they even get it.
Hiro smiled in grateful. "Because we have one right here."
GenesX: This is probably the longest chapter that I've ever wrote out of the rest. ^-^' I might make another one that is this long in the next chapter, which makes the update come in very late (but not too late atleast.) Other than that, I hope this makes up for me taking it too long and have your patience up on this. Leave a review like always. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
