Chapter 10

"She's Pitch's granddaughter?" Rianne's eyes widened. She couldn't believe it. In fact, none of them could believe it. They all thought Jaq has evil roots of course, but they never expected it to be Pitch Black. And not to mention her mother. Mother Nature. Of course. Rianne should have known it the moment she laid eyes on the Guardian. Their hair, their complexion, their poise. It was the same. And their eyes. Those amber orbs. The exact same orbs Pitch Black has. They all shared it.

"I knew she was bad news!" Daichi huffed. "I can't believe I kinda belie-"

"Daichi, she doesn't even know about it 'til yesterday!" Issa snapped. "She couldn't have possibly be working for him!"

Daichi eyed her. "Hold on, why are you defending her? Didn't you help me to try to exploit her? So why are you being all goody-goody now? Don't tell me yo-"

"Alright that's enough!" Anna shouted. She glared at Daichi. "What's your problem with her anyway? Why are you so desperate in making her seem bad?"

"Because I know she is!" Daichi fired back. "Pitch Black? Come on! You know how evil he is. We all do! And don't try to counter me by saying she's related to Mother Nature too. You know how messed up she is too!"

"Now that's just offensive." Issa rolled her eyes.

"That's too far, Daichi." Anna gripped her bow. Right there, right now, she wanted to shoot an arrow through the boy's head, just to see how really thick he is.

"You're scared." Rianne piped up. Her sand was going frantic around her. It was floating all around.

"Excuse me?" Daichi furrowed his eyebrows.

"You're scared of her." Rianne repeated, this time her voice was louder. More confident.

"And why would I be scared of her?" Daichi rolled his eyes.

"Because maybe, just maybe, you don't understand her." Rianne spoke timidly. "You're a gifted person, Daichi. Good with machineries, that's for sure. But that's your problem too. You understand machines too well, but you can't understand how the people around you works. Especially her."

The room went silent.

Daichi went silent.

Both his heart and head pondered.

He never truly did understand people. Not even one. But of course, by time, he got used to it. He got used to not fully understanding how they act and think. He got used that they have different kinds of bolts and gears in their heads. But meeting Jaq was different. She'S unpredictable. Too unpredictable. Daichi thought of her more as a broken machine, rather than a fellow being. But no, he wasn't afraid of her. He was afraid of what the machine could do.

"Sorry, I m-might've went too far on that." Rianne blushed, approaching Daichi. He backed away, shaking his head.

"No. Don't be." He muttered. "But I do have a proposition."

"Don't tell me that it's something about Jaq again." Anna frowned. She was tired of this. She was tired of he other Guardians accusing Jaq of such things.

"Yes, it's about her."

"You have got to be kidding m-"

"We have to get her back."

The girls were stunned.

Anna couldn't have guessed that decision of his. Since the moment Daichi saw Jaq, Anna was sure he despised her. He loathed her. He had done everything in his will to keep her away. And now, he was the one proposing to get her back.

Issa wondered what changed his mind. Right from the start, he was the one who wanted to get away from Jaq as possible. He was the one who really wanted to get rid of Jaq. But now, he was the one who really wanted to bring her back.

Rianne stared at him. She froze in shock. Daichi was never the one who liked Jaq. She even remembered him telling to himself that there must be at least 3 meters of distance between him and Jaq. And Rianne couldn't help but wonder why he wanted her back.

"Just to be clear." Daichi started as he picked up his tool belt, attaching it to him. "I don't want her back because I befriended her. A girl like her holds a lot of power, being Pitch Black's granddaughter. I just dont want that power to be used against us. And the world."

And with that, he left.

"Well…he has a point." Issa looked at Anna. "With a power like hers, we don't know what could happen."

"Yeah, but we can't just go across the world alone." Anna looked over to the window and out to the horizon. "Jaq could go anywhere she wants to. None of us can know where she exactly is."

She turned to look at her friends. "We're gonna need all the help we need."

"Wait, hold on, so you're telling me that Daichi thought of this?" Jack Frost asked with confused look on his face.

Anna nodded.

"I know, I couldn't believe it either." Issa said as she put on her coat.

"Alright, so what's the plan?" North looked at Anna, who just stumbled back.

"You're asking me? For a plan?" Anna asked, baffled.

"Well, she talks more to you more than she does to any of us." Bunnymund tapped his foot.

"But Daich-"

"Just assign us where to search." Daichi said sharply. He was toying with a mechanical device that seemed to be forgotten in the workshop. His gaze wasn't in the plan, but his heart was.

Anna nodded and began assigning. Knowing that she might be here somewhere, Anna asked North to check the mountains far across the Pole. He agreed in doing so, immediately asking for some yetis to come with.

Anna then asked Tooth, Issa and Jack to check the forests. And by forest, she meant every forest in the world. At first, Issa hesitated at the thought. But looking into it, Tooth had so much fairies than she could count to help. And with their ability of flight, they could get the job done. They all said their farewells and got to the task.

Approaching Rianne and Sandy, she asked them if they could check the Northern countries. Strange enough, Jaq was fascinated with darkness and coldness. The two agreed with no hesitation and took of.

The only people left were Anna and Daichi.

"Ugh, that's so stupid of me!" Anna scrunched up her face and paced around the room. Daichi looked at her with his green eyes. He raised his eyebrow in question. Anna looked at him with a wild look in her eyes. "The boy!"

"Boy? What boy?" Daichi questioned once more.

"There's this boy that Jaq always visit! She might go back there!" Anna tugged his arm, obviously wanting to go to the village.

"Wait, hold on, how do you suppose we get there?" Daichi retorted. "You didn't leave anyone who has the ability to fly, dummy!"

"Well, you like tinkering! Tinker!" Anna exclaimed.

"Wh-"

"Just do it! We're in a workshop!"

"Fine, just get me parts I need!" Daichi rolled his eyes and took out some tools.

All his life, he never really knew how he managed to build machineries. He never knew how he found out to build such thing. He never even knew how he knew this gear would be perfect for this one. All he knew was that his hands did the work. It was like his hands are on autopilot. There were even time when he never knew what he created until he tested it. And that said, it was very much like to what he created just now.

He looked at what he did with so little of time. And he was surprised.

It was a hot air balloon.

"How'd you know how to build one?" Anna asked in wonder.

"It's just a hot air balloon, nothing much." Daichi shrugged. "Besides, the hard part was for you to find an empty tank."

Anna shrugged as well. "Come on, let's get this inside."

"How is it possible that people don't see you?" Daichi asked Anna as they floated above cities. They were on their way to the village, and they were sure that they'll make it in time. It was just dusk. They still have plenty of time.

Anna shrugged. "People believe in love, not in Cupid I guess."

"Isn't love supposed to be your center?"

"Center?" Anna looked at him, as they both stood, facing the horizon.

Daichi's cheeks tainted red and he rubbed his nape. "North kinda gave me a pep talk. About oneself. He said something about knowing what your center is. And long story short, it's like your main goal. Yours is love, right."

Anna fell silent. It was the same question the kept on reappearing in her mind. Why can't people see her. But maybe she had already known the answer, but wishes to not acknowledge it. Everything around her seemed to fuelled with hatred. Even if the people doesn't notice it, she does. Each and everyone had a burning sensation in their lungs because of a certain person. She can even feel it with the boy beside her.

She sighed and looked at Daichi. "Let's stay focus on our task, shall we?"

Daichi nodded.

Anna stared at him. She felt honoured, to be honest. She felt honoured to see this side of Daichi. The side that seemed to be his childish side. He was usually the aloof one that's for sure. And it was rare to see him actually have feelings. And with that, Anna felt honoured.

As they landed on the grass. They planned to stay hidden near the home of the young boy. And as night came by, so did the shadows.

"Anna." Daichi tapped his friend.

"She's here."