Chapter 13.2

Akihito could not believe his ears. THE Sudoh? In love with Asami?

"W-wha… why?" He could not form proper words.

Sudoh looked down. "If you do not wish to hear my explanation, I understand."

Akihito looked away. Did he really want to hear this? There was no other choice. If he wanted to get to the bottom of this then he'd have to hear him out.

"Please continue."

Sudoh let go of his hand. "Mikhael is known for animal trafficking. He travels the whole world in search for rare creatures to sell underground. It is how he's earned a fortune."

"Is that why he's here?"

The herbalist nodded. "The only reason why he wasn't able to traffic the creatures from Sion is because of Asami."

Akihito turned his head and stared at the hunter's back.

"Mikhael needed someone to keep Asami away. He had just captured you. I could tell that Asami was infatuated and out of jealousy, I decided to accept Mikhael's request."

Veins were visible on Asami's clenched fists.

"Before I knew it, he'd poisoned the sky followers and controlled the phoenix."

"Poisoned?! How?"

Sudoh raised a hand, "Please allow me to continue."

Akihito nodded.

"They had invented this machine in Russia that releases gas poisonous only to animals. He's trying to use the war as a means to lure out all the spiritual beings and sell them. Please forgive me Akihito, Asami-sama," His voice cracked, "this wouldn't have happened if I refused him from the start." Sudoh started sobbing.

"Shh, shh. It's ok Sudoh." Akihito reached out and wiped the tears from his eyes. He took off his mask and slowly sat up.

"B-but this happened because of me!" He gripped Akihito's hand, "Please forgive me."

"Sudoh, I forgive you."

"No! I have to atone for my sins."

"Sudoh…"

"No! Punish me, exile me. Do whatever is fit for a traitor like me." Sudoh stood up and faced Asami, "Please execute me Asami-sama."

The hunter turned and glared with hateful eyes.

"NO!" Akihito reached out for Sudoh's shirt, "Sudoh… you saved my child."

The herbalist looked at the bedridden man, "What?"

"At the forest… If it weren't for you, I would've killed the child already."

Sudoh remembered the fateful day when they discovered that Akihito was pregnant. He found him hitting his abdomen after the revelation.

"You made me understand that everything should be given a chance. I forgive you, Sudoh."

The herbalist knelt in front of the bed and kissed its occupant's hand. Tears still fell from his cheeks.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Akihito!"

Akihito gripped Sudoh's hand with a smile, "Anything, dear friend."

A sharp knock came from the door. Heads turned at the unexpected sound.

"Who is it?"

No reply came.

With a hand on his waist, Asami slowly walked to the door. He pulled out a gun from his waistband. Asami's socked feet made no sound as he neared the entrance. The gun was cocked and ready to fire. The raven hunter slowly turned the knob. Sudoh's hand turned clammy in Akihito's grip.

Asami pointed his weapon at the visitor once the door was wide open.

"There's no need for violence, Asami." A man with flowing silver hair appeared before them. His pale skin contrasted his golden eyes, making them shine under the sun. White cotton pants covered him from the waist down. A sun tattoo decorated his bare shoulder. On his neck was a tribal necklace with polished beads and sharp objects which looked like teeth.

"Who are you?" Asami lowered the gun.

"It is I, Callan, ruler of the land."

"Earth Leader," Akihito attempted to get up before going into a coughing fit.

"Please," the visitor raised his hand, "call me Callan. There is no need for formalities. I am here to discuss an important issue." He entered the room.

Asami led the leader to a seat near the bed. Sudoh stood from his position.

"Lovely home you've made here, hunter. But I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to go out and do a mission for me."

"Get to the point."

Callan raised his eyebrow at Asami's reply. "In case your herbalist here hasn't told you, Tal is currently under the control of Mikhael. We need to convince him to come back to our side or this war continues and the forest becomes a battlefield."

"Tal?"

"The sky leader," Sudoh interrupted.

Asami nodded. "And how do you suppose we get him to our side?"

"That is completely in your hands, Asami," Callan bowed his head. "Unfortunately all the animals become sick upon contact with the poison. That includes me."

Asami crossed his arms, "So you're saying that you want me to go on a mission for you?"

"Not just for you," the silver-haired man gestured to Akihito, "but for your pregnant mate as well."

The hunter's eyebrows scrunched. He was obviously getting exploited with Akihito at stake. It was either he join a war that did not personally involve him or risk the future of his family.

His family.

Akihito or Mikhael.

How could he be so stupid?

"Alright," Asami uncrossed his arms, "I'll do it."

Callan sighed in relief, "Thank you!" He clasped his hands together.

"But on one condition."

The earth leader narrowed his eyes.

"I want tighter security around the area. That means more protectors. Make sure our cabins and cottages do not incur damage."

"Of course," Callan started walking to the door, "I'll be leaving now. I have to check up on Anahita."

Asami nodded.

"I want to go too!" Akihito announced as the visitor left the room.

"No you'll only endanger yourself and the child. The gas is poisonous to all animals."

"But-"

"Please Akihito," Sudoh caressed his face, "I don't want you getting hurt anymore."

The blond looked at the herbalist in understanding. Conflicting emotions displayed on his face. He finally sighed in resignation, "Alright."

Sudoh smiled gently at him.

XXX

Akihito was not one to stay in a room all alone. He had decided to be useful and went to the other cabins to assist the wounded.

"How's everything, Nala?"

Nala, a young healer with sparkling blue eyes smiled widely at Akihito, "Everything's going well, Aki. The amount of wounded creatures lowered ever since the fight between the land and water leaders stopped."

Akihito's eyes softened at her explanation. The journey to solve the misunderstanding between the leaders was worth it after all. He knelt next to the healer and observed as she wrapped gauze around a shifter's head.

Kriing! Kriing!

"Ah, that must be the telephone."

"I'll get it," Akihito stood up.

"Thank you," Nala continued with her work.

The gray telephone was mounted on the wall. Akihito could still not understand how the machine worked. All he knew was that Asami would put it on his hear and talk.

Tentatively, he picked up the receiver and placed it to his ear, "Uhh.."

"Sudoh?" An unknown voice came from the weird device.

Akihito jumped at the sound. How did a voice come from the machine? "Uhh..Yes?"

"The bombs are ready. Keep the hunter away. Mikhael has ordered you to come in."

Akihito froze. Bombs. Hunter. Mikhael. The orange fox he rescued circled his feet. It whined at the lack of attention.

"Hello? Sudoh?"

The orange pup continued whining.

"What is that sound? Is this Sudoh?"

Akihito couldn't move. The words kept repeating in his mind. Bombs, Hunter, Mikhael.

Bombs. Hunter. Mikhael.

There were bombs in the forest. Asami was in the forest with Sudoh. Mikhael ordered Sudoh to go to him.

Asami was in trouble.

But wasn't Sudoh on their side?

What is happening here?

Akihito could not connect the puzzle. All he knew was that Asami was in danger. And he had to save him.

"Screw it!" The receiver fell from his hand and hung uselessly against the wall. He willed his legs to move and ran to the forest. The orange fox followed him.

"Aki?" Nala called for him, "you shouldn't go out. It's still dangerous out there. Aki? Aki!"

Her words were ignored as he transformed into a silver fox and ran faster, leaving the orange pup. He snarled as he ordered it to stay behind. He looked back and gave it a menacing glare.

"Go back to the cabin!"

"NO!"

The persistent fox followed him despite being outrun. Akihito shook his head and ran even faster, not noticing the net in front of him before it was too late.

The orange pup stopped as Akihito found himself dangling from a tree. Foreign men emerged from behind the trees.

Akihito howled at the pup. "RUN! GO AND WARN THE OTHERS!"

"B-but-"

"GO!"

The smaller creature yelped and did as it was told.

A man walked up to him. He seemed to be the leader. "Ah, such an honor to finally meet you silver fox. Or shall I say, Takaba Akihito."

Akihito growled at his captor.

"My name is Mikhael Arbatov."

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