Chapter 23 - Talk

HEYYY

Guess what?

SHAN IS ALIVE.

I'm currently in a Skype call with her as I'm writing this :D

I'M HAPPY.

ARE YOU?

YES YOU ARE.

HOORAY.

I didn't want to write this one today so I could talk to her, but she told me to do it. xD

I have a feeling that this chapter is going to have a lot of mistakes in it... xD

ooOoo

"Why are you here-" Baron pulled against his restraints as Haru slipped through the curtains and in to the small tent.

"Baron, this isn't important right now. What's important is getting out of here." Haru hissed at Baron as softly as she could without being over heard by the guards outside the small tent. Baron was currently bound to a large post that was keeping the tent upright with thick rope. His cane had been confiscated, much to his distaste, and his normally perfect attire was ruffed up by the previous encounter with Ashitare and Akihiko. Haru noted a line of dried blood going from his bottom lip to his chin as subtle anger bubbled within her.

As soon as he'd been bound, Haru had claimed to have gone on a walk to think things over whilst they discussed their options. As far as anyone else was concerned, Haru was still missing and now that they had a distraction on their hands, things were getting complicated, and Ashitare feared that his position would start to be questioned. At least he had Akihiko as a strong supporter.

"Haru, it looks like we have plenty of time on our hands; I'm not going anywhere any time soon." Baron informed her with a serious expression, though his tone was light hearted. "Could you please just tell me everything?"

Haru let out a frustrated sigh and knelt down in front of him. "First, I have a question- how did you know it was me? No one else has managed to look past my accidental disguise so far.

"Well unlike most, Haru," Baron began with a smirk. "I get to spend a certain amount of time examining those tantalizing orbs of yours, and it is most unlikely that I'll ever be able to mistake them, whether you are dressed as a male or not."

Haru scowled at him playfully to distract herself from blushing. She'd been practising with her 'masculine attitude' and didn't want to get caught blushing in a tent with their captive.

"If you want the detailed description of what has happened, then you're going to be disappointed- we don't actually have a lot of time so I'll have to make it brief." Haru told him. He nodded in reluctant acceptance.

Haru began the small version of her tale of how she was catnapped by an unknown figure, seeing as she was unconscious most of the time, but was awake for the arrival of Ashitare who then decided to catnap again. Baron had to refrain himself from growling as he mentally noted down the people who were being added to his 'Severely Punish' list. She continued to tell him how she had ended up here, and about her genius plan to get away from Ashitare and the guards, which managed to get a few chuckles from Baron. And then she explained why she was dressed as she was, and about the training she had received and then finalising it all by explaining how she ended up joining a search for herself.

"Training, you say?" he said almost to himself thoughtfully. "We'll have to test your skills at a later date."

Haru smirked and shook her head at him. "Out of my whole story, that's what you took from it?"

"Well I have to have something to think over as I'm stuck here." He looked pointedly at the rope binding him to the post. Haru looked at them regretfully.

"I would untie you but it would be too suspicious. Plus it would ruin my plan."

Baron looked up at her as she stood up to leave. "What plan?"

Footsteps could be heard from outside the tent, and Haru shook her head. "I'll have to tell you later, people are coming. Probably Ashitare, so behave yourself."

And with that, she slipped back out of the tent without even looking at him. Baron let out a sigh and rested his head against the post. He just wanted to get free and take Haru home.

ooOoo

"But Ashitare, we have a captive who has been left unquestioned." Akihiko protested as he struggled to keep up with Ashitare's brisk pace as they made their way to the large, main tent.

"Baron will not be able to escape, don't stress about it Akihiko." He waved a hand dismissively. "Besides, if this situation doesn't capture the Master's attention, then I have no idea what else will."

Akihiko let out a sigh and glanced around. He noted that Takashi and Hiroki were standing by the entrance to the main tent with grim expressions on their faces. Leaving Ashitare to his thoughts, Akihiko went to join his comrades.

"What's wrong?" he asked them.

They both looked up in surprise at him- well, apart from Takashi, seeing as his face appears to be made of stone half the time. "Oh, hello Akihiko." Hiroki asked him with an attempt at cheeriness. Takashi nodded once in greeting.

"Yeah, hello- but why do you all look so glum?" Akihiko enquired.

"Sainu has arrested Sensei under suspicion of helping Baron in to our base area," Hiroki said, shaking his head slowly.

Anger flashed in Akihiko's eyes, "He what?! Sensei was with his group the whole time!"

"Yes, we know. Takashi said that he hadn't lost sight of Sensei throughout the whole search, but that just made Sainu suspicious of him as well." Hiroki said with a sad expression as he glanced up at Takashi, who was averting his gaze from the others. "They want to question Takashi in case he was involved."

Akihiko clenched his fists, staring darkly at the entrance to the small tent which currently contained Baron.

This is his fault, was all he could think as he turned around and began marching his way towards the tent. Just as he was turning, Ashitare glanced at him and frowned. "Hey- where do you think you're going?"

"To get some answers," Akihiko almost growled. Ashitare's eyes widened and he made a start for Akihiko at a run, but Akihiko began to run as well and beat him to the tent. He glimpsed someone leaving at the corner of his eye, but his anger soon washed the curiosity away as he stormed inside the tent.

Baron looked up quickly at him as he entered, and then to a stressed looking Ashitare who leapt in to the tent as well. "Akihiko-!"

But Akihiko was not listening as he approached Baron with a murderous look on his face.

"It's your fault!" He exclaimed as he got closer. "Sensei and Takashi wouldn't have anything to do with someone who trespasses."

Before anyone could say anything else, Akihiko's clenched fist flew towards Baron, and hit him square in the face, knocking Baron's head back against the post and leaving him unconscious.

A drop of blood trailed down the side of his head where it had hit the post, and Ashitare let out a low growl before grabbing Akihiko harshly from behind. "What the heck do you think you're playing at, kid?" he growled menacingly.

Akihiko continued to glare at Baron's unconscious form as he was dragged roughly out of the tent.

ooOoo

Hooray, got it done.

Plus, if Shan is back, you know what that means?

YES!

MORE VALDUGGERY!

The latest chapter was posted before this, which was weird because I started writing this first, but managed to finish the other one instead of this one...

#Logic.

Anyway, we might get another one up as well (the one that I said I started but never got finished ages ago? Yeah, that one.)

Anyhooooooooo, good night from this end!

Ciaaoo!