Thanerah continued to close her eyes, even though she and Hidan went through the Gate. She didn't feel anything but she could hear the sounds of twittering birds and could smell some fresh nature. "What the fuck are you doing, Thanerah? Open your fucking eyes already" she heard Hidan said.
Thanerah opened her eyes and gasped in surprise and in awe. She was surrounded in a forest, but it was no ordinary forest, it was a forest that was combined with crystals that seemed to have small light of energy going through them.
"Wh-What is this place?" asked Thanerah as she continued to look around in awe. Hidan smirked at her expression and answered, "This place is called Crystal Forest." Thanerah looked behind her to see the exact same Gate which is closed. Thanerah looked back at Hidan and asked, "Now what?"
"We'll go straight to Hanatul that is just right up ahead on this road. It's not far from now" answered Hidan serenely. Hidan already started to walk down the road but soon Thanerah asked him while she got to his side, "Will we be interfering any ruffians or UKrahs?"
Hidan glanced at her then looked back on the road and answered, "Perhaps, I don't know. I haven't been here for a long time" Thanerah sighed heavily then took Hidan's coat off her shoulders, "Here" and she passed it back to Hidan. Hidan nodded as 'thanks' and put it on himself but let it open.
"Come on" ordered Hidan as he walked down the road.
The deeper they walked the less life they see in the forest; it was strange even for Hidan. Hidan stopped in front of a broken branch but it looked rotten and the crystal was cracking. Hidan grabbed a small twig of it and snapped it but suddenly the whole fallen branch shattered into little pieces.
"This part of the forest is dying" said Hidan, mostly to himself, as he dust his hands off. He looked at the road up ahead "And this leads to Hanatul City..."
Thanerah got to his side and asked, "Do you think Hanatul City is dying as well?" Hidan went quiet for a moment but slightly nodded. He walked forward but his pace was faster than before, 'Hidan...' thought Thanerah with soft eyes before she caught up with his pace.
Thanerah and Hidan got to a sharp edge of a cliff and all they could see was a wasteland with a few tall sharp black buildings lying on the ground in ruins. "Oh no..." mumbled Hidan as he stared at the scene before him in disbelief.
"They've been attacked?" he asked, mostly to himself. Hidan soon jumped off the edge to the lower grounds, "Hi-Hidan!" shouted out Thanerah before she hesitatingly jumped down as well. Hidan easily got on the ground and he immediately rushed towards the fallen towers while Thanerah was slipping a bit and she landed on her butt.
She groaned in pain and rubbed her tushy, "Ow..." She quickly stood up and saw Hidan already near one of the closest fallen towers, "Hidan!"
Hidan ignored Thanerah's calls and entered into the fallen towers through the broken windows, he looked around to see many ruins and there were a few dead Jashinists lying on the ground, some were tear apart, burned alive or being stabbed by old weapons.
Hidan walked towards one of the corpses and pulled out one of the old weapons. It was a curvy dagger with a detailed handle so it can be gripped easily with a blue orb in the handle. Hidan cursed under his breath and thrown away the dagger and it immediately turned into dust.
Hidan looked at the withered corpse before his feet and gently grabbed the rusted Jashin pendant that was around its neck. Hidan heard footsteps from behind but he knew who it was so he stood still, soon he felt arms wrapped around his neck from behind and a soft kiss on his temple.
"I'm sorry..."
Hidan just sighed softly but rubbed her arms with his hand, soon they both froze when they heard, "Finally you got here" The couple turned their heads towards the direction where the voice came from and saw Bansu.
"B-Bansu?" asked Thanerah and he nodded with a knowing smile. He wasn't wearing the same clothes as before; in fact he was wearing a small amount of armour with comfortable clothing to move around easily and to make less noise of his armour.
Hidan stood up from the ground and Thanerah pulled her arms from him. "What the fuck happened here, Bansu? These buildings were one of the strongest forts" Bansu nodded in agreement, "I know. I was surprised as well but the enemy had strike at us discreetly and well planned"
"Where are they now?" asked Hidan and Bansu shrugged his shoulders "We don't know yet, but we're working on it. Our top spies are looking for information about the enemy. I'm even surprise that they're still alive after all these years"
"You think there's going to be a war again?" asked Hidan with anger in his eyes, Bansu nodded sadly and said "And I think it's soon" Hidan cursed under his breath as he glared at the corner. Soon Bansu said, "Look as much as I would like to chat about the past, we don't have that much time. We have to go, now" he scanned the area with precaution.
Bansu got Hidan and Thanerah to the nearest small towns to rest up. It was raining heavily and it was already night time, Bansu opened the door inside a small Inn and Hidan was going to enter first but Bansu stopped him.
"What the fuck, Bansu?" he asked, Bansu just glared at Hidan and said "You know the rules, Hidan. Ladies first" Thanerah felt flattered and said to Bansu, "Why thank you, Bansu" she grinned at the groaning Hidan "At least SOMEONE is a gentleman" She entered the Inn, Hidan glared at Bansu and growled "She's my wife, remember?"
Bansu sighed heavily with a bit of annoyance and said, "Yeah, yeah, I know" then Hidan entered the Inn before Bansu did. When Thanerah went inside she had to quickly dodge a couple who were fighting with each other, she could smell heavy alcohol from them so she presumed them to be drunk. She looked at the Inn to see a few warriors half covered in armour just like Bansu and the rest look normal but there were mostly warriors.
Soon a drunken warrior came to Thanerah and suddenly wrapped his arms around her, "You came back to me, my love! Where have you been after all these years?" he slurry said while cuddling his face against Thanerah's. She was utterly shocked and she tried to move but she couldn't until he was suddenly punched in the face and he was sent flying to a big group who were drunk as well while singing some ridiculous song.
"Stay the fuck away from my wife!" shouted Hidan with rage in his eyes. Thanerah felt relief and quickly went close with her husband who wrapped an arm around her shoulders protectively. Soon the couple were brought to a table at the corner where it would be more private, Thanerah glanced at the group where Hidan threw the man at and saw that they went back to their feet and continued to do whatever they were doing while the warrior, who Hidan punched, was lying on the ground unconscious.
Thanerah sat in the table with the two men and Bansu already ordered some drinks and some food. Afterwards the food and drink came. Thanerah stared at her plate which was filled with heated potatoes and some lamb that was covered in barbeque sauce. The two men also had the same dish as her.
"Come on, eat up" encouraged Bansu as he nudged Thanerah's shoulder softly. Hidan narrowed his eyes at Bansu and growled while asking, "What's the fuck is going on, Bansu?" He looked up at Hidan and said while putting his hands up, "Don't worry, Hidan. I'm not trying to steal your wife or anything."
"Bansu..." Hidan growled once more. Bansu sighed heavily and said, "All right, all right. All the survivors of Jashinists are at the Hanatul right now, which is still standing. You know better than anyone that Hanatul City is the strongest fort in this world"
Hidan sighed heavily and played around with his food a bit, "I know, Bansu, but that doesn't change my concern for the city" Bansu nodded in agreement then said "Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of this. We just have to get to Hanatul City as soon as possible" he drank from his ale.
