I don't know about you but I work best under pressure.

Chapter 37

****** Day 1 ******

"What a great idea they had..." I hear Shun's sarcastic voice as I entered the Entrance. I was feeling better this morning, and checking up on Ren it looked like he was feeling better too. So today was going to be a good day. "Protect a Rookie and get lost themselves."

"What?!" So much for it being a good day, what the hell happened?

"Morning Leader," greeted Gina. "Things don't look too good. Kanon and Brendan didn't come back from their mission..."

"Did they lose contact around the Subway remains? That place is so uselessly big and complicated..." Shun prattled on.

"You should ask Annette for the details."

"Got it," I replied to Gina as I headed down to where Annette was at. The poor thing was a mess.

"Um, excuse me!" She said, taking notice of me. "I have a favor to ask of you!"

"Sure, but first tell me what happened."

"I went on a mission with my team, but an Aragami we've never seen before appeared in front of us, unexpectedly. Everyone else let me escape, but I... I didn't know what to do, and now..."

"Calm yourself, Annette. Panicking will get us no where."

"Please. Help me look for them!"

"You've wasted a favor, you didn't have to ask me that, I was going anyway."

"Thank you so much! I really appreciate this!"

****** Infernal Subway ******

"Brendan! Kanon!" We just got done taking care of the Magma Gboro and started scouring the Subway.

"Kanon! Brendan! Please, answer us!"

"It's no use Annette, they're no longer in this area, let's head back."

"But..."

"We'll search another area with more backup." Damn, something's jamming my sense of smell. Whatever it is it smells familiar, but it's not them.

****** The Entrance (Noon) ******

"Welcome back, did you find them?" Gina asked as we came in.

"They weren't in the area we searched."

"It's nothing important, I guess. I was going to test out my new scope, and maybe go search for the lost kids while I'm out there. Do you want to come too?"

"Of course."

"Wait!" Alisa said approaching us, somewhat out of breath from running. "Kanon and the others are still missing, right? If it's okay with you can I come along? Losing a teammate is a tragic experience... I don't want Annette to have to go through that!"

"Alisa... alright. Get your things, we're leaving in five minutes."

"Alright. Then let's get going." Gina said.

"Yes, let's go." Called out Annette rushing to the mission elevator to leave with us.

****** Forgotten Carrier (Evening) ******

"We showed that Tezcatilipoca a thing or two about girl power didn't we!"

"Let's celebrate later, Alisa." Gina replied. "We need to focus on searching for Kanon and Brendan."

"They're not here," replied Okami, looking out into the Forgotten Carrier.

"Oh, how do you know?"

"Their scent is fading here. They were here but not since a long time, all traces are already fading. We need to search another area."

"Then they're not here either. We have to keep searching, we just gotta."

"And so we will Annette." Then Okami's headset went off. "Okami here. Soma?!" What a surprise for her, having Soma on the other line instead of Hibari like usual.

"Hey, how's the search?"

"Nothing yet, but we'll keep looking. Hold the fort with Kota and Sakuya while we're gone."

"The First Unit can handle most of these normal missions. You can prioritize the search for Lindow and the other two. Show them what a Leader can do..."

"Roger that," Okami said spirited as she hung up.

"I don't know what to do anymore... I can't find them..."

"Things will work out Annette, chin up."

"Alright, I'll do everything I can..."

"Don't worry, I'll do something about this." Okami said with determination.

"Thank you... I'll keep trying." Suddenly a wind blew from the direction of Aegis Island. Okami took in a deep breath, taking in it's scent.

"I've found... Kanon."

"What?! Where?!" Asked Annette, shocked along with the other girls. Okami just looked at Aegis Island and pointed at it.

"She's over there... at Aegis."

"What?! I overheard that that's a danger zone right now with a Dyaus Pita and a magnetic Cocoon Maidens!" Annette began to panic. "You have to help her! Please!"

"Calm down, that's just what I'm about to do. Gina! Alisa! Take Annette with you back to the Den. And send backup to meet at Aegis."

"I heard Tatsumi, Shun, and Karel were about to head off on their own Search Mission for them." Gina said.

"Good, randavoe with them and tell them to catch up with me."

"Be careful Leader," replied Alisa.

"Hey, it's me." Umiko smirked at her.

"..." But Alisa simply stared at her, knowing Okami better than that.

"... Right, it's me. Okay, I'll try. But I can't make any promises."

****** Aegis Island (Night) ******

"Damn you, get out of my way!" Cried out Okami, taking the final strike to the Dyaus Pita as it dropped dead. It went down easily with the help of the others.

"Okami, did you find Kanon yet?!" Shun asked, taking out the last Magma Cocoon Maiden.

"Not yet," she said while shaking her head. "It was hard picking up her scent with the Aragami about... Wait." She stopped, taking a whiff of the air.

"I got her..." Okami said, following her nose in a dash. The others not too far behind. It lead her to the old elevator hanger deck that use to connect Aegis to the underground part of the Den. Now long since closed off since the Aragami took over Aegis.

Taking a quick sniff at the elevator door, Okami gripped the doors and forced them open. Inside was an injured Kanon, terrified at first for being found by a possible Aragami that was roaming about. But relaxed when she noticed it was Okami.

"I found her!"

"Thank God!" Exclaimed Shun, relief flooded him as he passed Okami to piggy-back Kanon on his back. For a guy who always told her she was a hindrance he went out of his way to make sure to find her and was gentle as he carried her to make sure she was okay. He really did care didn't he.

"But what about Brendan?" Karel asked.

"We'll search for him later," answered Tatsumi. "Right now we need to get Kanon to a medic."

"I'm so glad... to see you guys... How did you... find me?"

"Okami sniffed you out," answered Shun while doing his best not to joust her injuries.

"Yeah... since when was your nose so good?" Karel asked Okami somewhat suspicious.

"It's always been this good. I've just never been... desperate enough, to have to use it." Yeah, but was it good enough to smell across a large body of water before?

****** Sick Bay (Midnight) ******

****** Day 2 ******

"Kanon, can you tell me what happened?"

"... We were ambushed by this blue Aragami we've never seen before. After we let Annette escape, we put up a fight for a while, but we began losing so Brendan said he'd be the bait... I always talk about doing my best... But I'm powerless, and I end up relying on somebody..."

"We all rely on someone, that's what helps make us stronger." Kanon did not reply back to her. "Rest now, I will go bring Brendan back."

Getting all the information she could, Okami left the Sick Bay to let Kanon rest. Outside in the hallway Licca just came out of the Lab.

"Licca, how has your night been faring you?"

"Troublesome actually. See, I can't get Lindow's Arc to stabilize anymore. It's in good shape, maybe too good, actually. I wonder what's going on. It's like it's Resonating for some reason."

"Oh, that's weird... Well, I'm off to find Brendan."

"But it's late and you've been out searching all day!"

"I won't rest until they're both back here and safe. Besides, I feel alright. Quite energized actually. Also Tatsumi, Shun, and Karel already left to search, why shouldn't I?"

"Well, please don't over to it."

"Over doing would be bringing two Brendan's back." Okami said trying to make a joke, "I'm leaving now."

****** Returning to the Den (Early Morning) ******

We didn't find Brendan, but we found the Aragami that cornered them. The Tsukoyumi, named after the Shinto Moon god. She packed quite a punch, much worse than the Amaterasu.

But this is good, another piece to add to my plan. Once we find Lindow and the others I can commence my plan. But, it's strange, I've been out all night and I'm still not tired. It's nearly dawn by the time I get back to the Den, what was there to greet me back startled me.

"Kanon? What are you doing up? You should be in bed."

"I feel a lot better now. I'm sorry I was acting all sad the other day. I've realized that all I can do is do my best. So I am going to do my best, to do my best! So on that subject, may I please ask you to come with me to search for Brendan? The beacons point out the location, but I don't feel confident enough to get there myself."

"Relying on others is not a weakness, but strength for standing up against one's pride. I will assist you."

"I'm, um, thank you so much! Every bit of my effort will go into this!"

"That's all I can ask for."

****** City of Mercy (Sunrise) ******

"Let's finish this Kanon!"

"I'll reduce you to a hunk of meat!" Cried out Kanon as she fired a concentrated burst at the Prithvi Mata. Still in burst, Okami took the last strike to it's head as it fell to its death.

"It's over."

"Let's search the area now." Kanon suggested. " Brendan could be anywhere here."

"There's no need. I've already caught his scent."

"What?!"

"Didn't you find it strange how I kept the Prithvi Mata from running pass the church." She then pointed north from the Aragami's entrance to the church. "The scent of his blood is strong in that direction."

"Then he needs help! Let's go!"

"Follow me." So she dashed in that direction, Kanon not too far behind Okami. "Kanon."

"Um, yes?"

"You did good." Kaon gasped at this, at finally gaining the approval of her peer. For the first time not being considered a hindrance, she was at a lost for words.

"Thank you, Okami!"

Okami followed the scent to the building beside the church. He was there, lying in the corner, trying to stop the bleeding as he barely kept himself awake.

"Brendan..." Okami said gently so as not to startle him. He looked up with tired eyes.

"I must have lost a lot of blood, now I'm starting to hallucinate... A shame... that it's come to this."

"It's not over," said Okami changing to gun-form to fire all the recovery bullets she could at him. "And we're not an illusion."

"We?"

"Brendan, thank God!" Said Kanon, storming into the room. "A-are you alright?!" She shot him recovery bullets too, thus stopping the bleeding.

"Kanon? I... I can't believe it."

"Did you think I wouldn't come back for you? Fat chance!"

"How are you feeling?" Okami asked, dropping to one knee to his level.

"Tired..."

"Hm." With that, Okami grabbed him by the arm to get him to lean most of his weight on her shoulder. Each of them still gripping their God Arc with their free hand. "Kanon, cover us. The mission isn't over until we get back."

"Got it!"

"Don't worry Brendan, I've got you." Okami said looking down at him. "We're going home."

"T-thanks..." Brendan said as they walked out into the open to head toward the Chopper pickup area. He looked up at Okami and saw how the sunlight danced on her platinum threads and made her skin somewhat glow. Its light twinkled in her eyes. "Angel..."

At last it was dawn, a new day has begun as it started with all that were lost the previous day returned. But one thing was on Okami's mind, 'what's an Angel?'