Chapter 32

Shanta was more had felt relief before, but this was a visceral, raw sense of respite that was foreign to her. Not only had she unearthed the location of her brother Izuku, she had found that he now resided with UA. Crimson Riot and Edgeshot had kept her in the loop, an appreciative act for having found the correct frequency to maintain contact with the west. Though Shiketsu admonished her in the past for tuning the radiofrequency to other waves that did not persist to Kenfall, it was this radio wave spelunking that allowed her to come into contact with one Tsui Asuy.

The proceeding conversations were between Edgeshot and Asuy, though Shanta could register the dialogue. The initial salutation was tantamount to that of an ex-lover. Shiketsu and UA had a great deal of history, though their amicability towards each other had been strained over the years. Their views on power distribution and hierarchy contrasted to a certain degree, but their common enemy was certain. Kind words and acts of admiration were seldom dropped, however, a mutual respect for the other persisted. Once the signal had been reached, and Shiketsu and UA came to an accord of where to rendezvous, Shanta and many of her tribe embarked on the first blimp, awaiting irascibly for their arrival. Shanta pleaded for a conference call with Izuku, Denki, and the rest, though preliminary talks with heads of administration were first in order.

She now lay peacefully on Hitoshi's bare chest as their flying fortress towered amongst the great sea that divided both land masses. A cot had been provided for all fifteen guests and crew affiliates. Though the dimensions of the bed were to Shanta's liking, Hitoshi's bulkier mass strained the springs and clamps that upheld their mutual load. She elevated her head slightly to catch a glimpse of the man beside her, enthralled with his being.

Hitoshi was off to a blissful slumber, a rarity for the nigh narcoleptic man. Though his sleeping patterns were sporadic, he claims his slumber deepens whenever he lies next to Shanta, a claim that seems to be proving genuine. The amount of caffeine the gentleman consumed could flood a small village, yet his eyes remained bolted as a tendril of droll lopped from the side of his mouth. The hour was 9:00 am and as much as it saddened Shanta, she was required to wake the slumbering giant

In her mind's eye, she thought this would be best accomplished by a coy nibble to Hitoshi's neck, stirring him awake. His eyes retained their eminent glossiness, though the lavender that radiated off his retina shined in the light of dawn. He looked over at Shanta, beaming through him with a scintillating row of teeth.

"Morning sleepy head," she whispered in an enticing manner.

"Hey," was all he was able to murmur before regaining a sense of his surroundings. "Did you just wake me up?"

"Guilty, sorry not sorry," she said mischievously.

"Well that's not very nice," he countered in kind, spiritedly tossing her atop his physique with unparalleled ease. She giggled in response, coyly batting his arms as her form met his. She wore nothing more than a sports bra, customary attire for the warm conditions that persisted all year round in Egrary. Her eyelids lowered seductively as Hitoshi displayed an atypical smirk.

"I assume we have to head out now?" he questioned mournfully.

"Hey now, the amount of work that we've been doing for Shiketsu, the least they could do is spare us half an hour. Am I right or am I right?" she quizzed, resting her chin on the lad's sternum. He conveyed his agreement by inching her waist higher in order to steal an additional kiss from Shanta. She abided to the tantalizing gesture as goosebumps made manifest. She placed her hands at the rear of his neck, frolicking in his purple mane sheepishly. He in turn, rested his large hands on her bare thighs, intent to savor the moment her lush lips met his. Their lustful dance was sadly impeded as Ochaco came rushing in with a crashing of the doorframe, rattling the knickknacks that adorned their quaint little room.

"Guys, you have to come quick, Tenya ha-" her voice sporadically faltered as she stumbled upon Hitoshi and Shanta under the covers. Her face grew cherry red as she threw her hands pugnaciously afront her retina.

"Ochaco! ever heard of knocking?" Shanta retorted in vehemently.

"How Ochaco, how we doing?" Hitoshi rejoined as smug as ever.

"Guys sorry that's my bad," Ochaco spurt with a violent stammer, "but this is important, we got Tenya on the line and it's urgent, I'll be waiting outside." She vanished as quickly as she entered, masking her eyes all the while. Hitoshi let out a defeated sigh as the duo began to dress in their appropriate attire. They stormed out of the shelter, disregarding the tongue-tied twinkling that transpired, focusing on the task at hand. Trailing Ochaco, they found Crimson Riot and Edgeshot awaiting their arrival, a modicum of pleasure registered on their faces at the site of Hitoshi and Shanta.

"Hey guys, is it true that we have Tenya and my brother on the line?" Shanta probed.

"I believe we do, this mission has taken quite a lot of planning, so I apologize for the delay. However, it appears as though Shiketsu and UA have officially come to a mutual agreement. Our aerial forces and our men stationed in Aspeu are now converging to a central location, desperate times call for desperate measures," Edgeshot professed.

"We have yet to form a concrete plan in regard to taking on the Aspeuean administration," Crimson Riot continued, but the congregation is in order.

"That's all well and good, but again, is my brother on the line can I finally speak to him?"

"By all means, I believe he awaits your call."

Shanta gleamed brilliantly as Ochaco, Hitoshi and her sprinted towards the cockpit of the blimp. Upon arrival they noticed the piolet and co-piolet sitting lavishly on leather chairs, overlooking the dazzling blue sky that encompassed their vehicle. The cluster gathered around the aircraft's core transistor, with the receiving end held firmly in the piolets hand. Without a second thought Shanta tore the radio from the gentleman's hand, accompanied by an apologetic visage.

"Hello, who's there," she spoke, enunciated into the receiving end of the apparatus.

"Hey Shanta, long time no speak," Tenya rejoined in a jubilant manner.

"Tenya! Holy shit it's so great to hear your voice again,"

"Shanta, oh thank God! We miss you so much, Izuku's great and all but we need the other half back," Denki said longingly, the elation in his voice was palpable.

"Kaminari, it's good to hear you too, hopefully we'll see you soon."

"Hey hot stuff, how's it hanging?" Hitoshi suavely replied.

"Holy shit you got Shinso there too? We have the whole gang back together!" Denki erupted through the intercom.

"Speaking of getting the whole gang back, do you mind passing the transponder to my brother?"

"Oh yeah," Tenya responded with notable reluctance. "Um, I would, but unfortunately he isn't here at the moment." A viscous flicker dragged by the mud as they awaited a retort.

"What? What do you mean he isn't there, has he not been with you guys the entire time?" Shanta bellowed.

"Oh he has, but he's recently been sent on a little excursion with Bakugou and Mei," Tenya replied.

"Who's Bakugou and Mei?" Ochaco bewilderingly enquired.

"Just some friends of ours really, trust me he's in capable hands," Tenya spiritedly vouched.

"Yeah, in the capable hands of Tenya's new girl," Denki pestered.

"Put a sock in it Kaminari."

"Wait just a moment," Shanta snapped, terminating the playful banter on the spot, "where is he going and whom is he retrieving?"

"Well," Tenya sustained in an apprehensive tenor. "He's going to coal drift, just to pick somebody up," he phrased as best he could.

"He's going to coal drift?! That's fucking insane, it's hell out there! Who the hell authorized this?" A foreboding silence was all that transpired over the telecommunications. Shanta looked over at Hitoshi who merely stared in a dimwitted fashion, knowing not how to contribute. Her eyes then darted to Ochaco, who issued a shrug in retort.

"Who gave him the go ahead for to do this?" Shanta echoed once more.

"Not a soul," a cool voice rejoined through the intercom. "We're going to have a talk once you get down here, your friends are in quite a lot of trouble.