Ukyo's perfect hearing was Yae's dilemma. She had to keep a considerable distance away as any amount of sound would startle the young man and stir trouble. Shoes off and weapons sheathed, Yae walked on the tip of her toes, trying her best to ignore the tiny rocks pinching her feet. Yae half expected the route to Tsukasa's Empire to take longer, but instead, the sharp turns and narrows paths led her quickly to their domain.

With slow and steady breaths, Yae found a nook big enough to hide in but small enough to beckon anyone else's attention. Her heart was racing, but she reminded herself that silence would be her greatest ally. The last she saw of Chrome was him walking into a cave. She bid her time and waited—listening.
"What's going on? did something happen?"
"The top three dudes are all in there!"
Yae closed her eyes, focusing on nothing else but the conversation happening inside the cave. Chrome's voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. "Yeah, I get it Tsukasa!" Yae held her breath for a second. Tsukasa was inside; she knew that, of course, but hearing his name come out of Chrome's mouth sent shivers down her spine. She was so close to him now. "You're the jerk who wants to erase science for good. Which is why I've come here to teach you a lesson or two about how awesome science really is!" Yae fought the urge to smack her palm on her forehead.
Shut up, Chrome!
"Open up those ears! First up is Rainbow Flame Reactions!"
There was a long pause after that, and Yae could only think of one thing Tsukasa and his men might do to him.
"Hey, watch it!" Tsukasa held Chrome firm by the back of his shirt as he led out of the cave.
Oh no! This is much worse! Yae watched from her tiny nook as Tsukasa, Hyoga, and Ukyo, led Chrome away from their territory.

To follow them, Yae had to take the long way around, which caused her to lose sight of them for a few minutes. Her heart drummed in her chest. She had no idea what kind of person Tsukasa was in this new, primitive world. Ukyo was still a mystery, but Hyoga was a violent man and would take a life easily. But, eventually, the sound of Chrome's quirky personality grabbed at her attention and pulled her in the right direction. The sound of rushing water almost became deafening as she watched them near the edge of a waterfall.
"Why don't you tell us why you really came here, Chrome the scientist?" asked Hyoga as he dangled Chrome far over the edge by wooden pole.
"Chrome," Tsukasa said. "I don't reject civilization out-right. We're already using fire and tools here. Even those are wonderful applications of science." He crossed his arms. "But progress must be halted." He went on to talk about the rulers of the old world and their interests. How they committed vile acts. "Not that you'd know anything about that." He finished.
"Will you join us, Chrome?" Hyoga asked him.
"Simply hand Senku over to us," Tsukasa spoke right after. They weren't going to give Chrome the proper time to think about his next action. "I will also guarantee the safety of your village."
"S-sure. We have a deal. It's better than dying, I guess." Yae was shocked. He couldn't have meant that. "That's what you want me to say, right. Fat chance in that ever happening." Yae sighed a breath of relief, but all too soon.
"So be it." Said Hyoga.
"No!" Yae jumped out of her hiding place and flung her shoes at Ukyo's head. He fell on his side, his weapons dropping from his hands.

All of Kohaku's training was pulling off as the true test of Yae's strength and ability shone through. She pounced on Ukyo while he was still down, her foot pressed firmly against his throat, and the rest of her weight on his body. If he tried to move, all Yae would have to do to stop him, was press a little harder on his neck and render him unconscious. Her swift actions caused a few seconds of confusion from her enemies, thus giving her the time to pick up Ukyo's bow and arrow and aim it directly at Hyoga's head. An overwhelming amount of power washed over her knowing she could easily put a stop to Hyoga's actions.
"Bring Chrome safely back to land. If you drop him, this arrow will go straight through your fucking eyeball!" Her skills in handling a bow were practically nothing, but they didn't know that.

Surprised, Tsukasa stood there, his arms resting at his sides again. "Sawa?"
Yae kept her gaze on Hyoga. "I said bring him back." Her teeth gritted as her voice got lower. Tsukasa could easily overthrow her now that she was still. Why wasn't he?
"Is it really you?" The tone in Tsukasa's voice became softer, hopeful.
"Do it now, damn you!" She held the arrow further back, the bow shaking from the strain.
While still looking at Yae, Tsukasa motion Hyoga over with a single wave of his hand. A small sigh escaped Hyoga's lips as he reluctantly brought Chrome back over to safety and dropped him on solid land.
"Yae...? Why?" Chrome wasn't sure if he was happy to see her or not.
"There was no sense in badgering him any longer, was there? Your friend was never going to crack."
Yae pointed her arrow at Tsukasa now. "There's something you just don't get, Shishio. Chrome and I are forever loyal to Senku. We would never betray him!"
Tsukasa smiled. "You're not going to kill me."
She threatened him further. "Try me!"
"Perhaps we can guess why these two came all the way here?" Hyoga interrupted. "Ukyo, where did you discover little Chrome?"
Ukyo tried to speak, but Yae's foot was kept him from speaking.
"Sawa, will you please release my friend?" Tsukasa's voice was soft. "I promise not to harm you. After all, it's you I've wanted to see the most."

While Yae contemplated all this. Of all the things that could go wrong—or right, Chrome shook his head at her. Slowly, but surely, Yae stepped off of Ukyo but kept his weapon.
The young man coughed and rubbed his neck while he took a few good breaths before answering Hyoga's question. "Near the infamous miracle fluid cave. Chrome seemed to be scouting on his own. I didn't see Yae, though. Perhaps their both after the nitric acid."
Yae and Chrome stole a glance at each other. Ukyo was lying, but why help them?
"Let's head back," said Tsukasa. "There is much to discuss."
Ukyo held out his arm, wanting his bow back. Yae looked at the bow, then at him, and then back at the bow. She lifted her leg and slammed down on the bow and forced all her weight to one side and snapped Ukyo's bow in half. Only then did she return it to him.
"And don't get any funny ideas about using that shiny katana, either." Hyoga pointed. "Why don't you hand it over?"
"Do it, Sawa." Tsukasa warned her.
"Fine." She unlatched her katana from her side and dropped it at her feet. Her dagger, however, was safely hidden away in the nook she was hiding in before. She would go back for it later when it was safe to do so.

The three young males stepped forward, closing in on Yae when the cry of a hawk flew over their heads. Yae stood rigid. Her winged friend was concerned for her safety.
Tsukasa held out his arm. "Hyoga. Your spear." The white-haired man was hesitant at first, but he obeyed his leader's orders nonetheless. "I haven't seen a hawk this beautiful in ages." He gripped the spear, knuckles turning white.
"Strange," said Hyoga. "The river is miles from here, and small rodents in this area are scarce. What's it doing in these parts, do you think?"
A smirk spread to one side of Tsukasa's mouth. "Indeed. One can never be too careful." Yae held her breath. She did her best to try and seem unfazed by what Tsukasa might do next.

Thinking fast, Yae put forth her best effort into a sneeze, throwing Tsukasa's aim off by an inch. The spear nicked the hawk's right wing; a small squeal echoed, and the wondrous creature gently floated down, disappearing into the trees. Yae fought the urge to yell at Tsukasa for hurting her feathered friend, but that would only aid Tsukasa and his Empire. If he knew Senku's Kingdom of science had a trained hawk for spying, it would put them at a disadvantage.
"Are you unwell, Sawa?" Tsukasa asked.
Yae rubbed her nose and sniffed, adding on to her little act. "It's nothing serious."
"A small cold could lead to serious health problems in the stone world. Let's hurry back and get you something to eat." He offered Yae his hand.
Yae looked at Chrome and then back at Tsukasa. "I can walk all on my own. I'm a big girl."
Tsukasa smiled. "Of course."

Once surrounded by the men and women of the Tsukasa's Empire, Chrome would be locked up.
"Don't worry about me, Yae. Worry about yourself." He told his friend before parting ways.
"Chrome..." Yae was helpless as she watched him go. The whole point of her being here was to protect Chrome, and what a swell she was doing.
"This way." Tsukasa walked ahead, stopping for only a second for her to catch up. "Leave us." He said to Hyoga and Ukyo.
Yae gulped. She didn't want to be left alone in Tsukasa's care.

Tsukasa's place of rest was not what Yae had in mind. She pictured the place to be cold and dark, but instead, the den in which he led her was filled with dozens of animal skin and fur. Deer jerky was resting on a wooden plate, and Tsukasa handed her the entire thing.
"Eat up. There is water in that jar, too, if you get thirsty." He pointed over to the side where a stone jar sat at the side of what looked like a makeshift bed made out of grass, leaves, feathers, and bear fur.
"Thanks..." Yae took a single piece of jerky and took a bit. The jerky was tough and needed some salt, but it was food to fill her empty belly.
Tsukasa lit a few candles. The wax was made by boiling plants. "You must be tired of walking all that way. I know you came from the village where Senku is currently living." He sat down on a chair made of stone.
"I've walked further."
Tsukasa chuckled at this. "Indeed."
Yae finished her jerky and said to her captor, "Shishio..." She stepped forward, ready to make her plea.
"I'm going to stop you there." He held up a hand to silence her. "Please, call me Tsukasa."
Yae bit her lower lip. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of hearing his name come off her lips. But she complied. "Tsukasa..."
"Last names in this age seem to have no meaning." A thoughtful expression played across his face. "It reminds me of a conversation I had with Senku when I first woke up in this primitive age. But I'm honored that you called me by my last."
"Don't be." She told him.

A moment passed where the two of them said nothing. Staring at each other, neither one breaking the silence.
A noise from outside, one of the men, broke them from their trance. A meaningless brawl had broken out between two men.
"Aren't you going to stop them?" Yae asked.
He shrugged. "No. I'll let them be; this is more important."
Yae cocked her head to the side. "Important?"
"Come closer, Yae. Or would you still prefer I call you by your last name?"
"Does it matter anymore?" She said as she walked closer, standing a few inches from Tsukasa. "You can stop this. You can let my friend go free, and you can make peace with Senku."
Tsukasa shook his head. "You know I can't do that, Yae. Senku has made up his mind."
"As you have, I'm sure."
Tsukasa stood up fast. Yae had every intention of backing away, but he held her steady. "I'm sorry, Yae." He cupped her face. She said nothing. There were many things that an apology could stand for, but she didn't know which one.
"Please, let go of me."
"Don't worry. I don't plan on hurting you. I want to help you. I want to make amends. Together we can accomplish so much."
"The only thing I want to do with you, Tsukasa, is to leave this place. Let's go back to Ishigami village and make amends there."
"I can't do that." He shook his head.
"Why not?"
"You don't understand, Yae."
"I think you do."
"Sorry, but you don't."
Yae scoffed. "Why do you keep apologizing?"
"For not being able to save you in time all those years ago."
Yae felt her body go limp. She knew what he was referring to as she hung her head. "Those men are long gone, Tsukasa. I've learned to let go and grow from that experience. You should too." She paused. "You did your best. I understand that..."

Tsukasa's next move surprised Yae as he got down on one knee and gripped her hands. "I know that you see me as the bad guy, but all I want to do is create a world free from people who only wish harm on others. I want to create that world with you; a place where you can sleep at night and not have to worry about another human being taking advantage of you. I want a world where my little sister can play and be healthy. Will you help me, Yae?"
She stared at him for a long moment, searching for the answer hidden deep in his brown eyes. "You have all the right intentions, Tsukasa, But you're going about it the wrong way. You would make a wonderful hero, but instead, you choose to make a lousy villain." She pulled free from his grasp. "You say you want to make a better world, but those men I see outside are not what I have in mind. Hyoga is a perfect example. I want to help you. Believe me. And I want us to stay friends, but this is not the way to do that."
More noise erupted from outside, causing Tsukasa to stand and walk toward the entrance of the den. "Stay here. We'll continue this conversation later."
"You're not going to lock me up?"
"You are not a prisoner here, Yae. You are free to come and go. You always have been." He left her alone there to calm the commotion happening outside. She knew Tsukasa was fighting a battle within himself, and it would take more than some fancy words to help him win that fight.

Author's note: I will catch up on what Senku and team are doing in next chapter. I wanted to focus on what was happening with Yae. It was easier for me to move the story along by doing it this way. I hope all of you are doing okay!