Etsuko knocked on Tsukasa's office door and waited.
"Come in." Tsukasa's voice was annoyed.
She entered slowly.
He was buried in paperwork, smoke ringing his head.
Daiki lay asleep on the nearby couch.
"Miss Hiroshi? To what do I owe the pleasure? More questions?" The dragon gave her a small smile.
"Actually, I had a request. I don't know if you've heard but my country has broken into a civil war.."
Tsukasa's smile faded as he nodded. "I heard. I'm sorry."
"They've currently put the squad I was working toward on hold, and I honestly don't want to go back and fight against my own people. I was wondering if you had any room on your squad for another person."
He looked thoughtful. "I don't see a reason to refuse, although I just sign the checks. Find Andy. She's the real Boss." He chuckled at Etsuko's look. "Andy takes care of everyone here. She can find a place for you to bunk. Welcome to the squad."
"Thank you," Etsuko smiled gratefully.
She headed out and entered the infirmary. Andy turned to her and smiled, "Hey Etsuko. What's up?"
"I'm joining the squad. I was told you could help me with accommodations?"
Andy smiled, "Welcome to the team. Glad to have another female around." She headed out of the infirmary and led Etsuko to a room.
Etsuko settled her stuff in the room before heading to wander around the base.
The fire alarm began to ring.
Etsuko looked back at Andy. The doctor was rolling her eyes, "It's probably just Kei making potions again."
Etsuko raised an eyebrow and followed Andy.
They entered the infirmary to see Akasa scolding Kei.
"Are you trying to blow us up? Some expert!" The nurse waved his hand at the smoke. "Does this have to happen every time?"
The earth witch hung his head, not responding.
Akasa turned to Andy. "I'm done. Anything to add or can I turn him into something?"
Andy chuckled, "I did think experts would be able to make potions without blowing. But at least he's making himself useful."
Kei glanced up, his eyes covered by his hair. "Sorry.. It won't happen again." He moved around Akasa, slipping out the infirmary door with a nod to Andy.
Akasa grimaced. "That's not like him.. Maybe I was too harsh?"
"Maybe.." Andy sighed.
Kei walked off the base, not really paying attention. Akasa's words kept replaying. He had been botching potions more and more since he'd been rescued.. Maybe he wasn't good enough any more? He sighed, kicking at a rock. Maybe it would be simpler to relocate somewhere safer. He looked up as he heard the phoenixes pass by laughing, then lowered his eyes again.
The laughter turned to yells and the earth witch looked up to see six vampires encircling the two men.
"Get away from them!" Kei muttered a spell, smiling as two vaporized. He sent a mental message to Andy. "Could use some help. Got a few unwelcome guests harassing the birds."
He was about to give their location when he felt fangs pierce his neck, then darkness.
Andy cursed, looking at Etsuko, "Ready for your first mission?"
Etsuko nodded, "Always."
"Let's go see if we can get a few more people then we'll head out."
She followed Andy into the infirmary as the doctor looked for some of her teammates.
Ryon was frowning as Akasa recounted the incident. "You don't know where he went?"
Akasa shook his head. "He definitely wasn't acting normal though."
"I know where he went. And we need to get a team together."
Ryon shot her an alarmed look. "He's in trouble isn't he?"
"He tried to stop some vamps taking the phoenix twins. I don't know his current status though."
The porter growled, his eyes flickering.
Minutes later, Hiroki and Yamae were entering, Hideo behind. "Any idea how many vampires we talking?" Yamae glanced at Andy.
"No idea," Andy admitted.
"Let's just get them back." Ryon took a deep breath.
Andy nodded, "Let's go." She put her hand on Etsuko's shoulder and teleported her to Kei's location.
He was bound to a stake, a vampire slowly feeding. His eyes were glassy, his breathing ragged.
The twins were unconscious, bound to stone slabs in front of a vampire on a throne.
The vampire motioned the feeder away as Ryon and the rest of the team appeared. "You aren't welcome here, sorceress. Leave and you won't be hurt."
Andy growled, "We aren't leaving without our friends."
The vampire looked at her coldly. "They are our keys to immortality. They are ours. And witch blood is sweet. We won't give any of them up." He bared his fangs in challenge. "Take them if you can."
Andy growled once more, baring her fangs in return. "Yamae and Ryon, get them out of here." She charged at the vampire.
Yamae rushed toward the twins, grabbing them and vanishing.
Ryon ran for Kei, but was blocked by the feeder. He growled, shifting in his dragon form and spraying the vampire with flame.
The vampire laughed, avoiding the fire and sinking his fangs into Ryon's throat. He drank quickly, kicking the dragon aside as it reverted. Ryon hit the wall and lay still.
Etsuko pulled out her pistol, quickly shooting at the vampire. Hiroki moved to Kei's side, untying him from the stake. He moved him next to Ryon before looking back at Andy.
Andy was clawing at the vampire with panther claws, trying to keep him from biting her. He sank his fangs into her neck.
Etsuko pulled out a gadget that she fired at the vampire. It clawed onto him and she yanked him away from Andy. She repeatedly fired at him, knocking him to the floor.
Andy pushed herself to her feet, swaying a little as she muttered a killing spell to make sure the vampire was taken out.
Etsuko went and wrapped her arm around Andy, "Let's get back home. Can you still teleport?"
"Yeah," she nodded. Andy got to Hiroki, Kei, and Ryon before teleporting them all to the infirmary. She set up transfusions for Kei and Ryon before sitting down.
Yamae gave her a small smile. "The twins seem to be okay. Just a sleep spell apparently."
Andy nodded, "That's good."
Kei slowly blinked his eyes open and sighed. "Why didn't you leave me?"
"You're our friend, why would we leave you?" Andy said quietly.
"I'm an earth witch who can't make potions right. I'm a hindrance and an annoyance." He pushed himself up, yanked out the IV and headed for the door.
"Kei, you're not a hindrance or annoyance. And you're a better potion maker than the rest of us," Andy informed.
"Yeah, you're not an annoyance," Etsuko added softly.
"According to Akasa, I am.." He gave both women a sad smile. "I cause more problems than I solve. But no more. No more potions." He recited the teleportation spell and vanished, leaving everyone in shock.
"Is he serious?" Yamae asked worriedly.
"I don't know.." Andy said quietly before going to find Akasa.
He was nursing a cup of coffee in the kitchen, his eyes worried. He looked up as Andy entered. "Did you find him?"
"You need to go fix this. He teleported off saying he's not going to make potions anymore and that you think he's a hindrance and annoyance."
Akasa winced. "I was frustrated and angry. I didn't mean it.." He stared into his cup gloomily. "I just hate watching him put more energy in that he can't get back. He's been in the infirmary more for my spells than his. It's like every potion saps his life force a bit more, and the ones he's actually added it to leave him unconscious for longer periods of time. Haven't you noticed how tired he always is?"
Andy nodded, "Maybe he should stop making potions.. but he shouldn't just because he thinks we think he's annoying."
Akasa nodded. "Any idea where he could be?"
Andy shook her head, "If you just focus on him then teleport you should find him."
Akasa nodded, standing and reciting the spell. He vanished. A few seconds later a horrified message sounded in her head.
"Andy! I need help! I can't stop him!"
Andy teleported to their location to take in the situation.
Akasa was attempting to pull Kei out of the ground. The earth witch was fighting, his lips rapidly trying to finish a spell. The ground was actively trying to swallow Kei, but he seemed to be expecting it.
"Both of you stop it!" Andy growled before she said a spell to freeze their movements. "Kei, Akasa didn't mean what he said, he's just worried about you. You've been losing energy every time you make a potion and you're spending more time in the infirmary. He's worried about you, like I am. He just shows it different." She sighed. "Why have you been losing so much energy? I understand if you want to give up potion making for health reasons but not because of what any of us say." She took a deep breath before unfreezing them.
Kei shook his head. "I thought it was just from being away and not using the power. Now I don't know. But I can't do anything else. If I can't help, then I'm worthless and hinder. I refuse to hinder, so I'm doing what earth witches do when they are tired. They become one with the earth." He closed his eyes and was about to restart the spell when Akasa slapped him.
"You absolute idiot! You're not worthless or a hindrance. I'm sorry that I said that, it was the frustration showing because I'm the one not being able to help. I can't stop whatever's happening and I just want to scream.. Ryon is worried too and that hurts me even more.. Please don't do this.."
"Plus, we'd all be dead without your potions. You saved us against those gloves and you saved Tet," Andy added.
He sighed, a desperate sad sound. "Wouldn't this just be easier than you two watching me fade away?"
"We will figure out what's happening to you. Until then, you can talk me through potions and I'll make them for you," Andy answered. "You were with Branch. Who knows what they did to you if this is related to them?"
Kei muttered something, allowing Akasa to pull him loose. He swayed dizzily as the blood loss came roaring back. "The phoenixes.."
"They're fine," Andy answered. "Let's get you hooked back up to a transfusion so you'll feel better, okay?" She teleported them back to the infirmary and got him set up in a bed.
He gave her a chagrined smile. "Sorry about that.. I thought the earth getting my power was better than it disappearing."
"It's alright, I promise we will work to find out what the problem is."
He nodded slowly, his hold on consciousness disappearing. His eyes slid closed.
"He's sick isn't he?" Ryon watched with a frown.
Andy sighed, "There's definitely something wrong, we just haven't figured out what. If it was a medical issue I'd be able to solve it easily, but it's a magical issue which makes it complicated." She gave him a small smile, "Try not to worry. We're going to figure it out and fix him."
Tet walked in and stopped. "Why does everyone look like we have only five minutes left to live?"
Andy shook her head, "Long story. Everything's okay for now."
He shrugged, kissing her on the cheek. "Alright. I've got an early mission so I'm going to crash. Wanted to warn you, furball is in the gym kicking everyone's ass. Worried about him popping his stitches."
Andy sighed, "Let Akasa deal with it if he ends up back in here. I'm going to go crash with you."
He chuckled. "Sounds good to me."