Chapter 06 - Marcel X Kurimo X Gratitude
When they reached the gate, José and Silva were already waiting by the Land Rover.
"What? You drove the car up the mountain road?" Edea wondered.
"We can leave much faster in the car," Silva replied as he jumped behind the steering wheel. They all crowded into the car together with Kurimo, leaving the prisoners in the trunk.
"Be careful, this will be a wild ride!" Silva warned and stepped on the gas. The Land Rover shot forward and rushed down the road with great speed.
Kurimo turned and looked out the rear window. "They're chasing us."
Marcel, José and Sephiroth turned around. Three big black limousines followed behind them.
"Shit... looks like my distraction method didn't keep them busy long enough." José cursed.
"We must get rid of them. With this speed on this dangerous road we'll get into an accident!" Sephiroth hissed.
"So, has anyone seen my packet of nails?" José asked amusingly.
As if this was a cue, Kurimo suddenly jumped up and squeaked out in pain. He faltered and fell onto Sephiroth´s and Marcel´s lap inorder to avoid hitting the roof.
"Nani?" Marcel asked worriedly.
"Aii, something just stung into my back!"
"Oh, it seems you have found my packet of nails," José laughed.
"That's not funny!" Kurimo shouted angrily as he reached behind to rub his back.
"Hell, why didn't you close the packet properly? Now the entire car is filled with nails,"
Edea sighed as she started to pick them up.
"Ok guys, let's pick up the nails and throw them out of the car. Silva, please open the trunk." Sephiroth grinned and grabbed a hand full of nails. As the trunk opened, the group threw the nails out of the car, which spread over the entire street.
'Pang! Pang! Pang!!'
The sound of exploding tyres was heard as the three limousines stopped one after another.
"Hehe, I assume these idiots will no longer be a problem." José sighed in relief.
"Well, I hope you've thrown out ALL the nails so that I can sit here without getting hurt again!" Kurimo stated furiously.
"Hey, don't get mad. I didn't drop them on purpose. They're all back in the packet or on the street... I guess."
"Nani? Baka, if I get stung by another nail again, I will personally punish you." Kurimo shouted as he pointed his index finger at José, making Marcel and Sephiroth laugh.
"Oh boys, be quiet! I'm trying to contact master Netero." Edea interjected as she dialled a number on her handy. She arranged a meeting with Netero and the Hunter committee near the bottom of the mountain, whilst Silva speeded the car down the mountain road.
Inside a helicopter, Netero played with his beard. /Luckily the mission was successful, but I've made a big mistake. They have Kurimo with them and discovered that Pegasus is a body part collector. Damn it... I've put that young hunter in great danger. /
The helicopter came into landing just as the Land Rover braked behind in a cloud of dust.
"Looks like the grandfather has arrived," Sephiroth declared.
The hunter group and Silva got out of the car and approached Netero near the helicopter. Two other hunters left the helicopter and took care of Gonulf and Pegasus. Netero quickly walked towards them with a worried look.
"Kurimo, are you alright? I'm so sorry for placing you in such danger, but I didn't know that Pegasus was a body part collector at that time."
Sephiroth and José stood with a baffled look on their face, not understanding anything.
"I´m ok, Netero-san. It wasn't your fault," Kurimo answered.
"Huh? What's going on?" José glanced from one to another. Sephiroth shrugged his shoulders.
Edea cleared her throat. "I've some questions, master Netero!"
Netero turned towards Edea. "Well Edea, let's have a discussion then."
"Boys, I've to clarify something with master Netero. Afterwards we can talk."
Silva approached them. "Well, I'm going to go now, make sure that the money is transferred to my account. Maybe we'll see each other again some day, goodbye!"
"Good bye, Silva-san! Thanks for your help!" Marcel shouted after him. Silva didn't turn around, but waved while walking away.
Marcel, José and Kurimo sat down on the ground to eat some sandwiches, while Edea and Netero talked beside the helicopter. Sephiroth leaned onto the Land Rover as he watched the light blonde intensively.
Kurimo suddenly felt uncomfortable as he sensed that he was being observed from behind.
He quickly turned around and his ocean-blue eyes met sparkling emerald ones. /What is this? His look is so cold...... he's emitting a dark aura... /
"What are you staring at?" Kurimo asked challengingly.
Sephiroth showed no emotion. "What did the grandfather mean with 'I'm sorry to have placed you in danger, but at that time I didn't know that he's a body part collector'?"
José, who had been playing Rock-Paper-Scissors with Marcel, looked up curiously. Marcel gave Sephiroth a warning glance, but he ignored it.
"Have you lost your voice? I asked you something." Sephiroth shouted as he took one step towards Kurimo.
"It's not my duty to tell you," The blonde replied calmly.
"Nani?" Sephiroth narrowed his eyes.
José got up and stepped between the two. "Seph, just leave him alone. If he doesn't want to speak about it, then don't force him."
"Marcel knows, Edea and Netero knows, so why can't we know as well?" Sephiroth shouted angrily.
"Edea will explain it when she has finished her discussion." Marcel stated calmly.
Few minutes later, Sephiroth and José knew everything about Pegasus secretly being a body part collector, Kurimo being a Kuruta and Marcel saving him.
José glanced at Marcel. "It's typical for you to play hero, ne?"
"I don't get what you mean, I just have to fulfil my duty as a hunter!"
Netero laughed and approached José's side. "Your father phoned me. He needs your help to eat many peaches in your homeland."
"Huh?"
"Baka! That means you've got some free days." Marcel giggled.
In the meantime, Sephiroth turned to face Kurimo. "Sorry, I sometimes change to a dark person without noticing it. I didn't mean to threaten you."
"Forget it!" Kurimo smiled at him.
/Nice boy. / "Well, your fighting style is really noticeable. I assume your clan members must be very skilled fighters."
"Hai, but we aren't aggressive."
José, Marcel, Edea and Netero reached the two.
"Ciao Seph, we won't be seeing each other for the next three months."
"Grr, you lucky asshole. Why do you get vacation?"
"Because my father needs help."
"With what?" Sephiroth crossed his arms over his chest.
"Peach eating!" José giggled. Sephiroth looks slightly angered, causing everybody to laugh.
"Well, what's happening with us then?" Sephiroth asked, now serious again.
"We have another problem with a scientist who has escaped from the madhouse. I would like it for Edea and you to take care of this mission."
"No problem!" Sephiroth saluted.
Edea, José and Sephiroth got into the Land Rover and headed back to the town after they had said their goodbyes to Marcel and Kurimo.
"Netero-san, why haven't you included me in the mission?" Marcel asked.
"Because you need to rest."
/That's maybe true, but where though? My parents are on an around-the-world trip right now.../ Marcel was deep in thought as Kurimo lightly tugged at his sleeve.
"Hmm?"
"If you don't mind, you can come with me. I owe you so much since you saved my life. I can show you my gratitude when you're the guest of my family, and the Rukuso Region is ideal for taking rests."
"That would be great! But wait, isn't it dangerous for your tribe to have a stranger find out where your hidden village is?"
"You're not a stranger, you're a trusted friend. My family will surely like you and I trust you that you wouldn't tell anyone the location of our peaceful living grounds." Kurimo smiled.
"Ok then, I will gladly take your invitation."
Netero grinned. "Well then, I shall fly you two to the harbour. Good vacation, Marcel."
"Arigatou, Netero-san. I'll phone you when we arrive." Marcel nodded as he and Kurimo entered the helicopter and headed off towards the harbour.
End of chapter 06.