Running after Tsukasa, Ayane couldn't help but admire the distance the High School Primate put between himself and her.
Catching her breath, Ayane looked back once more before continuing her run to try and attempt to close the distance between her partner.
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"Senku…You better be right about this. If not, you're going to get chewed out when I see you again!" Ayane thought to herself as she ran.
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Arriving back at camp, late at night…
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Completely exhausted and tired, Ayane walked up towards her treehouse and climbed in. Without any thought, Ayane plopped herself on the bed and fell into a deep slumber, or at least she should have.
In a split moment, she heard the sounds of heavy footsteps and without hesitation, swung her leg only to stop it just before the impact after she saw who it was.
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"Tsukasa." Ayane stated.
"You're back." Tsukasa answered as he looked away. "I guess you were right. Whatever you did during our separation, forced Taiju and Yuzuriha to stay far away from camp." Smiling embarrassingly, Ayane sat down and began to take a deep breath.
"I just gave them a stern lecture, which was all." Ayane replied as she looked down on her bed before looking back up. "I have a couple things I wish to go over with you, is that alright?"
"Of course." Tsukasa answered as he sat down to face the young girl.
"First, it's about the revival fluid." Seeing his attitude change, scared Ayane a bit, but ultimately brushed it off. "I'm not going to tell you it, for security reasons. While our ideals may align with each other, I don't fully trust you, and I presume you feel the same way?"
"I do." Tsukasa replied as he looked at his partner in crime. "So, what do want?"
"Simple, I'll make them for you here." Ayane gave her answer. "But I wish for this location to be hidden by others. If someone where to find out about me being able to create the revival fluid, who knows what they will do. Is that something you can agree to?"
"I can. In fact I'm actually surprised you came up with this even though you had other things to keep track of." Tsukasa responded with a trusting tone. "Very well, I shall leave the creation of the revival fluid to you."
"Now we can begin our first talk." Ayane spoke with a joyous tone, knowing that the days before her were going to be rough.
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As the day came to an end, Tsukasa went out to retrieve all the young he could find, while Ayane slept peacefully for the first time in nearly 3 years. But as her mind began to wander into a deeper sleep, she began to remember a time she thought she had forgotten.
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The sight of a young, thin girl running with all her might, all the while Ayane was right behind her. The girl's hair was as black as her, but the length of it was much shorter. Unlike Ayane's hair which extended past her shoulders, the girl's hair extended to just below her ears.
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"Wait!" Ayane exclaimed as she began to lose breath and speed against the girl before her.
"Come on […]!" The girl before her yelled a name Ayane was unsure of. "You're too slow!" As girl turned around, the Sun's rays blinded Ayane to the point to where she couldn't see the girl's face. "You have to be faster!"
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Waking up from the dream, Ayane felt something rush down her face. Sliding her finger under her eyes, Ayane saw a tear running down her finger.
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"I'm crying?" Shaking her head, Ayane rubbed her eyes clean and began her day.
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Walking behind Kohaku…
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Senku, Taiju and Yuzuriha followed their new companion, whom they saved just a day prior. Astonished at how easily they won her over, Yuzuriha whispered to Senku.
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"Senku…Is it alright to trust her?"
"Ayane left two letters from the American Alphabet on the tree that held her down, they might have some meaning. If anything, she wants us to trust her." Senku answered Yuzuriha's slight suspicions.
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As the continued to follow the blonde before them, they saw a village. The sight of a village confused the trio as they had believed that they were the only one who had woken up from the petrification.
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"Is that…?" Yuzuriha spoke out of breath at the sight before her.
"A village?" Even the usual calm airhead known as Taiju was shocked at what he saw before him.
"No point in standing around here." Senku spoke up after a few more seconds of silence. "Let's go." He ordered as he began to walk towards the village.
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Within the Village…
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A boy with dark black hair was seen pressing his ear against yet another blonde haired girl's back. As he listened to the sounds coming from her chest, he squeezed shut his eyes from the sound that came out.
Lifting his ear from her back, he tapped her back to let the girl know she could stop. Picking up what looked to be a parchment scroll, the boy began to write on it, and just as he rose to his feet a man with blonde hair and a dark brown beard approached him.
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"How is she?" The man asked.
"It seems fine for now. But as far as I can tell it only seems to be getting worse." The boy replied. "The miracle water Kohaku brings has helped her this far, but it can only do so much." Turning his attention towards the outside of the hut he was in, the boy sighed. "I have to find the ancient writing from our ancestors. That might be the only way to save Ruri."
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But the boy's thoughts were interrupted as another villager entered the hut.
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"Sir, Kohaku is back…and she had brought strangers to the village!" But before the mixed hair man could show his anger, the black haired boy extended his arm out.
"I'll deal with them. They could be enemies." The boy answered as he looked over his shoulder.
"Kuro…Alright. Deal with them and send Kohaku in as soon as you see her." Nodding at his father's words, Kuro left without another word.
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Approaching the bridge that allowed passage to the village…
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Kuro walked it without any worry but as he began to approach, he began to see mysterious floating orbs. Curious at to why objects such as that appeared out of nowhere, his answer became obvious as he saw a man with white hair with green tips blowing something out of his hand and seeing the guards of the village poking at them.
As one bubble approached him, he placed his hand out, and noticed it pop as soon as it landed on his palm. Smelling it, he soon realized what it was.
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With Senku enjoying seeing the level of idiocy coming from the two guards, he paid no mind to the man approaching, at least until Taiju spoke up.
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"Hey, Senku! Someone's coming." As Taiju spoke, Senku turned his attention towards Kuro who was standing there admire the view of the bubble.
"Another idiot, huh?" But Senku soon swallowed his words as Kuro spoke.
"These objects…they're made of seashells, aren't they?" Kuro spoke, which shocked the trio. Now laughing at his own idiocy, Senku casually approached Kuro, to which the guards pointed their spears at Senku.
"Ginro, Kinro. Put down your weapons." Kuro ordered to which Kinro spoke back.
"It is the duty of a guard to protect the village and its master." But just as Kinro was about to speak again, Kuro spoke first.
"Your master is Kokuyo. I am merely his eyes and ears. Is that understood? Now stand down." With just a few words, the brothers placed down their spears and allowed Kuro to walk forward. "Forgive me about their attitudes. My name is Kuro, and you three are?"
"Senku." Senku spoke nonchalantly before introducing the others. "The ones behind are my allies: Taiju and Yuzuriha."
"Hello." Yuzuriha answered embarrassingly.
"Yo! I'm Taiju!" Taiju proudly exclaimed.
"Senku, Taiju and Yuzuriha, correct?" Kuro was then seen moving his finger back and forward and he seemed to be thinking of something. "Alright. I've remembered your names." Now turning his attention towards Kohaku, the young girl back down a bit. "Kohaku, I will overlook your attitude this time, but next time I will not be so lenient. Now take the miracle water to Ruri. I've suppressed father's anger for the time being. Best not to make angrier than he already is."
"Yes, sir." Kohaku responded sheepishly as she took the water and looked back. "I'll return shortly." The blonde then ran off without another word. Sighing after seeing her leave, Kuro turned to the brothers.
"Kinro, Ginro. You may leave. I'll keep our guest company." Bowing at his words, the brother left for the other side of the bridge. "Forgive me about what you have just witnessed."
"Oh, no. It's alright. We were the ones who came without warning." Yuzuriha spoke in place of Senku. "But still, you controlled the atmosphere with just a few words."
"Something like this is nothing. But seeing as how you know the knowledge of ancient past, I thought it be best to calm the situation before it got worse." Once again, shocked by his words, the trio stood still. Chuckling at the sight, Kuro began to walk. "Follow me, I have a place you three may stay at. Sadly, I cannot permit you to enter the village as you are strangers to them."
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Without another word, Kuro began to walk.
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"Should we follow him?" Yuzuriha asked as she looked towards Senku.
"Let's go." Senku answered as he began to follow.
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With the group following this new man who introduced himself without fear, Senku continued to keep an eye on him. As Yuzuriha and Taiju looked around, they noticed themselves going farther and farther away from the village. Out of fear, Yuzuriha spoke up.
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"Excuse me, but how far are we planning on going?" Hearing the fear in her voice, Kuro stopped where he stood, and in turn the trio stopped where they were.
"Can you not see the village?" He spoke slightly over his shoulder. Seeing this, Senku smiled.
"Now I see why Kohaku was scared of you." Senku spoke up while still showing a proud smile.
"Oh, I'm surprised. An outsider actually cares about my sister's well-being." Kuro spoke in a condescending tone.
"Senku, what's going on?" Yuzuriha asked as she attached herself to Taiju.
"Simple, he had no plan to treat us as guests." Senku replied as he continued to have his eyes on Kuro, who just stood there, smiling. "Tell me the truth, you were going to kill us, huh?" Now smiling more, Kuro turned around.
"That's right. We must follow the laws placed down by our ancestors. Now I don't know where you came from, but I suggest you return to whatever hole you crawled out…" But Kuro stopped as he heard a voice spoke.
"In dire times, we must rely on each other. No matter where they come from, we must trust those who offer themselves in the name of science." Shocked at the voice, Kuro looked around.
"Where did that voice come from?!" He looked towards Senku.
"Simple, that is called a recording. Isn't that right, Rei?" Senku looked over his shoulder to look at the log that held Rei.
"Correct, sir! I saw your heartrate increasing, so I played the recording from the Doctor." Still confused about the sudden voice speaking up left Kuro speechless. Then after a few seconds of silence from him, the raven haired boy began to chuckle before bursting out in laughter.
"Forget killing you! You guys are far too interesting to kill." Continuing his laughter, Kuro held his stomach from the pain he felt. After laughing for a few more moments, he sighed a breath of relief. "Sorry about that. My original intention was to kill you here and let you rot, but now that's changed." Pointing to the left of him, the trio looked in the direction pointed at them. "Just head on that way and you'll find yourself at a hut owned by Chrome. Win him over and you'll have a solid connection to me." Walking away with those words, Kuro turned back slightly and smiled before disappearing.
"Should we trust him?" Yuzuriha spoke up after she saw Kuro leave.
"What other choice do we have? Afterall, we're in the middle of nowhere." Walking away, the other two followed suits. "By the Rei, what did that recording mean?"
"Oh, it was a motto the Doctor followed his entire life. And seeing as how you three are still alive, I think those words still exist in some manner or another." Rei replied as he began to power down. "I'll be powering down for bit. Goodbye…Senku…."
"Alright, let's go win this Chrome over and start our Kingdom of Science!" As the other two cheered in response, they continued to walk.
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Back at the village…
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Walking back casually, Kohaku ran up toward Kuro in a rush.
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"Where are they?!" Kohaku spoke through her breaths.
"Hmm? Oh the outsiders? They're headed towards Chrome's." Patting Kohaku's shoulder, he walked past her. "No matter where they come from, we must trust those who offer themselves… They repeated the words of my ancestor. That means they are trustworthy. Good luck!" Kuro exclaimed as he put his thumb up before walking away.
"Good luck?" Kohaku repeated before shaking her head and rushed out of the village and ran towards Senku's group."