A/N: Before this chapter stars, I want to thank IsshiNene, PastelNight and the Guest who reviewed on this story! Thank you for your comments and I hope you know I greatly appreciate it! 3 3
First week.
Even if it was the first week, they haven't been meeting in the span of it. It must have been the wielders of the ice element was busy. However, Isshiki hoped Nene knew the consequences of not being able to see each other. What if the other leaders have already trained together? It wouldn't be a good thing for both their elements.
Isshiki sighed and ran his hand through his hair, a bit irritated by her action. Did she despise him that much? They made a deal- was she planning to break it that early? He wouldn't want to ask this to her, nor did he want to assume things... but it was hard not to, especially that she never sent in a messenger to give him a sign.
He tapped the table impatiently, but he snapped back to reality once someone busts the door opens with a smile plastered on her face. He lifted up his head and brought in a fake smile to hide all his worries. She was no other than Rindou Koboyashi, a woman who pushed away the role of a leader to him.
"Miss Koboyashi, pleasant to see you." He greeted her politely, but the girl instantly broke the atmosphere the moment she sat on the table.
"Cut out the formalities, Isshiki!" She crossed her legs while having a playful yet sly grin. "You know that I don't ever use those! Refer to me as Rindou! Not Miss Koboyashi!" If there was someone he could trust to at least gain the attention of Nene, it was her. Someone who frequently visited their place to... well, mess around.
"Alright, Rindou." He accepted her request but the gears in his brain began working once he thought of a possible way to see Nene again so they could talk about matters, since she chose not to approach him even once. "Can I ask you a favor?"
"It depends." She answers. "Are you asking me a favor as a junior or as a leader?" His answer would most likely affect whatever happens next a lot. She jumped off the table before placing her hands on her waist. "You gotta answer that, Isshiki! You got 5, 4, 3, 2-"
"As a junior."
No one spoke for a straight minute, but the reaction of Rindou was a positive response. She showed her fangs as she began smiling once again. "Right answer! Anything for my junior! What is it?"
He sighed out of relief because she would help him. "It's about Nene Kinokuni. You're the only person who can get to her from everyone here." He explained and she listened to everything he had to say. "If I sent in Kuga, he could have pissed her off and made the situation worse... Atitarn may have the potential, but he may end up focusing elsewhere once he's actually there. The others may be busy, such as Yukihira."
"So you trust me in this is what I'm getting." She pointed out and he only gave a nod. She rolled her eyes before poking his chest. "You're wrong, Isshiki! Completely wrong!" He was used to Rindou giving him a little scolding here and there. "I may consider myself as someone who's close to Nene, but I gotta say you're wrong!" She stopped poking him, placing her hand away from him. "There's someone who has a better chance than me."
He couldn't process everything she said, but he had to guess what she meant. She repeated the gesture of poking him on the chest... Maybe he did figure it out quickly, but he wanted to reject the idea. "No." He stated bluntly. "I don't. I don't have a chance."
"You really are hopeless." She placed her palm on her forehead before exhaling loudly. "You have to approach her. You're the leader. She went here last time, you have to give the same effort as her. Sheesh. It's not that easy to understand!"
Isshiki would have done that if this event took place years ago. At the moment, he couldn't bring himself to. He literally made a deal and he was able to tell that it may have pissed her off. They even grew more distant as the years pass by- their relationship was rocky. If something, he didn't want to force anything and he wanted to allow her to make all the decisions. "There are reasons why I shouldn't."
"Alright, alright- I know. It's probably teenage drama, but toss that aside!" Rindou began crossing her arms, a bit disappointed on his reasons. "If you really want to make this go well, you have to see her as something different." This was one of the only scenarios where Isshiki was able to see a more confusing side of Rindou.
He began eyeing her, cutting off his usual happy exterior and showing her his much more serious side. "What do you mean by that?" If he were to be completely honest, he could't really tell what she was getting at. But as soon as she began speaking, he decided to stop thinking of anything else so he could give her all his attention.
"You shouldn't see her as what you see her as now. I don't have any idea what's this wall between you too, but don't think about it for now. You have to see her as someone with no about the past hinders you from progressive. So... see her as a partner. Trust me, it helps pairs actually be in sync."
Isshiki understood everything she said, and he knew that she was right. He should place the past away for the moment. Who knows- they could get closer because of it. "Alright. I'll try." He finally accept what she suggested. "But in going there, can you accompany me?"
"Now that's a better favor! Of course I'll go!"
It's been a long while ever since Isshiki has been in the place of the ice element, and he realized that even if he and Rindou already wore thick clothing- the cold air was still able to hit their skin. They read a couple of signs and they knew they could't use their own element while travelling around.
"Usually, when I'm here alone... I just use my element..." Currently the female was curling up to a ball, shivering because of the temperature. "I get in trouble, but at least I don't freeze to death..." Slowly, she stopped responding and he refused to move. Isshiki told her to follow whatever rule the place had, and this was the result.
He didn't think this through, huh? "Please get up, we're still far from the location of Nene..." He knelt down and began shaking the female, worried that she may not be able to come with him. To his disappointment, she didn't move a bunch. Is he really supposed to be doing this alone?
"Go ahead, Isshiki." She spoke up for only that moment. "I'll follow if I stop freezing.'
"Which is... when?"
No response.
Oh god, did his senior just freeze internally?
He took off one of his layers of clothing before placing it around Rindou. Maybe he'd be able to do it. For now, he has to be sure that his fellow fire wielder wouldn't end up freezing to death. "Have this for a moment. You need it more than me."
Rindou opened her eyes a bit and she looked at her own body so she could see the thick cloth wrapping around her. "You really are a fitting leader. I don't regret my choice." She was able to shoot him a smirk, even if her body was still shaking because of the temperature. "Good luck with Nene."
"Thank you. I would really need that." He got up and looked at the road ahead of him. It seemed a blizzard was going on, but he knew he should go through it. Maybe it was harder to go around this place than he originally thought.
In a span some minutes, his mindset changed.
He felt a stinging pain on his side- he believed that it may have just been the saying of "It's so cold it stings." But he was wrong. Once he held his side, he felt liquid pouring. It was his own blood. Luckily, it wasn't too extreme. His eyes scanned around the area and he soon spotted a sharp icicle which matched the color of his now bloody hand.
Follow the rules?
His hand started to have flames surrounding it, his eyes turning dark. If he were questioned, he could answer that it was for self defense. This wasn't something he expected... Did they not know who he is? He was practically their temporary teammate for a moment, and they treated him like this?
He turned his head to reveal the deadly glare he didn't bother hiding. Were they planning to have this sort of betrayal?
"Who are you?"
It was impossible if someone was aiming for you.