Gao woke up in his bed and yawned before stretching his arms. He realised quickly that he woke up much earlier than the usual since the sun was only starting to shine through the window. He noticed that Drum was sleeping on his bed, but the boy paid no mind to it now. He let the red dragon snoring quietly as he checked the manga made by his brother, left on his desk. He sighed as he thought more about the current situation right with Seiichi taking the power over the Buddy Police Force.

It wasn't only that, but he also thought about his friend Tasuku. He didn't really know what to do or what to say to his friend, even after thinking for a while. He had read the manga once again, trying to find a hint of an answer, but he was a little in the same situation as Tasuku. He was kinda lost with everything going on around him, too difficult for a boy of his age to really comprehend it. Drum couldn't really help him either since he wasn't from his world or wasn't completely an adult yet, but still much older than him.

He didn't talk about it to anyone else, even if his parents would have been the best option, but hesitated while Tenbu or Halberd were pretty much in the same situation as Drum. Human politics was pretty much lost to them in practice compare to the theory they had.

He walked in the kitchen and prepared his breakfast. His parents were still asleep right now and he saw the old green dragon sleeping on the couch with a goofy smile telling the boy that he was dreaming about pretty girls. As he started eating, Drum climbed down the stairs and joined him.

"Morning Gao. You're up early today and there is no school," his buddy said.

"Yeah," Gao replied while Drum opened the fridge and picked his favourite meal, pudding.

Tenbu joined them quickly and took them off-guard as he said, "Even the young have trouble sleeping I see."

They heard the door knocking a few times. It continued faster for a while before stopping.

"I'll go open it," Tenbu said.

He flew toward the door and opened it, "What happen to you?" he suddenly yelled.

Gao and Drum joined him and stopped when they saw Jackknife, bleeding to death at their door. The green dragon lightly smiled as he whispered, "Help," before the dragon lost consciousness.

"I'll go get my parents and the first aid kit," Gao said as he climbed the stairs fast while Drum and Tenbu tried to slow the bleeding.

Chapter 102: Searching For Tasuku

Gao finished bandaging the wounds of Jackknife with the help of his parents. Halberd and Hanako were still sleeping as it was still early in the morning. The green dragon bleeding stopped and it couldn't worsen now. Suzumi called the ambulance and tried to convince them to help Jackknife, it wasn't long before she managed to convince them to send an ambulance. They were glad they were quick to respond even if Jackknife was a dragon.

Jackknife opened his eyes and grumbled, "Help."

"Don't worry Jackknife. You're fine with us," Drum said.

"An ambulance is coming for you Jackknife," Suzumi told him.

The green dragon looked around and was about to ask something, but remembered what happened, Tasuku, "I... I need help," he whispered.

"What's going on Jackknife?" Goa asked.

"Tasuku... Tasuku," a tear came from the dragon left eye.

"What happened to him?" Gao asked.

"He's- in danger," Jackknife said. He then forced himself to keep his eyes opened and said, "He's-"

"Where is he?" Gao asked.

Takashi noticed that Gao was getting nervous and put a hand on his shoulder, "Calm down Gao. It won't help to get too nervous right now."

Jackknife stood on his feet and coughed a few times, "I... I followed his stench," he slowly breathed as he tried to go over his exhaustion caused by how little blood he still got in him, "Tasuku's he's... He's in the... Fuji mine," he felt on his knee and continued talking, "Security...Monsters... Tried to kill me. He's-" he looked at Drum, "He's in grave danger! I have too-" he lost his balance and Gao caught him. The green dragon closed his eyes and didn't open them anymore.

"Don't worry. I'll go help him with Drum," Gao said.

"You can't go alone Gao. There's more than one monster," Suzumi said.

"We don't have much time mom," Gao replied at the same time, he thought about the Buddy Police Force. He couldn't count on it and he didn't know if his friends could help him, "Tasuku's in danger and we have to go now."

"Don't worry Suzumi. I'll watch over him," Drum said.

The two parents weren't convinced, especially with Jackknife still gravely wounded.

Gao ran outside the house with his buddy, "Sorry mom!"

"Come back here!" Suzumi ordered, but Gao was already flying away with Drum by his side.

Tenbu was by her side and said, "Don't worry my beauty. I'll make sure they are fine," he winked at her before joining them.

Suzumi and her husband watched them leaving. They didn't think of their reaction right now with Jackknife who needed help right now.

Meanwhile, Kazane was taking a walk with her buddy behind her. They didn't have any purpose during their day off school and were simply enjoying their early morning.

"This is going to be a nice sunny day today Phoenix," she said with a smile.

"It is a beautiful one Kazane," he replied with a smile.

Kazane smiled disappeared for a second when she thought of the news she saw with her family about the Buddy Police Force. She didn't knew Seichi well, but knew it wasn't a good sign. She smiled once again to hide her nervosity and tried focusing on more positive aspect. She didn't want to think of the possibility of losing her buddy.

As they walked toward the park, Kazane noticed Gao and two dragons flying away at fast speed. "Is that Gao and his buddy with another dragon?" She couldn't see them well, but her buddy did with his superior vision.

"They looked worried," Phoenix commented. He looked more carefully. "That's what I can see."

"Maybe someone's in trouble," Kazane said.

"They are going toward that mountain," Phoenix said.

They watched them flying away.

Gao and the two dragons flew toward the Fuji mountain. Gao buddy skill was activated and the boy was ready to use a spellcard at any time.

Tasuku needs my help. I have to save him, he thought. He tried to just focus on that, but something was still at the back of his mind, I'll be in trouble for sure. What if Seiichi learn of this and- No. I have to think about Tasuku and forget about him.

Tenbu noticed that the boy had some trouble focusing on the task. He flew closer and said, "Gao. Whatever is in your mind, you cannot let it affect you, especially with the life of your friend in danger. Remember that Jackknife has been gravely wounded. There must be one of more enemies at Fuji mine," as long as it's not a part of Azi Dahaka, I can help you two. It surely isn't a part of his plan. He hid that thought perfectly well on his straight face.

Drum looked at the mountain and searched for the entrance as they started to get closer. Tenbu did the same time. Drum suddenly pointed toward a cavern, "I found it!"

Gao and Tenbu looked where the red dragon was pointing and they saw the entrance of the mine.

"Good job Drum. Now, we need to be careful," Gao said as he looked around.

"There must be an enemy nearby," Tenbu said. He suddenly felt a light pain in his chest, telling him that there was something linked to Azi Dahaka plan. He knew he couldn't help them directly, but saw he could do something at the last second, "Look out!"

The green dragon pushed them away from him and was hit by many icicles. Tenbu painfully coughed as blood lightly came out of his wounds.

"Are you okay?" Gao asked.

"Careful," Tenbu grunted as he maintained himself in the air. He saw Drum still looking at him, "Nothing bad Drum. Just search for the enemy."

Drum nodded and looked around. He then saw something and pointed at it, "There! It's... The Reaper!"

The Reaper flew in front of them and stood in their way with a scythe made of ice. He watched the dragons and the boy and was clearly ready to attack them. His face was hidden behind the mask and said, "Gao. What are you doing here? No one invited you. I order you to leave this place now or I won't hesitate to fight you."

Gao frowned and replied, "Listen Reaper. We came here because Tasuku disappeared and his buddy told us that he was here."

"Gao. This guy is surely behind this. He's standing in our way and attacked Tenbu when he knew you were here," Drum warned his partner as he turned into his real form and readied his drill.

"I'm warning you Gao. You should turn back or you'll have to face me and my buddy. I will not go easy on you and your buddy. You will end up in a worst state than Tenbu is."

Tenbu was still bleeding, but he looked at the Reaper and asked, "Why are you preventing us from reaching Tasuku?" he then coughed some blood out of his mouth.

"Careful Tenbu," Drum warned.

"I'm not going to turn away Reaper. I'll fight you if that means that I'll save Tasuku," he drew out his spellcard and turned it into a sword.

They gazed at each other's when they saw the buddy of Reaper appearing.

Drum gasped when he recognised him first, "Joker!"

"What are you doing here? You're Kiri's buddy!" Gao furiously yelled at the ice monster.

Drum was sure of The Reaper identity now, but everyone looked at Gao and wondered how he didn't realise that The Reaper was Kiri.

When will he realised that there is someone else behind the mask? Especially when it's a little obvious now, the red dragon sighed, glad that he was by Gao's side now, "Gao. The Reaper can only be Kiri. Joker would never leave his side and you know him better than that," he told him.

Gao nervously looked at the Reaper, "I cannot believe that Kiri would have hurt Tasuku and Jackknife... But now that you mention it, Joker would never leave Kiri side."

Joker looked at them as if he was trying to quietly tell them something.

Gao asked, "Are you really Kiri?"

"I am not Kiri anymore."

That confirmed who he was and Gao didn't like it.

"Gao. We have to pass through them if we want to save Tasuku," Drum said as he readied his drill.

Gao looked toward the ground, not wanting to look at The Reaper eyes now that he knew it was his friend. It was then that he noticed coming toward them. He took out a card and yelled, "Blue Dragon Shield!"

A shield appeared and stopped a blast from hitting Drum.

"I can also have my fun. Right Drum?" a voice chuckled as it joined them in the air.

"Despair!" Drum grunted as he faced the darkness dragon who murdered his mother.

Despair flew in front of them and grinned, "It is time to finish the fun I started. Tenbu won't save your tail this time."

The Reaper turned toward him and said, "It is forbidden to kill Drum and Gao. This is an order. Since they are here, let's capture them alive."

"I know. I'll try my best not to cause an accident," Despair replied with a grin.

Drum heard that well and wondered why they were ordered to leave them alive. Drum frowned as he gazed at the Darkness Dragon, wanting to kill him so much as his blood boiled under his scales. He also knew that he had to fight two monsters and probably two humans by himself and his buddy. Things didn't look good and even in his fury, the red dragon could see that too well.

AC: This is the end of chapter 102.