Chapter 6: Mizuki and Takeshi's Past

In front of the gap

"In other words, Edel Garden and Chaos Choir are one." Orfus says and everyone in the area are shock at her statement.

Orfus stands up and stares at Ren before moving her head at Cou.

"We shall now shoot the arrow that will be the last blow… The one we are shooting at is an enemy that has no regards of justice… Who retaliates against our Paradise, ruled by our Queen." Orfus chants as arrows appear and points at Cou. "You shall have this arrow pierced through you, as you perish and leave this world."

Suddenly, a gust of wind blows through, knocking the arrows away and Orfus is blown away from Cou, Ren, Takeshi, and Mizuki. After that, Cisqua and Rowen already Reacted with Kuea run in front of the four.

"I won't let you get your hands on Cou-san." Cisqua says and both of them hears something coming towards them and turn their heads to see Jilltail and Aljenna, now being surrounded.

Just then, an energy blast hits on the canyon catching everyone in the area to look up. Cisqua then sees an Arc Aile airship.

"Arc Aile. They've arrived sooner than expected." Jilltail says.

"Awesome this is exciting!" Aljenna exclaims.

Orphus turns around to see the airship.

"Mizuki." Takeshi calls and she nods her head before using her ability to heal Cou's injury.

"That's the Schnavail reconnaissance team." Rowen says.

"What are they doing here?" Cisqua questions.

"Jilltail! Aljenna!" Orfus calls. "We'll retreat for now. We must return to Edel Garden and regroup." Both of them nod their head and Orfus opens her book.

"Given out mutual feeling that the world is bitter…" The three chants as both Jilltail and Aljenna walk towards Orfus and their bodies start to shine. "Deplorable place to live… The three of us shall combine our souls into one." Jilltail and Aljenna turn into a cannon as one side is blue and the other is pink. "We shall take in hand large swords reflecting our rough fighting spirit." Cisqua and Rowen are surprised at them while Mizuki is concentrating on Cou's injury. Then Orfus points the cannon at the airship and electricity start to build up. "Those not obey us shall have a good taste of its strong, brave power as it cuts through them, severs them to pieces, and destroy them."

Orfus fires a beam at the airship, damaging it and flies away. Then Orfus turns her head towards the group.

"We shall eventually engage in a decisive battle with you. At that time, you shall hand over Reverie Metherlence-sama to us." Orfus says and shortly looks at Mizuki who is still healing Cou's injury before taking off.

Kuea dissolves the React and stands next to Rowen. They then hear Ren voice as she faints and Takeshi grabs her before she collapses to the ground.

"Ren-san!" Cisqua calls out.

"Ren-chan!" Rowen calls out.

"Come on! Ren-san! Ren-san!"

"Don't worry. Ren just fainted." Takeshi says and passes Ren to Kuea. "How's Cou doing, Mizuki?"

"Right now Cou is unconscious, but his injury is completely healed." Mizuki says.

"But I think he should be seen by a doctor just in case." Rowen says. "What do you suggest, Senpai?"

Cisqua looks at Ren and back to Cou.

"The best thing right now is to asks for Schnavail's assistant." Cisqua says.

"Schnavail's?" Kuea asks.

"But Senpai…" Rowen trails off.

"I realize the dangers of asking for Schnavail's assistance… However, right now our top priority is to get medical attention for Cou-san and Ren-san. We must do everything in our power to protect these two." Cisqua says.

"Yes." Rowen agrees.

"Right." Kuea also agrees.

Mizuki stands up before she staggers and Takeshi grabs her by the arm.

"Are you okay?" Takeshi asks.

"Yeah. It's my first time that I had to heal that wound." Mizuki confesses.

"If you get tired, I could always carry you."

"I know."

~A little later~

Rowen is driving the trailer as Ren and Kuea looks at Cou who is lying on the bed and Mizuki is leaning on Takeshi's shoulder as Takeshi has his hand on her shoulder. One reaching to the crashed airship, the group gets off the trailer with Rowen carrying Cou on his back and both Kuea and Takeshi drags Ren and Mizuki to the entrance.

"Who the hell are you?!" A soldier questions while pointing his gun at them. "You'll have to show me some identification!"

Cisqua takes out her Id to the man.

"I report to General Falk, I'm Protector Officer Cisqua! I request to see the commander in charge immediately concerning a top-secret matter!"

The group enters the ship as Cisqua leads them to the commander's room. Once reaching to the room, Cisqua turns around and nods her head and both Rowen and Kuea follows her action. Cisqua turns back around and breaths deeply before touching the pad on the door, causing it to open.

"Excuse me!" Cisqua announces and enters the room.

"Hi Cisqua-chan." A man's voice greets Cisqua looks up and sees a man sitting on a bed with a cast covering his left leg as a young woman standing next to him.

The man has brown hair and has narrowed eyes as he wears a medical shirt with bandages on his chest showing. The young woman has pink long wavy hair with pink eyes as her attire is all green with a green bow on the back of her head.

"Have you come to wish for my quick recovery again?" He asks.

Kuea onee-sama!" The woman calls.

"Sunweld-senpai?" Cisqua calls.

"S-Sunweld-senpai!" Rowen exclaims.

"Challo!" Kuea calls.

Cisqua then tells the man, Sunweld, what has happened up till now.

"I see. I understand the situation well now." Sunweld says and turns to the woman, Challo. "Challo, will you show everyone to the infirmary?"

"Yes, of course." Challo says and starts to lead them to the infirmary. "Please come with me."

Rowen, Kuea, and Takeshi begin to follow before Rowen stops seeing that Cisqua is not following them.

"Senpai? Aren't you coming?" Rowen asks.

"Go ahead without me. I have something important to talk to Sunweld about." Cisqua says.

Both Rowen and Kuea nod their head as Challo turns around and Sunweld nods his head. Challo then leads them and Takeshi to the infirmary. Once Challo shows the room, Rowen and Kuea put Cou and Ren on separate beds as Takeshi goes to a separate room and puts Mizuki on the bed.

"It's already been three months since we met each other." Takeshi mutters and he hears Mizuki giggles.

"You're right." Mizuki says and turns her head towards him. "Especially that time when I met your parents."

"Don't remind me." Takeshi groans.

"That's right. Three months ago, Mizuki net my parents." Takeshi thought.

~Three months ago~

Mizuki and Takeshi enters a town as Mizuki sees the large amount of people.

"Wow…" Mizuki says.

"What? Is this your first time being in the town?" Takeshi asks.

"Yeah. Since I have to run away from hunters."

"Ah, sorry. I reminded you the bad memories."

"No, it's fine. As long as I'm with you." Mizuki says as she smiles at him causing Takeshi to blush.

"A-anyway, we should find an inn to stay." He stutters and they hear a man's voice beside them.

"Takeshi-sama…?" He calls and both Takeshi and Mizuki looks at the man. "It is you!"

"Aren't you… Geh!" Takeshi exclaims as his face goes pale.

"Takeshi-sama!"

"Sabastian! Now I remember!"

Mizuki looks at Takeshi and the man, Sabastian in a confusing manner.

"Do you know each other?" She asks.

"Well… you can say that…" Takeshi replies.

"Master and Madam were worried about you after you left us." Sabastian tells Takeshi.

"I won't go back to those people! All they want is to keep me inside that house like a cage! That's why I ran away!" Takeshi retort and turns around. "Let's go, Mizuki." He says before walking away.

"O-okay." She replies and follows him.

"Wait one moment!" A woman's voice demands causing both of them to stop and Takeshi to widen his eyes. "I was wondering what the noise is about and look who I found." Takeshi turns around and sees a noble woman standing behind Sabastian. "It has been a long time, Takeshi."

"Mother…" Takeshi calls.

"Where have you been this whole time?" The woman questions.

"It's none of your business." Takeshi says.

"Oh?" She says and looks at Mizuki. "Does it have to do with that girl beside you?"

"Mizuki has nothing to do with us!"

"Well, be as it may, we will have a long talk with your father when we get back."

"I won't go back." Takeshi says.

"Is that so. Then you don't care what happens to that girl?"

Takeshi widens his eyes and looks at Mizuki who looks frightened.

"…All right. But don't lay a hand on Mizuki." He says.

"Very well. Shall we go, Sabastian." The woman says as she and Sabastian walks away and Mizuki looks at Takeshi.

"Takeshi?" She calls.

"It's all right. Leave it to me."

They then follow Sabastian and Takeshi's mother as they see a large mansion. When they enter the mansion, Mizuki sees maids line up in two lines making a pathway in front of them.

"Welcome back, Madam, young master." The maids say as they walk through the pathway and Mizuki looks at both lines.

After they enter the mansion, they see a man walking down the stairs as Takeshi glares at the man.

"Takeshi, you're finally came back." The man says.

"Yeah…" Takeshi replies.

"Is that how you respond to your father?" the man questions and Takeshi clutches his fist. "Anyway, let's have a talk. Shall we?"

~Later~

Mizuki, Takeshi, and his parents are sitting in the guest room as Mizuki and Takeshi are facing Takeshi's parents.

"Now then, where have you been from the past year?" Takeshi's father asks.

"I was travelling. Of course, you wouldn't understand being locked up in here." Takeshi replies.

"It is work related. You should know that."

"Of course I do. That you only care doing work instead your very own son."

"That's beside the point, Takeshi."

"Hmph."

"Ahem!" Takeshi's mother clears her throat. "Then what about the girl?" Mizuki looks at her at the question. "Where did you found her?"

"Didn't I tell you earlier. Mizuki has nothing to do with us."

"Of course it has to do with us. As an heir to the family, you have to choose a wife for this family."

"That's why I left this house!" Takeshi outbursts as he slams the table in front of him. "Choosing a wife for the family? That's the same as forcing someone's happiness into this family."

The three family members looks at each other as Mizuki frantically looks at both sides.

"You really our son after all." Takeshi mother says with a smile.

"Huh?"

"Your father said the same thing when I met his parents which is your grandparents. Although, he didn't ran away like you did."

"What do you mean by that?" Mizuki asks.

"Takeshi, I know this is too late but I'm really sorry that I didn't have much time with you." Takeshi's father says.

"Your name is Mizuki-san?" Takeshi's mother asks.

"Y-yes!" Mizuki answers.

"What do you think of my son?"

"What do I think…?"

"Do you like him?"

"E—H!" Mizuki and Takeshi exclaim as a red blush appears on their faces.

"L-l-like is a little…" Mizuki stutters.

"But you really do, yes?" Takeshi's mother asks.

"…Yes…" Mizuki mutters.

"When did you start liking him?"

"After… Takeshi saved me from someone…"

"Saved you? What do you mean by that?"

Before Mizuki could answer, the doors behind them burst open as everyone in the room stands up and a large man enters the room.

"I finally found you!" The large man exclaims.

"What are you doing here?!" Takeshi's father questions.

"Just looking for an Edel Raid that's supposed to be here."

"Edel Raid? What are you talking about?"

"Hehe." The man laughs and look straight at Mizuki and charges towards her. "You're mine!"

"Mizuki!" Takeshi calls out.

"Yeah!" Mizuki replies and begins to chant. "The pure water that flows, let thy purify the corrupted soul and cleanse them from their wrongdoing." A light sphere surrounds Takeshi and a mark appears on his forehead. "Like the blue gem with the water surface, I will engrave my bond with yours."

Once the sphere is gone, Takeshi's parents see a sword in Takeshi's hand pointing at the large man.

"Let's go, Mizuki!" Takeshi tells her as Mizuki's silhouette appears beside him.

"Okay."

"Aquos Wave!" Takeshi exclaims as he slashes at the man, subsequently, creating a wave of water at the man. Consequently, sending the man out the window and into the ground. Mizuki then dissolves the React as she stands beside Takeshi.

"Takeshi." Takeshi's father calls. "What is the meaning of this?"

~Later~

Takeshi explains his parents about how he met Mizuki and how Mizuki is an Edel Raid.

"Is that how it is." Takeshi's father says.

"Yes." Takeshi replies.

"You had a rough time didn't you, Mizuki-san?" Takeshi's mother asks.

"That's… Yes…" Mizuki answers.

"What will you do now, Takeshi?" Takeshi's father asks.

"Mizuki and I are going to continue out travels." Takeshi answers. "There are a lot of things I want to know about this world with my own eyes."

"Is that so. Takeshi, you better take care of yourself and her." Takeshi father says.

"Of course, I will."

"Mizuki-san, take care of my son. He can be reckless at times but he is a kind child." Takeshi mother says.

"Mother, I'm not a child anymore." Takeshi tells her.

"Don't worry. Even if Takeshi gets injured, I will heal him up." Mizuki says.

"Even so. I want to have more time with my future daughter-in-law." Takeshi mother says causing both Mizuki and Takeshi to blush.

"Mother!" Takeshi shouts and both of his parents laugh at their reaction.

~Present~
In the room

"Geez. Mother has to say that in front of us." Takeshi says, embarrassed at the memory.

"It was embarrassing." Mizuki agrees and frowns for the moment as Takeshi notices this.

"What's wrong, Mizuki?" Takeshi asks.

"It just that I have a bad feeling about tomorrow."

"A bad feeling?" He repeats.

"Yeah. A bad feeling that involves Cou and Ren."

"…Mizuki, there's something I want to tell you." Takeshi says. "Earlier, that Orfus woman looked at you before she left."

"Why?"

"It's probably because she saw you using your healing ability on Cou."

"You don't think–"

"I don't know, but that probably the reason all those Edel Raid hunters we met were after you."

"Takeshi…"

"Don't worry, Mizuki. I'll protect you from them." Takeshi assures her and Mizuki nods.

~The next morning~

Rowen and Kuea tell Cou, Ren, Takeshi, and Mizuki Cisqua left for the Arc Aile Headquarters before going into the trailer to go to Edel Garden. As Rowen drives, Cou and Ren are sitting on the roof as they watch the plane that Cisqua is piloting. Then they look at each other and Cou nods his head as Ren follows his action before looking in front of them.

"Okay!" Cou exclaims. "Let's do it!"