Brought Together Chapter 29:
The First Mission
A few days after Ichigo met Emi, Kuro-sama called the expeditionary force together. Once everyone was there, Kuro-sama said, "One of the males we sent out to cut wood hasn't come back, and no one knows where he is. I want you all to search the forest thoroughly, and report back if you find anything."
"Who was it that went missing?" asked Choji.
"It was Kawaguchi Mamoru," Kuro-sama replied. "Now, go!"
"Wait," Kisshu said. "Ichigo and I have to warn Mikani Hana that we're going, or her sister Emi might try to follow Ichigo."
"I'll send someone to warn Hana," Kuro-sama said. "You need to go find Mamoru."
Kisshu and Ichigo bowed, as did the rest of the force, and teleported to the edge of the forest. Once everyone was there, Kisshu, who was the leader, said, "Okay, let's split up into groups of three. There's twelve of us, so that's four groups. The first group will be Takashi, Shoji, and Shiro. The second group will be Shinji, Takoi, and Konimori. The third group will be Shunko, Arashi, and Tano. And the fourth group will be me, Choji, and Ichigo. Let's move out!"
"Hai!" the others said, and all teleported off to different parts of the forest. Kisshu, Ichigo, and Choji started near the edge of the forest, and started walking. They continued for about an hour, before taking a break near a stream, and getting some water. Suddenly, Takashi, the leader of the first group teleported in and said, "We found Mamoru. But he's dead!"
"WHAT!?" Kisshu shouted. "Take us there, now!" Takashi nodded, and showed them the way. When they reached the place Takashi was talking about, they saw a gruesome sight. There was blood pooled around a very mangled body, and leading away from the body were strange tracks. The tracks were of some animal, with only three large claw marks, and a diamond-shaped indent behind them. "I've never seen an animal track like this," Kisshu said.
"This isn't a good sign," Shoji said. "If there are dangerous wild animals out here, we might have a harder time getting what we need."
"We should bring the other groups here," Kisshu said. "Ichigo, Choji, and I will stay here so that you can find us easier."
"Got it," Takashi said seriously, and teleported off, followed by Shoji and Shiro.
"I guess we should just wait until they get back," Kisshu said. "Keep your guard up, both of you."
Ichigo and Choji nodded.
Fifteen minutes later, the other groups still weren't back. Suddenly, Kisshu, Ichigo and Choji heard a loud, high-pitched scream.
They looked at each other, worried. The scream came again, and this time, Ichigo cried, "Oh no, it's Emi!"
Kisshu and Choji looked at her in horror. Then Kisshu said, "Choji, stay here and tell the others what happened, Ichigo and I will go save Emi."
"Hai!" Choji said.
Ichigo and Kisshu teleported to the sound, and what they saw was scary. A monstrous animal that looked kind of like a type of saber-toothed cat was standing in front of Emi, ready to strike. Just before the cat-thing brought its claws down, Ichigo teleported and grabbed Emi, then teleported back to where she had been standing, while Kisshu got out his Dragon Swords and flew at the cat-thing.
Ichigo tried to get her sword out, but Emi was clinging too tightly to her, and she couldn't move around enough to get the sword, much less attack. "Emi, you have to let go now, I need to help Kisshu," Ichigo said softly.
"Will you come back?" Emi asked.
"I'll always come back," Ichigo said. "Now, go hide nearby, and the others should be here soon."
"K," Emi said, and Ichigo set her down. Then Ichigo took out her sword, and ran toward the cat-thing.
Suddenly the cat spoke! "You are defiling my forest!" it growled.
Kisshu was so shocked, he stopped dead. The cat saw this as a chance, and quickly lashed out with one paw, slicing Kisshu's chest and slamming him into a tree. Kisshu fell to the ground, unconscious and bleeding.
Before the cat could strike again, Ichigo shouted, "Inazuma Senko!" She blasted the cat away from Kisshu, and while it was still recovering, she screamed telepathically, CHOJI! GET THE OTHERS HERE, QUICK! Choji replied, We're on our way, hang tough.
The cat was picking itself up as Ichigo cut the connection. Ichigo watched the cat's movements, then lunged forward just as the cat tried to swipe a paw at her. She ducked under the swipe, and sliced the cat's paw clean off. The cat howled, and fell, shaking the ground. Ichigo flew up above it, and shouted, "INAZUMA SENKO!" She put a lot of power behind the attack, and the cat was incinerated, just as the rest of the expeditionary force burst into the clearing.
Choji was in the lead, and he held up a hand to halt the others as Ichigo landed and ran to Kisshu. "This is really bad," she told the others. "I need a power transfer from one of you, or Kisshu might not make it."
Choji came over and took the hand Ichigo offered to him, pouring his strength into her. Ichigo nodded in thanks, and got to work healing Kisshu's injury. Twenty minutes later, Ichigo took a deep breath and said, "Okay, the wound is healed, but he lost a lot of blood, and I'm not sure when he'll wake up, either. Takashi, Choji, take him back to our house and tell whoever's there that I'll be back soon. Shinji, Shiro, go get Mamoru's body, and take it back for a proper burial. The rest of you, go report what's happened to Kuro-sama."
"Ichigo, what about you?" Choji asked.
"I have to take Emi home. Where is she?" Ichigo asked.
"I'm here," Emi said, coming out from behind a tree and walking to Ichigo. Ichigo picked her up as the others teleported off.
"Emi, that was a very dangerous thing to do," Ichigo said. "When I'm on a mission, that's one time you can't follow me, okay? I don't want you to get hurt, and I'm sure Hana's worried sick by now."
"I'm sorry," Emi said. "I promise not to follow you on missions anymore. Can I still follow you around the village?"
"As long as you tell Hana where you're going, and listen if she says no," Ichigo said. "Now, let's get you home." Ichigo teleported to Hana and Emi's house and knocked on the door. It was opened by the girls' mother, Yume. "Oh, thank goodness, you found Emi," Yume said with relief. "Where was she? I thought you were on a mission."
"I was," Ichigo said. "I think Emi tried to follow me, because we heard her screaming, and saved her from being eaten by this giant cat thing."
Yume's hand flew to her mouth, and she said, "Emi tried to follow you? I'm so sorry!"
"Well, at least we got rid of the thing that tried to eat her, so hopefully there won't be any more problems with it," Ichigo said. "I had a little chat with Emi, and she won't follow me on missions anymore- right Emi?"
"Right!" Emi said.
"I have to go now, Kisshu's in pretty bad shape," Ichigo said. "Please tell Hana I said hello."
"Of course," Yume said. "I can't thank you enough for saving Emi."
"Just please try to have Hana or someone keep a closer eye on her, that's all the thanks I need," Ichigo said.
"I will," Yume said. Ichigo nodded and teleported home.
