I apologize for the long wait and the short chapter, but i had some MAJOR writer's block. You'll be happy to know, though, that I did take some of your advice ^^ so I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review!
(Hikaru's POV)
"You're an interesting guy, I'm Suzu!"
"I'm Yuki."
I don't know why, but I felt that these two were suspicious the moment Teito found them in the back of the ship. Teito introduced them to everyone and I noticed Frau giving me a glance.
"What's bothering you, brat?"
"Nothing."
"Woah! You talk with zaiphon?"
I nodded and pulled down on the scarf to reveal the scars and they quickly got bored, going to see what Capella was doing. I just stuck with Frau, smiling when Capella used zaiphon for the first time. Soon enough, we hopped on a hawkzile and were plummeting towards the ground. With Suzu and Yuki, we were over the weight limit and I was smart enough to pull my wings out and fly instead of falling into the women's bath.
We stayed at a nearby hotel and showered before heading to bed. I fell asleep almost immediately, still tired from the fight with Ayanami's puppet a while ago, and woke up earlier than I would have. Teito and the others were still sleeping, so I decided a little walk would do me some good now that my leg is almost completely healed.
Rok was being a lazy bum as always, sleeping silently on my shoulder as I strolled through the still quiet town. It was very lightly snowing, but I wasn't bothered as I climbed up a set of stairs and leaned against the ledge to overlook the town. It was interesting to watch the sun rise and the people just barely beginning to prepare for the new day.
"Oh, I didn't know someone was already here."
I turned around to see a white haired girl coming towards me with a dark colored fyulong dragon sitting on her shoulder. I stood straight and gestured to the ledge as an invitation to stay since I wouldn't want to intrude and I should probably get back soon.
"Oh no! It's okay. You don't need to leave!"
She grabbed my arm, and I flinched when she accidentally brushed up the sleeve and saw what Ayanami had done to it. I pulled my arm away and stepped back, waiting for the insults but she did something unexpected. She ran up and hugged me.
"I'm so sorry!"
I was shocked that some stranger would treat me like this and I slowly peeled her off me. She looked surprised, so I smiled slightly to keep her from full on crying on me.
"It's okay. It doesn't hurt anymore or anything."
Her eyes widened at my zaiphon and I showed her the scars. She seemed trustworthy enough and I couldn't help but be more open to her. She looked sad, but when Rok decided to make his presence known, she scooped him up and cuddled him.
"How cute! What's your name?"
"His name is Rok. He used to be a crow that I was nursing back to health and he died protecting me…This is his reincarnation."
"Wow! Well, this is-"
"What are you doing, giving out our names? Doesn't he know anything? You should name yourself before we go out giving away our names!"
"I-I'm sorry! My name is Hikaru Ryutan. It-It's nice to meet you."
I had bowed lowly and that seemed to please the dragon that the girl was scolding to frightening me.
"Um, I should probably go actually. My friend will worry about me if I'm out for to long."
"Oh…okay then. Maybe we'll see each other again sometime! Be careful, Hikaru!"
She smiled brightly and I waved back in return before heading out again. I passed through the market place and continued until I noticed that I was lost.
It really wasn't a very good idea to go walking when I don't know this town at all, was it?
I somehow ended up in a…less populated area and there was absolutely no one around, but I could feel something. It felt dark, shadowy. It also was right behind me. I swung my arm backwards, zaiphon loaded, but my arm was grabbed and I was pinned to the ground with a sword cutting into my neck slightly.
"Now, now, Hikaru-kun~ Aya-tan would like it if I broke you before he gets a chance!"
Almost instantly, blackness surrounded me as a wars cloaked my body and knocked me out. Rok, Teito, please be safe.
(Normal POV)
An explosion sounded from just outside the city as three figures ran from the sight. When they finally reached somewhere safe, the only girl of the group went around healing everyone while they had a conversation. When Teito, Capella, and Frau were ready to leave, Teito noticed someone missing.
"Hey, Frau? Where's Hikaru?"
"I actually thought he'd be with you. He wasn't sleepin' in his bed when we got up."
The girl seemed to realize something at that moment.
"Wait, did you say Hikaru?" The others looked at her in shock. "I met a young boy named Hikaru just before I met you."
She pointed at Teito who hurriedly began describing him.
"Was he mute? With red and white hair?"
"Yeah…but he left just before you came and I think he might have gotten lost because he headed in the opposite direction you came from."
"Frau! We have to go look for him! He might be in trouble!"
Frau nodded and was jut about to jump on the hawkzile when something small, black, and furry tackled his face. Falling into the snow, Frau somehow managed the rip Rok off his face, holding the struggling fur ball by the scruff of its neck. Teito grabbed Rok from Frau's clutches and began half shouting.
"Rok! Where's Hikaru?"
"Crau!"
Teito face palmed, remembering that he couldn't understand Rok just as the fyulong dragon on the girl's shoulder spoke.
"He says that Hikaru was taken by a sword wielding man who smelled of sweets and blood. Spoke of a man named 'Aya-tan'."
Teito paled as Frau cursed under his breath. Hikaru had been taken by Hyuuga.
(Labrador's POV)
Castor and I had decided to go in search for Frau, Hikaru, and Teito after the pope was attacked by Ayanami. Currently, we were resting just outside the room they were staying in, eavesdropping really. I wasn't really worried about Frau consuming Teito's soul at the moment, because I knew that he had too much pride to do so. What I was more worried about was the fact that I hadn't seen Hikaru this whole time. I handed Castor a glass of hot tea and began pouring myself some, just as Frau decided to let us in.
"You've been sneakily eavesdropping, haven't you?"
"Isn't it freezing here?"
"It's so cold, Frau."
"If you don't want to freeze in the cold, heat up the room yourself!"
Of course, Frau didn't know of our multiple purchases of heat packs that we used to line the inside of our coats. We even brought him one but, as I glanced around the room, I became even more concerned about the lack of Hikaru's presence.
"Geeze, you must've been peaking since I got back to my room."
"No, since you ate Velne's soul. If you had consumed Teito, it would complicate things. Consider our presence here, insurance."
Frau's expression was quite frightening, but I let him know that we believed he could overcome his hunger for Teito's soul. It was then, I decided to make my concerns known.
"Frau? Where is Hikaru?"
The look on his face quickly had me worried as Frau sighed and pulled a hand through his hair.
"We think he might have been caught by the military in the last town. The damned brat went off on his own and the black fluff ball was all that returned."
He gestured to the bed, where Rok lay, apparently just barely registering our presence. He glanced at me and quickly ran over and nuzzled against my hands. I felt the sadness radiating from the small creature and I too, silently felt his pain. Castor spoke up then, with narrowed eyes.
"Do you know who took him?"
"Apparently, it was a sword wielding guy. Didn't get much more information than that, other than the fact that he smells like candy and blood."
The mere mention of the man who attacked Castor not long ago had us both extremely worried at what was happening to Hikaru now. Along with the fact that Ayanami knew what Hikaru held within him and how fragile his mind is at the moment at the moment, it seemed Hikaru would be in more trouble than we thought. I gently pet the grieving Rok and mumbled a prayer.
"Please watch over Hikaru and give him the strength that he needs.