A/N: TFW when I started posting this and there were a lot of people getting interested in this work, I'm scared. Seriously hope it's not because people hate Keiwa and want him to suffer T_T I just want more Jitt and Kanato scenes being villainous lol They're so much underused.

"We'll save him for sure. Definitely... and without sacrificing Big Sis."

Michinaga immediately grabbed Ace's arm to make the other person look at him. "Are you sure? It's that guy's life we're gonna be gambling right now!"

"I'm sure!" Ace spoke up again, his confident demeanour slightly faltered. "We just had to believe in Tycoon that he'll be able to keep strong."

Ace let a long sigh as he turned around to look at Tsumuri.

"As much as those guys did still need to recover Big Sis for their own purpose... those people couldn't afford to kill Tycoon as well."

xxx

Kekera knelt in front of their 'hostage' before reaching out towards his 'fave'.

"What are you doing here... ending up in this state?" He let out a long sigh. "If only you just do as I told you, you wouldn't be treated so harshly like this."

Kekera ran his hand over Keiwa's face, tracing his fingers over the cloth gag that was pressing tightly against the young man's cheeks... while keeping Keiwa's mouth half-open. He could see that the gag was tied too tightly on Keiwa, judging from the bruising on the latter's cheeks.

.

"Heh... just as I was starting to like your fave, yours ended up no better than mine..."

Kekera scoffed at the 'young' girl who just walked to his side. "Don't lump my fave the same as your fave, Beroba. After all, it's not like you put as much effort into your fave as I did. Your Buffa was nothing compared to my Tycoon."

Beroba laughed at him. "Regardless, you also ended up unable to keep your Tycoon in check!"

Kekera hissed at her. "My Tycoon was still able to take down Geats on his own. Your Buffa only managed to do so using underhanded means."

Beroba let out an angry huff as she had nothing else to counter the argument.

Another person let out a chuckle to make his presence known. Kekera and Beroba turned around to look at the person as Sumida Kanato walked out from the darkness.

"I really don't get all the fuss the two of you were on about." The youth walked up towards the corner where Tycoon's things were put aside before picking up the Bujin Sword buckle. "As long as I have this, then even I can defeat Geats in battle. Just like Tycoon."

Beroba laughed at the youth. "Sure, see if you can do that... boy."

Kekera sneered at Kanato. "Bujin Sword was created solely for Tycoon to use. You think that someone like you could use that buckle?"

Kanato just scoffed at the two supporters. "It's still just another overpowered raise buckle, right? Can't be that hard for me to use—" exclaimed Kanato as he tried to take the buckle apart—yet for some reason he couldn't do it. It was as if the buckles refused to be used by him.

"Aah, dammit!", cried Kanato again before leaving, taking the buckle with him.

xxx

"So what's the plan?"

Michinaga glanced up towards everyone, as all of them were gathered together in discussion.

Ace shrugged. "Well, we had until tomorrow to find where they kept Tycoon confined. And there's only two possible locations where that could be—"

Win let out a soft chuckle. "So we split up and search both places at the same time, huh? I'm in."

"Then, Ace-sama... what about me?"

Ace immediately turned his attention towards Tsumuri, scowling. "What do you mean? Big Sis, you'll be staying here where it's safe!"

"—but!"

"Tycoon risked his own life to keep you away from them, there's no way I'm endangering you!"

Win placed a hand on Tsumuri's shoulder before nodding his head to her. "He's right, yanno. After all, it's you that those people had wanted—" said the man as Tsumuri looked away miserably.