Chapter 8 – Search Party
On the other side of the tent, Kira could hear Lacus's movements. They were indeed within hearing range! Kira blushed even more than before. Well, to be fair, they had nothing to hide anyway. But did they really have to do it in the tent? What were they thinking last night?
Returning to the hostels, Kira and Lacus grew increasingly concerned when they couldn't find any sign of Cagalli. Despite waking up at around 09:00 and having breakfast, there was still no sight of Cagalli and Athrun. Anxiety gnawed at them, prompting immediate action. They charged their mobile phones and attempted to contact her, but each call and message went unanswered.
"Her phone is out of service," Kira said with a worried tone. Kira's mind raced through possibilities, and Athrun lingered as a potential lead.
"Do you happen to have Athrun's number?" Lacus asked.
They both knew the answer to that question. Despite going to bed together last night, Kira nodded.
For a while, the two of them were at a loss as to what to do next. Eventually, Kira and Lacus decided to seek assistance from the local police. Seeking help from the hostel owner, they made their way to the police station. The station didn't resemble a typical one; this was common in such a small village with almost no crime rate.
Approaching the officer on duty, they explained the situation and expressed their concern for Cagalli's well-being. Unfortunately, the police informed them of the standard procedure, requiring a waiting period of 24 hours before initiating a missing person's report.
"But can you make an exception? It's freezing outside," Kira tried to negotiate.
"It's freezing everywhere! You're in Abisko after all. From what you've mentioned, Cagalli and Athrun are both missing, one man and one woman, I presume?" the officer noted.
The two nodded in agreement.
"Then, didn't it cross your mind that maybe they went out to have some fun?" the police officer emphasised the last word with a smirk.
Are they supposed to laugh at this joke? Kira thought.
"Besides, it's only 11:00. Who knows, maybe they grabbed coffee at one of the cafés. Since you woke up a little later, perhaps they didn't want to disturb you," the officer explained.
The ticking clock only added to Kira and Lacus's frustration. The thought of waiting an entire day while Cagalli's whereabouts remained unknown was unbearable. However, Lacus suggested exploring other avenues in the meantime.
"Perhaps there's a way we can locate Athrun. He's the last person Cagalli was with, and he might have some information," Lacus proposed.
Kira nodded in agreement. "You're right. Sitting here won't solve anything. Let's try to track down Athrun ourselves and see if he knows anything about Cagalli's whereabouts."
Determined, Kira and Lacus left the police station, retracing their steps to the campsite in the hope of finding a clue about Athrun or any information that could lead them to Cagalli.
Approaching the campsite, Lacus voiced her concern. "What if something happened to Cagalli? We need to find her as soon as possible."
Sharing her worries, Kira replied, "We will, Lacus. We just have to keep searching. Athrun might be our best lead at the moment."
"Yes, if I remember correctly, he's staying in that fancy hotel. The good news is, there's only one hotel rated as 5 stars. Should we go there?" Lacus remembered Cagalli's complaint about the only fancy hotel being beyond their budget, forcing them to book hostels.
"Okay, do you remember the name of the place?"
"Abisko Turistation," she recalled. She checked the location of the hotel. It was a half-hour walk from the campsite.
They walked in silence as Kira let Lacus navigate to the hotel. As Kira and Lacus stepped inside, they were greeted by the warm glow of ambient lighting that cast soft shadows against the polished wooden floors. The walls, adorned with tasteful artwork depicting scenic vistas of the surrounding landscape, added a touch of understated luxury to the space. At the heart of the lobby stood a grand reception desk, crafted from rich mahogany wood and adorned with gleaming brass accents. Kira and Lacus approached the reception desk, where a receptionist greeted them with a smile. They politely explained their situation, expressing their concern for Cagalli and the urgency of finding Athrun.
However, the receptionist, adhering to the hotel's policy, hesitated to divulge personal information about their guests. Kira and Lacus found themselves at an impasse, grappling with the frustration of being unable to access the information they needed.
Just as they pondered their next move, a voice from a silver-haired, purple-eyed man pierced the air. "What's going on here?"
They were interrupted by another person, this time, a woman with long brown hair exuding an air of calm authority, who had overheard the commotion and approached the lobby. "Yzak!" She then turned to Kira and Lacus. "Hello! I'm Shiho, and my friend here is Yzak. Apologies for his tone. He's always like this," she said apologetically. "We heard that you were looking for Athrun. We're his friends. What seems to be the matter?" she inquired.
"Perhaps it's best to talk somewhere quiet," Lacus suggested.
"Yzak, Shiho," another woman called out as she approached them in the lobby. With dark grey hair, dark brown eyes, and a freckled complexion, she expressed her concern about Athrun's whereabouts. "Have you seen Athrun? I went to his room to ask if he wanted to have breakfast, but there was no response. He hasn't even returned my call since last night," she explained.
With this new information, it became evident that they should talk to these two people who were looking for Athrun. "Let's go to my room," Yzak instructed.
Curious about the urgency of the situation, she asked, "What is happening?"
"It's best to talk in Yzak's room," Shiho remarked.
They proceeded to Yzak's room. In Yzak's luxurious room, characterized by elegant furnishings and minimalist décor, they were introduced to Meer by Shiho.
"Can you tell us what exactly is going on?" Yzak inquired, his sharp eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.
Lacus, maintaining her composure, explained, "We're looking for Athrun. He was with us last night, along with Cagalli, our friend. I was sure they were together last night, but when we woke up, they were not in the tent nor in the hostel. And we could not contact her. It is almost past lunchtime now. She is never like this," Lacus expressed her worry.
Feeling the weight of concern, Kira placed his arm around Lacus for comfort.
Shiho, with a calm demeanor, joined the conversation, "Cagalli is missing?"
"What has Athrun got to do with this? And who is this Cagalli?" Meer interjected with her questions.
"As Lacus explained, Athrun was with Cagalli before she went missing," Shiho clarified.
"I don't get your point. Are you saying they were together all night?" Meer emphasized, her frustration evident. "That's unbelievable! Why would Athrun spend the night with all of you?"
"I don't like your tone," Kira responded, bristling. "What do you mean, 'all of us'?"
Lacus intervened to defuse the tension.
Yzak contemplated the situation. He hadn't seen Athrun during dinner or breakfast. Assuming Athrun wanted solitude and abstained from drinking, Yzak recalled the message Athrun had sent him, stating he would return home late that night. He exchanged a meaningful look with Shiho, silently communicating his realization.
"Meer, let's hear them out," Shiho suggested calmly.
"To be fair, Meer's question is valid. Why would Athrun choose to spend the night with you instead of us?" Yzak questioned, his disbelief evident.
"We can't answer that," Lacus explained. "You'll have to ask him when you see him. However, the fact remains that he agreed to sleep in the tent with Cagalli to witness the Aurora."
Yzak couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Why would Athrun choose these people over them to spend the night with?
"I don't believe you," Meer interjected, grabbing her phone to dial Athrun's number. However, she couldn't reach him.
"Try again," Yzak encouraged, but the call still wouldn't connect.
"It seems Athrun is missing too," Yzak remarked, taking charge. He called reception to request a key to their friend's room. After a brief discussion, the staff agreed to accompany them to Athrun's room, unlocking the door for them.
"That will do," Yzak said.
The bedroom boasted a luxurious king-sized bed with crisp linens and fluffy pillows, promising a restful night's sleep. A sleek workspace provided a convenient area for guests to catch up on en-suite bathroom was a haven of relaxation, featuring modern fixtures, a spacious bathtub, and a separate rain shower. But
Meer recalled how it looked the last time she was there with another acquaintance. Athrun had left abruptly when they attempted to flirt with him. She broke the silence, "He hasn't returned to his room."
"What makes you say that?" Shiho inquired.
Meer blushed. "Oh, I went to his room yesterday to borrow a charger. He was about to go out," she lied.
They surveyed the room, but found a charger on top of a table. "You mean that charger?" Yzak clarified.
"Oh, then I remembered that I had one, so I didn't end up borrowing it," she explained, trying to divert attention from their inquisitive stares.
Realizing that it made no sense to stay there, they thanked the staff and returned to Yzak's room, settling onto the sofa to discuss the information.
"What time did you last see them?" Yzak inquired.
"It was around 21:00.," Kira replied. "We were sitting around the campfire. Lacus and I turned in early," he added, recalling Cagalli's last words.
Lacus comforted Kira by squeezing his hand. "Don't worry. I'm sure they're safe," she reassured him.
"So where did Athrun sleep? You said there were two tents. You two slept together. Does it mean that Athrun went to the tent with your friend Cagalli?" Meer exclaimed, jealousy evident in her tone.
Yzak shot Meer a disapproving look. "Not now. Let's focus on what's important. It's been quite a while since 21:00. We can't waste any more time. Let's organize a search party," he suggested decisively.
Shiho nodded in agreement, her brown hair cascading gracefully over her shoulders. "So, I think we should head to the campsite. We'll need to dress warmly."
Meer glared at them with contempt.
"If you want to come, get dressed, Meer. Otherwise, please wake up Meyrin and ask her if she wants to join the search," Shiho replied calmly.
Yzak added, "We should also file a missing person report."
At the mention of this, Kira and Lacus exchanged a knowing look.
"We already went to the police. We were told to wait for 24 hours as per protocol. After the 24-hour waiting period, we can file a missing person report and contact their families," Kira suggested, and everyone agreed.
Kira and Lacus waited in the lobby while the others dressed for the winter. When they returned, they were joined by another person, a redhead with hair tied in two ponytails, who introduced herself as Meyrin.
The six-member team headed back to the campsite, but there was still no trace of Athrun and Cagalli.
As Meer and Meyrin surveyed the tent where Cagalli and Athrun had presumably spent the night, disbelief mingled with a tinge of jealousy.
Peering inside, they found the sleeping bags strewn haphazardly. Meyrin's eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the scene, her thoughts swirling with a mixture of confusion and envy. "I can't believe Athrun would sleep here with Cagalli," she muttered, her voice tinged with a hint of jealousy.
Meer's expression darkened, a surge of resentment bubbling beneath the surface. "It's ridiculous," she scoffed, her tone laced with bitterness. "Why would Athrun choose to spend the night in a tent with her?"
Their disbelief morphed into a simmering sense of envy as they continued to search the tent, each moment fueling their resentment further. Despite their best efforts to mask their feelings, the undercurrent of jealousy lingered, casting a shadow over their thoughts as they grappled with the reality of the situation.
Yzak and Shiho brushed aside Meer and Meyrin's incredulous comments, choosing instead to focus on the more pressing matter at hand: organizing a search party to find Cagalli and Athrun.
"Let's not dwell on that now," Yzak interjected firmly, his tone brooking no argument. "We need to concentrate on finding them."
Shiho nodded in agreement, her brow furrowed with concern. "He's right. Our priority is to locate Cagalli and Athrun as quickly as possible."
"We should check the surroundings, nearby cafes, immediate neighbourhoods, and other tourist spots. Let's split into teams to cover more ground quickly," Kira suggested.
"Let's exchange contact information and meet in two hours," Shiho proposed. Lacus nodded and they briefly exchanged contact.
As the group divided into teams, each assigned a specific area to search, the sense of worry grew.
A/N: I have introduced Mwu and Murrue in the last chapter, and introduced Yzak, Shiho, Meyrin and Meer in this chapter. Other characters will appear in the later chapter as well. As I said, I have the chapters planned out til Chapter 30. Only needed more time to write. I am aiming for at least one chapter per week. Please remember that this is an AU. Finally, a shoutout to DS Sy1. RxR!
25.03.2024