Chapter 16
Aki rushed out of the room nd headed to the hot spring in order to find and inform Ren and Mai along with Chikeko. The boy's thoughts were devoted to Maki.
'I hope she is still there!' Aki was running as if there was no tomorrow at all, 'Please be there!'
He rushed out of the main building, and headed to the hot springs. His pace was insane and he try to increase it more. When the boy finally reached the spring he quickly glanced.
'It seems they're still inside.' Aki exhaled, seeing no one left it, but then hi eyes, stopped on a tanned girl, who left the doors of the spring, 'Ren! Perfect!' he quickly ran to the girl and grabbed her hand, "Ren, Baikal!"
"Huh?" the girl didn't understand what the boy was talking about, "What is it?"
"We have a problem." Aki was excited and thrilled, "Call, Maki, Mai and Hirata-sensei!"
"Sensei is not here." Ren replied, "I haven't seen her since the training past."
"What?!" Aki exclaimed.
"Can you explain me what is happening?" Ren started to become angry because of the boy's strange attendance.
"I'll explain later." Aki replied, "Take Maki and Mai and go to the resting room for teachers!" then Aki ran to look for Chikeko.
Ren returned to the springs and found Maki and Mai, who were drying their hair.
"Did you forget something?" Maki asked Ren.
"No, Aki told me to take you two to the resting room for teachers." Ren replied.
"What for?" Maki was surprised to this answer.
"He didn't tell, but his voice was serious and was slightly out of breath." Ren responded, "I think it's something serious, if he acts like this."
"Not Aki acts strange today." Maki sighed.
"What do you mean?" Ren asked her friend.
"Pavel licked me today, now Aki is calling for something, this day is really strange."
"What do you mean Pavel licked you?" Ren got closer to Maki.
"He said it was some kind of tradition, instead of say gratitude for helping to choose you a present." Maki replied, "He should give you white chocolate, I've said you like it and…"
"But you gave me white chocolate." Ren interrupted Maki suddenly.
"Huh?" this time Maki was surprised.
"You ran to us and gave me it to cheer me up for the lost battle, as you'd said." Ren narrowed her eyes.
'No, Pavel asked me about the present to cheer you up." Maki shook with her head.
"We saw you with white chocolate." Mai joined Ren's side, "There was Masami too, and she can prove our words."
"Wait, could it be that Aki called us because of…?" Maki widened her eyes.
"Come on!" Ren ordered to them, "Let go to the resting room!" Ren raised her voice.
The girls quickly got up and rushed to the dressing room. They quickly put on their battle uniforms and grabbed their weapons, and headed to the needed location.
They came there pretty fast, but saw no one there; they looked around and started to wait. They didn't say even a single word to each other as each of them was thinking of what was going on here. After five minutes Chikeko entered the room.
"Sensei, can you explain what's going on here?" Maki came to the woman.
"What's going on?" Chikeko raised her eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"Aki ran to us and told to come here." Ren answered, "He was in a hurry and asked about you too, as I understood he ran to look for you."
"Interesting." Chikeko pondered, "I didn't meet Aki now." she put her finger onto her chin, "What could happen if he decided to call us all here." Chikeko stood in front of the threshold of the room, when suddenly Aki entered it.
"Finally you're here." Aki exhaled seeing his friends here, "Good that you're here too sensei."
"Aki can you explain what is going on here?" Maki came to him this time.
"Yes, especially who the hell gave me that chocolate." Ren joined too watching at Maki at the same time.
"We have a trouble as I and Oleg-sensei guess, we have a doppelganger here." Aki said , he saw puzzled and wondered expression on the face of his friends, even Mai was surprised hearing that, "I encountered Pavel, and as he told he was training with Masami and then walked to the hot spring, so he couldn't lick you." Aki said to Maki.
"But who gave me the chocolate then?" Ren asked Aki.
"I don't know, because at the same time, I was with Maki." Aki replied to Ren.
"This shape shifter, can he be from 'The Third Law'?" Mai asked the boy.
"I don't know." the boy sighed, "But it really can be so, sensei went to look for Sakura-sensei as false Maki wanted to talk with her about something."
"But where can she be?" Maki asked Aki, "I mean this island is not that big, to be not detected, there's no place to hide perfectly."
"There is." Chikeko replied, "On the beach, there are some blind spots, but I didn't know that someone would use them in order to attack us."
"And this place wasn't secured?!" Ren exclaimed.
"It was, but not properly." Chikeko replied, "This place is pretty far from here so some Taimanin don't pay attention to that."
Aki looked at the woman his eyes stopped on her legs; he noticed something strange under her. It was something like a dust, then he remembered how Oleg told something about using sand for transformations. He quickly exposed his katana and stood between the teacher and Maki.
"Who are you? What did you do to Hirata-sense and Sakura-sensei?" Aki said to the woman.
"Aki! What are you doing?!" Maki exclaimed.
"This one is not the real sensei." Replied, "Look under her legs!" he said them.
The girls looked and saw how something was crumbling onto the floor from her legs. Ren and Mai exposed their weapons immideately.
"Damn, I was exposed faster than I wanted." Chikeko replied, "You really are clever kids." she grinned.
"Tell what you did to them!" Ren shouted at the imitator.
"Don't worry, you'll soon join her and that boy with the sword." she chuckled
'Pavel?' Ren thought and dashed at the enemy.
A strong sand tornado span around Chikeko and when sand was on the floor the kid saw no one, in the room.
"Damn, he escaped!" Ren exclaimed.
"We're to do something; Pavel and sensei are in danger!" Maki shouted too, and when they were about to leave the room they bumped at Oleg, who was holding Sakura in his hands.
Sakura was walking by the corridors of the resting facility along with Maki.
"So, what did you want to discuss?" Sakura asked Maki, "Can't find how to amaze you precious Aki?" Sakura chuckled.
"Something like that." Maki nodded it was possible to see how her cheeks started to redden.
"Come on, you can tell em whatever is on your mind." Sakura chuckled, "Instead of Mu-chan I can help in love questions."
"Well, I don't know how to make him to overpass the level of mere relation; I mean, how can I make him to bring him to bed?" Maki turned away.
"Wow, you can be mature sometimes." Sakura chuckled, "You shouldn't hurry in such things, if he really loves you, you should wait when he is ready for that, if you want to him to be braver then try to push slightly at him.
"Do you really think that'll work?" Maki looked at the teacher.
"I have no doubt." Sakura chuckled again, "Just be persistent and you'll get him."
They went outside, cold wind blew and Sakura flinched, while Maki felt absolutely nothing.
"The weather is really chilling today." Sakura said watching at the night sky, which was clear, the light of the streetlamps shone outdoors well too, "Will it be so cold tomorrow?"
"By the way, sensei…" Maki suddenly said.
"What is it?" Sakura asked Maki as she turned around.
"I didn't know you're that stupid." Several tentacles quickly tied Sakura's limbs not giving her an opportunity to move.
'What the…?!" Sakura tried to break free, but the grip was strong, she looked at Maki again, whose tentacles were growing straight of her stomach, "What did you do to real Maki?!" Sakura shouted still trying to break free.
"Don't worry she will join you too soon." false Maki got closer to Sakura, and pressed her lips against the orange haired Taimanin.
Sakura tried to resist, but couldn't as the grip was really strong. The tongue that was closer to another tentacle, was thick and long, and took place in whole Sakura's mouth. Suddenly they heard some fast steps, which became closer and closer to them, false Maki threw Sakura onto the ground and quickly turned into Sakura and fall onto the ground too.
"Sakura!" Oleg shouted and saw how two identical women were falling onto the ground.
"Oleg…" one Sakura mumbled as coughed.
"You're just in time." another Sakura coughed too, both of them tried to catch their breaths.
"Shit." Oleg quickly understood what was going on, and started to watch from one Sakura to another one.
"She is an imposter!" on Sakura exclaimed, "She attacked me in Maki's form and wanted to kill me!"
"No, she did that another Sakura pointed at the first one.
Oleg looked from one Sakura to another one, 'Shit, I didn't think it would happen that fast.' Oleg thought.
"I'll show who is a real imposter." The second Sakura tried to get up but then fall onto the ground, 'I can't use my abilities?' Sakura thought as she fell onto the ground.
"I'll teach you the lesson how to take my form." The first Sakura tried to do the same, but fall too, "Did… did you block my powers?" the first one widened her eyes.
"You have blocked my powers!" the second one exclaimed.
"Don't listen to her!" first Sakura looked at Oleg, "She is fooling you!"
Oleg looked at first Sakura, then onto the second one, both of them looked at him with the same eyes, Oleg put his hand onto the hilt of his sword, but didn't expose it.
"Oleg." one Sakura said with a soft voice, "Please, I know there were some misunderstandings between us, and I'm really sorry for that, if… if there's a way to make everything right, I would really do, and we wouldn't have that misunderstanding." Oleg looked at her eyes and saw tears that were dropping onto the ground.
'Is she the real one?' Oleg looked at the second one, who bowed her head and didn't know what to say, suddenly his eyes stopped on the Sakura, who said the speech, and noticed something peculiar, 'Her skin is cracking?' the light perfectly fell onto them, he quickly exposed his sword and attack the Sakura that seemed strange to him.
Sakura could dodge the attack.
"What are you doing?!" she exclaimed in fear, "Are you sane?!"
"The problem is that I don't think that real Sakura would have such problems with skin." Oleg pointed at her arm.
Sakura looked at her arm and saw slight cracks on it, "Bastard." Sakura rapped out an oath, "How did you know about sand?"
"You left it in the resting room." Oleg said, "The problem is that I didn't know who should be the clone but when I saw your hand I quickly understood, who is who."
"I see." the false Sakura grinned, "Then take that!" several tentacles shot out of her stomach in order to tie him.
"Look out, they're poisoned!" Sakura shouted.
Oleg stretched his hand out and repelled the false Sakura; she flew away and hit the nearby tree, and then turned into a pile of sand.
"A clone?" Oleg raised his eyebrow, but then ran to Sakura, "How are you? Aren't you hurt?"
"No, she only laid a hand and tongue on me." Sakura shook with her head.
"Can you walk?" Oleg asked her with excited voice.
Sakura tried to get up, but her attempt was fruitless, "Shit, did he do something to my body?" Sakura asked herself as she fell back onto the ground.
"Don't exert yourself." Oleg took her into his hands and ran back to the resting room, he didn't notice, how slight blush appeared on her cheeks, she squeezed his tunic with her hand with a hope he wouldn't leave her.
"According to your words, the enemy can block our powers with some poison, have I understood it right?" Ren asked Oleg, who was standing by Sakura sitting in the armchair, when the man finished telling what was happened to them.
"Yes, and he is using sand in order to make clones and change shape." he nodded.
"But how we suppose to find the real doppelganger?" Aki asked the man, "By the sand?"
"I suggest he is needed sand to maintain his power, so I belive he must return to some place, where's a lot of sand."
"To the beach." Sakura replied him, "It's the only place with sand here, however it's pretty big, so we'll have troubles investigating it."
"We will have troubles." Oleg replied her, "In your current state you won't be able to stand." he was frowned and was worried for Sakura, who could barely move even with her finger.
"The other problem is where we should look for real Pavel and Hirata-sensei." Mai suddenly said, "Could they be captured by these attackers?"
"I don't want to think about this, but probably they could." Oleg nodded, "The best thing we can do right now, is spread in groups." Oleg gave an idea.
"It'd be reckless." Aki disagreed with his teacher, "We don't know how many attackers are there and what they can do."
"Your truth, but it's the only method for us." Oleg replied to the boy, "We're to split and check the coast, if Chikeko and Pavel are captured, they should be there, am I right?" he looked at Sakura.
"Yes, there's a blind spot, as I think Naomi could tell them about it, after all she is a former Taimanin." Sakura replied irately, "Always problems from her."
"Someone must stay with Sakura." Oleg stated, "For us it'd be better if it'll be Mai or Ren."
"Sensei, aren't you sure that it's much better to warn everyone here?" Ren asked, "We would be safer and it would be better to look for enemies."
"On the contrary, our enemies will think we do absolutely the same, but we won't and attack them straight, not giving them a chance to regroup or escape."
"Well, that makes sense." Maki nodded.
"I don't need protection then." Sakura replied, "If everything is as you told, they won't attack me and try to take their butts out of the island."
"No, we can't risk with you too." Oleg replied, and raised his head to the roof, 'I have no other choice but use mental powers.' he sighed deeply, "Stand into circle." Oleg ordered them, the students looked at him with surprised eyes, "Come on, we haven't got much time!" he commanded.
The students nodded and did what was ordered. Oleg stood between Maki and Mai, "Now, take your hands." he took Mai's and Maki's ones, and when the last hands were joint he closed his eyes and raised his head, they were standing in such position for two or three minutes, when suddenly each of the student heard voice in the head, 'Do you hear me clearly?'
'What?' Maki was surprised, 'But how did you?'
'Mental abilities?' Ren looked at him with wondered eyes, saying that in her head.
"All explanations later." Oleg replied, "I belive we have thirty or so minutes its' the best what I could do right now. With that we will be able to contact with each other. Now to the coast we're to save Chikeko and Pavel."
Then Maki, Aki, Ren and Oleg rushed out of the room leaving Mai to look after Sakura.
"Damn it!" false Sakura spitted walking by the sand of the coast of the beach, "Everything was so good, but this damn sand, started to fall off." she hit the sand with her fit, "Who did know, that I won't be able to keep the technic!" Sakura went and was wailing until she saw one person on the beach, there also was a woman, in white uniform lying by him, "And where is the boy?" Sakura asked the zombie with closed eyes, however the dead one only mumbled something, "I see, but how could you let him go? I thought you should take him." the zombie pointed at the woman, "She didn't let you do that." Sakura sighed, "Well, at least we took one captivity, and Master Walter won't be that displeased."
"Idiots." They saw another person, who was in white and purple suit, her hair was colorless and her face was covered with a demonic mask, "If he could escape, that means the rest will soon come here."
"I don't think so." the false Sakura chuckled, "They will try to war everyone and only then they will try to find us."
The woman suddenly flinched, 'Maybe…?' she thought, "You two will stay here, and wait for me, I'll capture that boy and when he is gotten we'll retreat." the woman declared and jumped onto the rock and from it to another one.
"Shall we trust her?" the false Sakura asked the zombie, the dead guy only groaned something instead of the answer, "I hope you're right, after all you've never failed me before."
"Igawa-san, can we enter?" Kurenai asked as she knocked at the door, the hour was late so she wasn't sure Asagi would want to listen to reports.
"Yes, come in." Asagi nodded, "What is it? Have you found on something about Tatsurou and Yukikaze?" Asagi said as she wanted to hear at least one good piece of news for the whole day.
"How should I say it, there's yes and no at the same time." Kurenai entered the office still wearing her battle uniform; she stood in the middle of the office.
"Sit down." Asagi pointed at the sofa, "I see you have quite something to tell." Kurenai nodded and sat onto the sofa.
"Yes, during our investigation, I found this." Kurenai took out a piece of red cloth.
"Is it a piece of Yukikaze's patterns?" Asagi quickly remembered whom it belonged.
"Yes, we found it on the place of their fight in the demon's nest." Kurenai replied her, "And one peculiar thing which happened to me, is meeting with Etienne Richar." this time Asagi frowned even more.
"And Pavel told me he was in numbers of who encountered them." Asagi replied.
"Yes, during our fight, he was surprised hearing that they captured Yukikaze and Tatsurou."
"What do you mean?" Asagi didn't understand.
"I could ask him what they did to them, but this answer was a little surprising, he said they didn't capture anyone of ours." Kurenai explained.
"Strange." Asagi leaned onto the back of her chair, "Pavel told that Etienne and Mystic attack them. Could it be that someone else attacked Yukikaze and Tatsurou? Or that Etienne was just manipulating nd was training to do something." Asagi pondered.
"And what if 'The Third Law' didn't attack them that time?" Kurenai narrowed her eyes, "I mean, what if there was something else?"
"Do you want to say they went somewhere on their own?" Asagi frowned, Kurenai nodded, "Right now we have no evidence of that, and can't say if firmly, the only thing we can do is continue our searching." Asagi put her hands in a lock, "I'll try to talk to Pavel, he was there, so maybe he will tell us what did really happen there."
Suddenly they heard a knock at the door, Asagi said to come in, and when a new person entered Asagi was quite surprised.
"Akiyama, has something happened?" Asagi said as Rinko entered the office, 'Has she heard us?' Asagi frowned.
"Sensei, how the searching of my brother and Yukikaze is going?" Rinko asked the principle with worried voice, her appearance seemed tired and worried, but still it was possible to see she tried her best to conceal it.
"I'm sorry but right now, we found nothing." Asagi replied her, "But we don't stop it."
"Sensei let me join it!" Rinko raised her voice, but the returned her cold thinking, "My powers can be useful in searching..."
"Rinko." Asagi sighed, "Do you understand that I can't let you do that? You'll work on emotions and can do something reckless, what if something happens to you? What if 'The Third Law' captures you? Will you fight them with the desire to return Tatsurou and Yukikaze without any strategy?"
"I will do my best to help, sensei. I can suppress my emotions, when it's needed." Rinko replied her.
"And what if you don't?" Asagi raised her eyebrow still watching at the purple haired girl, "Rinko, I understand your feelings and on your place, I would try to do absolutely the same, but as the commander I can't allow you do this." Rinko replied nothing, but only bit her lip.
"Rinko, you should calm down, we'll do everything to find them. I'm giving you my word." Kurenai joined Asagi's side, "I'll bring them to you first."
Rinko replied nothing, but only left the office fast in order not to continue arguing.
"I wish to no one feel what she feels at the moment." Asagi sighed.
"Don't worry, Igawa-san." Kurenai got up, "We'll do everything to find these two, I'll even turn the damn Tokyo Kingdom upside down."
"Nice to hear." Asagi smiled and got up, from her chair, "I hope we'll find these two as soon as possible."
"Man, can't wait when we go on another sortie." Yukikaze moaned lying in the bed and watching at the roof of her and Tatsurou's room.
"We're to wait the end of their meeting." Tatsurou replied to Yukikaze, "They have their work too."
"I know." Yukikaze responded him pouting her cheeks, "But, I can't sit here knowing that mum needs our help."
"Me too." Tatsurou nodded, "But we can't disturb their work too, it' impolite."
"I know, I know!" Yukikaze got up and sat onto her bed, "I just can't sit without doing anything." then she turned to Tatsurou, who was watching at some paper, "By the way, how does your training with their Commander?"
"Ah?!" Tatsurou removed his eyes from the paper, "Fine." he said with excited voice, "He teaches me even something I really have never known."
"Nice to hear." Yukikaze got up and came to him; she quickly stole the paper and started to read.
"Hey! Give it back!" Tatsurou didn't like what was done.
"Working on some seals?" Yukikaze saw several circles on the paper, with some words.
"Yes, Commander told they're more effective than the ones Oleg-sensei gave me." Tatsurou replied to her.
"You seem to be enjoying here." Yukikaze returned him the paper, "I've never seen you so energetic before."
"Maybe it's just another atmosphere?" Tatsurou shrugged with his shoulders, "While I'm here, I feel like I'm to raise more and more with every day." he looked at Yukikaze with decisive eyes, "Not only for Aunty and Rinko, but especially for you." Yukikaze's eyes widened, she wasn't ready to hear such bald words, "I promised you I'll help to save Aunty, so I'll do everything for get this day closer."
"Thanks." Yukikaze lowered her head, "If not you, I wouldn't know, what I would do alone."
Tatsurou came and hugged her gently, "Don't think you should do everything alone, you always have friends nearby." Yukikaze looked at his purple eyes, and he looked at her red-purple ones.
Tatsurou got closer to her lips wishing to kiss his girlfriend.
"Am I not interrupting you?" the heard a merry voice in the doorway.
They quickly turned around and saw Doppel, who was I her casual uniform, she had a grin on her face as she was about to tease the two. The girl and the boy's faces became red, they jumped away from each other.
"You're like Sakura! Nearly the same bothersome!" Yukikaze shouted.
"Really? Like Igawa Asagi's sister?" Doppel chuckled, "If you're talking about her, then I'm touched."
"Is the meeting finished?" Tatsurou asked her.
"Almost, one of our comrades told us to visit one place tonight." she saw Yukikaze's eyes, "It's about your mother, the person there knows everything about everything, so he wants to tell us something."
"I see." Yukikaze was glad that they still were trying to save her mother, "And what about Splash and that drunk guy?"
"Drunkard." Yukikaze was corrected, "They're still on the meeting, about our enemies, it'll take more time for them. And what about you? Have you rested?"
"Yeah." Yukikaze chuckled, "Ready for another sortie, this time will be much better than the previous one."
"Nice to hear." Doppel clapped her by the shoulder, "Wanna grab something? While they have their meeting?"
"Yeah, I'd eat a bear." Tatsurou joked and quite badly, however Doppel chuckled at this.
"Professor, are you sure the seal is revealing?" Drunkard asked the lizard humanoid, who was sitting in front of him.
"Yes, but I don't understand where it is." he replied, "As if it's somewhere else, but not here."
"Not here?" Splash raised hi eyebrow, "On Mars or Venus? We'll we send an expedition there?"
"Not funny." Haze replied him seriously.
"I mean it's not on the surface, likewise it's somewhere underground, but I don't know where exactly."
"Underground?" Avalanche asked the monster, "But could it be possible?"
"The only place, which fits for that description is Yomihara." Drunkard said, "It's quite big and it'll take a lot of time to investigate it."
"And we have no certainty at the same time." Splash smirked, "In that way, it can be different cave or canyon. I don't think it'll be a good idea to investigate every point here."
"Good idea, and let these bastards to destroy it." Avalanche didn't like the attitude of his comrade, "This is our primal work to interrupt the activity of these scums."
"At the same time we won't be paid, if they destroy it." Haze added, "And I don't want to lose this money."
"I think Splash, didn't want to say that." Drunkard protected him, what made them all to look at him with surprise, "I suppose he wanted to say, that it'll be stupid to send all forces to Yomihara."
"What do you mean?" Avalanche didn't know what the man was meaning.
"Well, allow me to explain for the most dimwitted member of the meeting." Drunkard chuckled taking out his flask and doing a sip of it, "When we had a fight in Gatsko, our enemy sent all his troops to our position, but he didn't know we separated two other troops on the other side from us. So they could come behind our enemies and destroy them." Haze chuckled at this explanation.
"And what should it mean?" Splash asked him not understanding, which part of the explanation should be his support.
"I mean, we are to investigate several well-known locations, before acting row." Drunkard looked at him, "We don't know where it's but we can predict its approximate location."
"I see." Splash and Avalanche said in one voice, the white haired man was surprised, and the blue haired one was merely glad to hear the answer.
"I and Dokboq will investigate the possible cave and everything else." the lizard person said, "And you will check Yomihara."
"If only I had your teleportation." Avalanche looked at him with a sigh, "I would help you better."
"By the way." Splash asked the man with an eye patch, who was sitting calmly and was thinking about something personal then about their discussion, "What is the next formation for the visiting that point eared barman?"
"You, Doppel, Drunkard will go with Yukikaze and Tatsurou." he replied hearing the question perfectly, "And on the checking seals I'll take you, Avalanche, then Kangaroo, and Hush."
"Hey, how about to take that drunk barrel with you instead of that silent one?" Splash didn't like the respond.
"Thanks." Drunkard said, "Next time you'll slip out by yourself."
"I need him to investigate Yomihara, when we're done I'll return him, I'll even use here Mechanic, Kangaroo and Massimo this time."
"Why, not to send someone else?" Haze looked at him with the same look, "We have plenty good hunters, why not to bring them here and give them work?"
"Because, our presence will be revealed easily then." Commander answered, "We're to act with the same number we possess."
"And what will you give me?" the only woman asked him again.
"Good noticing." Commander replied, "Right now you can rest, if someone of us will need we'll give you know."
"Got it." Doppel replied him, "If you don't mind I'll leave for now, I have something to do." she said watching at her phone.
"Me too." Drunkard raised his hand and got up too, Haze looked at him with angry eyes, but still got up and headed to the exit of the room, the man with the service cap followed her slowly.
"I'll go too." Commander got up, "I'm to rest before going to Yomihara. I hope everyone will do his work perfect."
Then everyone left the room to do their other businesses, even the lizard person left it.
Haze was walking fast by the corridors of the base of 'Red Division', however Drunkard didn't fall behind. Both of them were keeping silence and didn't want to talk to each other, Haze was irritated that the man was following her like a bother some fly, while the man only followed her singing some song silently.
"Can you stop following me?" Haze suddenly turned around making the man to stop, "I'm really getting mad when you do that every single time."
"Both of us know what you're doing, so why I can accompany you?" the man looked at her with casual glance, "For me all your things are not a secret."
"I know, but I hate to that someone sees what I'm doing!" Drunkard heard an answer, "When people do something personal, other people should admire their damn space and disappear not being heard and seen, did you understand wooden head?" Haze bit head off.
"You're saying, likewise we are know nothing about each other." Drunkard chuckled.
"If we past all Yugoslavia together side by side, it doesn't mean we're friends." Haze looked at him with angry expression.
"Storm would say vice versa." the man smirked at her statement.
"Right now, he is not here." Haze replied him, "So he won't support your asshole."
The woman turned around and continued her way, the man did the same. Their further way was in complete silence. Drunkard looked like he didn't want make this woman angrier, while the second one didn't want to become angrier. The came to the resting facility, Haze opened the door and entered the room, it looked the same, as the others, but everything was in dark blue colors. She sat onto the bed and took out her telephone again. Drunkard followed her and sat onto the chair by the table. Haze took out some card from another pocket of her uniform and started to press against the screen of her phone fast.
"Here." Drunkard stretched out his hand with some card, "You can use mine too."
"What?" Haze looked at him with wondered eyes.
"Send them mine too." the man only replied, "Come on, it's my second card, I put some money here just for your need."
"Why such concern from you?" Haze looked at him distrustfully.
"Maybe, I'm bad, but not rotten." Drunkard didn't like that reaction, "They you use them I know, so don't resist." Haze nodded, and accepted the card.
She started to do the same, and after a minute returned him the card.
"Do you want something in exchange, am I right?" she looked at him with serious eyes.
"Well, do I want something in exchange?" he raised his head to the roof putting a semblance he was thinking of something, "How about to eat something right now?"
"That's all?" she looked at him with interested eyes.
"And drink too." he showed his flask, "Deal?"
"Why not." the woman mumbled, "You won't get lost if I don't do that."
"Certainly." the man chuckled, Haze only got up and went to the exit of the room, and the man followed her.
Their way led to the dining-room. Both of them didn't say even a single word to each other. And by man's expression it was easy to see he was glad, that the woman wasn't irritated as always.
When they entered the eating place, they heard a voice, somewhere.
"Hey you two!" they turned around and saw Doppel, who was in a company of Tatsurou, Yukikaze and Splash, "Don't mind to join us?" Drunkard only grunted something, while Haze rolled her eyes, but still went to the noise maker.
"Noisy as ever." Haze said when they were next to them, "Can you low you volume?"
"Of course no." Doppel chuckled letting the other woman sit onto the bench.
"When we'll go to that elf?" Splash asked Drunkard when he took his place too.
"I think in two hours." the man with the service cap replied, "Just eating and resting and then we can move out."
"Sweet." Yukikaze chuckled.
Haze looked at the girl who was sitting on the other side of the table. Her eyes were examining Yukikaze properly as he wanted to something familiar in her.
"What is it?" Yukikaze asked Haze, not like what the first one was doing.
"Nothing." The woman replied her unemotionally, 'So this is the daughter of Yasuhiro?' she thought still watching at her, then she looked at the boy, who was next to Yukikaze, 'And this one is…?' she narrowed her eyes, 'I've seen his features somewhere else.' she said to herself when her pondered were suddenly interrupted.
"Hey, Haze." Doppel asked the woman, "How was your mission with Mechanic? I hope you didn't lecture Kangaroo too much."
"I would even scold him for his stupidity; if not the help of Taimanin they would have lots of problems."
"Taimanin?!" Yukikaze along with Tatsurou exclaimed in unison, "Have you seen someone of our comrades?" Tatsurou asked her then.
"If I'm not mistaken they were Yatsu Murasaki and Kousaka Shizuru." Haze replied watching at them.
"You fought side by side with Yatsu-sensei and Kousaka-sensei?" Tatsurou couldn't belive to what he'd just heard.
"Kinda." Haze replied, "I even fought your Yatsu-sensei several years ago." Both of them looked at her with surprised expression.
"It was when we tried to save that damn scientist whim they killed in the end." Drunkard chuckled at the words of his comrade, "An as I remember you were the lucky one." he looked at Splash, "You fought with her father."
"Was it so?" Yukikaze watched at him wishing to know more.
"The fight with your father was a pageant." Splash replied her, "He had already been our ally, so the main problems had these two with Commander."
"Yeah, he told he fought Kuro, Mum and Asagi, but he said that he was helped was it you?" she looked at the am in the military kind uniform.
"Yeah. As Haze told she was fighting Yatsu with some other Taimanin."
"How the hell could you fight such strong opponents in such a small number?" Yukikaze couldn't belive to what she'd just heard.
"Let's just say some of us have secrets the rest shouldn't know." Drunkard replied her, "As there's nothing to be proud of."
Tatsurou gulped, he was couldn't belive that some people could fight such strong Taimanin being in less numbers, but still he tried to understand what secrets he was talking about.
Drunkard got up and went to the cook, he looked at Doppel and said to her.
"Like always?" he asked her, she only nodded and he continued his way.
After a little time he returned and put the plate next to her. It was some soup with vegetable, while the man a salad with spaghetti. He took out his flask and took glasses which were on the table he poured into them everything what left in the flask and returned it back under his greatcoat.
"Damn if only I could make it back in time!" Pavel shouted running by the thicket, 'I hope these freaks did nothing to the rest.' he jumped onto the tree and then back onto the ground, 'Sensei just wait, I'll call for a help!' suddenly he heard some rustling behind him, he did a jump to the right and was successful as something did a wide swing to the place where he was a while ago.
"Nice reaction." he heard a voice behind him, "Could dodge it in last moment."
'Shit, how she could make so fast to me?' Pavel spitted turning around, he squeezed the hilt of his sword tighter.
"It seems you're just a student, do you really think you can try defying me alone?" the woman asked him with unhidden interest.
"I'll try, who knows maybe I'll do something?" he chuckled and rushed at her with a great speed.
Pavel clashed his sword with the katana of the woman. The woman stood still as if she wasn't planning to dodge or do something. Pavel tried to do another lunge, but it was fruitless too, as she protected herself again.
"Unimpressive for a hunter, it seems you're not Taimanin, no wonders why you're that weak." the woman mocked.
"Why you." the boy grunted, and started to attack the woman faster.
"That woman was more interesting." she chuckled, making Pavel angrier, "Can't belive you could interfere in the acts of 'The Third Law'."
"So you're one of them after all." Pavel narrowed his eyes, jumping away off her on a good distance, "That scum with you is he your partner or what?"
"Kinda." the woman nodded, "We were ordered to bring some of you to Master, so we're doing what's ordered." suddenly she dashed to Pavel on demonic speed.
Pavel could dodge the sword, but could dodge her leg, which hit him straight at his stomach.
"Damn!" he grunted as he fall onto the ground, "So fast!" he saw another lunge and rolled aside just in time, "Shit, I can't belive it, there's nothing I can do against her alone."
"Finally realized." the woman chuckled, "But's it's too late for you to change your mind and retreat."
'Shit I can't die here!' he thought getting up on his legs, 'I still have to confess to Ren and help Masami, I can't just die like that.' he stood in a battle stance.
"You're a stubborn type." the woman like it, she got closer to him, but the boy jumped back in order to think a strategy to fight back, "I like such one."
"Can I ask you a question?" Pavel decided to buy sometime, 'Maybe they will arrive?' the woman nodded, "Are you working for these criminal directly or in some other way?"
"Some other way?" the woman didn't understand his question.
"As I understood you're the same corpse as the zombie that helps you." Pavel chuckled, "Could it be that you serve to someone else?" the woman squeezed the hilt of the katana tightly, "And I don't think that your boss is a weak guy…" suddenly his eyes widened as if he remembered something important, "Could it be that you're the servant of some Demon Lord maybe from the third or second line?"
The woman dashed, and did a slicing move. Pavel could dodge it but still his arm was cut a little.
'The only thing I can do is to dodge, attacking her is a suicide.' he pondered.
"Where did you know about these demon lords?" the woman became really interested, "They were defeated long ago."
"Well Igawa Asagi told." Pavel replied simply, 'What is she planning to do?'
"Oh, you are acquainted with Igawa herself." the woman in the demon mask replied him again, "Are you in good relations with her?"
"Kinda." Pavel frowned not getting what his opponent wanted.
"Well, and what Asagi tells about fighting this demon lord? Did she tell something to you?"
"He was strong." Pavel replied her, "Nothing more." he did a pause, "Can I ask you something?" the woman nodded, "What are you up to? If you wanted you could kill me or capture a while ago. But instead of it you're just talking to me."
"I find you peculiar." she told him quite fairly, "Especially when you know about my Master." she chuckled.
Suddenly there was some rustle not far from them.
"It seems my friends are looking for me." Pavel replied her, "How do you think, will you be able to oppose us all?"
"Easy." the woman said, but suddenly removed her katana, "But not today. Since you know Igawa Asagi I want to give her that." she put her hand into the pocket, took out something out of it and threw it to Pavel, "Let her know about that damn vampire lord." And after these words she disappeared not leaving even a sign of her presence.
"What the hell is she up to?" Pavel didn't understand what his enemy wanted, he looked at the paper he'd just cought. He wanted to check the paper, but suddenly hear a voice behind him.
"Pavel! Is it you?!" he turned around and saw Ren along with Maki.
"Yeah, it's me." he was glad to see his friends, he sighed with relief nd wanted to come to them, but Ren and Maki prepared for another battle.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Pavel was wondered of what the girls were about to do.
"Sorry, but we can't trust you much, what if you're a Doppelganger?" Ren asked him seriously, "We can't risk."
"And what about you? How can I be sue you're not the same shape shifters?" Pavel parried watching directly at them.
'What should we do?' Ren thought, 'If he is a real one we just waste time, if he is the enemy I must attack him.' Suddenly she narrowed her eyes, 'Sensei!' she said in her head.
'What is it Ikenami?' she heard Oleg's voice inside her head.
'We found Pavel, but how can be sure he is the real one?' Ren heard Maki's voice this time.
'Try to scratch his arm, the enemy uses sand, so if it'll be cracked he is the enemy.' Oleg's voice replied them.
Maki and Ren looked at each other and nodded.
"Now, stretch your arm and don't do any reckless moves." Ren ordered him, "One move and you're dead."
Pavel gulped he pierced the ground with his sword and stretched his arm, Ren slowly came to him and started to scratch his hand.
'No sand.' she exhaled understanding he was the real one, "Sorry, for that, but we were to check you."
"So, am I the real one for you?" he looked at Ren with a smile.
"Kinda." Ren nodded, and removed her short blade.
Maki feeling herself a little better came to them too, "Man I thought everything will be more difficult."
"Where's Hirata-sensei?" Maki asked him.
"She is captured." Pavel replied immideately, "I suddenly found her in the forest, when we suddenly were attacked, by some strange guys."
"Strange guys?" Maki asked him.
"Is it 'The Third Law'?" Ren asked him then.
"I think so, but these guys are really different." Pavel responded, "The two we fought, were just a pair of corpses."
"Corpses?" Maki looked at him, "Aren't you tired?"
"I'm telling what I've seen." Pavel looked at Maki with serious eyes, "I several films about Apocalypse and can tell that one guy was a total zombie."
"Do you want to say that we saw a zombie?" Ren glanced at Maki with wondered eyes.
"I don't know, but if not you I would join Hirata-sensei too." Pavel confessed to them.
"What do you mean?" Ren didn't understand.
"I was fighting the other enemy a while ago, but she disappeared leaving me alone, I still can't understand what she wanted to do."
"I see..." Ren nodded, but suddenly stopped, "Quickly! We must run to the beach, Oleg-sensei and Aki need our help."
Maki's eyes widened, she quickly turned around and ran first to help her beloved one. Pavel and Ren didn't wait long and followed her to the shore.
"Sensei, do you really think it was a good idea to split up?" Aki asked the man watching around the shore.
"Of course not, but it's the only way to investigate both roads to the place Sakura told." Oleg replied him, "Be careful, since the enemy uses sand this is his territory, even single mistake can cost us dearly."
"Got it." Aki nodded, "I hope there was nothing bad with Pavel and sensei."
"Me too." Oleg agreed, "We must save them in any cost." Oleg did a pause, "Listen, our strategy will be next, I'll use my telekinesis while you'll attack them in close combat, I'll try to protect your back while you attack them straight."
"That's a good plan sensei." Aki liked the idea, "I'll do my best." Aki prepared his katana for the upcoming fight, suddenly Oleg stopped and ordered to do the same to Aki, they quickly hid behind a massive stone, which was a good cover for them.
"This damn bitch hasn't returned yet." they heard the voice of the false Sakura, "How do you think we'll she return?" then there was silence for a minute, "Yeah, I also think it was a bad idea to let her go alone. After all she is the former Taimanin, what if she does something stupid?"
'A former Taimanin?' Oleg narrowed his eyes, 'Are they speaking about Naomi?' suddenly Oleg's pondering was disturbed as he heard a voice in his head.
'Sensei.' it was Ren who disturbed him.
'What is it Ikenami?' he replied her.
'We found Pavel, but how can be sure he is the real one?' Oleg heard Maki's voice this time.
'Try to scratch his arm, the enemy uses sand, so if it'll be cracked he is the enemy.' Oleg's replied them then, and the dialogue stopped.
Oleg looked out of the stone and saw white haired woman in Taimanin uniform.
'So they captured Chikeko after all.' he frowned watching at the lying woman, 'We're to save her.' he exposed his sword, and a dagger, he looked out again and quickly threw the dagger at the false Sakura.
Suddenly a column of sand protected her back.
"Oh, my do we have guests?" false Sakura turned around putting on a semblance she was scared, "And I'm without my weapon."
Oleg felt something under his legs and quickly shouted.
"Aki aside!" both of them jumped to different sides and next moment to there was a whole on the place they were a while ago.
"Good move." False Sakura chuckled watching at her companion, "Next time will be better." then she turned to the hunters, "My, my, the teacher and a student am I right?" she grinned, "Why not in full number?"
"Let sensei go you scums!" Aki ordered to the woman with orange hair.
"Oh, such a demanding boy." false Sakura licked her lips, "You're reckless ones if you dared to come here alone. It seems that the other squad is warning the rest."
"Aki, do as we planned." Aki nodded and dashed at false Sakura.
But then he was next to her a sand wall grew between them not letting the young Taimanin to attack the shape shifter.
"What?" his sword hit the wall, he looked at the other person, who was behind him, "Sensei we must deal with that one first." he told about the person who squatted and hold his hand on the ground.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you deal with my first mate." Sakura put her hand into the sand and took out a saber.
She quickly dashed to the boy and clashed her saber with boy's katana. Oleg quickly stood between Sakura and Aki protecting the second with his sword.
"Maybe you'll show your real snoot?" Oleg asked the woman, "There's no need to hide anymore."
"Well if you ask." she chuckled "Lady always must do what a beautiful man asks." she pushed Oleg off, and then the sand started to fall from her revealing her true form.
In no time a skeleton in a pirate uniform was standing in front of him.
"The skeleton?" Oleg was surprised, to see something like that, then he looked at Aki's opponent, who didn't let him to get close to him, "And a zombie?" Oleg could notice that the person's appearance looked like a dead man with some rotten flesh.
"Man, didn't know I will fight dead." Aki was shocked hearing that they're enemies were living corpses.
"Aki, changing take the skeleton, I'll take the zombie." Oleg, ordered him, but heard how the skeleton started to laugh, in no time there appeared five other copies of it out of sand.
"Shit!" Oleg rapped out an oath, 'Ren, Maki we need your help! Now!' Oleg shouted at his head parrying and dodging lunges of each opponent.
The fight was intensive, Aki tried to get closer to the zombie, but two skeletons, attacked him in addition, so the zombie could only focus on trying to catch the boy in sand trap. The boy decided to save time for the coming of their friends, and Oleg did the same, he could use his blades in order to avoid dangerous strikes skeleton did.
'It seems five clones is his limit.' Oleg pondered sending another dagger at the skeleton, 'If only the other joined us fast.'
After some time, when Oleg and Aki started to get tired and started to loose, there were three silhouettes, which jumped out of the ridge above them.
"Sorry for being late sensei." Oleg heard Maki's voice, "The route was much longer then it was expected."
"Nothing to worry." Oleg used the moment to regain his powers as the skeletons jumped away in order to regroup, "Most important is to send these abominations back to the tomb."
"I still can't belive our enemies are skeletons." Maki flinched, "Never fought against these monsters."
"Be careful they're not demons if you chop their hand they feel nothing." Oleg explained.
"It's easy to guess alone." Pavel replied to the mentor with a chuckle, "Where's Hirata-sensei?" he asked him.
"There." he pointed at the woman, who was lying behind their enemies unconscious, "Take their attention, I'll try to get her."
The students nodded and attack the monsters.
The fight repeated, the monsters faced the young hunters. Ren was fighting with Maki, while Aki was with Pavel. Four clones gathered around the boys, while the girls dealt with the other two and the zombie, which helped to skeletons.
"I can't get a good moment to pull her." Oleg tried to find a moment to use his ability on Chikeko, "These damn corpses interrupt too much." suddenly he saw how, sand started to sank the woman little by little, "Shit!" he exclaimed and ran to her in full speed.
Oleg returned his daggers and threw them at the zombie the zombie repelled them with other two sand walls, but Chikeko's sinking stopped for a little.
'It's my time.' he dashed and grabbed Chikeko's hand then he jumped away in order to evade the trap of the dead person, 'He doesn't fight with his sword. What if…?' he thought holding Chikeko, "Pavel!" he suddenly exclaimed, "When you two fought them, has this zombie used his saber?"
"No!" the boy exclaimed, parrying the lunge of his enemy, "Why?"
"We fight elder undead!" Oleg replied to him, jumping by the sand, "Their bodies must be bind to something what must be with them! As for the zombie, I'm sure it's the saber."
"Does it mean we shouldn't try to deal with them?" Ren asked the man.
"Yes, just deal with the needed subjects and everything is done!" Oleg explained. Oleg jumped on a good distance from the battle and put Chikeko onto the stone.
Suddenly the skeleton that was fighting Maki released some tentacle out of its stomach. Maki started to avoid them, but suddenly her leg was captured with the sand.
"Damn!" Maki exclaimed.
The tentacles were closer and closer, when suddenly Aki appeared between her and the monster. He chopped the tentacles, but the new ones quickly entwined him.
"Is he restoring them?" Aki didn't understand what'd just happened.
"Aki!" the girl exclaimed, and hit the skeleton, which turned in to sand then, "Are you alright?" she asked him worried.
"Yeah, I think I…" he tried to get up, "What? I can't move my hand." they heard laughing, and then the skeleton appeared in front of them again.
"I'm too careless!' Aki scolded himself.
The skeleton raised his arm in order to finish the boy, when suddenly something hit him again.
"Phew, just in time." he heard a merry but tired female voice.