19Disclaimer: I own nothing but Efari, and a few other plot related things.
Italics: radio chatter from the other end.
Efari wasn't in sight as the group of Riders emerged from the Crack, so Kaito helped Kouta to a chair as Takatora walked out the door in search of Efari. Kouta hissed as the movement aggravated his ribs, hand tightening on Kaito's shoulder as he sat down.
"Sorry," Kaito murmured.
"You're fine," Kouta hurried to reassure him. He sighed as he relaxed into the cushions, then snorted. "One week and I'm already injured again."
"Not badly," Kaito countered. "I can't see this keeping you out for long." He looked around the room, vaguely recognizing it from their impromptu war council before they'd gone off to raid Ryouma's hideouts. "Should we continue the patrols or are we going to call it quits for today?"
"I'm exhausted," Mai spoke from her seat in another chair. "I vote for quits."
"Me too," Zack admitted from his spot against a wall.
"Redyue's death might throw the Overlords off-kilter, at least for a short while," Oren added thoughtfully. "With one of their main strategists out of the picture, they will need to regroup, go over their plans again."
"Which might give us a bit of a breather," Kouta murmured. He looked at their newest compatriot. "Lapis, what do you think the other Overlords will do?"
"If they are unaware of my existence, as Redyue was, they may count Redyue's death as overconfidence on her part and sheer luck on ours," the Overlord boy replied after a moment. "Sagara will not be as willing to believe that as Roshuo, but it is possible he may. He was the one to deliver what would have been the killing blow to me, and as I believe he is unaware of Efari, he has no reason to consider me as a threat."
"Good to know." Kaito cast a thought out to Efari and looked down at Kouta, noting the pain in his eyes. "Efari's coming. She'll be just a few minutes."
"'kay," Kouta whispered. Concern sparking, Kaito placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You're not hiding any other injuries, are you?"
"Nah." Kouta shook his head. "Adrenaline's fading."
"Ah." And without the adrenaline, the pain became more prominent. Kaito double-checked his ribs again, then spread a light touch of power over the cracks and felt Kouta's pain ease. Much to his relief, the doors opened and Takatora and Efari walked through.
"How is he?" Efari asked, eyes fixed on Kouta.
"Cracked ribs, lots of bruising but nothing more serious, well, so far as we can tell," Kaito told her. He moved to the side, keeping his hand on Kouta's shoulder as Efari conducted her own examination.
"I agree," the planetary avatar murmured after a moment. "You're correct. Now, let's see how well you've been paying attention, Kaito."
She stepped back, and Kaito closed his eyes, allowing the power within him to well up. He guided it into Kouta's body through his veins to his ribs, sealing the cracks and strengthening the bones, then gently pulled back into his own body. Opening his eyes, he glanced at Efari, who smiled.
"Well done," she murmured. He smiled in thanks, then glanced over at the latest of their number.
"You have a guest, Efari-san," he told her, and gestured at Lapis. She looked in the direction he had pointed and froze.
"Shamubishe…"
"It's good to see you again," Lapis greeted, smiling. "As you can see, your healing cocoon did wonders."
Efari smiled at Lapis. "It's good to see you again. Have you seen Baura?"
"Not as of yet, but I did not linger in the forest after I emerged."
Efari sighed. "I see."
"Baura will be fine," Lapis assured Efari, crossing the room to stand beside her. "He is Sagara's equal in cunning and strategy. Nothing shall harm him."
"I know, but still, I worry." Efari shook her head. "What will be, will be. Dark thoughts do not suit such a cheerful day."
"Then let's focus on the positive," Kouta said, leaning forward in his seat. "Lapis woke up, and we've successfully destroyed another Overlord."
"Another? Who?" Efari asked.
"Redyue," Kaito told her. "Mai and I were patrolling when we were ambushed by Inves. Peko, Zack, and Takatora were on their way when Redyue came through a Crack, but Kouta arrived and distracted her. Lapis helped Kouta destroy her, hence why Kouta had cracked ribs."
"Redyue dead…" Efari murmured. "So soon after Demushu's death." Wonder filled her face. "Only Roshuo and Sagara remain. So long have I believed this battle to be hopeless, and yet here we are. We may yet win without a great loss of life."
The next day, everyone headed out again.
Team 2, consisting of Zack, Kaito, and Oren, headed out to the warehouse district, the destination that Kaito and Mai had been heading for the day before. Kaito opened the crack right where they'd been ambushed, and the three men continued on.
Oren stopped and headed to the left. Kaito and Zack followed him. Why became obvious.
"Footprints. Human ones." Zack glanced around. "Someone who missed the evacuation?"
"Or someone who hasn't quite succumbed to a Helheim fruit yet," Kaito countered.
"Either way, we need to find them." Oren stood, and activated his radio. "Team 2, following footprints into the warehouse district."
"Acknowledged. Human or Inves?" Akira-san's response was cool.
"Human, for now."
"Understood. Report back in when you have more."
"Roger." Oren dropped his hand. "Let's move."
They followed the footprints, fanning out occasionally to check side streets and alleys. The prints faded slowly, but eventually they ended in the middle of the street.
Kaito stopped, tilting his head to one side. Before Zack could speak, he held a finger to his lips. Oren narrowed his eyes, also listening.
Soft sniffling and tiny hiccups could be heard occasionally. It sounded as if the person didn't want to be found. As if they were trying not to make any sound at all.
Kaito crept forward, slowly making his way toward the entrance to a nearby alley. Zack saw his shoulders stiffen and exchanged a glance with Oren. Kaito walked silently back to them and dragged them several feet back the way they'd come.
"Who did you see?" Oren asked once they'd stopped moving.
Kaito glanced back toward the alley. "Kureshima Mitsuzane."
Zack felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. "Micchi?"
Kaito nodded, then hesitantly raised a hand to his communicator. "Team 2 to Mission Control."
"Mission Control here, go ahead Team 2," Akira responded, voice crackling in their earpieces.
"We've come across Kureshima Mitsuzane in an alley near the warehouse district," Kaito reported. Silence echoed down the line. "He's… he looks awful. I think he's been on the streets for a couple days." He fidgeted. "What should we do?"
Akira held a hand to her mouth, fighting back anger. Her first reaction was to tell the boys to leave him and forget they ever saw him. Her big sister instincts told her that, as worried as Takatora-san had been and still was about his brother, they should bring him back to base. He'd been contaminated by Sagara, she reminded herself. Across the table, their newest ally raised an eyebrow at her. Akira shook her head.
"Bring… bring him back here."
"Roger that." Team 2 signed off.
"Is something wrong?" Lapis asked, standing and moving closer.
"Not yet." Akira looked up at him. "Go find Takatora-san—wait." She grabbed the schedule, double checking. "Find Takatora-san and tell him Team 2 found his brother and are bringing him here."
Lapis nodded, and left.
[Engaging reboot]
I LIIIIIIVE!
Yeah I know, it's been a while. Shorter chapter, hopefully more to come in less than (checks dates) two years and change. Sorry about that.