Souls In Hiding

Friends and Foe

Maki hid behind Kaito, loading her crossbow with speed rivalling a professional hunter. Once she had loaded the bolt she spun around the boy and aimed it straight at the strange girl's heart. The girl seemed surprised but kept her composure as she raised her hands in surrender. "I'm sure we can figure this out without violence. I'm not going to hurt you."

"Explain the knife." Kaito frowned, stepping forward to protect his friends in case of danger.

"Kirumi, are you alright?" A soft voice yelled out from the cabin, another voice Shuichi didn't recognise.

"We have visitors." The girl, Kirumi, yelled back. "What business do you four have here?"

Shuichi took the chance to step forward place his hand on Maki's arm, silently tell her to stand down. "I lived here a few days ago before a... situation occurred. I may have led our group in the wrong direction I apologise for intruding." Revealing his face behind the cloak hood, he smiled at Kirumi. It was his way to ease any suspicions she might have considering he was a suspicious, cloaked stranger. Revealing his face may have been a bad idea for his body as he heard someone scream his name and tackle him to the ground.

The vampire laughed and hugged Kokichi back. "I missed you too Kokichi."

"Shuichi I'm so so sorry I thought you died and the last time we talked I was crying and I thought you hated me and-"

"Kokichi I could never hate you." He patted the smaller boys hair, giggling as he continued to hold Kokichi tight. The entrancing scent of grapes and roses turned Shuichi's brain to mush as the two lay on the grass together. Kokichi was suddenly ripped from Shuichi's arms, leaving them empty and cold. Kaito helped Shuichi up afterwards and glared towards Kokichi.

"Why would you hurt him like that? He hasn't done anything to you and you just throw him to the ground?!" Kaito yelled.

"Kaito calm down it's okay, he's just excited!" Shuichi yelled back, pulling Kokichi behind him to protect the boy out of instinct.

"Don't attack Kokichi." Rantaro appeared from the cabin, Kaede by his side. He glared daggers into Kaito who backed away from the small child in fear of what Rantaro could do to him. His expression switched from hard and threatening to the soft and friendly appearance that Shuichi knew well. "Welcome home Shuichi." He approached the vampire and enveloped him in the largest hug he could, even lifting the boy off the ground for a few seconds.

Next, it was Kaede's turn. She grabbed Shuichi's arm and pulled him towards her in a sweet, loving embrace. Shuichi's nose flooded with the scent of charred wood and rosemary, a weird combination sure but he found it kind of sweet. Kaede nuzzled her head into the crook of Shuichi's neck, holding him for a minute before raising her head to look him in the eyes. "I missed you... I thought you got kidnapped..." Tears welled in her eyes whilst she rested her forehead against Shuichi's.

"Okay, that's enough lovebirds," Kokichi growled, grabbing Shuichi and pulling him towards the dark cabin. Nothing much had changed except for multiple lanterns now hanging from the ceiling to provide light. Everyone else followed and sat in a circle on the floor, Shuichi hugged the cloak that was now balled up in his arms.

"So Shuichi, how did you know where to go?" Kaede grinned from across the circle.

"It's hard to explain... it kind of felt-"

"Like someone was guiding you?" Kaede's grin gave it away. Shuichi returned the smile. 

"Thanks for the help, we would've been completely lost without you." 

"We've heard a lot about you three," Angie pointed at Kokichi, Rantaro and Kaede. "But we haven't heard of you two, and none of you has heard of us!"