edelweiss - &team

16

The other four were currently having a whale of a time. Maki demanded soft-serve ice cream and Jo, being the only person carrying enough local currency, had to dish out some cash to treat the other three.

"This is kinda relaxing," Riki hummed, "You can almost forget what we're doing here."

"Doesn't it make more sense if we split up?" Yuma thought out loud. Riki stared at him, "The whole point of moving in a group was to ensure our safety."

Yuma wrinkled his nose, "To be fair, the larger group size is to ensure Harua's safety, if anything."

Maki added on, "Without Harua, tackling him would be way harder."

Riki had nothing to say to that, and hence Yuma grabbed Maki by the collar to go window shopping.

"You two-" Riki shouted at the two, but his scolding fell to deaf ears. Jo shook his head, slightly exasperated but also kinda used to it by now. "Well, since we're here," Jo remarked as he looked around the sunny street, "Might as well take a walk."

That was short-lived. Riki was tilting his head up to the sun, basking in its warmth like a cat, before he caught a glimpse of something in his peripheral vision. A lone figure standing on the roofs of the low-story shop houses, face shielded by a dark cloak but from his body language, one could immediately tell he was watching Riki and Jo. Riki dropped his head low to avoid suspicion and quietly informed Jo, "There's someone watching us."

Inconspicuously, Jo darted a look at the figure, who seemed to catch on and started to run across the roofs, startling the humans walking the streets and doing their own things.

Riki started trailing after the figure, picking up his pace as the figure sped up as well. "He's an immortal, I know it," He told Jo between breaths, "I saw smoke all around him."

They turned a corner and Riki nearly smashed face first into a lamp post. Jo abruptly came to a stop to check if Riki was alright, before something slammed into him. When they recovered from the shock, Jo realised the person on top of him was Euijoo.

As they helped each other up, Jo flinched when he noticed his shirt was coated in blood, then, to his horror, saw that Euijoo's arm bore a clean slice through his flesh, dark red blood oozing.

"How haven't you healed?" Jo asked, as he started to rip his thin pullover into strips for bandages. The others all leaned over to catch their breath, unable to even choke out an explanation.

Euijo's expression was just as confused and helpless, his face starting to pale rapidly. Yudai, the first to recover, said, "Something was off with the humans. I can't even-" He stopped to catch Euijoo as he lurched, slowly lowering him to lean against the wall.

"How did you end up here?" Fuma finally managed to ask.

"We were chasing something! What about you? This isn't your location either?" Riki, still scanning the rooftops for the figure he caught sight of previously.

"We were being chased!"

"What?"

"There's no time, just go!"

"Go where-" Yixiang didn't get to finish before Riki and Jo raced off towards the direction the figure went.

"Will they be alright?" Jo asked as he avoided a woman pushing a huge double pram.

"They'll be fine, we have to go, there's a-"

A loud thump was heard, the two spun on their heels and unison and came face to face with a young man.

"Hayate?" Riki whispered.

Indeed, the person who stood before them was the immortal that was turned a while after them. Even though technically, he was older than a few of them, he was considered a younger immortal. He had managed to age a little before he turned, so he has the appearance of a mature man at this point.

"Hayate," Riki called out again, his eyes liquid and pleading.

"Hello, Riki, Jo," Hayate managed a pained smile, "It's been a while."

Riki's arm drooped, his scythe brushing the ground, obviously unwilling to raise his weapon against someone he used to love and respect. Jo was tense and wary, not taking his eyes of their opponent for a second.

Hayate raised both hands and flames burst to life right at his fingertips. "I am very sorry," He said softly, "But I have to kill you."

"You...you've been missing for centuries," Riki said.

Hayate shrugged apologetically, "I've been hiding. But he summoned me again. I cannot disobey him. I am bound to him."

While the two were still considering their next move, Hayate released his fire balls straight at their heads, which they both cleanly ducked.

"You obviously don't want to hurt us, let us help you-" Riki tried to reason with their long-lost acquaintance, but Hayate shook his head and shot towards Riki, a dagger materialising in his hand so quickly Riki barely managed to leap out of the way, and tumbled to the ground.

"Hey, I'm right here," Jo taunted, and as Hayate turned, Jo extended his arm swiftly, his gentle demeanour evaporating. His eyes were cold and cruel, and Hayate's own eyes widened in fear and the young immortal dropped to the floor like a stone.

Then, Jo snapped his fingers and Hayate's eyes went glassy and a terrified scream escaped his lips. Quickly, he pulled Riki to his feet. They ran, Riki limped for a little until his leg was slightly better and then Jo twisted back to see Hayate sprawled out. Riki urged Jo on, and Hayate's body slumped to the ground.