edelweiss - &team

17

Meanwhile, Maki was sprinting steadily after another figure cloaked in black, its steps light and its body wispy. You couldn't even tell if the figure was a human or not, but Maki was determined to pin that figure down.

But Yuma had a bad feeling, especially since they got separated from Riki and Jo. So, he tried his best to stop him. "Maki! Don't-" Yuma clutched his side, a painful stitch emerging, his body not used to physical activity of this intensity (he was a racer, not a runner).

"I can see him! I can go for him-"

Yuma dashed after Maki, stumbling on the uneven ground in the dark, desperately trying to stop Maki. Then a splitting pain tore through his temple and he faltered, gripping his head as he groaned.

Maki finally slowed down, turning to see Yuma staggering, then leaning against a grimy brick wall, sweat beading on his skin and his face contorted in agony.

Immediately, Maki was at Yuma's side, supporting him, murmuring apologies and whispering frantic questions.

The alley spun around Yuma, his eyes fluttering shut and his world faded into darkness.

-

"Are we collecting kids?" A man dressed in black asked in a disdainful tone. They were in a cool room with a large domed class ceiling, light streaming in yet not blistering hot. On a small cot lay a boy, shuddering with his eyes tightly shut.

"Don't be so mean to them," Life chided, her hands busy wiping down the child she stooped over with a damp cloth.

"And he's a sickly one too," The man scowled.

Life didn't respond, all her focus placed on caring for the boy. "You of all people should be able to tell he is important," Life said firmly.

The man had no retort, only stared down at the boy, his skin pale and his eyes devoid of energy.

"What is his name?' The man finally asked. Life smiled and looked at him with bright eyes, "Harua. I will turn this child, I must." She brought her attention back to cleaning away any dirt and sweat off the boy.

There was a soft noise behind and the man turned swiftly to greet a young boy, who was peering at the sick boy with an intense fascination from behind a door.

A small, unexpected smile bloomed on the face of the man, "Yixiang, come here."

Yixiang shuffled forward, his sharp eyes still looking at Harua. "Where's Yuma? And Yudai?" The man asked. Yixiang blinked, then replied in a low voice, "I don't know, sir."

The man let out a hearty laugh, "It's been three weeks and you're still calling me sir?"

Yixiang chewed on his lip nervously, evidently slightly terrified of the man before him. Life rinsed her cloth and set it aside, as she dried her hands, she said, "Yuma should be playing in the garden with Yudai. Plus, how have the kids not come up with a nickname for you yet?"

"Well, what do they call you?"

Life beamed, obviously pleased with her given nickname, "They call me Life. I think maybe because I gave them a new-"

"Because she wears white! And glows!" The light, slightly breathless voice of another boy yelled out. Everyone twisted to see two soil-encrusted boys, chest heaving as though they had been sprinting.

"Yuma! Yudai! How did you get so dirty -" Life fussed over the smaller Yuma, who only giggled and shrugged it off.

Suddenly, Yixiang tugged at the man's black outfit. "Yes?" The man asked, with a gentle fondness.