BEYOND THE LOVE

CHAPTER 13:

We retreated to our house.Once inside, we locked the doors and took a moment to assess our wounds. The reality of our defeat hung heavily in the air.

Suha gingerly set her rifle down, watching as Juan patched up a wound on Kyoto's leg. Ji Woon, nursing a nasty bruise on his jaw, slumped into a corner. My side throbbed from the blow dealt by the Shadow Piercer, but it was the sting of defeat that hurt the most.

"I told you they were legends," Suha broke the silence. "We underestimated them."

Kyoto, grunting from the pain, shot back, "It's one thing to admire an opponent, but this is not the time for fandom, Suha."

"I wasn't being a fan," she retorted, "I was being realistic. We went in cocky and underprepared."

Juan nodded, "She's right. Viper's tech was something else. My entire system went haywire with that pulse. We've never faced tech like that."

Ji Woon, rubbing his temples, sighed, "And the Shadow Piercer's agility. He was everywhere, always one step ahead."

I leaned against a wall, "What bothered me the most was how they anticipated our every move. It's as if they've studied us, known our tactics."

Kyoto, now with his leg bandaged, joined the discussion, "We need to rethink our strategies. The Eviscerators didn't just get lucky; they were better prepared."

Suha, with a pensive look, added, "The Eliminator and Devourer seemed to work together seamlessly. Their coordination was impeccable."

A momentary silence filled the room. It was clear; we were both impressed and disheartened by the prowess of the Eviscerators.
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Ji Woon cleared his throat, "We can spend all night marveling at their abilities, but it won't change the fact that they got away with the shipment. We need to find a way to turn the tables."

Kyoto leaned forward, "While we may not have their coordination, we do have our unique skills. We need to focus on those and exploit any weaknesses they might have."

Juan began fiddling with a piece of tech. "Their reliance on Viper's pulse is both a strength and a potential vulnerability. If we can counteract or shield ourselves from it, that might level the playing field."

Suha nodded, "And the way the Eliminator and Devourer work together can be their undoing. We've seen pairs like that before. Their bond is strong, but if we can find a way to create a rift, even momentarily, it might give us the edge we need."

"I've been thinking," I started, "The way they anticipated our moves, could there be a mole in our group? Or someone feeding them information?"

Ji Woon looked at everyone in the room, "It's a grim thought, but we can't rule it out. We need to be sure."

Kyoto frowned, "We've been together through thick and thin. To think one of us is betraying the others..."

Suha interjected, "Whether or not there's a mole, we need a plan. We can't let them get the better of us again."

Juan piped up, "What about a decoy? Lead them to believe we're transporting another shipment. When they strike, we'll be ready."

Ji Woon smiled, "That's the spirit. We set a trap."

Kyoto nodded, "But it can't be obvious. The Eviscerators are sharp. We need to make them believe it's real."

Suha looked around the room, "Alright, let's start planning. This time, we'll be ready for them."

Ji Woon quickly set the piece down and suggested, "What if we involve Rein in this?"

"I'm against it," I responded firmly.

"Why not?" Kyoto questioned.

"We've managed without Rein for all these missions so far, and we should continue that way," I insisted.

"Look, Nara, it's not-" Juan began, but then changed his mind, "We might consider it, but not right now."
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The tension grew thick as the team continued to discuss the possibility of involving Rein. Everyone could feel the tension, but no one knew the exact reason for my adamant refusal.

Suha, with a smirk, said, "You know, Nara, Rein's a skilled fighter. Maybe even better than you in some respects."

I shot her a glare. "It's not about skill."

Ji woon raised an eyebrow, "So it's personal, then?"

I avoided his gaze, trying to deflect the topic, "It doesn't matter."

Kyoto, sensing there was more to the story, asked gently, "Nara, we trust you. If there's something about Rein that we should know, it's best you tell us."

Ji Woon, who seemed to be putting two and two together, teased, "Oh, I get it. You and Rein had a... thing, didn't you?"

My body tensed, my heartbeat quickened, yet I spoke...."That's ancient history. It's not relevant now."

Suha laughed, "Come on, Nara. A love story amidst all this action? Now that's a plot twist."

"There's more to it than you might believe." I retorted defensively. "But it ended bitterly. And that's the end of that story."

Juan looked intrigued, "So, you're afraid that history will repeat itself? Or is it that you don’t trust him because of the past?"

Every time his memory floods back, a weight settles on my chest, making it nearly impossible to breathe. I muster all my strength to keep my composure, holding back the tears that threaten to spill.

I sighed, "BOTH. But more importantly, I don’t want personal conflicts affecting our mission."

Kyoto intervened, "We understand, Nara. Emotions can be complex. But we need to think objectively. If Rein can help, should we consider it?"

Ji Woon chuckled, "Well, unless we're worried about a little lovers' spat on the battlefield."

"ENOUGH," I said firmly. "Let's focus on the plan."

Suha nodded, still teasing, "Alright, no old flames for now. But if we do need Rein later, you’ll have to deal with your past, Nara."

I sighed, realizing that while my feelings for Rein were a thing of the past, they might yet play a role in our future battles. But for now, we had the Eviscerators to deal with.