edelweiss - &team

29

Terribly obedient, everyone stayed put as Euijoo had requested. Riki was fidgeting like a child so Harua (like a parent) turned on the television, the only source of entertainment available.

And Jo jerked up in horror as they watched the news.

A nuclear power plant situated in XX province has unfortunately failed. Investigation is still underway, but signs point to negligence of a few parties. All affected residents are in isolation and under observation. We ask the public to remain calm and...

-

Despite the bright rosy dawn that greeted them in the sudden cold, Kyungmin stayed sealed within a small, dark room. Since he had first arrived, Death had given him one task and forbade him to do anything else. No running about. No sparring with the others. Stay indoors as much as possible. And under no circumstance, try to find the other immortals.

It didn't matter that much. Kyungmin didn't really feel deep hatred for any of them, except one. Though that complex feeling could hardly be coined as hatred.

With his hands planted on the ground, right where a small hole had been unceremoniously sliced through the beautiful wooden flooring, Kyungmin took long, deep breaths as he worked on his tedious, intricate task.

A few raps on his door were heard, and Kyungmin scowled as a bead of sweat splashed on his hands, his concentration broken. The door was rudely opened, Kyungmin was ready to cuss out the person but stopped when he noticed it was little Minhyung.

"What are you doing?" The immortal, hardly passing off as a teenager, asked. Kyungmin tried to be patient, "Death gave me something to do."

Minhyung played with the loose ends of his long-sleeved shirt, rather thin for the freezing weather. "Do you have a plan to deal with him?" Minhyung asked as he yanked out a single thread. Kyungmin's head dropped, "Sort of."

Minhyung's lips quivered, "We need a plan. I've been watching him all these years. He may not look like it but he's still strong."

Kyungmin suddenly flicked his eyes to meet Minhyung's, "I wonder if we're talking of the same person." It took a minute for Minhyung to get it, before his body sagged in half exasperation, half defeat, "You criticise Junwon but in the end you two are the same."

Kyungmin shook his head, chuckling darkly, "The difference between that imbecile and me is that I was made with Yuma in mind and he wasn't."

Slightly taken aback, Minhyung pulled free a second thread. In the distance, there was the loud, triumphant cackle from Gaku and Hikaru as somethings landed heavily on the ground. Minhyung then said, "Seriously, what are you doing?"

A wicked grin spread across the other's face, one that Minhyung could confidently say was identical to Death's. The ground rumbled slightly, Minhyung almost lost his balance but Kyungmin hardly flinched. "Didn't you hear? We're playing a game with them. You need a playground when you play games."

-

The lodge was now a mess. Jo looked like a stressed Yudai the way he paced, his hands clutching at the base of his neck, half shaken, half furious.

"I told you, I said it'll be either of us," Riki said accusingly to no one in particular. Harua had returned to burying his head in his hands.

Jo spun on his heel, desperation raging in his eyes, "Euijoo, you know their exact location."

"No-" Fuma tried to intercept, then Euijoo said softly, "Yes, but there has been a strange development." Immediately everyone turned to Euijoo, startled. The vet had been sitting on the edge of the sofa since he returned, solemn and distant.

"My birds are dead. All those that had been reporting to me on their location are dead. All I have left to rely on is the forest. They are doing something, I hear. From what it seems, they are insistent on preventing me from observing their actions," Euijoo quietly reported.

"We have to go," Jo urged. It was unexpected to hear it from him, usually quiet and cool-headed. "What are you talking about?" Maki asked, unnerved by Jo's sudden switch in personality.

"That province...those people...I worked there. I helped those people. If the university's people were Fuma's to care for, these were mine. We've met Hayate, Hikaru, Junwon and Yejun. There is still one more event to come. We have to stop them before-"

"Woah, woah," Yudai held his hands up to cut Jo off, "First, that's assuming barging up to them will stop them from doing anything."

"We need to weigh our strengths and theirs," Euijoo said as he pushed his shoulders back with a tight smile, "And we don't even know who they have."

"Gaku, for sure," Riki said as he flipped the Pride card adorned with bones. Fuma was deep in thought, then snapped his fingers, "I know who one could be. It must be Minhyung. Minhyung for me, Hikaru for Riki, Gaku for Euijoo and Yejun for Jo."

"That's sick," Maki said as he made a face. "The last person?" Yixiang asked, one finger sticking out after counting off the seven. "That's a complete wildcard," Euijoo sighed, "I believe that person has stayed within the confines of the temple the entire time I've been observing them."

"Okay," Jo tightly gripped his right wrist, "I can take Yejun no problem."

"And I Hikaru," Riki said with determination, everyone politely chose not to mention the previous round they met.

Fuma was still pondering, then said, "I am not too confident with Minhyung, especially if he is supported by who I think he is."

"That's not important. You won't be taking them on alone," Maki promised, "And it's six against nine of us. What could go wrong?"