The Caelum Princess

CHAPTER XVII: TRUST

(Hiro's P.O.V)

I opened my eyes to find myself in some sort of dungeon, chained up to a wall. I looked from left to right to see if anyone is here with me but I couldn't find anyone. How did I get here, anyway?

I heard the door open, I couldn't see clearly because it was dark, I long haired figure.

"Who's there?" I said.

"Hiro." said a familiar voice, it was Iya.

"Iya, what's going on? Why am I chained up?" I asked, I felt she had something to do with this.

"Because I tied you up," she said.

"Why?" again I asked.

"Because I want to." she answered.

"That's not a very good answer." I said as I look away.

It's obvious she had betrayed us; she'll probably surrender us to Savina soon. I couldn't believe she did this to us.

"Where are the others?" I asked seriously.

"They're in a different room, obviously?" she said as she walks to me.

"What did you do to them?" I asked with gritted teeth.

"I haven't done anything yet, sweety." she said playfully.

"Tch..."

She approached me, "I had to do this to all of you." she smirked as she holds my chin.

I removed her hand by turning my look away. I'm all full of rage for her, "How could you!? Why did you do this!? I trusted you!" I yelled. This was the second time I yelled to her.

"That was your mistake, Hiro. Didn't Résh tell you not to trust anyone!?" she yelled back.

She unlocked the chains that were holding me so I fell on the ground then pulled me up then dragged me out of that room.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked.

I didn't want to run. I didn't want to leave her. I have feelings for her just like she has for me, I fell for her throughout this adventure of ours, even if don't really know if her feelings for me were true, it will be hard to forget her. It was all too sudden.

"Somewhere here... You could run away, you know." she said as she look down, her grip loosened. Like I said, I didn't want to.

I took advantage of her loosened grip so I took my hand then grabbed both her arms then pinned her to the wall. I felt a different sensation rush through me mixed with my anger.

"H-hiro– What are you doing! Let me go!" she squealed. I see her blush.

I neared my face to hers, we were nose to nose, "Not if you tell me where you are taking me." I said softly as I held her chin.

"To–" she turned into large components of water then went beside me then grabbed my hand from behind. God, she's fast, kind of a turn on.

"I didn't know you could be intense, Hiro." she said with a smirk.

"I could be if you want me to." I also smirked. "So where are you taking me?" I said a bit serious.

"That's classified information." she dragged me again then blindfolded me then tied my hands behind my back.

I kind of wanted to tease her a little, "You're not planning on raping me are you?" I asked with a little smirk.

She punched my arm lightly, "No, you pervert!" She stroked my shoulder that made me feel that weird sensation again. "Unless you want me to." she laughed.

She was pushing me to somewhere, "Maybe you are." I said teasingly.

"Nope, I'll do that another time if you'd like." she laughed. "Just kidding! I'm not that kind of person."

"If I'm still alive," I smirked.

"Don't worry, I don't plan on killing you." she said

"Then where are you taking me?" I asked.

"I said it's a secret, you'll find out soon." she said with a cold voice that got me chills. I gulped.

I think we were going in a room; she was still pushing me further in.

We stopped then she went in front of me and made me sit on the floor on the corner.

"Wait there," she said before going somewhere.

"Iya, hey wait a second, where are you going–?" I hesitated.

"I'll be right back." she replied to me with a calm voice, I wonder what she's up to? I leaned on the wall behind me then sighed.

Her whispering and chuckling could be heard in the background.

"Iya, what's going on?" I asked unsurely.

I heard her footsteps come near then went behind me to untie the rope of my hands. I rubbed my wrists, it felt hurt because of the tight rope.

"Geez, that was some tight rope," I complained.

"Sorry, that's just how I tie a rope, especially to prisoners." she chuckled a little. I felt uncomfortable with the term 'prisoner', I just groaned silently.

"Can you remove this blindfold already? It's also a little tight." I said, complaining and trying to remove the blindfold but can't.

"Stop complaining, will you." she said with an annoyed voice while untying the blindfold.

I rubbed my eyes because the blindfold made my eye sight a little blurry. When I opened my eyes, I gasped a little to what I just saw that I couldn't believe. My brother Tadashi was sitting 5 foot away in front of me, smiling.

"Hello, little brother."

My jaw dropped, "Tadashi... How...?" I didn't know what to say. So many questions filled my head.

"What? No hug for your big brother?" he chuckled.

I couldn't help myself so I ambushed him with a hug then cried like a little kid, I still couldn't believe all of this was real, that my brother was still alive.

"It's nice to see you too, Hiro." Tadashi stroked my head.

I pulled myself together then let go, I wiped my tears; I could imagine myself looking so childish in front of my big brother and crush.

"How did this happen?" I asked.

Tadashi glanced at Iya, "She saved me and gave me this to recover easily." he held out a yellow pendant, similar to the blue pendant that Iya has.

I looked at Iya, "You mean, you took me here to Tadashi? So you knew all along where he was? Where are Résh and the others?" I frowned.

She looked down, "Résh and the others are safe, I took them to where Lightning, Noctis and Cloud were. I'm sorry I had to lie, I didn't know Savina would want to kill you all. I thought she'd really reunite you all. I'm sorry, Hiro."

I sighed, "I thought you really betrayed us. I'm sorry too."

"I would never do that to you, you just have to trust me." she said. I just patted her head, she just smiled a little.

I was relieved a bit but only one last question was going through my head; will killing Savina be our only problem left?

END OF CHAPTER XVII