Another Search Party (An Elsword Fanfic)

Chapter 2

The second chapter is here! Time to figure out what's going to happen now!
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      Kazumi had already wasted enough time looking for Miho and Naho. Hoya rarely ever said anything to her so she couldn't ask him where to the vixens had run off to. They could find their own way back though so Kazumi headed back to where she had hidden Risui.

      As long as she found Hoya everything was all good. The usually silent kitsune could get lost rather easily if Miho or Naho weren't there to guide him. Kazumi had to remain in the form of a child until she got far enough away from whoever that stranger was.

      He was most definitely an outsider to the Xin Empire but he seemed to have good intentions for being there so Kazumi just went about her business as though he hadn't been there. Whoever he was, he would eventually completely forget about her. Hoya had made sure of it when he made eye contact with him.

      Hoya's special ability to slowly erase memory came in handy for Kazumi quite a lot. After Kazumi was sure that she was a good distance away, she began to pick up her speed and headed to the place where she had hidden Risui. He was a half human, half demon that had saved Kazumi's life a couple of days back but she had known him for about three weeks now.

      He had already been injured when Kazumi met him and hadn't recovered so he had gotten hurt even more when he saved her. He was dying now and Kazumi was trying to keep him alive as best as she could. She couldn't take him into any of the villages since he looked more demon than he did human.

      The Xin Empire didn't tolerate demons because of a certain incident and Kazumi couldn't tell Ara about him. She wasn't even sure if Risui had a good reason for being in Elrios rather than in the demon realm where he belonged.

      The place where Risui was hidden was a small cavern that most people didn't know was there. It was also the cavern where Kazumi hid and took care of Hoya, Miho, and Naho. "Risui? You awake?" Kazumi called when she entered the cavern. She got no response but it's not like she expected to get one. It was still nighttime so Risui was likely just asleep.

      Hoya tugged at Kazumi's fox ear, signaling that he wanted to be put down. Kazumi let Hoya roam the cavern while she went over to where Risui was. She had to wake him up. Allowing him to sleep in his condition wasn't a good thing.

      "Risui?" Kazumi said as she lightly nudged his arm. He didn't wake up though so Kazumi flicked his forehead. Risui's eyes shot open and he met Kazumi's gaze. "Don't sleep or else you'll die," Kazumi said but Risui didn't say anything in response. Instead he closed his eyes again so Kazumi just flicked him again. "Awake. Stay awake," Kazumi ordered.

      "Can't...I'm tired," Risui muttered weakly. Kazumi lifted his shirt a little to check his bandages which were now soaked in his blood. "No...no, not this again," Kazumi whispered. Miho and Naho weren't there so they couldn't use their moderate healing abilities to save Risui this time. Kazumi wasn't a healer. She didn't know what she could do to help Risui.

      "Hey...don't cry about me. I'll be okay," Risui said. "I'm not crying and you're not okay. You're dying you, idiot," Kazumi said as she wiped her eyes. "Yeah, whatever...I saved your life already. My debt to you is repaid...so it doesn't matter if...I die," Risui said slightly smirking.

      "You're such an idiot! I can't let my friends die! Ara would be disappointed in me if I let that happen!" Kazumi said. Risui didn't say anything to her but before she could do anything about it, she sensed someone else's presence. "I told him not to follow me," Kazumi hissed, knowing that it had to have been the same stranger from earlier.

      She didn't want to leave Risui there knowing that he could be dead when she returned but she could risk anyone else seeing a demon near the Xin Empire Borders. Kazumi disappeared into sparkling mist-smoke and reappeared in her preferred human form. Then she quickly made her way to the cavern's entrance, ready to stike if needed.

      Instead of just finding the stranger from earlier, she found Miho and Naho as well. "This is a knight," Miho said. "He has potions," Naho said. Knight? Potions? "Why is he here?" Kazumi questioned as if the knight wasn't there.

      "He wants to help," Miho said. "He has potions," Naho said again. Kazumi looked at the knight who was patiently waiting for whatever it was that he was supposed to be doing. It was obvious that he certainly still remembered who she was despite her looking a lot older but he said nothing about their previous encounter.

      "Miho, Naho. Go stop Risui's bleeding. You, what's you're name?" Kazumi said. "I am Kai. I'm here to help but after that, I need you to do me a favor," Kai said. "Whatever the favor is, I'll do it. Just save Risui's life," Kazumi said as she stepped aside. Kai nodded and entered the cavern. Kazumi followed until they got to Risui.

      Miho and Naho were already using their moderate healing abilities but it wouldn't be enough. "He's a demon?" Kai asked once he saw Risui. "Yes. Is there a problem with that?" Kazumi said, knowing that Kai most likely did have a problem with saving a demon. They used to be Elrios' major enemy a long time ago but now they're minor enemies.

      "No. There's no problem. Someone that I know used to work alongside a demon," Kai said as he went over to Risui and knelt down next to him. Kazumi watched impatiently as Kai got Risui to drink a potion of some sort. Kai stood up and walked over to Kazumi afterwards. "He should be better in no time. Now about that favor," Kai said.

      "Yeah, what is it? What do I have to do?" Kazumi inquired. "You're a ninetailed fox right? You wouldn't happen to know where I could find one named Kazumi would you?" Kai asked. "I'm standing right here, but I'm not going to steal any souls. Those days are over," Kazumi said.

      "Right, but I need you're help. I'm forming a search party that has the purpose of finding the supernatural beings that live in Elrios. I could use one on my team and I've heard that you're supposedly a good tracker. Join me on my quest. I promise, you won't regret it," Kai said. Kazumi stared at him for a moment then looked over to where Miho, Naho, and Hoya were sitting around Risui.

      "I'll accept under two conditions. Risui joins too and you have to come back after I get those demon hunters off of Risui's trail. I know I said I'd do anything but those are my conditions and I won't join without you meeting those conditions," Kazumi said.

      "Ok. No problem. I had someone else to look for anyway. I'll come back after I find them and then the journey of Another Search Party will begin," Kai said. Kazumi dscided not to ask about the name although she was wondering about it. "You're welcome to stay here until morning," Kazumi offered.

      "Nah. I think I'll pass. No offense but I really need to get to Isshin as soon as possible. There's someone I need to contact. Thanks for the offer anyway," Kai said. He left the cavern right after that but Kazumi could care less. She had demon hunters to deal with for now so Another Search Party had to wait.
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Another chapter completed and yet another chapter to be done. Until next time you cool readers!