Itsy Bitsy Spider

5. Recovering Uvogin

"Did you see that?" Shalnark's sage eyes were a bit wider than normal, but otherwise, his expression betrayed no feelings of surprise. How did he do that?

"How could I not?" Moving of their own volition, Rein's hands squeezed her lucky rock. From the little she'd heard, Uvo was paralyzed and poisoned, not the best combination. Uvo was strong, but admittedly, he was at his weakest when he'd vanished. Gripping hard, she tried to take calming breaths. It wasn't working. He would be fine against any person, but he couldn't do anything about the creatures inside of him.

"Those chains came out of nowhere and wrapped around his body in an instant." Shizuku laid a hand on Rein's shoulder. It was a movement meant to be comforting, but her blunt words caused the complete opposite.

Shalnark sighed and scratched the back of his own head. "Well it can't be helped... I guess we should go help him."

Feitan rolled his eyes. "Good grief, he's so much trouble."

"I have a lead for now." Machi's gaze was fixed on a point in the distance, finger held up. Her Nen threads. "I used In, so as long as they don't break though that barrier by using Gyo, I can essentially follow them anywhere."

Shalnark let out a quick exhale and returned his hands to his hips, ready. "Okay! Let's catch up before they notice. Franklin," he called back, "we're counting on you for the beer!"

Franklin gave something between a sigh and a groan. "Man, the chase seems more fun."

Shalnark laughed, shoulders shaking, eyes squeezed shut and expression carefree, just as he always did. As if nothing concerning was happening. His laugh cut off, and he was smiling, mop of platinum blond hair swinging over joyous eyes. "Let's go!"

*     *     *

Rein fumbled with her rock, flicking it into the air, squeezing it, tossing it back and forth between her palms, turning it over and over and over. Anything to keep her hands busy.

"What's on your mind?" Machi switched her gaze over to her. Her elbow was propped up against the widow so her Nen strings held tight while they were pursuing Uvo, but she shifted to face Rein. "Is it Uvogin?" Rein's silence confirmed her suspicions. "Uvo will be fine."

"Against the people who took him, sure, but he's paralyzed and has those worm—"

"Spotted leeches," Shalnark cut in. "Sorry, continue."

"—leeches and if we don't get to them before they start hatching..." Rein trailed off. She shook her head vigorously, almost hitting Feitan with her flying hair. "He'll be fine," she said, more to herself than anyone else. Yet the confidence in her voice wasn't faked. "Machi, how much longer?"

"Given the length of the string that's left, much less than a minute." The taut string suddenly fell loose, pushed back by the wind. "Or now. I suppose that works as well." She reeled in the thread.

"It's fine though!" Shal gestured ahead. "See? We're almost caught up!" Indeed they were. A line of identical cars could be seen just slightly ahead of them.

Nobunaga's muffled voice came from the back. Ah yes, he'd been stuffed in the trunk of the small car, rather against his will. "Whatever! Why are we all in this cramped car? I'm running out of air! Why couldn't Rein have been here? She can actually fit."

"Nobunaga, she's a minor!" Shal said, as if it were the funniest idea to ever cross his mind. "We can't stuff her in the trunk."

"Bear it for a little while longer." Feitan's lip curled at the amount of complaints his comment was rewarded with. Tch. Nobunaga was really quite bothersome.