Requiem [Sirius the Jaeger]

Chapter 23 - Promise

I'm so sorry I didn't update during the weekend >-<
There was so much to do and I simply didn't have time. Hopeuflly I'll make it next time!
Also thank you for all the votes this story has been getting. For me, this is a great help to keep going and update every week. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

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"The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep."
~Robert Frost

When I opened my eyes again, we were already back in the little port town. It seemed to be morning, but clouds were still covering the sky, letting everything appear dark and unfriendly. It wasn't long before Bishop stopped the car at the side of the road and turned off the engine. Looking out of the window, I recognized the little restaurant where we had met the strange Jaeger yesterday. I should have guessed he's thinking about food first.

However, I couldn't deny that I was hungry myself. And a nice meal probably won't hurt, perhaps it helps me waking up a little. Even though I must have slept most of the car ride back, I felt extremely tired and exhausted. That damn wound on my cheek won't stop hurting either, but I have decided to simply ignore it. It will stop sooner or later, I'm sure of it. As for the exhaustion, that's probably just because of the recent events, so nothing to worry about either.

As we left the car and approached the restaurant, Bishop was the one to speak up first. "We'll think about how to make the old man talk. So first, we eat." Well, he got his priorities straight, I guess. But he was right. It would have been no use if we tried to persuade the man any further at that point. I think we were lucky enough that he told us as much as he did. Nevertheless, how are we going to get the information we want?

Revealing Yuliy's and my origins should have been the Plan B, if the man refused to answer. However, that turned out to be completely useless, as he still denied us any answer about the Ark's location. What is he trying to hide anyways, and what happened to Yuliy's father?

Too many questions, not enough food.

As Bishop was about to enter the restaurant, I noticed a familiar scent coming nearer. A scent of flowers mixed with wood, all covered with an expensive perfume. There was already no denying it, but it was painfully obvious the moment a feminine voice made me look her way.

"Oh, this is the place. I heard at the port this place is rumored to be the best in southern Sakhalin." I didn't believe my eyes when I saw the girl with the strange hair style walking down the street. A bag and her sword in hand, she talked with the man I faintly recall Dorothea telling me about. If I remember right, he works for the Japanese Military.

Once Ryoko had finished her sentence, she looked up only to recognize Yuliy and me immediately. While she seemed to be completely stunned, the man beside her seemed to know us too. Perhaps from the incident at the Naoe manor? Probably.

"Oh? You're-"
"Yuliy-san! Laika-san!"

Bishop now turned around too, wondering what was going on here. "Oh. A friend?" He asked confused, while I was still trying to figure out what the hell is going on here. What was this girl doing here? Nonetheless with a Major of the Imperial Army. I honestly doubt her father's knows nor approved of this.

Wait, she couldn't know that we were here, right? The only one to know where we went was Professor Willard, and by now probably the rest of the team too. I don't think they would have told her or the Major. So how? And more importantly, why?

In the end, we decided to talk things out inside. So now, all five of us were sitting at a table in the small restaurant, finally eating something and receiving answers on why everyone was here. Just as I suspected, Ryoko went against her father's wishes and tried to follow the Jaeger.