AFIRE: fight for the Earth begins✓

22.2 LUKA

The story so far:

---- Aija is a Volunteer at the Pristine School at Innermost. She works along with Zuri and Ze, who are her friends. Aija witnesses a strange event one night – light emanating from Rez's body. The kidnapper is after her soul, next, but he leaves her alive and goes away. Another man finds her, he wants to take her somewhere else - Aija though wary of him agrees. Aija learns of the existence of the aliens – the Ytai. Also, about the R'ies and H'eon, Harvesting and Àvo from Etrie. Etrie tells her that the man, who Harvested Rez (Thieron), will now go after her. He tells her that the spy/kidnapper's name is Luka. Etrie asks her to work along with him. Aija agrees to work along with Etrie on Harvest Stopping Missions.

---- Thieron kidnaps Aija. She finds out that Nala works for Thieron. Ze, who was following her to rescue her, gets captured along with her. Thieron binds Aija to himself.

---- Zuri is worried about Aija and Ze, who were taken by Thieron. Etrie kisses Zuri; she slaps him. Ahi and Zuri patch up and agree to remain friends. Zuri is asked to go to the Secure Headquarters for questioning. She goes to Innermost for it. Zuri is questioned by Secure Ivan who presumes that Ze and Aijs ran from home together. She meets the Oshiros and Iyler. Kuna tells her that Iyler is actually from the Gale.

---- Gold gets information that Aija Rao-Oshiro and Ze Roan are missing - kidnapped by Thieron. Gold tries to get to Pristine City One for the case. Gold finds someone unexpected waiting for him at his apartment. Vincent has been assigned to Pristine City Four too. Goldstar finds it a little uncomfortable because he is affected by the man. Vincent finds out that Goldstar's name is Veer from their roommate Avery.

---- Luka tries to coax Aija to eat. She agrees to it only if she is allowed to see Ze; he agrees. 

---- Luka finds that her soul is a strong deep-purple.

---- Thieron wants Luka to scout for new souls. Luka finds Nala sulking in her room and asks her to go down before Thieron finds something suspicious.  

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****22.2 - Luka****

*Luka went to his room. It was almost afternoon. He sat on his bed next to Mr. White Tail, who was curled up on the blanket.

"Where's the new kitten?" he asked Mr. White Tail, who gave him a soft mew in response. Mr. White Tail purred as Luka stroked his head.

The new kitten had spent a day by *Ze's side until he had chased it away one night. And, since then, it had spent its time curled up next to Aija. But, Luka hadn't seen it since that morning. It hadn't been in Aija's room when he had been there.

Luka took a long shower letting the hot water distract him and calm his mind. He was feeling hungry, and he wondered if Thieron had meant for him to go scouting right away. Luka had no mood to. He was apprehensive of sending Aija with Thieron all the way to the *Open, by themselves. He would be spending the entire time anxious.

He washed his hair, lost in thought. After washing up, he tied the towel around his waist, took another small one to dry his hair, and stepped out. Mr. White Tail was staring at the door.

"What's it?" he asked, going to the cat.

He stood still as he saw what had caught Mr. White Tail's attention. Aija was in the room near the door, holding the kitten. She looked at him flustered, and he was overly aware of the fact that he only had a towel around his waist.

"Sorry," she said. "He came in here, so I followed him."

And suddenly she looked confused. Confused as to why she was apologizing to him, to her captor.