Crimson Raven | [MYTHICAL SERIES BOOK 2]

TWELVE || Agony of One [3/3]

THE HANONI'S WORDS RANG THROUGH THE LOBBY, eventually dawning on the others. 

They hadn't expected him to decide this quickly, since it hadn't even been an hour yet. But they knew they had to respect his decision nonetheless.

"...Alright." Mamoru nodded with a firm expression adorning his features. "We'll need to figure out where Wenyan and An are."

"We should narrow it down to Kiyosumi." Aiwami noted, looking at the blond. "Given that Nanami was killed there, they won't be far, more than likely."

"Got it." Mamoru nodded. He figured that they might be laying low in the city or perhaps somewhere close by, also given with how the previous cases went.

That, or in slightly further places like the castle. But then again, the castle was unlikely. Aerial had it closed off after the events of Kurorai's half-sister, Eleni.

So the center with the shops and headquarters seemed like the first choice to go. Mamoru voiced this to the others and they agreed.

Katsuro hummed in thought afterwards. "Come to think of it, this is the third murder that has taken place in Kiyosumi. Right, sir?"

Mamoru nodded and frowned. "...Yes." he had just realized that now. He remembered thinking that the location of these murders was just a coincidence but, now he wasn't so sure. It seemed a little too much of a coincidence. "There's a reason behind this."

"I believe it's because my family and I reside here." Sakari noted, stepping forward with their hands threaded together.  "I mean, this isn't just payback on Solaria but...it's payback on friends of his and so on."

The others nodded grimly and silence drifted over them. 

"Even so," Sakari shattered the silence before it could make itself comfy, "we still need to nip this in the bud and stop these two before they try and kill Mom, Kōri, or even anyone else for that matter."

As she was going to use her necklace, Kiyo's voice rung through the room.

"Wait, lass. You guys are goin' to Kiyosumi, right?"

They turned to see the dog entity make his way down the stairs. Upon hearing Sakari's yes, he offered to tag along and teleport them there. "I was goin' to stay behind, but this is personal to me, too. Given that I protected you, Sakari, and yer mother to an extent, years ago. Now, I am Mamoru's and I want to make sure he's safe. Along with the rest of you, too."

Sakari looked touched and smiled, with Aiwami and Mamoru following suit.

Silence came back again and Kiyo cleared his throat. "Alright, let's get goin' then, shall we?"

____________________________

The group set foot on the gravely ground of the Kiyosumi village. The buildings and shops adorning it were a familiar sight, given the instances from the previous cases.

Kori looked around at the buildings, his expression softening. The layout reminded him of the one village he had encased himself in ice, and it tugged at his heart strings. Even if he knew it wasn't his fault and moreso his powers, he still felt the guilt weigh down on him.

His eyes then fell on the rest, locking on Sakari and Mamoru talking about the possible spots Wenyan and An might be at.

"E-Excuse me..."

"Huh?" Sakari and Mamoru both turned to look at him. The brown-haired adult noticed how nervous he looked and she recognized it all too well, remembering how he often adopted it years ago. The adapting to a new environment, new people, people who gave him a support system...it did stress him out and cause the said emotion. She hadn't seen it on him for years until earlier during the store confrontation and then now. "Oh...Kori, what's wrong?"