AFIRE: fight for the Earth begins✓

24.3 ZURI

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.

---- Luka asks Aija not to talk of Zuri to Nala, especially in front of Thieron. She agrees for Zuri's sake. Luka goes to Etemir to scout for souls. He is caught by Etrie but manages to escape. Etrie is furious about Aija and Ze. Thieron is planning the Harvest of the soul that Luka scouted. Aija and Ze try to escape, but Thieron stops them. Thieron and Aija go to the Open. They meet Alton Ivar.

---- Thieron finds Aija is out of the room and when he goes to find her, he sees that Dhor-Wo has found her. He gets her back to the room, furious. When they go to see Var-Inu, the Ytai man asks to see her. And, then, he tells Thieron to take her to get the Avo. They are attacked by a Savage. He manages to stop it. Var-Inu burns it. Aija asks if he is really Ah'n. He tells that he is Ah'n.

---- Xan speaks to Aija. He tells her what happened to him.

---- Zuri is having a hard time with both Aija and Ze gone. She finds Iyler at Aija's apartment and confronts her about not being form the Secures. 

---- Etrie informs them about the bond Thieron has with Aija. It makes getting them back all the more complicated. 

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****24.3 - Zuri****

Etrie had been careless; there was no doubt of it. He could have handled this better. If she was a strong soul, then Zuri wouldn't have left her side even at the Hospital.

Zuri banged her fist on the table. How many days did Aija have left? And what about Ze? Was he too, a powerful soul?

"Damn!" she yelled into the empty room. The Central system beeped once and quieted when she didn't say anything else.

Her Scroll rang from somewhere inside her room.

Zuri took in two deep breaths to steady herself before receiving the call. "Answer call on Central system," she commanded. She didn't have the patience to go search for the device.

"Zuri?" Addithri Oshiro's voice echoed through her Apartment.

"Mrs. Oshiro. Is there any news on Aija?"

"No, my dear," her voice sounded sad. "I was wondering if you would like to give us a little visit tomorrow. It must be difficult for you, staying alone."

Zuri considered the offer for a moment. Aija hadn't wanted Zuri to go to her place until after the end of volunteering. But, that might have been because Zuri hadn't known who Aija was back then. But, she knew Aija belonged to the Oshiro family for quite some time now, and she had met Mrs. and Mr. Oshiro already.

Zuri also truly hated being alone; she wasn't allowed to go home either. This was a weird situation no one had anticipated. Aija wouldn't mind.

"Sure, thanks, Mrs. Oshiro. I appreciate it."