Return of the Fallen Volume 2 Chapter 35
[previous_page]
[next_page]
Author: Blue_Rat
ch35
Mei’s mind was in turmoil. She still wished to be free and the only real obstacle in her way right now was Kazuki. Something deep within her wanted to get rid of him here and now but at the same time something within her made her resist. On top of that, Kazuki perfectly grasped her weakness. Stepping in between Tsura and Mei, Kazuki made sure to be within range of Tsura at all times.
This was a subtle threat that let Mei know if she tried to attack him, he could just as easily kill her mother. Seeing his speed earlier, Mei could tell that Kazuki could finish off her mother before she even transforms. To Mei, she couldn’t guarantee her mother’s safety so she relented.
“Asuna, you carry Danny and I’ll take Tsura down. Little Mei, you can climb down yourself right?”
Asuna and Mei quickly protested Against Kazuki.
“What the hell do you mean you’ll carry Tsura? Knowing you, you’ll probably take advantage and touch her inappropriately. Nu-u,h no way, I’ll carry her down and you can carry Danny on your back.”
Without another word, Asuna walked past Danny and grabbed Tsura, tossing her roughly over her shoulder before grabbing the rope and climbing down the cliff.
Mei as well wasn’t having it.
“Why do I have to climb down when I can fly. Big bro, you really are mean. My mother should have never trusted you. You’re despicable.”
Kazuki chuckled to himself.
“Hehe, so I’m now a pervert and a bad guy. Mei, I just thought you could handle it since you’re such a big girl but I guess I was wrong. If you want to fly down then be my guest, I don’t really care.”
Mei’s mind began to spin in thought.
“I am a big girl. I…I can climb down too just watch.”
Mei was about to climb down but Kazuki grabbed her shoulder.
“Hold on a moment. Do you think I trust you yet? You can go last.”
Kazuki gave Sam a look and Sam nodded in understanding. Carrying Kimi with him he switched from a princess carry to a piggyback ride.
“Danny, hop on.”
Danny felt a bit weird having to sit on a guy’s back but at the same time, he knew he couldn’t make the climb on his own.
Mei grumbled to herself in envy, seeing Kimi and Danny getting a piggyback ride down the cliff.
Flying down the cliff was already out of her mind and she wondered if it would be fun going down that way.
Making their way into the forest, Shin and Nunully were waiting.
“Ho, so you guys managed to capture these two without my help, not bad, Ryuta.”
Tsura and Mei felt as though a wound was just opened and glared hatefully at Shin.
“Nunully, check on Danny’s wounds, he needs you.”
Kazuki ignored Shin and set Danny down against a tree.
“Asuna, Shin, you two are on hunting duty. We could all use some food and rest so get back as quickly as you can.”
“What, I gotta go with her? You gotta be kidding me.”
“You think I want to go anywhere alone with the guy that’ll lift a girl’s skirt with some wind?”
“What!, I’ve never done that and you know it. Besides, no one here is even wearing a skirt.”
(Holy crap, how did I not think about trying that. Next time we’re in a town or a city, hehehe.)
Asuna eyed him up and down.
“Oh, so you’re saying you would do it if I were wearing a skirt.”
Shin and Asuna started going at it but Kazuki quickly put a stop to it.
“That’s enough! Both of you need to stop with this petty squabbling. Every other day you two are at it. Shut up and go!”
The two wanted to argue but a loud rumbling escaped from Asuna’s stomach. Shin was about to point and laugh but a second later his stomach rumbled nearly twice as loud. A hint of red flashed across Asuna’s face in embarrassment and Shin suppressed his laughs. Turning around, the two disappeared into the forest.
“You two as well, please have a seat over there and be sure to keep some distance from one another.”
Tsura felt indignant about having to constantly be separated from her daughter, but if it was only 10 feet away like this she would put up with it.
Sam and Kimi headed into the forest themselves.
“Wait, where are you going?”
Sam grumbled under his breath and Kimi pouted slightly.
“We haven’t seen each other for over a day, we need time to ourselves and besides it’s not like you need us for anything right now, right?”
Kazuki felt slightly annoyed but Kimi was right, he could handle things for now.
“Fine just make sure to come back soon. Oh and gather some firewood while you’re out.”
Sam and Kimi then disappeared into the forest as well.
Mei shared a look with her mother. Right now most of the people were gone. Nunully and Danny were off to the side working on his arm and hand and Kazuki had his back turned, working on a campfire with what little wood was nearby.
Tsura as well looked at the situation at hand. The distance between her and Mei was only 10 feet. With Kazuki’s back turn, there could be a chance. Tsura knew this but still shook her head. Thinking about it, it was a fool’s errand. Even If they got the jump on Kazuki, stole his map and escaped, the outside world would be much more difficult than what they faced now.
Facing off against Kazuki brought a few things to Tsura’s attention that she hadn’t thought about before. Tsura only now recognized that she was her daughter’s weakness. If she were to be captured in the outside world, the people that took her could blackmail Mei into serving them. They could force Mei to do anything as long as they held Tsura as a hostage and those people wouldn’t necessarily have to be powerful.
Kazuki had found this fatal flaw so easily, Tsura couldn’t believe she never thought about it. If her daughter couldn’t be free, at least she could eventually rule over the Mangshi villagers.
Tsura shook her head no to Mei.
(I’m sorry Mei, mommy isn’t strong enough. It’s my fault you’ll never be free. Husband, please forgive me, I couldn’t give our baby girl happiness. I couldn’t give her her freedom. Dear, you must hate me. If I were to join your side, by risking my life and getting Mei out of here, you would hate me even more for leaving our daughter all alone. If only Mei had proper control, you would still be alive.)
Tsura’s thoughts started to drift toward darker areas and she started to place blame on herself. Even with these pitiful thoughts, she did her best to deter Mei with her gestures but no matter how much she shook her head at her, Mei’s expression still did not change. A word started to echo within Mei’s mind.
(Attack Attack Attack.)
Mei was sitting down and she slowly stood up. Her fist were clenched tightly.
(I can knock him out and take his map. With that, I and mommy can get away. We can escape this forest once and for all and finally be free. I just have to make a move.)
*Whoosh*
A small rock suddenly split the air and whizzed only an inch away from Mei’s face. Flying past her face faster than an arrow released from a crossbow, the rock tore into a nearby tree and shattered to bits.
Mei’s body was frozen in place and her and her mother’s eyes went wide in shock.
(That was. What was that!?)
Mei’s eyes darted around, looking for where the rock came from until a voice interrupted her.
“Little Mei, that will be my first and last warning. Next time you try and make a move, I won’t be aiming for the tree.”
Kazuki’s back was still toward them but he was clearly talking to them.
Tsura’s mind spun.
(This boy, he knew my Mei was trying to do something and then threw that rock without looking.)
Tsura and Mei’s eyes turned and looked at where the rock had struck the tree.
The place where it had impacted tore directly through the bark and devoured a chunk of the side of the tree. At least 8 inches of the tree was completely gone from the tree. On the ground were dozens of thick splinters 7-8 inches long and 1 to 2 inches thick.
Mei couldn’t help but shudder slightly.
(Big bro’s strength is similar to mine in my human form. If we were to fight with fist’s, he would kill me.)
Mei slowly sat back down as she continued to stare in a daze at the missing chunk in the tree.
Nunully and Danny ignored the antics behind them. Focusing on his arm, Danny told Nunully everything that hurt and where. Nunully sent a bit of her magic into Danny’s arm and hand and examined it before going to work. None of the muscles were damaged nor the tendons. Mei had mostly just broken his bones. The one in his arm wasn’t too bad and had been set by Tsura. With Danny’s physicality, he could naturally heal it within about a week or so but with Nunully around she could do it in less than an hour.
First, though she needed to take care of the worst injury which were the broken bones in his hand. The damage was terrible and he had many breaks in his fingers and hand. Placing her hands over Danny, she sent her power into his hand. Bits of water began to sink under his skin and wrap around his bones. Freezing around them she straightened the bones and put them back in place.
Then she took some water and grabbed the broken bone fragments that were scattered around his hand and with a thought, her water retreated out of his hand and pulled all of the broken bone fragments out with it.
With his bones fixed in place, Nunully used her healing power and slowly the bones began to fuse back together at an accelerated rate.
“These were all the leftover fragments in your hand.”
Nunully showed the tiny pieces of bone to Danny who felt queasy looking at them.
“Please don’t show them to me.”
Nunully chuckled lightly and continued to heal Danny.
“Hahaha, you’re lucky that I’m around, otherwise, to fix this you would have had to find a proper healer in a town or a city. Those are pretty lacking around here.”
Danny couldn’t argue with that and was thankful. Nunully wasn’t as strong as everyone else but her healing really came in handy.
“Thanks, Next time I’ll avoid getting my ass kicked.”
“Oh, yeah, I didn’t even ask, why did Tsura break your arm and hand?”
Danny went silent for a moment before he mumbled something.
Nunully leaned in closer.
“Huh, what was that?”
Danny’s face became slightly red.
“I said, it was Mei who injured me.”
Nunully said nothing and turned away but Danny could clearly tell she was suppressing some laughs, as her back was shaking unnaturally.
“Dammit, she’s strong, you know! I just didn’t expect her to have such strength in her human form and I let my guard down. I won’t let it happen again.”
Danny spoke confidently but Nunully’s back continued to tremble as though she were in a tundra.
“Dammit, Nunully, stop laughing at me!”
[previous_page]
[next_page]
Comment (0)