Chapter 44: CHAPTER 44: HALF

"You don't like it?" Asked Ziphoteninx through telepathy. He was still in Kairi's bracelet.

 

"Erm, I don't know... It's just that I've never seen snow before. Is this normal?" Kairi was confused.

 

White scenery covered everything around him. But the shrubs and trees make the place look more dazzling.

 

"It's pretty."

 

Kairi put his hand up and let the snow fall on his hand. The snow was cold and he was lucky to have a robe wrapping around his body. He was wearing the same attire after he woke up from his test. And they weren't heavy like before or small in size since Ziphoteninx had adjusted it.

 

Ziphoteninx, who can see the snow too, agreed. But it was unusual to happen here.

 

"Actually, Herpine Kingdom isn't supposed to have snow. Here, it only has the rainy and summer season, no snow. The Herpine Kingdom after all is located on the Earth Equator, far from the north or south pole where it snows all year round. Maybe something caused it to happen. Shiroi, do you sense anything weird?"

 

Kairi nodded his head. "I sense two powers five kilometres away."

 

"Most likely they're the stellar power users we're looking for. Come on! Let's find them, Shiroi!" Instruct Ziphoteninx while calling Kairi by another name. 

 

This was to ensure Kairi's identity was not revealed. The name Shiroi means white and it matches Kairi's current white hair. However, Ziphoteninx didn't tell Kairi it was Kairi's name in another place. This was a secret that would only be revealed once Kairi passed away.

 

Kairi nodded and ran in the direction he felt the power came from. A moment later, he arrived at a small village and was surprised. He can't sense anyone there except for the two people who hold the stellar power. He watched around. All the doors of the house were closed and the inside also looked dark like nobody was home.

 

Kairi decided to look more around the village. When he walked past an alleyway, he suddenly noticed something running and hiding behind a large water barrel. He quickly walked to the water barrel and looked behind it. 

 

"Hm? That's strange… Oh, he's here."

 

He thought while using his second eye, the Knight Seeyer's eyes without changing the irises colour to see an invisible small boy. The boy seems scared of him somehow. Probably because his attire was white and eerie. Same for his height and body that would scare a small child below five years old. 

 

Now, what is he going to do about this?

 

"Shiroi, this child is probably one of Stellar's users. Look at his hand." Ziphoteninx sounded in his head.

 

Kairi looked at the boy's hand. He was gripping a half emblem which he couldn't see what user of stellar he was. It doesn't seem to him that the emblem was broken. So, how'd it become half? 

 

He was confused but slowly approached the boy. The boy looked alarmed when Kairi's right hand was coming at him. He shut his eyes tightly while his free hand cupped his whimpering mouth. Tears fell to his cheek.

 

"Someone help me!" He silently pleaded.

 

He was startled when Kairi's hand touched his head and gently brushed it. His eyes opened and looked up to see a gentle face looking at him. 

 

Before, Kairi in front of him had his mask on. Now, it was no longer there. He also has one knee on the ground to show the boy he wasn't trying to intimidate him.

 

The boy was stunned and fascinated by Kairi's face. It was not white but the dark skin was still beautiful in his eyes. For someone his age, beautiful was what he categorised toward someone instead of the word handsome.

 

Kairi could see the boy look at him in shock. He wondered what was wrong. Ziphoteninx's voice inside his head had cackled loudly making him frown.

 

"What?" Kairi asked him.

 

"Nothing…" 

 

Ziphoteninx can guess why the boy was stunned. It was not in vain to ask Kairi to wash his face and use an anti-UV smooth cream since he began his training. Kairi does look like a handsome man with dark skin.

 

Kairi, who doesn't get it, shrugged. His hand was still on the boy's head.

 

"Hello, little one. It's alright. I won't hurt you…" Kairi said in a low voice.

 

The boy was startled before he moved back, away from Kairi's hand. He also looked alert. Such a scared look pained Kairi's heart. He never knew one of the stellar's users was a child. He thought they were already adults.

 

"Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you. I'm not your enemy. I'm just here to help you." Kairi smiled softly while trying to soothe the boy's fear of him.

 

"Can I ask? Do you know anything that happens here? Where's your parents?"

 

The child looked at him cautiously and was silent for a while. Kairi didn't force the boy to reply and look around. He also uses his sense of power to find the power that controls the snow. 

 

He found out that the boy couldn't create this snowy land. The power needed to change was big and powerful that could not be released by the boy in front of him.

 

"Erm." 

 

The boy's nervous voice caught his attention again.

 

"Yes?"

 

"Who's... Brother...?" The boy stuttered in fear.

 

"My name is Shiroi. How about you, little one?"

 

The boy went quiet for a moment. "I-Ini…" 

 

Kairi's eyes lit up. The boy was finally willing to converse with him.

 

"Ini, that is a good and beautiful name." He smiled.

 

"Would you like some candy?" 

 

Kairi makes a fist on his right hand before some blue wrapped candies appear when he opens it. Ini's eyes widened. He was sure that Kairi's palm had nothing before the candy appeared.

 

"Brother, you can do magic?!"

 

Kairi chuckled. "Yes, I can. Do you want it?"

 

Ini nodded his head vigorously. He likes candies! His excitement dispelled his invisibility power and also his fear.

 

"Yo, Shiroi. You look like a bad guy right now." Ziphoteninx suddenly said.

 

"What'd you mean?"

 

"You look like a kidnapper, don't you know that? Giving and baiting a child with candy." Ziphoteninx laughs at his jokes.

 

Kairi rolled his eyes.

 

"Ini, do you live here?" Kairi asked Ini while ignoring Ziphoteninx.

 

Ini shook his head. "Not here. Live with my brother in Syarantonia."

 

"Syarantonia is far from here, Ini. How'd you get here?"

 

"Ini follows Brother Gem and Brother Canis and Brother Centaurus. They… They are… Wuu…"

 

Ini tears form again and slide to his cheek. He's whimpering and his sentences shocked Kairi. Could it be...?!

 

"They died?!" Kairi asked Ziphoteninx with telepathy.

 

"No, no, they were still alive. Don't panic, Kairi. You can feel them, don't you? Ini probably got separated from them accidentally." Ziphoteninx replied and calmed Kairi while calling his name.

 

Kairi let out a sigh of relief. He checked his stellar's senses and found that the stellar users were all still alive on Earth. He turned his head back at Ini. He slowly gathered the boy in his arms. Ini was startled but he didn't struggle against Kairi.

 

Kairi stood up with Ini in his hold. "Don't cry, Ini. We will find them for you, okay?"

 

"Really…?" Ini wiped his eyes before looking at Kairi.

 

Kairi wiped his snot with his free hand. "Yes. Brother's promise."

 

"Twinkie promise?" Ini shows his tiny finger.

 

"Yes, twinkie promise." Kairi's tiny finger wrapped around Ini's tiny finger.

 

This made Ini smile a little. Then, his body shivered. Kairi snapped open his robe and wrapped Ini in it. He just realised that Ini's clothes were tattered and dirty.

 

How can he ignore Ini's appearance just now after the first time seeing it?! He was a bad guy after all.

 

"Brother, aren't you cold?"

 

"I'm fine. Don't worry. So, Ini, what happened to you? Why are you alone?"

 

"Ini was… Ini was being chased by the Deorc Star user. He is a bad guy! Ini was afraid they would find brothers so Ini… So Ini baited him away!" 

 

Kairi was startled to hear it.

 

"Ini, why didn't you tell your brothers about it?! It's very dangerous!" Kairi scolded.

 

He never thought Ini would do that. Just listening to it makes him worried.

 

"But, but, brothers are injured by the bad guy. Ini… Ini doesn't want them to get hurt again! They protect Ini but Ini… But Ini can't help at all!" Ini cried out.

 

Kairi could see Ini was blaming himself so he hugged the boy tightly. How can such a small child be so brave and daring with his life?

 

"Sorry, Ini. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shouted at you. Ini is so brave! Braver than me!"

 

Ini whimpered and hid his face on Kairi's shoulder. He was scared and lonely. He thought he would die before he could see his brother again. Kairi patted and rubbed his back with his hand. Then, he talked to Ziphoteninx.

 

"Ziphoteninx, could it be that the other power is one of the Deorc Star's users?" Kairi doesn't think he was mistaken.

 

But, both powers that he senses look the same to him. Because it belongs to the stellar's power. He needed to see the emblem first or get closer to them to see the differences.

 

"Not sure. The power of darkness is hidden inside the emblem. But since we sensed them, they might be here. By the way, Shiroi, Ini is probably a Gemini star user."

 

"Yes... Because Gemini's power needs a twin to become his true self. When they use their power, they will merge and become one. It's just… Ini and Gem are probably still a child. This would be a problem for the upcoming battle."

 

"You're worrying over useless things, Shiroi. When they merge they won't become a child. They will become young adults. And that's why you must make sure this one isn't killed."

 

"Sigh… I know, I know."

 

He must protect Ini until they return to Syarantonia. He hopes Gem and others who got separated from Ini were alright. Then he remembered he still didn't know where Ini was last separated from his brothers.

 

"Oh, right, Ini, do you remember where you were when you left them? Any village, town or city you stayed in before?"

 

Ini nodded and sniffed. "Lanya City..."

You are reading story Bloody Friendship at novel35.com

 

Ziphoteninx measures the distance between Lanya City and where they were.

 

"If we go to the East from here, we will find Ryam Town first before Lanya City." 

 

Lanya City was where Kairi and Virgo stop to look for Pegasus, where they hear Pegasus was attacked by a few men. After that, they reach Noir Village where they stay after Pegasus was revived. 

 

And the reason why Kairi appeared in the west of the Herpine Kingdom was because of the information brought by Dark Kurumi. He said they could find some stellar users there before going to Syarantonia. 

 

He was actually giving Kairi a chance to meet Rafiz and Dark Hartina again who were on their way to Ryam Town. Unfortunately, Kairi doesn't know it. It was a surprise made by Ziphoteninx and Dark Kurumi for Kairi.

 

"Ryam Town..." Kairi whispered. 

 

He felt nostalgic about the town but he had no memory of it. So, why does he feel like that?

 

"Brother..." 

 

Kairi turns his head to Ini. It seems Ini already stopped crying.

 

"Do you feel better now?" He asked.

 

Ini nodded. "Will we find Gem now?" He really wants to return to Gem and the others again.

 

"We will after I settle something here. Can you wait a bit, Ini?"

 

Ini nodded again before he yawned. The warmth of the robe makes him sleepy. But, Kairi could also see the tiredness on his face.

 

"Gemini, his power is getting weaker. How long have they been apart? Both of them will die if they are separated for a long time…" Kairi thought in silence as he looked at Ini in worry.

 

Ini, who didn't realise anything, made a tune from his lips. Kairi was relieved to see Ini's cheerfulness and started to walk towards where he sensed the other power.

 

"Ini, brother see that you can hide yourself. Is that your power? How about Gem's power?" Kairi asked because he wanted to stop his nonsensical thoughts. 

 

Ini was startled before he realised Kairi could see him just now when he was invisible.

 

"Brother, how'd you find me? I was invisible." Ini was confused.

 

"Instinct," Kairi answered with a smile. 

 

"I can feel you are nearby and then, found Ini."

 

"Wow! You're so powerful, brother! Even the bad guy can't see me. Oh, and about Gem... He can use speed. But when we join we can use both." Ini explained.

 

"So, Ini knows about his merging stellar power with Gem." Kairi thought quietly.

 

He then praised and made Ini smile widely. "Your power is amazing!"

 

"Yes! But compared to Ini, Gem power is even greater." Ini bows his head with a sad look. He thinks his power was useless.

 

"No, Ini. Don't say that. You and Gem are both great. Don't belittle yourself. If you are not great, how can you manage to get here and pass the bad guy? They didn't even see you or know your location. This shows how great your power is, Ini."

 

Kairi moves Ini's head up to look at him and comfort him gently.

 

"Okay… If brother says I'm great then I am great! Ini is great, just like Gem!" 

 

Ini was confident in himself again.

 

"Of course." Kairi nodded while chuckling.

 

Ini was cute. He likes this boy. After walking from house to house, he finally entered one of them and looked inside. He found a dish that had been left out in the cold.

 

"They are not dead. What a relief. They must have run away since there were no valuables and clothes left at all." Kairi thought after opening a closet. 

 

"Ini, have you eaten yet?" He asked.

 

Ini shook his head. "Not yet..." 

 

His stomach rumbling suddenly intensified that he was hungry.

 

"Okay. Let's see…" 

 

Kairi checked the house's refrigerator and the food cabinet. He found some food ingredients that could still be used. 

 

"We can cook. Want to help brother, Ini?" Kairi took out the items he wanted to cook.

 

"Eh, can we use them?! But brother… This is not our home..." Ini felt that their actions were wrong. 

 

They look like a thief if they still do it.

 

"True, but they left lots of food ingredients that will expire in a few days. With the condition of this place, I don't think they will return anytime soon. Moreover, no one is here for us to ask for permission. Instead of wasting it, we better use it, don't you think? Don't worry, Ini. As compensation, brother will leave them money and letters for them, saying that we have borrowed some of their ingredients. How's that?"

 

Ini nodded. He guesses they can do that. He doesn't want to be a thief.

 

Kairi moved his hand behind his back and appeared several banknotes with blank papers and a pen. Kairi wrote down what he had told Ini earlier and then put it on the table in the living room. He left it with the banknotes. He also makes sure Ini saw his actions so that Ini doesn't accuse him of stealing or anything.

 

"Okay, I think the money is enough for the ingredients we use. Are you satisfied now?"

 

"Yes!" Ini smiled.

 

Kairi rubbed Ini's head before letting him down on the floor. Then, he started to cook their meal. He learned a lot from Dark Kurumi. Who would have thought his brother could cook even though he comes from the Deorc Star? 

 

Once the meals were done, the two enjoyed them. Kairi's cuisine was praised by Ini and Kairi was relieved to see Ini still had an appetite.

 

Suddenly, he realised the other power user was getting closer to them. And the snow outside was getting thicker. He frowned and stood up, surprising Ini.

 

"What's wrong, brother?

 

Kairi looked at Ini who didn't notice the power presence. For safety, he used his power to eliminate their presence in the house.

 

"Brother Shiroi, you're not eating anymore?" Ini asked again when he saw Kairi only eat half of his food.

 

Kairi gives a smile. "I'm already full, Ini. Why don't you finish your food quickly so we can find Gem."

 

He made sure Ini finished his food because he doesn't want Ini to be weak if they were attacked later. After Ini finished, Kairi took their plates and discarded the rest of the leftover food in the dustbin before washing the plates clean. 

 

He took Ini out with him afterwards while holding Ini's hand. He doesn't hug Ini like before because he wants Ini to run if the condition gets worse.

 

"He's here, Shiroi. In that alley..." Ziphoteninx told Kairi about the user.

 

"Noted." 

 

Kairi looked at the alleyway that Ziphoteninx pointed at.

 

"Brother?"

 

"Hm?"

 

"It doesn't feel good near here..." Ini said slowly and shivered a little.

 

Kairi tightened their holding hands.

 

"Don't worry, I'm here, Ini. I won't let anything happen to you." He promised then walked into the alleyway where he felt the power user was hiding.

 

His mask closed his nose and lips again. He and Ini walked without rushing or panicking. It was like they were walking in the park. Kairi's yellow eyes with Knight Seeyer hidden behind it shows him the user who was hiding in the alleyway. 

 

The person was a man and he was hiding on a balcony above them using an invisible field. Kairi and Ini walked past under him.

 

"It was too early for him to ambush a person like me." Kairi chuckled. 

 

"Ah, he even made a barrier to protect himself. This person if I'm not mistaken… His name is Dark Howlan."

 

He had already memorised all the names of the Deorc Star's users that Dark Kurumi and Ziphoteninx showed him while he was training with them. So, he wasn't that surprised to see a dog-face man.

 

Kairi stops his walk and he has his back on Dark Howlan.

 

"Ini, brother is going to take you somewhere, okay? There would be a small wolf there. He's my buddy and his name is Waloxes. He wanted to play with you. Will you agree?"

 

"A wolf?! Won't he bite me?!"

 

"No, he is a friendly and kind wolf. Would you like to meet him?"

 

"Erm… Okay!" 

 

Ini looks so excited. He had never met a wolf before. He wondered what it looked like.

 

"Ziphoteninx," Kairi called.

 

Instantly, Ini disappears from his side. Dark Howlan, who was watching, was surprised by the disappearance of his target.

 

"You know, I dislike someone staring at me. So, how long are you going to hide, Dark Howlan?" 

 

"What?! He knows me?!" Dark Howlan was surprised. 

 

He then stared at Kairi sharply. 

 

"Who is he? How does he know my name? I've never met him before…"

 

A sudden attack from the swing of a blade shocks him. He quickly avoided it while jumping away from the balcony. 

 

"Damn it! Who are you?!" Dark Howlan's appeared and was no longer invisible.

 

"Me? I'm just a wanderer." 

 

Kairi grins with one hand holding a new blade made of ice. Since Dark Howlan has the power of nature, he as the leader of course can use it with free will.

 

Come're, doggy. Let me be your master!

You can find story with these keywords: Bloody Friendship, Read Bloody Friendship, Bloody Friendship novel, Bloody Friendship book, Bloody Friendship story, Bloody Friendship full, Bloody Friendship Latest Chapter