(Part 10)

"This is the side effect Benzodiazepines anesthetics cause. We were drugged by the powder form which was sprinkled on us without our realization the moment we were taking them on." explained Cassiel.

"So this was the reason why they were holding back, those scoundrels!!" gritted Gabriel in rage. "Looks like played right into their hands from the very beginning." told Ezekiel as Feng sighed.

"So… does anyone know where we are right now?" asked Adam looking around instantly hiding behind Seraph's back.

"Of all the good places in the world it's a jungle." Seraph uttered blatant.

"For god's sake…" Heber slammed his forehead speechless. "And judging from the position and the weather, we might be thrown right in the middle of it. Furthermore, due to the rocky surface, we might be at a mountainous jungle right now. Which means, it isn't a single jungle but we are enshrouded by jungles all around." explained Cassiel.

"Any more bad news do you want to give us?" asked Ryan dejected.

Cassiel instantly realizing their hopelessness apologized instead, "I'm sorry."

"Hey… now that I think about it… were we wrong to leave the base?" asked Feng pondering over his mistake, "If only we could've apologized back then…"

"Then what?" asked Kenzo abruptly, "Even if you had realized your mistakes and apologized as well, then what? Were you ready to face something like that again? Moreover, how is this ambush connected to that place?"

Helios wondering endorsed, "Kenzo's right, those people were quite different from the ones in the base. Moreover, they were ordered to track us down as if they held some kind of grudge against us. If we were to be ambushed by the base, we would've been kidnapped ages ago when we were at the dorms or even climbed the hill. Furthermore, this place is unlike the hill we climbed as well."

"Sigh~ whatever it is. What to do now?" asked Gabriel. "This place is unlike the hill we've climbed up to, we can hear howls, roars, shrieks and hisses. So anything could be possible." he warned.

Helios sighing looked at Poseidon below gently ruffling his hairs as Kenzo sat beside Xavier and Azazel along with Feng and Ryan. "How about, half of us go and check out or situation while half of you stay here with the unconscious ones. Since, we can't go back or even do anything. We should at least find a spot to pass the night. How does that sound?" Cassiel suggested as Adam nodded.

Kenzo tracing the sky above which had started turning velvet dark exhaled, "Adam, Seraph, Cassiel, Heber, Ezekiel and Ryan. You all go together. The rest of us stays here." The boys looking at each other nodded.

"Are you sure about it. Do you need anyone else?" asked Seraph. Kenzo shook his head, "Gabriel is here, he will look out. The rest of you go only near here and come back safely. Take your gears with you." Heber and Ryan getting up along with Ezekiel took their bats and balls.

Seraph glancing Kenzo and Helios assured, "I'll take care of them." Helios smiled, "We'll leave the rest to you." The six of them ready to depart made took their way off as the rest settled in the same area gazing at the unconscious ones.

"Sigh~ just what in the world…" Helios whispered in disbelief. Kenzo picking the water bottle up once again splattered water over Azazel's face lightly. All of a sudden he shook regaining consciousness. "Azazel!" Kenzo called pulling him up, he patted his back as Gabriel supported him.

"Cough! Cough!!" Azazel coughed harshly sitting up and taking deep breaths. "Cap…tain…?" he coughed. "Shh!!" Kenzo stopped him patting his back as he breathed in and out deeply. "Thank goodness…" Helios whispered relieved.

A moment later Poseidon too opened his eyes sitting. "Poseidon." Helios asked however Poseidon smiled, "It's alright now Heli. I am fine now, thank you." Helios hearing his words sighed assured smiling back.

Azazel sitting straight looked around the devastating sight of the forest. "Where in the world are we…?" he asked baffled. Kenzo however, staying quiet stared at the ground. "We were kidnapped and thrown on this mountainous forest. We also realized it a while ago. The rest of us on the other hand are gone to inspect the situation." Feng informed, wiping the sweat off Xavier's forehead as Poseidon helped him. "He still isn't awake?" he asked.

Feng confused nodded, "He isn't moving an inch." Azazel standing up dusted his clothes asking, "Then shall we go and help them as well? Who knows what they might encounter in this place." As soon as he was about to leave Kenzo called out, "Just wait a moment Azazel." Azazel hearing his call turned around to face him.

Standing before him, Kenzo stared at the ground. His expression unseen, Helios too stared at him anxiously. "Captain…?" Azazel asked puzzled.

Kenzo raising his hand was about to slap Azazel's face however, Helios instantly grabbed his hand realizing his intention.

"Stop Kenzo! Don't!" Grasping his hand Helios looked at Kenzo who stared at Azazel with his eyes burning red in anger.

"When I told you stop standing before me back then why didn't you listen to me?!!" he growled in anger.

Shaking Helios's hand off, he glared at Azazel grave. Feng flinching beside Poseidon and Gabriel too stared at them nervously.

"When I told you not to hit the ball at him, why didn't you listen to me? Answer me now?!!" Kenzo asked once again clutching his fists tightly. Azazel suddenly shocked stood frozen with his eyes widened unable to utter a single word back.

"Do you even realize what he could've done to you at that moment when he smacked your neck out of nowhere?! You were unconscious at that moment what if he broke your legs and threw you in the sea then what?!" Kenzo asked in rage.

Silence taking over all of them Azazel in sudden fear fell onto his knees with his eyes widened. Helios looking at Kenzo spoke up, "That's enough Kenzo… don't be angry anymore. He just regained consciousness a moment ago."

Suddenly Xavier smiled with his eyes closed. "Calm down, Kenzo…" he whispered getting up.

Helios, Poseidon, Feng and Gabriel including Kenzo instantly looked at him relieved. "You're awake, Vice-captain!" said Feng finally calming down. Studying the situation, Xavier stood up grasping Poseidon's hand, "If a certain someone is going to shout so much, even bears hibernating are going to wake up." he joked.

Kenzo hearing his words settled down on the nearby rock. "If you can protect others… then how come the others can't protect you?" Xavier asked smiling. Grasping his head, he closed his eyes to recover, soon opening them again. Walking over to Azazel he gave his hand.

Azazel slightly traumatized looked at the ground. "You know, the moment they surrounded us and you kept your arm before us. He was the only one admiring you at that moment. He learned that from you, so how could you shout at him like that?" he continued to ask.

Crouching on his knees he grabbed Azazel's arm pulling him up, standing straight. Kenzo looking aside clicked his tongue annoyed. "Xavier's right Kenzo. At that point, it wasn't about just you protecting us. We all had to do the same. So, you better apologize on this one." Poseidon concurred.

Hearing the word apologize, sudden chills went down Kenzo's spine, he kept his mouth shut. Feng rolled his eyes. "Such a stupid, wannabe, full of himself and his demeanor monkey king…" he thought in disbelief.

Suddenly Azazel stuttered, "I- Don't- wa-nt it-… I- don't want an apolo-gy… even if you had slapped me a mom-ent ago. I still wouldn't have regret-ted my decision!"

Kenzo hearing his words stared at the ground with his blackened expression. Taking a deep breath Azazel continued, "Ever since, we came to the base you had always protected and supported us. Even after Hugo left. Every single time you were standing in front and helping us but amid all that time who supported you? No one! Who protected you? No one! In front of Rauf, in front of the high schoolers and even in front of those kidnappers, there was no one before you to protect you!! And, I don't want that! If there is no knight for the king then how is the king safe?"