Chapter 16: Missing You

*Saffron*

I rummaged around the suite.

"What are you doing, Cuz?" Milo asked. "You've been turning the place upside down as if you're looking for coins."

"Don't be so informal, Milo. We're still on the job here. Now, help me make sure we aren't being spied on."

"Eh? You think they'll spy on people in a fancy hotel?"

"Such stuff certainly happens even in our country. Taahid is even more prone to it. Dirt that can be collected from politicians and the rich who frequent this place is used to blackmail them. I'd read about such a case a few years ago."

"Yikes. But we're not rich slimeballs or anything like that."

"True, but if word of our mission gets out to the authorities here, it'll be problematic."

*Knock, Knock*

"I'll get it!" Milo said, running over to the door. "Oh, Koyuki!"

"Hope I'm not too late," Koyuki said, giggling as Milo let her into the suite. "I got a little distracted."

I shrugged. "You're not early, but you're here before Lt. Uneri at least."

She gasped and glanced around. "That's unexpected. Wonder if something came up."

"No. I just got caught up recalling the past," Uneri said as he walked up behind her, causing Koyuki to leap into Milo's arms. He carried his briefcase with him.

"Y-you scared me!"

My cousin blushed as he held onto Koyuki.

"Sorry."

I cleared my throat. "Let's hurry up and get this meeting underway."

Uneri smiled slightly as he closed the door behind him. "Getting right to business, huh? Reminds me of the Major."

"Yeah, Captain can sometimes be as crabby as her," Milo said as he let go of Koyuki.

I crossed my arms. "And you can sometimes be as much of a doofus as Gael."

Milo stuck out his tongue. "I resent that!"

Koyuki giggled. "He kinda has a point, Milo."

My cousin sighed. "Not you too, Koyuki!"

Uneri furrowed his brow. "You really do need to work on your level of professionalism, Private Milo."

Milo straightened himself and saluted. "Right, Lt. Uneri! Apologies for my rudeness!"

Uneri sighed and took a seat on the sofa opposite of mine. "Well, enough distractions."

I nodded and took out a map of the region. "Major Kisara provided me with this map before she departed," I said as I unrolled it.

"Really? I didn't notice," Milo said, scratching his head.

Uneri cleared his throat.

Milo stood straight again. "Apologies!"

"She passed it to me in secret. The Major marked where the raids have occurred so far." I put down a blurry photo of the aircraft the raiders owned. "She also gave me this. Seems she thinks it might assist us in locating them."

Milo raised his hand.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Where did Major Kisara get these from? She seemed super busy."

Uneri grabbed the picture. "Seems to have been taken by another of our guys. Probably during a run in with the raiders."

I nodded. "Exactly. Look at the background, It's very faint, but one can make out this town. The ship seemed to have been heading over in this direction."

"That means that they probably do operate from nearby here, if not within the city itself," Koyuki said, taking the photo from Uneri.

"But I thought we weren't going to attack them here," Milo said.

"Say what was your plan? You mentioned having one earlier," Koyuki said.

"I have two, actually. One is a bit more risky. We steal something from them, forcing them to chase us instead. The other is to infiltrate their ranks and attack them once they've reached Kuroriku's shores."

Milo scratched his head. "Both seem risky."

Koyuki nodded. "Captain Saffron does like to make use of unorthodox methods."

I crossed my arms. "True, but those are only options at present."

"Issue is, we've yet to find out how to get into contact with them," Uneri said. "They're elusive."

"Well, there is always asking Taahid officials, but that would require us to reveal Kuroriku's military presence here," I said.

Milo rubbed his chin. "So, we're kind of stumped at the moment."

Uneri sighed. "That's where I've been at for a while now." He gasped. "Wait! I have an idea!"

"Care to share?" I asked.

"It's a play on yours to draw them toward us. What we could do is spread rumors of a ship stuffed with luxury goods. That should attract them."

I smiled. That could work.

Milo grinned. "Ohh! But how would we get luxury goods?"

Uneri smiled slightly. "We won't need any. Just a ton of empty crates."

"Oh, I get it!" Milo said.

Koyuki clapped. "Sounds great!"

Uneri nodded. "Exactly. Then, we sail slowly and wait for the raiders to show up before speeding up."

"Only issue is, where do we get a boat," Milo said.

"Major Kisara can help with that," I said. He glanced at Uneri.

He nodded and put down the briefcase.

"I'd been wondering, what's in that thing?"

"You'll see," Uneri said as he moved the number dials. After a while, the case clicked.

Milo gasped. It was a typewriter. "Huh?! Are we writing letters or something?"

I glanced at my luggage. I hadn't gotten the chance to deliver the letter I wrote for Rose yet.

"It's not a normal typewriter," I said.

Lt. Uneri nodded. "This thing uses radio waves. Think of it as a more advance version of morse code."

"Oh!" Milo said, staring at it.

He typed out the letters, pausing occasionally. It was morse code, just without the constant holding or clicking.

After typing a bit, Uneri put on the headphones and waited for a response. "Seems she agrees. She's sending us a couple of boats disguised as a merchant fleet as soon as possible."

Milo whistled.

Uneri nodded. "Major Kisara is always reliable."

Koyuki smirked.

"Why are you making that face?" he asked.

She giggled. "Just thinking that Major Kisara and you sure are close."

Uneri blushed.

Milo snickered. "She kinda has a point."

I cleared my throat.

"Back to business, anchovies," Lt. Uneri said, clearing his throat.

Milo blinked.

"Why anchovies?" Koyuki said.

"Kisara thought we marines could use something like the army's 'maggots'. I assume she went for anchovies as they're small," Lt. Uneri said.

Koyuki giggled. "I get it now."

"So, what now?" Milo asked.

I sighed. "There's not much to do but wait. We could explore the city, but we could get into trouble."

"You think so?"

"With you around, yes."

"Ouch!" Milo said, clutching his chest.

Koyuki laughed.

Uneri sighed. "It is best to wait. We don't want to make any unnecessary moves."

I nodded. "Exactly. No need to put ourselves in unnecessary trouble."

"That said, if our plan works, how would we take care of all the raiders? There's only four of us. Five if the Major joins," Koyuki asked.

Lt. Uneri held up a hand. It crackled with electricity. "Think I can take several."

I smiled. He was more reckless than I thought.

Milo grinned. "Wow! So cool, Lt. Uneri!"

Koyuki blinked. "I've always wondered, does using lightning mana hurt?"

Uneri smiled slightly. "A little, but the sensation isn't that unpleasant. More like a funny tingle."

Lightning? This man must've been from Raiyama. Made sense why he and Major Kisara appeared close. They probably grew up together.

"Wish I could use lightning," Milo said.

"Your wind is pretty cool too," Koyuki said.

He blushed.

I stared at the typewriter. If only Rose had a receiver back home. That way, I could've sent her a message that way.

I stood up. "Well, we better hit the hay. Tomorrow is a long day," I said, rubbing the back of my head.

"I'm going to get something to eat downstairs before heading back to bed," Koyuki said, heading for the door.

"I'll go too!" Milo said, following her.

"I'm going to finish my brief to the Major first, then join you," Uneri said as he continued to type away.

"What about you, Captain?" Koyuki asked.

"I'll pass, I'm not really hungry," I said, laying down.

"I'll be sure to bring you something incase you change your mind!" Milo said before running off.

Sighing, I touched my stomach. The last thing I ate was Rose's egg. How was she doing in that cold house? Maybe I should've used something else than stone for it.

I pulled the blankets over me. Despite being in a desert, the bed felt chilly.

*Rose*

I laid down in bed and stared at the ceiling. The loneliness finally settled in. I had gotten so used to Saffron's company after a day that being alone felt odd. My bed felt freezing without him.

I hugged his pillow and wrapped my arms around it. It smelled like him. Maybe I could pretend Saffron was holding me.

My face warmed up as I recalled last night. The house was cold, but his body was warm. Even a single kiss from him made me feel hot.

I sighed. Marrying a marine knight was harder than I thought. When would he be done with his mission?