40 40: To the rescue [pt5]

'T-This man is so rude for no reason? Can he not see that I am currently trying to play a damsel in disaster and let me go home? Are these rude comments really necessary?'

On a normal day, Amane would have let this rude comment pass over her with a smile. But for some reason, looking at that pretty face made Amane feel irritated.

"Well, sorry for trying to participate in a mandatory class activity that I cannot get out of and getting kidnapped because the said school and the whole district have a lousy security team."

"Next time you can take my place and give my test for me. But that would be against the law you set up, right?"

Everyone tensed up as soon as they realized that Amane had been offended by this comment.

The one who looked the most taken aback seemed to be that rude pretty boy. His eyes were wide in surprise and Helios panicked at the sudden display of emotions that he saw.

"S-Sean, you cannot say that to someone you just met. L-Lady Tsurugi, I apologize for my friend's behaviour. It was supposed to be a break day for him. Hey Sean, you need to apologize to her as well."

That tall redhead, Sean had a sour look on his face. Honestly, Amane would have preferred if he did not apologize to her. But he did.

"I'm sorry for my rude words. I misread the situation."

The man bowed down in front of Amane but his eyes still held suspicion in them. Whatever issue was bothering the man, it seemed to be much deeper than a simple 'holiday waste.'

'Now then, what should I do? I don't want to let this insult go but dealing with this man would be exhausting as well.'

Amane looked between the earnest eyes of Helios and the rude pair l back at her before making her decision.

'Yeah, I don't want to deal with both of them. If I did then I will have to face Charlie as well. Let's just nip this problem in the bud as soon as I can.'

"I forgive you. Let's put this all in past for now. I should return home before I worry about Sakura any more than I have. Can you send Aqua back home? I am sure she's quite traumatized by this experience-"

"Now, don't be like that Yo~ko~. I am sure that you are exhausted after that ordeal as well. How about you come home with me and my boys so that I can keep an eye on you tonight? Oh, don't worry about your classmate and her safety. I will take 'personal' care of her."

'Speak of the devil and she shall arrive. Now, what should I do?'

Of course, the one who had just walked into the chamber was none other than Charlie Suzuki, the current leader of the Divine Guild.

Her face sported a smile and one could even see the flowers sparkling behind her back.

'Ugh, so bright. I cannot look directly at her. Someone save me from this mess.'

Aqua had gone tense at Amane's side. It was understandable why she would feel on edge at seeing Suzuki.

Suzuki had grown so much that she had reached the beginning of beast energy accumulation. If she pushed forward with her growth then it would not take long for her to acquire a beast form of her own.

But unlike the normal beasts, Suzuki would have full control over her powers and desires. She would become someone who transcended the mortal limits.

"N-No, it's alright. I should get going now. And it won't feel alright to let Aqua go on her own either. The only reason she got caught up in all this is that she was with me. She's kind of my responsibility."

Amane held Aqua's hand discreetly to stop her from attacking Suzuki outright. Traumatized or not, Aqua would die if she tried to attack the divine guild leader this openly.

"L-Lady Yoko is right. We should let them get home now and get some rest. Why don't you complete your world in the meantime? You can visit Lady Yoko tomorrow when she has more energy to deal with you?"

Surprisingly, it was Helios who suggested this. He had seen how tense Auqa looked and was willing to help.

But of course, Charlie Suzuki would not be herself if she backed down that easily.

All she did at Helios's words was ignore him and turn her attention toward the other man in the room.

"Sean, make preparations for a guest tonight. I want everything to be ready and perfect when we take Yoko home."

Sean looked between his mother and his friend before his eyes hardened. He seemed to have reached a conclusion and was now bracing himself for the impact.

"I think we should let them go home today. I agree with Helios. They are still kids and must be exhausted from all that happened today. Surely you can wait until tomorrow to see them."

For his efforts, Sean got the most disappointing glair he had in his life. His breath stopped working as soon as he felt the burden of those eyes on his face.

'Ohhh, someone is in trouble. I don't want to help him out but I should. I have a feeling that this 'Sean's' favour would come in handy in the future.'

That was not the only reason Amane decided to interfere. It was also because she could feel her core again.

Had her core been still locked, Amane would not have even thought about taking this risk. But now she did not feel that afraid to face Suzuki.

"Lady Suzuki, I quite agree with your *son* here. I should be going back home tonight. I also have to go to school tomorrow which I cannot be late for."

Both Aqua and Sean shot her looks that said that she was digging her grave. And Amane might as well be with her words.

'Ugh, I forgot that this world is different from the one I remember. Of course, no one would expect me to show up to school tomorrow.'

But what was done was done and Suzuki did not lose this opportunity to jump on Amane's case.

"Oh, dear. Looks like you are more traumatized by this incident than I realized at first. It affected you so much that it even made you want to escape to a familiar lifestyle. But you should still rest for a few days."

"Don't worry, I will phone your school and ask for three days' leave for you both. And I will also accompany Lady Yoko while she recovered. You can count on me to do it all. Let me also take you both home today. We should not leave you two shocked like this."

Amane was sure she had the window to protest against all this but she had lost it quite easily. The more she looked at Suzuki, the more she realized that there was no way for Amane to get any words in.

Both Sean and Helios averted their eyes when Amane looked at them to ask for their help.

'Traitors, both of them. To think that I even helped them out.'

"Alright. Let's go home today. Oh, by the way, do you know who was behind my kidnapping? My captors died before I got to know anything."

Since her plan to be alone tonight was a burst, Amane decided she needed to get information out of Suzuki.

There was always Aqua who could tell Amane what she wanted to know but that would have to wait for a later date when Amane was no longer under surveillance.

"Ah, this small play? Someone wanted to ask the Tsurugi house for ransom money but failed to pull it off. You don't need to worry about these things since they happen once in a while anyway. You'll get used to them soon."

'No, thank you. I do not want to get used to being kidnapped. Next time, I will break my kidnapper's hand before he even tried to kidnap me and then get information out of him.'

The vague answer given by Suzuki was a clear indication for Amane to drop the topic. So this was a burst end for her.

"Did the police not help? I thought they would be the first ones to help us out since it's right under their nose."

Aqua questioned this time. Maybe she remembered Amane's words about the police not being of any help and wanted to confirm. Or maybe her question had a different reason.

"Ah, that? The police are mere figureheads on a good day and a hindrance to most others. It would be better for you not to depend on them. Instead, Yoko can always depend on me. I will always save her."

'But I didn't even ask you the question. Why are you making it all about me?'

Amane asked that question but she had no answer. Or rather, she did have an answer but she did not like it.

So she ignored it.

___________________________

Sean was glaring daggers into Amane's back currently. He was the one who was the most confused by his 'adopted' mother's attitude.

Of course, he had heard about it from his siblings but seeing the aloof Divine Guild Leader play it out so cautiously made him feel awkward.

'I cannot believe that this brick of ice is flirting with someone this openly. I wonder what she means to achieve by doing this?'

If someone would ask how Sean felt about his adoptive mother, he would say that he doesn't like her much. She was forgiving on good days and downright evil on the others.

But she was his benefactor who had given him a chance to track down his parent's killers and get revenge for them.

This was a fact he was forever grateful for.

But even saying all that, he did not think of Lady Suzuki as a decent person. And because he knew her, he also knew that his adopted mother would not take interest in some passerby.

This 'Lady Yoko Tsurugi' must be someone really special to have caught her eye. And Sean wanted to see what it was.

"Ugh, I think I'm going to be sick. What is Mother doing? Just hold her hand if you want to. Who is going to stop you anyway?"

Helios sounded like he was in pain and even his eyes looked hard as he looked at his mother's painful attempts at flirting.

It was so bad that it could hardly be called flirting. It was outright sexual harassment at this point.

Then there was the fact that Lady Yoko Tsurugi seemed to have caught on to her mother's attempts but was not encouraging her.

Instead, she was making it discreetly known that she did not appreciate that brief brush against her chest or her hands.

'Just tell her off already. Lady Suzuki will only take your silence as encouragement at this point.'

Sean wanted to yell those words but he did not want to die at the hands of his superior so he kept his mouth quiet and kept on watching what was happening in front of him.

The abrupt stopping of the car caught everyone off guard. Even the driver seemed to be taken aback by the sudden arrival of a giant Griffin in front of the car.

Sean was about to leap out of the cap and take his chances with the wild beast before realizing that Griffin was not alone.

It had a barely-teen riding on its back and holding Griffin's leash.

"I should get off here now since someone is here to pick me up. Thank you for saving my life and bringing me back home. The Tsurugi household would remember your help."

Yoko Tsurugi made a quick escape before reaching out toward the Griffin and mounting it.

That child who accompanied her back gave a grateful bow to their group before leading the Griffin away.

Despite all odds, he seemed to be in control of the Griffin.

"Hey, I thought only the Tsurugi heir could tame the beasts. Where did that small child come from?"

Helios asked, his voice sounding as shocked as Sean felt at that moment. He quickly looked toward his mother but she had a huge smile on her face.

"It seems things are about to get a whole lot more interesting around here. Let's head home for now since we will have an early day tomorrow."

Sean had no idea what his mother was speaking about but he did not dispute her words. Home sounded so appealing after this long day.