P.S= #22: Where is She?

[Cory and the other]

TEP! TEP! TEP! With Kim neutralized, Naima joined the others upstairs. "I have a feeling she's not with Blaze, so I will go look for her somewhere else," Elliott declared, taking the initiative.

"Right," Cory agreed, maintaining trust in Elliott's commitment to the mission.

"Do you really trust him?" Ava questioned as they ascended the stairs.

"Sure do, Ava. He's a good guy," Cory affirmed, his confidence unwavering.

TEP! TEP! TEP!

The rhythmic tapping of footsteps echoed through the deserted building as Cory maneuvered through its shadows, a sense of urgency driving each swift movement. "Matter of fact, you sure go with him and help him find Kiyomizu," suggested a voice, a directive tinged with a touch of urgency.

"Sure," responded Ava, her steps gracefully melding with Elliott's pace as they embarked on the shared mission. "Elliott, wait!" Ava's voice cut through the silence, compelling Elliott to halt and face her.

"Huh? What's up?" questioned Elliott, his curiosity piqued by Ava's sudden interruption.

"Cory sent me to help," Ava explained, a glint of determination in her eyes.

"Okay," acknowledged Elliott, their unity solidifying as they ventured deeper into the enigmatic structure.

Meanwhile, in the shadows, Kiyomizu found herself bound to a chair, confusion and frustration etched across her face. "Where am I, and why am I tied up?" she questioned, her voice tinged with a mix of apprehension and disbelief.

"Hello, I'm Silver, and you're in the Kingdom of Light," revealed a man, identified as a member of the AoiHi Clan. Silver AoiHi, as he introduced himself, cast a cryptic atmosphere around Kiyomizu.

"What? Why am I" Kiyomizu's protest was cut short as Silver approached, cradling her face gently. His words delivered an unsettling revelation. "You see, you've got a bounty, and you're the daughter of Asahi Kimzoku. Don't worry; we know your bounty is only 100,000, but your dad will pay a substantial sum for you. He's the one who ordered your capture."

Her thoughts echoed with the realization that, once again, her life was subject to her father's wealth and influence.

In a poignant flashback, the viewer glimpses Kiyomizu's tumultuous relationship with her family. Childhood memories surfaced, illustrating the stark contrast between familial bonds and the cold reality she now faced.

"All my life, I lived under my father. People captured me and sold me back to him just because he's rich, and he doesn't want it to go worldwide," she whispered to herself.

The narrative briefly shifted to a poignant flashback, unveiling a young Kiyomizu pleading for the return of her cherished possession.

"Give it back, Ardit," she implored, her voice a mix of frustration and desperation.

"If you want it, then jump for it," teased Ardit, his tone filled with a mocking playfulness.

"Quit playing with the trash, Ardit," intervened Kane, a protective edge in his voice.

The sibling dynamic unfolded as Brigitte, the eldest sister, confronted Ardit's teasing. "Give her back her teddy, Ardit, and quit calling our baby sister trash."

"Why do you always pick up for her, Brigitte?" questioned Ardit, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

"Because she's my only sister, shitheads. Here you go, Kiyomizu," Brigitte said, handing back the teddy.

"Thank you, Bridget," Kiyomizu expressed her gratitude.

"See, she can't even say your name right," Ardit remarked.

"She's four, so leave her alone. Are you okay, Kiyomizu?" Brigitte inquired.

"Yes," Kiyomizu responded, a somber acknowledgment of her situation.

Brigitte's comforting words followed, assuring Kiyomizu of her support amidst the family's struggles. "I know it's been hard since Mom died, and it's tough on you because you look just like Mom. They can't forgive her, so they take out the stress on you. This goes for Dad too. But don't worry, I'm here for you. Someday, you will find a family who really loves you as much as I do, and not a family like this. And when you do, don't come back, okay?"

Kiyomizu sought clarity about Brigitte's future, prompting a heartfelt promise. "I will find you, and when I do, we can be a family again."

"You promise?" Kiyomizu asked.

"I promise, baby sis," Brigitte vowed, setting the foundation for a distant hope of familial reunion.

[Now]

Back in the present, the swift progression of the narrative unveiled Ava and Elliott's coordinated efforts to rescue Kiyomizu. Ava's acute senses guided them through the building, the pursuit carrying an air of determination and impending conflict.

"I can smell Kiyomizu," Ava remarked, her feline instincts leading the way. Simultaneously, Elliott sensed his brother's haku, the invisible threads of fate weaving their destinies together.

A clash of ideologies erupted between Kiyomizu and Silver, the former expressing her resentment toward the privileged class. A heated exchange unfolded, each word a reflection of deeper wounds and familial strife.

Suddenly, the door splintered under the impact of Elliott's powerful kick. "Don't you dare touch her," he declared, breaking into the room with an unwavering determination.

"What the hell are you doing?" questioned Silver, his surprise met with a defiant response. "I'm saving my new crewmate. That's what I'm doing. If you have a problem, take it up with my captain, but I can't promise you'll be alive when I'm done with you, brother," asserted Elliott, his loyalty to the newfound crew uniting against the oppressive forces that sought to control their fates.