Storytelling part 3 (v2)

"I think that's the last of them whew..."

"Good, No signs of aragamis approaching your area. Let's regroup at the entrance of the village since we can't communicate to the base until they stabalise their network here."

Kota heaved a sigh of relief as he sat on the snow. Beside him, Soma is looking around the area to see if any aragamis are still alive but all he can see are corpses of dead aragamis and some black particles coming out of these corpses. The appearance of these particles made the area more dreadful than it already is. Soma was already used to this scene but Kota, who just recently became a god eater two weeks ago, was very uncomfortable.

"Get used to it. You'll see this everyday... whether it's an aragami or not"

Soma said the last part in a quiet voice that only he can hear before leaving to meet Sakuya at the entrance of the village. Kota nodded in silence as he look at the dead ogretail disappearing into black particles beside him. He stands up and followed Soma with heavy steps

Unknown to them, a few meter away from the battlefied. A huge shadow jumps out of the forest landing safely on the ground, The aragami look at the village where Kota and Soma went then at the area where the battle took place. He sighs as he look at the black particles on the air.

"What a waste of food..."

______________________

"... Then the gboro gboro came back alive and attack us"

Inside of a room, three people were gathered around the fire. Keiko was telling the story when she was at the Sunken Grid last time. She also taken her hood off and thus revealing her face to the two.

The two was listening to her story. Dio was eagerly listening and sometimes asking her a question while the other man has his eye closed the whole time and was silently listening.

"Fortunately we managed to dodge the attack and when it was preparing to lunge again at us, our leader Lindow appeared and block the aragami. With his help we finally killed the gboro gboro."

"That's awesome"

"Whew talking so much made me thirsty"

Keiko grab the water bottle on her pouch and drink one big gulp on it. She look at the two and a thought suddenly appeared on her mind.

"Hey, I know it's kinda late but we haven't introduced ourselves yet. I'm Keiko Yoshida"

"I'm Dio B. Giovanna, a traveller"

"What a fancy name"

Dio made a short introduction since Keiko already knows but the man did not. After finishing their introduction, they then look at the man who felt their gazes.

"... Raymond"

Raymond didn't add anymore as he remain silent. Dio didn't mind Raymond's attitude and Keiko who felt awkward changed the subject.

"Well since I told enough stories about me how about you Sir Dio, why did you decided to travel?"

"Dio is fine... I didn't decide to become a traveller, it was due to certain circumstances I become one"

"...?"

"What's with that confused look?... My situation is a bit special *sigh*"

"Explaining it is a pain so I'll shorten it. I'm at lost and didn't know what to do..."

Dio look at the fire with a sad look on his eyes. He then look at Keiko and Raymond who has his ears open up.

"It's not good to be a headless chicken, lost on what to do... So instead of wasting my time, I decided to travel around to find my purpose since I hate the feeling of emptiness inside me"

"..."

"... Pfft, I'm just kidding I once read a book with that line and I want to say it at least once"

Dio jokingly said as he patted Keiko on the back as he made his usual smile.

"For serious, I only want to explore around, find some place to settle on, maybe find someone to love and have kids"

"Well that my reason to become a traveller what about you miss? Why are you fighting aragamis?"

"Hm... It was simple really, I want to survive on my own"

"That is a good goal but is that all?"

Keiko nodded and he didnt pry any further. It's a common goal he thought but Raymond thought it wasn't that simple.

"What about you Raymond? What's your reason to be here and unconscious when I found you and Keiko?"

"..."

Raymond ignored Dio's question as he is annoying to deal with.

He open his eyes and Dio's smile entered his view, his smile annoys the hell out of him so he then look at his side to find Keiko's face that is seem to be anticipating for his answer.

"... I'm a scavenger"

"Oh! We make a great pair Raymond, a scavenger and a traveller."

"Shut up you bastard"

"Oh that's cool" (Keiko)

"Then how did you get in that situation?" (Keiko)

"What situation are you talking about?" (Raymond)

"Well, when I was patrolling the village I found him surrounded by a pack of ogretail. I was surprised since I did not expect a person to appear on this secluded area so I panic when I see him being surrounded." (Keiko)

"So how did you save him?"(Dio)

"I just flash bomb the aragami and run the hell out with him." (Keiko)

"Then I found you two with him being unconscious and cold on the ground and you panicking not knowing what to do" (Dio)

Keiko nodded with a bitter smile since it is true. Raymond notice that Dio was looking at him but he got a feeling that Dio is mocking him. 'That smile is very irritating ' his expression for Dio is already worst due to his action. His nose still hurts since the snowball thrown at him that secretly has a rock inside it hit him square in the face.

Afterwards they chat, exchanged information and chatter for a bit as they wait for Keiko' team. Though Keiko and Dio are the only one conversing normally as Raymond usually quiet and only answer with a very short responses while Dio ask obvious or obscure questions like how's the life at the outer ghetto was like and do they have girlfriend and boyfriend yet.

Whoosh

Cold winds entered the room through the small window and Keiko and Raymond was alerted as they grab their weapons and look at the door. Dio was confused about their actions but he decided to shut up since the two are pretty serious.

He then heard noises outside. He saw Keiko and Raymond gripped their weapons harder as Raymond hides beside the door aiming his gun at the door while Keiko stood in the front ready to strike if it is a threat.

As the footsteps become closer and closer, Keiko who managed to hear the footsteps clearly, she lowered her god arc as she went to the door and open it to see a young man with a surprised expression.

"Kota!"

"So this where you are...geez Keiko you scared me out there. I thought it was an aragami"

The young man or Kota let out a sigh of relief as he look at Keiko who was innocently smiling.

"What happened Keiko? We tried to contact you but you didn't answer...We thought something bad happened"

"Hehehe, Sorry but I think I lost my earpiece somewhere."

"..."