❝ 𝙸'𝚖 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚍𝚊𝚢. ❞

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"The latest attack on the city costs us immensely. We need an immediate plan to counter innocent zero." Ryoh mutters, his eyes narrowing at the tension in the meeting room.

(Name) listens to his talk, but her eyes are looking at the empty chairs around the table in sorrow.

Her comrades are in pain, and yet she's not there. She did it again.

Same like Fabian.

"Luckily, I, Ryoh Grantz, just happened to catch a member of the enemy's inner circle." That manages to snap her out of her sorrowful thoughts. "It seems he tried to join in on the attack and was left behind."

She looks at the direction where the others are looking, and she raises an eyebrow when a familiar face greets her sight.

Cell War furrows his eyebrows as he glares at them. "You won't get any information that could harm father from me." He says sternly.

"Even though he abandoned you?" Ryoh raises an eyebrow, and the poor guy slumps his shoulders.

'Well... now we feel bad...'

But Cell Was is too stubborn. "I still won't ever betray him!" Ryoh groans, "You stubborn fool! Then we'll just have to torture you!"

Heh... rip my nails out or do whatever you like. I'll die before spilling anything to you. Show me your worst!

"We'll be feeding you honey-covered sashimi until you talk."

...that's their worst?

"Eat it!!" Ryoh exclaims before Kaldo stops him. "My honey-covered sashimi isn't a means of torture!"

"You're right. It's far worse."

"Worse?!" Kaldo protests before turning to Cell War, "Don't listen to him. It's good. Try it."

The thorny blonde deadpans, "You're really gonna make me eat it?" Ryoh slowly feeds him the honey-covered sashimi as Kaldo watches nervously. "See...? It's good." He says curtly.

But Cell War says otherwise.

"Blegh."

Kaldo slumps down against the wall depressingly.

Ryoh approaches him in guilt. "Sorry. I didn't think you'd take it that hard..." he apologises. "You know.. everyone has different tastes in food." He assures the flame cane. "This is probably an acquired taste," he takes a bite on the strange meal, but then he makes an identical face like Cell War when he eats the sashimi.

"Blegh."

A hard kick is sent to the thorny blonde's chin, blood splatters out of his lips. Orter takes a handful of grip on his hair as Cell War's breath hitches.

"The time for games is over. I'll make this quick." The desert cane murmurs sternly.

"Heh... no form of torture will ever break me." Cell War manages to form a grin, despite the sweats trailing down his face. "My loyalty for father is absolute..."

"Bend over." Cell widens his eyes confusedly as Orter stares into his eyes, threatening to devour his soul. "I'm going to stuff your tail so full of sand that it'll be clumping out your rear for the rest of your life."

"I'll... I'll talk."

(Name) can't hold her chuckle as she witnesses the scene. That's the man I love. Her eyes stare at the desert cane adoringly before she makes her way to them to get a better access to hearing the information.

"Each of the five siblings possesses immense power. The fourth child is the greatest pole arm user in the world." (Name) glances at Rayne, who pays attention to that information. "He never takes anything seriously, but his skill in arms is unrivaled. There's nothing he can't pierce..." Cell finishes.

"Another pole arm user? Interesting," Rayne mutters. "I'll take that challenge."

Cell continues, "The third child..." he pauses. "...loves pudding."

"Pudding?!" Dot exclaims, dumbfounded. "There's gotta be more to him than that!" Cell hums, his forehead scrunches as he recalls everything he can about the third child. "Also... I recall he made a potion to drain a person's life and magic energy from them."

Lance widens his eyes as he clenches his fists, his face holds rage that only him knows the reason. However, no one notices it.

"The second and eldest child are the worst." Cell lowers hia gaze, as if talking about them is enough to make him shiver. "But the second son makes the eldest and even father wary... for father's blood runs thicker through him."

For some reason, (name) pays more attention when Cell is talking about the second child. Her guts tell her to be careful if she ever comes to his path, but her mind says to stand her ground.

However, her instincts will be the one who is in control.

"He sounds like a maniac." Orter comments nonchalantly as Cell chuckles. "It's the unpredictability that makes him so dangerous." He warns mockingly. "You seem pretty proud of your abilities, but you can never beat him."

Orter stares at him before pushing his glasses back to the bridge of his nose. "We'll see." He mutters firmly as Ryoh states the conclusion. "Then that leaves for me, humanity's greatest masterpiece." He says proudly.

"Say, Cell War," (Name) crouches down to Cell's height as she tilts her head to the side. "Is there any of the brothers wearing like a clown and always demanding?" She asks, her eyes staring right into his.

Hearing the familiar description, Ryoh averts his eyes on the crimson cane. He furrows his eyebrows as he steps closer. "(Name), I don't think you should-"

"Why would I tell you?" Cell challenges. "You can't do anything to me. You're too fragile to do so."

(Name) stays silent as both Rayne and Ryoh frown at the thorny blonde. "You know nothing about her strength-" the sword cane mutters, but he is cut off by his senior.

"You better speak," the coldness of her voice sends shivers down both the light and sword cane's spine. "Because if you don't, I'm going to cut off your precious stick and feed it to the piranhas." Cell flinches as she smiles at him. "I'm still mad that you tricked me that day." All the men in the room shiver at her words.

Damn, women are scary.

"There's... someone who dresses like a clown and is always demanding." Cell mutters hesitantly. "It's Famin, the second son."

(Name)'s eyes darken as she slowly nods her head. "Famin..." she mutters to herself as she stands up straight, ignoring the dizziness that is threatening to make her fall as she stands up too fast.

"(Name)," Ryoh takes her wrist in his palm. "It's better if you stay with Kaldo." The crimson cane narrows her eyes as she gently removes his hand off hers. "Why?" The light cane winces internally at the harsh tone.

(Name) looks into his eyes, her (eye colour) orbs flash nothing but rage and determination. "If you're worried about me, I can protect myself. And I've grown stronger. You don't need to worry."

Ryoh frowns before letting out a sigh. Those determinations that spark in her eyes... they match Fabian's well.

"I will protect her, Ryoh." Rayne steps in. "I won't let her die." He assures, his golden eyes lock with Ryoh's blue ones. The light cane smiles and nods his thanks at him before furrowing his eyebrows.

'But that's not what I'm worried about...'

"Lance," the blue haired male turns to the crimson cane, who is approaching him for the first time after the first fight against Cell War back in the academy.

He nods his head as his respect as he gives her his full attention, signing that he is listening. "You're after the third brother?" She asks, making the younger male flinch before he nods his head.

A smile creeps into her face as she continues. "Can I ask you a favour?" Lance raises an eyebrow before humming. "I'll try my best to do your favour." (Name)'s eyes soften as she closes her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she opens her mouth.

"Please defeat him on my behalf," blue eyes flash a curiosity as he waits for the crimson cane to finish. "I have to go for the second brother. Can I leave Epidem to you?"

Without hesitation, he agrees. "If that is your favour, then I will surely do that for you." He mutters firmly, his voice coats with determination. (Name) smiles in satisfaction as she pats Lance's head gently. "Thank you."

"By the way, thorny one," Ryoh turns his gaze on Cell. "You may be right about us not being able to win." All of them pay attention to the light cane, but (name) has her back on him. "But there are times when you must put your life on the line and fight anyway. That's what makes a man."

No one notices how (name)'s hands are clenched until her nails dig in her skin, making her palm bleed. Well, except one.

A small group of sand that pokes her nose snaps her out of her thoughts, instinctively relaxing her hands in shock. The group of sand then slowly burst, blowing a small and gentle explosion that manages to get her attention instead of clenching her fists and hurting herself.

She snaps her head at the desert cane, who is looking down at Cell War, but the blonde is looking at both her and Orter back and forth.

A soft smile tugs on her lips as her heart flutters with glee. She now focuses on Ryoh's words, and that makes her unable to notice the amber eyes that are staring at her.

"It's time to face the enemy head-on like a man. Let's go!"