Matthew assisted Hinata, rushing that the figure from a different angle and trying his best to cover the opponent’s easy escapes. What he didn’t expect was the fact that Adam had used his hands to tear through the vines Matthew created to dodge Hinata’s attack.
He jumped away, landing and creating a cloud of smoke around him.
”Oi oi, too predictable people,” the Knight laughed as the smoke condensed, divided, and were sent towards the two. The condensed smoke came at an incredible speed, yet not a speed too fast to dodge.
Hinata stumbled to the side as the smoke came rushing at her, breathing heavily through gritted teeth. The effects of the gas on Tatsuo were taking ahold of Hinata, and she didn't know how much fight she had left in her. She coughed even though she had abode the cloud, choking a little on the air she was breathing.
In the house, Kagami was coughing uncontrollably, down on her knees and trying to hold herself up with her arms. None of this was good.
Matthew wasn’t able to dodge all of the smoke cloud, breathing in some of it. His structure shook and his arms were weakened from the effects. The infection, as most have said, made normal Phantoms as strong as Knights so it made perfect sense that it would turn a Knight into something worse.
”Giving up, are we?” the infected Knight smiled menacingly, another cloud of smoke was present around him. He condensed the smoke, again, into a ball which was going to be sent at the two…
A drill made from what looked like diamonds came through the infected Knight’s chest, splattering out his blood all over. The drill was pulled out soon after as a blade, again, made of diamonds sliced off the Knight’s head and ultimately decapitating him. The Knight fell.
”Crystal Clear Purification…” the new figure of pearl-colored hair muttered out loud as all the intoxications the infected Knight placed onto Matthew and Tatsuo were cleared from their existence.
”Are you two alright?” the figure, now seen in a doctor’s coat, asked politely, helping Hinata stand on her feet.
”I would appreciate if you came earlier…” Matthew mentioned before sighing out of relief ”… Eisuke,”
”I’m sorry, I had a case earlier…” the doctor replied, eyeing Hinata with his golden colored eyes.
(Knight’s Profile)
[Eisuke Okita]
[Ability : Diamond Purification]
[Knight Class : SS]
[Knight’s Sector : Harmony]
Hinata gasped lightly as her lungs cleared, and she could hear Tatsuo doing the same.
"I-I'm fine. Thank you," she said quietly. She stated bent over for a moment before straightening up. Her face was flushed, and she was recovering much slower than Matthew and Tatsuo. Things that happened to get Companion Souls lingered for her long after they stopped being affected.
The doctor took a moment to look at Hinata for a bit.
”Matthew,” he called out ”Do you have the syringe I asked for?” the doctor asked.
”Not with me, sorry. Kage has it,” Matthew answered, his spear disintegrating.
Eisuke sighed softly.
”Alright, get it to me as quickly as you can. This is getting out of control, especially if you, a class S, needed help,” the doctor stated before he let go of Hinata.
”And about Cassius,” the doctor gave Matthew a clear serious glare, ”He’s recovering, don’t worry,” Eisuke patted Matthew’s shoulder before sheets of diamonds covered him, opening to reveal his disappearance.
Matthew nodded subtly as he turned back to Hinata. He held her arm to keep her from falling.
”Are you sure you’re alright? Please be honest,”
"I'll be fine," Hinata said, giving a weak smile. "It'll just take a moment for me to catch my breath is all." Hinata put one hand on her hip, breathing a little heavily. If one ignored her words, it would be obvious it would take a while for her to fully recover.
"I'd rather head back and make sure Kagami is okay."
Matthew shook his head, carrying Hinata in a princess carry way before he began back towards his house.
”Don’t lie to me, I know you enough,” he gave a soft giggle, rushing back to his household. Along the way, he looked up at the sky.
”Say, Hinata,” he looked back down at the person within his arms ”Do you have a significant someone yet? I mean, it has been ten years after all,” he asked plainly.
Hinata didn't try to fight this, just relaxing into Matthew's chest.
"Yes," she said quietly. "But it's more complicated then that." She took a deep breath.
"I'm… polyamorous." She looked up at Matthew, wanting to see how he reached to the news. Most didn't understand, or accept it when she said it, but she couldn't hello her heart falling for more than one person.
”Ah, I see,” Matthew replied plainly.
”I mean, I’m not surprised,” he smirked a bit when he said it. It wasn’t long before they arrived at Matthew’s place. He slowly let her down, allowing her to stand on her own while still holding onto her arm just in case.
He opened the door to find Kage, Serena, and Tenshi back in the house, Tenshi was comforting Kagami while the other two were sitting with Strix.
The scent of cooked food came from the kitchen. It smelt… wonderful.
(reads this, chokes on coffee, then grins like a madwoman)
Hinata want sure what to make of this reaction, but at least it hadn't been a bad one.
Kagami had been close to freaking out while Hinata was in the fight, and now she jumped up and ran over to her, clinging to her. Hinata stumbled a little and would have fallen if it weren't for Matthew.
"We're alright, Kagami," Hinata said, patting Kagami's head. Hinata closed her eyes a little when she smelled the food. She was starving from the fight, and Kagami's choice to stay out so long.
"Smells good," she noted, opening her eyes with a smile.
Matthew gave a weak grin.
”I mean, we do have quite the chef in the building so it shouldn’t be a surprise that he’s the one in the kitchen,” the Knight regarded. He turned to Kage and called the shadow fox over, mouthing something to him.
When they were sure Kagami wasn’t looking at them, Kage handed the syringe over to Matthew. They tried their best to hide the fact that they had that syringe with them. Perhaps due to unspeakable reasons… who knows really.
Serena came over to Hinata and Kagami, also comforting Kagami. It had, after all, been quite a start. The fights were getting harder even if it only lasted minutes or so. What’s worrying about this situation was the fact that the Knights who have been infected were only Class B’s and B pluses. It was going to only get harder after this.
Tenshi stood from the table, motioning to the window.
”Matthew, is there a way to call them back to the Labyrinth?” the angelic fox had asked.
The Knight froze a bit at this.
”By them, do you mean…”
”The Warriors. Is there a way to get them back?” the fox had asked.
Matthew thought about the question for a bit before he gave his reply…
”I believe we can use the help of some of them,”
Hinata raised an eyebrow when she saw the attempt to hide the syringe but said nothing. Like she had said to Tatsuo, she trusted Matthew. Kagami had her face buried in Hinata's shirt, not letting go. She wasn't used to being separated from Hinata for long, and never during a fight. Hinata listened quietly to the others, still working to help Kagami calm down.
Tenshi had finally noticed how Kagami was acting. He moved over to her in attempts to calm her down too. He didn’t say anything, just patting Kagami’s head with his ever soft hand. His fluffy tail came from his back as well, gently brushing it against her back.
”It’ll be fine… don’t worry,” he gave a weak smile as he himself doesn’t agree with what he just said.
Kagami held onto Hinata for a moment more, then stepped away. She took Hinata's hand, standing at her side and giving Tenshi a small smile.
"Thank you," Hinata mouthed to him.
Tenshi only nodded at those words. Whatever the cause, he needed to make sure that everyone trusted him, his brothers, and his master. It was only for the best after all. Living stress free in a stressful time was desperately needed.
Kage leaned back against the wall he was by, loudly sighing before turning to Hinata.
”What is she to you anyways?” he asked, looking between Kagami and the Balance Keeper.
Hinata was grateful for Tenshi's help. Sometimes, it was nice to have help when it came to Kagami. She looked over when Kage asked his question.
"She's my youngest Companion Soul," she explained. "Her own soul has a part of mine, and it gives us the bond that allows us to do all the things we do." If anything, Kagami was like her own child. With the others, there had always been a separation that had made them more like allies or friends then family, but that wasn't there for Kagami.
(My tablet keeps auto correcting Kage to Kate and I hate it XD)
(#SaveKage XD)
Kage nodded, trying his best to wrap his head around the idea. Ultimately, that train of thoughts was put to a stop when the door to the kitchen opened.
andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer), the Butterfly Knight, had came out with a tray of prepared foods. From the left to the right were… vegetable spring rolls, fried shrimp and chicken with hot honey, stir-fried squid with salted eggs and caramelized onions, glazed deep fried potatoes and a side of mashed and gravy, black pepper stir-fried crabs, a rack of barbecue pork ribs, and egg custard for dessert. Drinks are your regular water, soft drinks, and alcohol selection.
”Dinner’s ready for everyone!” the Knight called out, setting the dishes on the table.
Hinata saw Kage trying to figure out what she had said, about to offer further explanation when andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) came out with the food. It all looked amazing, of course. After a moment, Kagami disappeared back into Hinata's mind. She felt better to know she wouldn't be separated from Hinata again any time soon. Hinata made her way over to the table.
"Looks delicious," she commented, smiling.
”Well, andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) has been a chef since he was alive and is still one even if he’s dead,” Matthew mentioned with a small snicker. ”I would know,” he added subtly as he motioned to the table, sitting down and inviting everyone to the table.
”Say, andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer),” the Nature Knight turned to the Butterfly ”Have you talked to Chronos recently?”
The Butterfly Knight’s response was a freeze and a stiff laugh.
”I haven’t, actually,” it seemed too clear that he forced that answer out, perhaps not because he wanted to lie.
Hinata sat down, nodding. "Very skillful," she said in agreement. She looked over quietly as Matthew and andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) spoke. There was definitely something going on about Chronos that made andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) respond like that.
andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) didn’t seem to care for what anyone thought of that response. He needed to keep whatever he had going on with the Time Knight a secret as for now. It would be best if no one knew about it after all.
”Please eat up, don’t be shy,” the Knight stated with a friendly tone, professionally hiding his actual feelings with terror and confusion.
The two foxes who were in the house, the owl, and Serena came to the table and picked out their favorites and started eating.
”Mmmm, so good!!” Serena exclaimed with what looked like stars glowing in her eyes.
Hinata looked away after a moment. That was just one more thing for her to ponder about later. Right now, she needed to eat. She took a small amount of everything, beginning. She smiled, nodding to what Serena said.
"It's delicious," she complimented. "Thank you." She continued to eat, enjoying every bite.
andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) smiled when he heard the words Hinata said.
”Thank you, that means a lot,” he regarded with an honest grin. Matthew eyed his comrade a bit. His mind was trying to think of why andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) might have wanted to work with someone like Chronos but his body was enjoying the food way too much to dwell on such a sensitive topic.
”Did you…” Matthew started when he got a taste of the pork ribs.
”Yes, I smoked them first,” andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) answered before the question was even addressed to him.
Matthew paused.
”How?! I don’t even have a smoker here,”
”Magic~” Tenshi answered with a small laugh and a blissful smile. He was arguably the most attractive of the foxes both physically and emotionally.
Hinata nodded to andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer), smiling. She chuckled a little with the conversation, eating some more.
"Did you expect anything else?" Hinata grinned.
