"So first on the list is Maddox?"
"Well, Sakura City is the closest here"
"I still don't get how he could be in Sakura City"
Maia and Magnus pondered on it too. The Sakura City was not like any other cities in Boa Country. It's the only city that prospers and the only one that the government truly trusts.
The Sakura City is home to numerous business tycoons but it's also home to gambling, sex and child trafficking and many unthinkable crimes.
"I don't know how Maddox ended up in there but it is him"
"My only concern is that he may have used his blessing in wrong ways"
Magnus turned the wheels right. The group immediately left after the short meeting and with Magnus' car it would take them only five hours of drive before they would have arrived at Sakura City. That is assuming that no patrols would have stopped them and no unexpected events would happen.
"One thing I am not sure about is if he remembers any of us. So far before meeting you guys I had the impression that it was only me who stills remembers"
"And even if he did remember why didn't he come find us?"
"Maybe he didn't have a choice?"
Maia wanted to grunt at Maki's optimistic reply but chose to stay silent knowing very well that it could be the case.
Maki's attention turned to Magnus whose eyes were focused on the road.
"What was he like?"
Magnus looked at him in the rearview mirror to confirm whether the question was directed to him or not.
"Maddox?"
Maki nodded at Magnus. Maia and Damian's gaze also settled on Magnus as they all waited for his response.
"He was mischievous in every sense and yet he could also be serious at the right moment. He adored everyone, especially the two of you although he wasn't anywhere near gentle when it came to Maddin."
"His twin?"
"Maddin and Maddox may be twins but they always bicker and neither one of them is willing to give in. Although if someone dares to bully her, he would always be the one to take her side immediately."
Maia looked outside the car window, she still didn't know how to feel towards their siblings. Was it because of the chemicals Leticia put in her system that made her slightly emotionless? Or was it a natural feeling towards someone she never had any ties to begin with.
Damian looked back and stared at Maia who was deep in her thoughts. Most of the time he couldn't tell what she was thinking about anymore. After their reunion, he could no longer see the little girl running after him before, it was something he got scared if he was being honest.
Magnus stole a quick glance at Damian who was in the passenger seat. He could immediately tell that he was someone who had a deep history with his two siblings. It made him quite jealous, but he guessed that was on him. Because he didn't have the courage to introduce himself to his family the moment he saw them.
It was a short and quiet drive and before they knew it they had arrived at the Sakura City.
"Stay here, I'm pretty sure your faces are already plastered across the city"
Maia couldn't argue about that, she was sure that the government wouldn't pass up on announcing what the rebels look like. The three watched as Magnus exit the car and walked toward the soldiers stationed just around the city arch.
"Hello"
"Hey, if you want to enter you'll need your identification"
"Oh"
Magnus looked back at his car before standing close to the soldiers while looking around. Maia watched as Magnus silently slip bills into the soldier's pockets.
"I hope you can help me out a little. I've got clients waiting in the back room"
The soldiers looked at each other before grinning at one another.
"One day"
"That's all I need, thanks"
Magnus ran back to the car and drove it pass the arch in a speed of light.
"Did you just bribed them?"
Maia asked her brother.
"I told you, Sakura City is home to the most heinous crimes you could ever imagine. It's not unnatural for soldiers to take bribes, especially from people who are doing illegal activities"
"Is that what the back room was about?"
Magnus glanced at Maia from the rearview mirror.
"You heard that?"
"Enhanced senses"
Maki shortly explained to his brother, to which Magnus only nodded at.
"Then maybe you can use it now Maia. You have a distinct image of Maddox don't you"
Maia hated being ordered at but she couldn't argue because her enhanced senses could definitely help them to find Maddox faster. Magnus' car was more like a van with tinted windows which made it hard for people outside to see who was inside. But the passengers inside could see the outside just fine.
Maia scanned the whole area they were passing by. She couldn't sight some blonde hair in the crowd, not even once. So she tried a different approach.
"I'll need you guys to stay quiet for a while"
The three didn't ask questions and just stayed quiet when Maia closed her eyes. She focused on the sounds, the names, and the conversations that were flowing now.
She needs to find some clues that could help her point to him faster. Maia focused more to see if she could hear further. And she did.
"Hey, Maddox where are you headed?"
Maki who was sitting beside her gasped when blood started dropping from Maia's nose but before he could shout in panic, Maia's eyes fluttered open.
"Ate, your nose, blood"
Magnus and Damian both turned around to see Maki handing Maia a handkerchief.
"You overdid it, you shouldn't have"
Magnus worriedly commented while he continued to steal glances toward the backseat.
"It's fine, it's worth it. Turn left Kuya"
Magnus stopped the car only to stare at Maia. Both Damian and Maki stared at Maia, not knowing if they should be shocked that she found Maddox or at the fact that she just called Magnus 'Kuya'.
"What? I found him. He lives on the far left side of this city. That's where I heard his name"
Maki was about to point out the fact that she called Magnus older brother but before he could say anything, Magnus intervened.
"Alright, that's great. I'm sure it's him, Maddox isn't a common name after all"
Maki saw how Magnus's smile changed. He was smiling widely now. He let Maia's slip of the tongue get away because it made him happy. So both Damian and Maki decided to shut their mouth too. They weren't going to ruin Magnus' happy demeanor now.
After a short while, Maia's nosebleed stopped and she once again focused on finding him with her eyes this time.
They were nearing the clearing that was the sign of reaching the end of Sakura City when Maia caught wind of the blonde hair going along with the wind.
"Stop"
Magnus stopped the car and looked at the direction that Maia was staring at. In front of a mansion, just under the blooming Winter Sakura trees, stood a man.
His navy blue suit matched his blue eyes and his tall and handsome appearance made everyone who pass by stare at him. His short blonde hair blew along the wind once more and as he raise his head, Maia could feel all the hair on her body stand up.
His blue eyes were now piercing through the tinted windows and staring right back at Maia's ruby eyes. Maia could feel the words caught on her throat when she heard what Maddox uttered.
"Hi Maia"
Maia stared at him only to see him smiling warmly towards them.
"I think he could see us"
Magnus, Maki, and Damian stared at Maia who in turn was staring at Maddox who was nodding at her.
"Maybe he also has enhanced senses?"
Damian asked but none of them could really answer his question because none of them knew.
Maddox pointed at what seemed like a townhouse just near the mansion before walking toward it.
"I think he wants us to follow"
Magnus obliged and pulled the car to the backyard of the townhouse where Maddox was already waiting for them.
Magnus was the first one to get out of the car to face Maddox. He stared long and hard at his brother who seemingly grew out of his pranks and jokes as a child.
"Hey Kuya, I knew you'd find me sooner or later"
Maki watched as Magnus rush towards Maddox to pull him into a hug which the younger man obliged to. Maki clutched at his chest.
He knew that it was a good thing that they had found Maddox already but why. Why is his head full of doubts right now? And what exactly was it that was making him anxious right at this moment?