The next day, Itsuki woke up earlier than the others since it was his turn to cook breakfast for everyone in the mansion. Besides, he couldn't go back to sleep after waking up an hour before. Well, he had to blame it on another weird dream of his.
Seriously, why does he have to dream of that girl again? But this time, his dream about the mysterious girl was a little different. She was trying to tell her something, but it wasn't about being reborn or something similar that she'd usually say. At least, Itsuki could tell that much.
But before he could even determine her words, he woke up suddenly which somehow left him puzzled and slightly frustrated.
Itsuki shrugged the thought off of his mind for now. Everyone's breakfast should be prepared by the time he wakes them up at 7. At the Mizuhashi mansion, everyone had a scheduled task to cook and do various household chores. It started ever since Itsuki and the others were saved from the hotel fire and were taken to live under Hideoki's care. As years passed, each of them finally got accustomed to their lives there. Each of the Vessels learned how to cook foods that also allowed them to discover their specialties. And once they passed Hideoki's esteemed tongue, they were also served at his family restaurant since they were also helping there when they had free time.
Itsuki finished preparing the necessary ingredients when he saw Kanako coming down the stairs and entering the kitchen. He frowned at the sight of her dejected state.
'I wonder what happened...' Itsuki thought before he started cooking.
"Good morning, Itsuki-kun," Kanako greeted but the sadness in her tone was evident.
The composer faced Kanako and slightly smiled. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
The girl nodded and sat on one of the chairs of the kitchen table. "You're early."
"It's my turn to cook everyone's breakfast. I should be saying the same thing to you. You shouldn't force yourself to get up yet. Even though Misae-san healed you, it's better if you shouldn't force yourself for a while," Itsuki said placidly as he was busy in front of the stove. "Besides, Eichirou-san would've thrown a fit if he finds you gone from your bed."
"He left," were Kanako's abrupt words as if forced out of her throat.
Of course, those words stiffened Itsuki somehow and made him face Kanako. The same dejected look was still there and he could tell that it got worse when she said those words. "W-what do you mean?"
"He woke up a few moments after I did. I had no idea what was on his mind the moment he apologized to me in my sleep. It appeared as if... he was burdened with something. After that, he left the room." Soon after, Kanako sighed. "I'm sorry, Itsuki-kun. I shouldn't be saying this to you. It's just that--"
Itsuki shook his head. "It's okay. At least I know now." At that point, he could already tell what was going on with Eichirou for him to act like that. He already guessed it since the time that Cyone attacked Kanako. From Eichirou's expressions and reactions alone, everything was crystal clear. "Did you check his room? Maybe he was just there, trying to think about something."
"No, he's not. If he did leave the mansion, he left without us knowing," Shuichi said as he entered the kitchen.
"Shuichi-san!"
"Sometimes, I don't know what's going on with Eichirou. He rarely leaves the house unannounced, especially to Hideoki-san."
After that, Shuichi sat beside Kanako and inquired about how she was feeling. The girl didn't lie, though. She said that it was already fine but was sad about Eichirou's actions. Itsuki just listened to the conversation as he resumed his cooking duty.
It wasn't long before Misae and Erika woke up, as well. When asked as to why the two girls woke up earlier than usual, they only said that they couldn't go back to sleep knowing that Kanako was unwell and that Eichirou decided to disappear just like that. But Itsuki could tell that the photographer hadn't gone far. At least, he could tell from the way he sensed the energy of the earth. Just like Misae's healing powers using the wind, he was able to determine his powers, as well.
For one, Itsuki's power was inclined to the element of the earth. And because of that, he could use the earth as an extension of his senses. He used that ability for him to determine Eichirou's location even without the help of the older man's Celestial Shifter.
And now, all Itsuki had to do was to find Eichirou and talk to him. Though he wasn't the type of guy who initiates a serious conversation, this time he had to. He had to do something to let Eichirou realize at least a part of the truth about their duties as the chosen Vessels.
But before that...
Itsuki was done cooking when he faced Kanako who was talking to Shuichi and Misae. "Kanako-san, after this, can you tell us everything you know about the Vessels?"
The girl eyed the composer for a few tense moments before sighing. "I guess Natsume-kun mentioned it to you."
The others nodded as a response.
"Is it okay if you do that, Kanako-san? You see, we're kind of novices when it comes to becoming Vessels since everything hit us pretty suddenly," Erika said with a sheepish smile.
"I can see that. Don't worry. Since I've been informed about the Vessels since I was a kid, and that I would be one of the people meant to support you guys, I might as well do what I can to help."
= = = = = =
Having breakfast during that time proved to be a little... different to the other Vessels. Hideoki and Nanami were rather impassive about the atmosphere but the others knew their mentors felt the same difference—not to mention the same melancholy and tension—hovering around.
And to be honest, it was rather frustrating for them.
"I guess everything's quite different without Eichirou around during meal time," Shuichi commented before he began munching his food.
"Yeah. I mean, this is the first time that our breakfast time felt so gloomy," Misae added. "I kind of miss his energetic self at times like this."
"Well, the sooner we find a way to settle this and learn everything that we have to know, the faster that all of this will be over," Erika stated as she continued eating. "We just have to figure out how."
During this, it was evident that Kanako was quiet and appeared to have lost her appetite. Shuichi sighed and faced the girl.
"Kanako, if you truly wanted to help us clear things with Eichirou, you got to have the energy. You've barely touched your food."
The girl was startled as she noticed the Vessels' stares at her. Kanako smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm just worried."
"You children better finish your food first," Hideoki said, speaking for the first time. "As soon as Kanako-chan managed to explain everything to you, that's when we'll decide on what to do with Eichirou. It wouldn't be too hard to track him, though."
"But Eichirou-san didn't bring his Shifter. How are we going to find him without it?"
"That won't be a problem," Itsuki said in response to his sister's inquiry. "Our Shifters weren't merely designed to track down the Hasureiki from our Heaven's Medallions. It's also meant to track the chosen Vessels possessing Hasureiki inside of them, though I believe it wouldn't be as strong as that of the Hasureiki emanated by the Medallions."
The others looked at Itsuki in surprise. How in the world did he manage to learn the Shifters' function in such a short time? The composer soon noticed the confused stares his friends were giving him.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" But before Itsuki could allow them to answer, it didn't take him long to finally realize the reason for that. "I asked Nanami-san if she has reference materials, scrolls, or books, containing information with regards to our Shifters or any of the transformation devices used by the previous Vessels to transform into Seitengers. I decided to read all that so I could understand its functions more."
"Well, before you tell your discoveries, I suggest you all finish your food first. Eichirou isn't our only problem. Cyone might start attacking again since he didn't take enough energy from the humans the last time," Nanami said.
The rest agreed, but it was still obvious that their minds started to become preoccupied with various curiosities regarding Itsuki's and Kanako's information. A few minutes more had passed before they finally finished their breakfast. It was a good thing that Kanako managed to finish her food despite the obvious loss of appetite.
After everything was settled, the four remaining Vessels, Kanako, Nanami, and Hideoki gathered in the living room.
"The reason why I was made to learn the truth about the Vessels and everything related to them was because... my father is a descendant of the Vessel of the Heavenly Wind Spirit Guardian's Power from 180 years ago," Kanako started which gave a surprise to those who were listening to her, of course.
"The Heavenly Wind Spirit Guardian? Then that must mean--"
The novice photographer shook her head. "Though I am considered a descendant of that chosen Vessel, as well, I don't possess Hasureiki as you guys do."
"That's not necessarily true, Kanako-chan," Nanami suddenly said.
Kanako frowned at that. "What do you mean, Nanami-san?"
"There has been a rule about people who were granted access to learn their lineage with regards to the descendants of the chosen Vessels. No person without Hasureiki is allowed to learn the truth about the Vessels," Nanami answered. "Your father allowing you and Natsume-kun to know more about the Vessels proved that both of you possessed at least a small amount of your ancestor's Hasureiki, only manifesting in the form that alters your DNA and allows you to achieve knowledge and skills beyond that of an average man."
"You mean... like our talents in certain fields?" Erika queried which the woman answered with a grave nod. "But... Kanako-san is still considered a novice in photography. Arts is something I could say as Eichirou-san's field, only manifesting in his photography skills."
"Now I get it..." Kanako mumbled and showed a small smile of understanding. "That's why I was able to catch up easily with Dad's teachings, definitely faster than a normal student would."
"What are you talking about, Kanako-san?" Itsuki asked with a frown. But it didn't take him long to realize the meaning of her words. "Wait a minute... Your father is an inventor, right?"
"A scientist, to be more precise. Being an inventor is just his sideline. Natsume and I became immediately interested in my father's works that we decided to learn from him. Some of his inventions were powerful weapons used by the previous Vessels before they lost their powers 25 years ago."
"Does that mean you and your cousin became a part of your father's team that supports the Seitengers?"
Kanako nodded. "You could say that. My father taught me everything he knew about the Vessels and more. But I never thought that you guys were chosen to become the Seitengers. That's why I never told you anything about what I know."
The discussion continued and Kanako proceeded to explain to the Vessels about their duty and identity. The role of being Seitengers wasn't exactly something that anyone could inherit by blood. The powers themselves that originally came from the Heavenly Spirit Guardians were the ones choosing the Vessels' successors. That was the reason why the Vessels were originally scattered before gathering to do their missions and fend off the Tareans trying to escape from the Tareus Dimension. When the mission was over, and the Vessels could feel that it was about time to find people who would succeed them, a larger part of the Heavenly Spirit Guardians' Powers would leave their bodies. The remaining portion was something that their descendants could inherit if deemed worthy of possessing them. That certain portion of the aforementioned power was the culprit that caused the DNA alteration of the chosen descendants.
"Then that means we were already descendants of the Vessels from a long time ago even before we were chosen to become the new Vessels," Misae commented as she recovered. "Or at least, our parents must have been the descendants. I mean, many people already said that they were geniuses in their respective fields even at a young age. They even said that they were taking the world by storm with their talents."
Shuichi nodded. "Yeah, I remember."
"Now I know that we got these talents for a reason," Erika stated. "That only proves that Kanako-san is somehow destined to be friends with Eichirou-san."
"But then that Eichirou decided to play hide-and-seek," Shuichi took a deep breath. "I wonder what that guy's thinking..."
Itsuki already knew the answer to that, only he decided not to mention anything just until the situation was clear. With that, he stood up from the sofa somewhat startled the others.
"What's wrong, Onii-chan?"
"I'll be going out for a while. I need to think of what to do next time that Cyone showed up." Before he could allow the others to reply, Itsuki left a notebook on the coffee table and stared at Shuichi. "Study the information in that notebook. We'll be needing it in our battle with Cyone," he said before hurriedly leaving the mansion with only one goal--to find Eichirou and knock some sense into that man's brain in his own Itsuki way.