The following day, after a somewhat failed mission, the team regrouped after school for an emergency team meeting.
The principal's office, usually a place of authority, now felt gloomy since Surata had not returned.
Yorui tilted her head down, her brow furrowing deeply, worried about his absence. Koroki, with his slouched and laid-back pose, remained quiet but was deeply thinking about Surata.
To end the grueling awkwardness, Seto broke the ice, "So, gambling was your idea to get intel?"
Koroki and Yorui's nerves jolted like a circuit. They stood uncomfortably, embarrassed, wanting to hide their faces.
Slacking off your first mission was a one-plane ticket to Ishio's wrath, something that Koroki feared.
Seto sighed. "Well, at least you got to meet Tiger." Seto covered part of his mouth with his hand, thinking. "So... there really is something going on."
Koroki added, "I think Surata found something." His mind recollected Surata gesturing at him from the casino. "I don't know what he was doing, but something tells me he found something."
"I'm aware. I know where he's at." Seto stated.
"What do you mean?"
"I used my Noye on Surata while he was chasing Tiger's subordinate. I'm a sensory-type Noye user. I can see things from people's perspective. Do you remember when I touched your shoulder?"
Though it was subtle, the children vaguely remembered Seto touching them before they arrived at the casino. It wasn't anything noticeable, it was a normal pat on the shoulder.
"People who I touch with my Noye will be marked which I can use to see through their eyes without them knowing."
The children tilted their heads and glanced at each other. They repeat Seto's words, hoping it will make more sense the second time.
Seeing how troubled they looked, Seto broke his ability down, "Think of it like a portable surveillance camera system. I am change cameras depending on how many I choose to activate. That's how I saw you guys with Tiger. But for some reason, I'm having a difficult time using my Noye on Surata, but I roughly have an idea where Surata's at."
Understanding more of his abilities, Yorui's worry faded, now filled with hope for Surata.
"So... where is he?"
___
Several hours after being tranquilized, Surata's eyes fluttered open, regaining consciousness. The cold, unforgiving stone floor pressed against his cheek, planting him in that harsh reality.
"Wh...Where... am I?"
Disoriented, he pushed himself up, his muscles resisting. As his vision cleared, he scanned around to find himself surrounded by the large steel bars of a prison cell.
"Am I in jail?" The cell was empty, decorated by the warm air- no bed, no sink, not even a toilet.
He stood and headed to the bars, gripping the bars. Hundreds of cages lined up around Surata, filling the enormous room.
The sheer cold silence made Surata feel like he was dreaming.
Surata desperately tried to remember how he got here. "How did I end up in here? What happened?"
A young voice from the distance interrupted his thinking. "Oh, you're finally awake."
The voice drew Surata's attention to the cell opposite his. The room was dark, but his vision adjusted to the shadows. "You're the kid from the casino. Where are we?"
At least he recognized someone.
The boy, huddled with his face buried in his knees, declared, "I'm not a kid, and I have a name."
"Sorry. What's your name?"
"Not telling you."
"Why not?"
"Cause I don't want to."
"What's this kid's problem?" Surata's nerves ticked, a spark of anger in his chest, irritated by the boy's attitude.
To his surprise, Surata heard coughing from the boy's cell. His nerves cool down, and his eyes expand softly. "Hey, are you okay over there?"
The boy swiftly got up, looking worried. "Shut up!" The boy turned his attention away. "Aya, Are you alright?"
"Aya? Who's he talking to?" Surata pondered to himself.
Surata inspected the boy's cage. He was so focused on the boy he failed to notice someone else inside the cage with the boy: a teenage girl. She looked older than the boy, and judging from the kid, she was his older sister, Aya.
She laid on the cage floor, her thin body covered by a tattered white blanket and a small, rough, white pillow. Her skin was pale and translucent compared to her brother's. Every breath she took was taxing, each one a struggle. Her voice, a soft yet raspy whisper, was interrupted by bits of coughing. "I- I'm al... right."
"No, you're not 'sis. You're sick! We need to get out of here! You need medicine."
"Don't worry..." Her coughing continued.
"When the Keibai starts tomorrow..." she said, forcing a weak but heartfelt smile. "...I'm sure someone will buy you. Then, once you have enough money, maybe you... can buy me someday." Her words were meant to comfort, but the underlying sadness and the forced optimism in her voice made the boy's heart ache.
Surata overheard the conversation from his cell. "Keibai? What are you guys talking about?"
"Huh?" the boy raised his voice, surprised. "You're a Shikari and don't know about the auction? What an idiot! You guys are so-"
Aya softly interrupted her brother, placing her hand on her brother's hand. "Elio, it's alright. Just tell him."
Listening to his older sister, Elio recollected himself. He let out a tiring sigh before explaining the situation.
"The Keibai is an underground auction under the Toihe Casino. Evil, notorious, and highly status figures from the underworld come to the Keibai to buy auctioned goods. It's like a black market. They pretty much sell any illegal Noye-related items, from Noye-infused weapons..." The boy gently touched his eyepatch. "...to Noye users, like us."
"These kids are Noye users?" Surata thoroughly examined the siblings. "They sure don't look like it."
Elio added, "The point is, we're stuck in here until the Keibai starts. You wouldn't be here with us if you didn't show up. So, why did you come?"
"Because you looked like you needed help-"
"We don't need help from a shikari!" The boy snapped, eyes flashing with anger.
Elio's outburst conflicted Surata's mind. "But why not? Shikaris are here to protect the people."
"If they're here to protect the people, then why are we in this prison!? It's people like you that put us in here in the first place!" The boy's fists clenched, his voice trembling with rage as he glared at Surata, sadness in his eyes.
"Elio, that's enough," Aya interjected, her voice weak but firm. Despite her sickening condition, her eyes held an unbending determination that silenced her brother's anger.
"Shikaris put you in here?" Surata vaguely recalled when Kenji first rejected his help at the casino.
"...Go away, Shikari! Leave me alone!"
"Now it makes sense." Surata's heart sank, and his spirit weakened. He felt sorry for the boy.
"Being taken from your home at a young age. I understand his frustration towards Shikaris now. But, why would a Shikari do something like this?
Surata's mouth remained shut, unable to find any words; the silence between them thickened.
Aya directed her attention to Surata, her gaze softening despite the pain in her eyes. "I'm sorry about that, S-Surata. Elio told me that was your name when he met you. It's true that a shikari b-brought us here. It was Tiger. He kidnapped us, and we've been in here for almost two years."
Aya unwrapped from the cover, struggling to stand up. "And it's only a matter of time before someone purchases us and be free from this hell."
Elio attempted to stop Aya from moving too much, or her condition will worsen.
"Your surname is Aoi, right Surata? The son of Ishio Aoi." Aya limped her way towards the front of the cage, hoping to see Surata more clearly. "Then it makes sense why they didn't just kill you. Your blood, like ours, put you in here.
Surata quietly clenched his fist, "My blood? I don't even have my Noye. What's someone powerless like me going to be worth?"
Aya rested her hands on the cold steel bars, gazing at Surata with a slight smile leaking from her face. "The fact that our last names hold so much meaning makes us more valuable to others."
Surata approached the bars in his cage. As he locked eyes with Aya, he was dazzled by Aya's beautiful appearance—her luscious, long white hair resembled the white clouds in the sky. Though dirty from the cage's environment and her raggy oversized clothing that matched her brother's clothing, her hair still shined brightly in that gloomy cage. Like Elio, an eyepatch concealed her right eye.
Being starstruck by Aya's beauty, Surata asked, "So, what's your blood then? What's your last name, Aya?"
"..." Aya hesitated momentarily, her eyes flickering with an eternal struggle. The sincerity of Surata's words pulsated from his cage. She felt no hostility or lies in Surata's pure aura. Because of that, she let out a slight chuckle, and her tone became lighter and softer. "Shioku."
Elio's voice softened as he called his sister, extending his arm out, confused by her behavior. "Sis…"
Aya comfortably yet carefully removed her eyepatch.
A large Noye mark hid behind her closed eyelid. The mark resembled the kanji:
"奥"
Aya began explaining her family history as she removed her eyepatch. "We're from the Shioku family. This mark was given to us when we awakened our Noye. It symbolizes our ambition to understand our true power that has been brought down over the generations. People sought out this power. Because of this mark, Tiger and his people took out my right eye and Elio's left eye."
Surata stood silent, understanding the pain and suffering these siblings had gone through. "I can't believe Shikaris did this to them. We are supposed to be their protectors." Surata's heart aches as tears dwelled up at their expense.
All this time, Surata always looked up to Shikaris. They were his role models. He believed that the war was the end of the conflict. After learning the truth about the siblings, Surata's doubts crawl into his head as he grinds his teeth.
"First Majuro. Now Tiger. I didn't know there were more people like them out there. They're meant to be protectors, not aggressors." The realization chewed at Surata, gouging his sense of purpose. "Does this mean, one day, when I become an official Shikari, will I be corrupted too?
Surata had no way of fixing what Tiger did to them. All he could do was bow his head. The only words that could satisfy his heart were, "I'm so sorry! I'm sorry you guys had to suffer like this! I wish I knew about this sooner."
Surata angrily clenched his fist. The grip on his fist caused his skin to tear and drop blood.
Aya held her chest, reaching out to Surata with her other arm. "Don't apologize, Surata. You didn't do anything wrong-"
Surata's fist tightened, his knuckles turning white as his nails dug into his palm. "I know! But it's people like me who are hurting innocent people. This isn't right! If they don't apologize, then I will on their behalf."
Aya's heart fluttered, touched by the sincerity in his voice.
Surata turned around and headed to the back of the cage. "You guys don't have to trust me. After all, I told Elio I'm a shikari, even if not official. But just know, I will…. find a way to help you escape." His voice was clear, with every word filled with resolve. Surata sat down again, with an intense gaze staring into the distance. "And that's a promise. The auction is tomorrow, right?" He laid back on the floor, his head resting on his crossed arms. "...Then I need to think of a plan."
Aya's coughs resumed as she staggered back to her bed, with Elio helping her walk.
"Sis, you didn't have to tell him about us."
"Elio. I know… we were brought here by Shikaris. But, there's something different about Surata. It's like… my heart tells me we can trust him."
The conversation ended, as Surata fell into deep thought, thinking of a plan, determined to save the siblings before their destined fate.
___
Back at the school, Seto informed the children of Surata's whereabouts.
"So, Surata is gonna be auctioned at the Keibai tomorrow?" Yorui curiously asked.
"Yes." Seto confirmed. "I knew about the Keibai, but I didn't know Tiger was the one in charge of it."
Koroki curiously asked, "Do you know where the auction is?"
"When I infiltrated the back, I noticed a huge metal door. So, I used my Noye on some suspicious workers to confirm my suspicion. Turns out the Keibai is held right underneath the Toihe Casino."
Yorui cheered with excitement, knowing where Surata is located. "So, how are we going to save him?"
"We're going to crash the auction!" Seto insisted.
The Keibai was a secured auction limited to invited guests only. The Toihe casino was accessible to the public, but the Keibai remained closed to the public. No one had ever broke into the event, but that would not stop Seto and the team.
The team composed a plan that would have three goals: crash the Keibai, bring Tiger down, and save Surata.
Then, they would wait for the inevitable day to come.
___