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An awkward silence fills the space. All Nanaji can hear is the sound of the car bumping up and down the road. He sits in the backseat watching Katalina and Jiro arguing about something. He finally chooses to break the silence.
"So. Where are we going? Cause you guys are acting really suspicious." he says as he watches their eyes dart around in the rear view mirror from the backseat.
Katalina and Jiro go back to talking.
"Are we seriously gonna tell this kid everything!?" Jiro whispers loudly.
"No! Not everything! I just wanna show him where Kasai is. I owe him that much at least." Katalina says while looking down at her knees.
Jiro looks towards the road and continues driving. "We could get in serious trouble for this! This can't be worth the hassle!"
As they continue their whispered conversation, Nanaji pokes his head out between the seats.
"What are you two talking about!!" He shouts.
That causes Jiro to swerve of the side of the road. He gets back in his lane and turns around to start reprimanding Nanaji for his reckless behavior.
"KID! JUST sit back and shut up! I know YOU want answers, and you will get them! If you stop asking questions EVERY 4 SECONDS!!"
"That's ENOUGH! Both of you!" Katalina jumps in.
The car goes silent again. Katalina starts up a conversation with Nanaji.
She sighs. "Nanaji. I'm sorry. I haven't been entirely honest with you at all. Kasai is at the hospital, but-" She stops mid sentence.
"But what?! I've already been to every hospital and every doctors office on this island! Your not making any sense!" Nanaji yells getting frustrated.
"He's at A hospital, but it's just complicated." She says as she gets chills just thinking about the situation.
"Basically, what I'm trying to say is-
"Kasai developed an ability!" Jiro shouts.
Nanaji's eyes go wide with excitement. "H-he got his ability!? How? Well that's great, isn't it? But I still don't understand why he's in the hospital. Is he okay?
"Look kid, Obviously you saw the giant explosion that happened near the shopping district, right!?"
"Yeah. The whole island saw. What does that have to do with Kasai?"
"Again. I have no idea why we're even telling you this! That explosion yesterday was KASAI!" Jiro says as he looks Katalina's way.
Nanaji's eyes go wide again. But not from excitement, from fear.
He starts laughing nervously. "Th-that's not funny Kat. This is a joke right?
They both turn around and look at him. "Do you really think we'd be telling you this if it was a joke?"
Nanaji slouches in his seat and looks out the window. "Hey! I've already been to this hospital, why are we here?
"It not about what's in the hospital you need to see, but what's under it." Katalina says.
"I don't understand!"
"Trust me. You will"
They all hop out the car and head towards the back door.
"Um, why didn't we use the front entry door?" Nanaji asks
"The General's men are guarding the front. If we go that way we'll be seen." Jiro explains.
"That's just my point! Why are we sneaking around like this!?"
"Shhhh! Because this is something your not supposed to see." Katalina says as she covers his mouth.
Nanaji grabs her wrist and removes her hand from his mouth. "Then why are you showing me?"
Katalina stares at him for a few seconds before answering. "Because your Kasai's Best friend, and I don't want him dealing with this all by himself.
They enter through the back door of the building and walk inside. Nanaji stands there with a confused look on his face, contemplating in his mind. 'DEALING WiTH WHAT!?'
They all head towards the elevator and get inside. Katalina pulls out her I.D card and the elevator starts going down.
Katalina and Jiro turn around and look at Nanaji
"Okay Nanaji, when these doors open up I want you to get behind me and try not to draw attention to yourself!"
"Why? What is this plac-"
The doors instantly open and Nanaji stares.
They walk out the elevator. Nanaji walks behind them but takes little peeks of everything around the lab.
"Woah!" he says in a soft whisper.
Katalina continues to walk along side Jiro with Nanaji behind them, when she sees General Daichi up ahead bickering with a Adrien's nurse attendants.
"I'm sorry General, but unless I get the say so from Headmaster Lucien that Miss Vanguard is free to leave the hospital, your not going anywhere near her." Says the nurse attendant.
Katalina grits her teeth and puts all her rage into her mind. 'He has direct orders from Headmaster and he's choosing to ignore them!'
Jiro and Nanaji can see Katalina get upset and stand back a bit just for their safety.
"Jiro. Please take Nanaji to your lab. I'm gonna have a friendly chat with the General." She says with a fake toothless grin.
They both shiver from fear and quickly run the other way.
"Oi! GENERAL!"
Daichi looks in the direction of where he hears the shouting. 'What does this women want now!'
"Hello Lieutenant! What can I do for you?" He asks in a sarcastic tone.
"You have direct orders from Headmaster! He gave me the task of watching Adrien! Your not needed here!" She says while getting up in his face.
"This is none of your concern Lieutenant. I just want to see if my prize was up and ready to go."
"Prize?" katalina says fumingly.
"IS THAT ALL SHE IS TO YOU! A FREAKING PENNY ON THE SIDEWALK! SHE'S A HUMAN BEING! AN INNOCENT GIRL! IF YOU SO MUCH AS LOOK AT HER I'M GOING T-
Daichi grabs her tightly by the shoulder and whispers something in her ear. "How long are you going to keep up this body guard act? You know it was your fault she got loose in the first place. But don't worry, when she's all better I'll do a better job of keeping watch than you ever could!"
He shoves her and she loses her footing and falls on the floor.
He looks down on her and motions for his men to leave with him. "Were leaving! We'll come back when our prize is ready to be taken!"
"Are you alright lieutenant?" A voice goes.
She looks up at one of Adrien's nurse attendants and smiles reassuringly. "Yeah, I'm okay Luka. Thanks for asking.
He pulls her up from the floor and watches her brush her clothes off.
"How's Adrien doing?" She asks
"She's faring pretty well! She's already awake now. I'm just on my way to bring her some food, she must be starving by now."
"Oh! I'll walk with you! I need to find Jiro anyway."
Jiro and Nanaji continue to walk down an empty part of the lab. "Do you think Katalina will be okay?" Nanaji asks.
"Yeah, I know she might seem a little unexperienced, but she's very capable and can handle herself."
"So, why was the General arguing with the staff?"
Jiro stops walking and turns to Nanaji. "I think that's an answer Katalina will have to answer."
They continue walking, until stopped by one of the General's men.
"Hey hold it right there!"
They both freeze in there tracks, look at one another and whisper. "Crap! what are we gonna do!" Nanaji says in a panic.
Jiro looks at the guard and grabs Nanaji's arm. "When I say go I want you to run in the nearest room you can find and hide there till Katalina comes to get you."
"Wait wha-" Before he has time to ask Jiro pushes him out of the way and gives him a head start.
"GO!"
He runs and never looks back. He tries to open door after door, but each one is locked tightly or has someone standing in front of it.
'Come on! Come on!"
He finally sees an unlocked room with no one standing in front of it. He enters and slams the door shut with his back.
He sighs in relief. "Thank goodness!"
"Uh?"
He hears a tiny voice go from behind him. He opens his eyes and sees a girl with short blonde hair and adorable green eyes.
She sits there and speaks again. "Who are you?"