9 - Part D:

Sshshshshshshhoooooo* Shshshshshshshoooooo*

The sound of the waves echoes as we drag ourselves towards the shore.

Maple who's really exhausted, drops down face front and acts like a dying soldier in a melodramatic war movie.

"Cough* Cough* I-I c-can't go a-any f-further... L-leave me be..."

And "passes out" afterwards.

Lokki who's also really exhausted, drops down beside Maple the same way as her and acts like a dying soldier in a melodramatic war movie as well.

"Cough* Cough* P-please t-tell Ve-veronica- Cough* Cough* That I l-l-lo-lo..."

And "passes out" as well

Roc who's as exhausted as the two, drops down without saying a word.

As for the rest of us, we're exhausted but not enough to make us drop like a bunch of dead flies.

Ace who looks a little tired than exhausted, approaches me and ask me a question in a cool manner.

"So leader, what's the plan?"

What's the plan huh...

"Let's see... First, we should find a place to take breather. One with lot's of oxygen so we can recover quickly."

"Take a breather with full of oxygen huh... That's sounds like a good plan. How about the others?"

Ace said and asked afterwards.

The others responds to Ace's question.

"I think that Linel's plan is good." (Aeris)

"Whatever my dear says, I will follow even if it means that I will travel to the ends of the universe." (Mathias)

"No complains here." (Kana)

"Like we have any other choice! Hmph!" (Wren)

"Dude! What they said." (Zack)

Ace makes a conclusion.

"Since we're all in agreement, Let's do that shall we?"

Everyone responds.

"Yes!" (Aeris)

"Yes darling." (Mathias)

"Affirmative." (Kana)

"Yeah Dude! Totally!" (Zack)

"Hmph!" (Wren)

After hearing everyone's responds, Ace turn towards me and speaks in a cool manner with a smile on her face.

"Now then, lead the way."

I tell her I'm not good with directions.

"Uh... Well... I'm not good with unfamiliar places and I don't have my cell phone right now for gps so..."

"I don't have my cell phone either nor I have a knack of exploring the unknown. So use your Instincts and lead the way."

Ace said without changing her expression.

I think Ace is messing with me.

I mean she's an assassin, I'm pretty sure that exploring unfamiliar places is part of being an assassin.

That's how assassins are... In movies that is...

Since I can't really lead the way, I'll try to force Ace to do it.

"Well, I can't really-"

Suddenly, Wren interrupts me.

"If you can't lead the way weirdo then follow me!"

After that, she violently grabs my right arm, pulls me away from Ace and starts walking towards the forest of tropical trees.

Well I'm not sure what those trees are called so I decided to use the term "tropical trees" since they're trees growing in the tropics

Anyway, the others who's seems dumbfounded by the situation follow us as well.

By the way, we just left the three idiot who's pretending to pass out.

"Hey wait for us!" (Lokki)

"You guys are so cold!" (Maple)

"Wait up man!" (Roc)

I took a take a quick glance from behind and saw the three idiots running after us.

After I look at them, I set my gaze back on front.

...

Wait a minute! I'm the leader??

...

After few minutes of walking, we arrive in a place full of yellow glowing flowers that looks like a bunch of bells thanks to Wren.

I don't know how she knew where this place is but while we were walking, she was looking at the ground and the trees around us constantly.

By the way, she haven't let go of my arm yet.

"Uh.. Wren?"

"What?!"

"Can you uh... Let go now?"

She slowly look at her left hand that's grabbing my right arm.

Her face became flush red.

Now that's interesting.

Ace speaks up about this situation.

"I know how much you like Linel but I didn't know you will be this aggressive."

"My darling Wren has finally broken out of her shell."

Mathias said like a proud father.

Kana takes out her cell phone and start fidgeting with it.

"My database tells me that Wren does this frequently."

She said while fixing her glasses in place.

Wait! She has a cell phone??

"Dude! Love birds hahahaha!"

Zack scream like a crazy surfer.

The three idiots started singing like children.

"Linel and Wren sitting on a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g!"

And everyone burst into laughter except for me, Wren, Kana and Aeris.

I understand Kana not laughing, but Aeris is well...

She looks really worried.

Wren burst into anger.

"We're not lovers so shut up!"

"Nobody said that you two are lovers."

And Ace just have to refute don't she?

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"

As expected, Wren throws a tantrum.

Before this go out of hand and waste more time, I told the others what to do.

"Uh... Before we waste anymore time, let's get down to business."

Surprisingly, listens to me and stops what their doing.

"So what's the plan leader?"

Ace asked in a cool manner.

"First thing first, could you stop calling me that. I'm not the leader."

"But you're the one's calling the shots, isn't it?"

"Well..."

I can't find an excuse to refute Ace.

What she said is true but...

"So then, you're our leader."

I looks towards the others if they agree with Wren.

They answer my gaze.

"Yeah you're the leader!" (Lokki)

"No complains here." (Kanna)

"You're the man!" (Roc)

"Linel, I think you're the one fit to be our leader." (Aeris)

"Yeah dude! Totally!" (Zack)

"My dear, whatever you say I will follow." (Mathias)

"What they say!" (Maple)

"Hmph!" (Wren)

After that, Ace makes a conclusion.

"There you have it."

I'm starting to think that Ace has unique way of making things go to her favor.

I guess it's an assassin thing.

Now then, to sort out the plan.