Eternal Melody

YUHI

'I have too many rivals. Too many is an understatement, his own team members aside, there were the guys in nanairofeather. That's seven, then Hino, Nagawa, Shin. But, I don't have to worry about these ones. Nagawa is annoying, but I can tell Sumire has no love towards him.'

The real issue is Mashima, thinking about his conversation with Nagawa Akane the other day. Yuhi sighs. Even though he said those words to her. It's true he is tempted to approach the subject with Sumire. 

Even though things have been good between them since he returned. Sometimes he feels a wall between them that he can't break.

Yuhi opened the door where his fellow M5 members were staying, to see Kou talking frantically on the phone.

"Futaba-chii calm down, tell me everything. How badly hurt is he?"

Despite having no context of the conversation, Yuhi immediately understood what was going on. Ran was supposed to be arriving tomorrow. He ought to have guessed that something was wrong when they didn't hear from him. Ran updated them all when he arrived in star town, even when he was approaching Momoi's place to apologize.

Yuhi enters the room and Jun motions him over as he points to his screen.

"Daughter of largest mafia leader was kidnapped and held for ransom for-" Yuhi didn't have to read the rest.

Momoi Futaba was kidnapped. She was kidnapped. It makes sense why Ran stopped contacting them after he said he was heading to her place. He must have arrived there and discovered she was gone.

"I asked Tachibana to call Kain Ryuuji, and guess what he said?"

"He didn't realize she was missing?"

Jun nodded. "Turns out he gave her some time off and assumed she went somewhere. He didn't realize she was missing till Ran stormed the base and demanded answers,"

Yuhi frowned. "Momoi is a high profile member of the Holy knights. It's strange nobody nobody noticed she disappeared."

"Not exactly. Futaba-san is just like Sumire-san, she can be wild and unpredictable. It's not the first time she has simply just disappeared without a word."

"Let's rephrase that. It's odd that the black alice members didn't boast about taking her."

"It seems even Lucifer was unaware, if we are to believe that." Jun said.

Lucifer wouldn't go after Momoi, after all he knows how much Momoi Futaba means to Sumire. So, it seems he really didn't know.

When Kou got off the phone, his expression was grim.

"He hasn't woken up. Futaba said he was shot in both his arms, several broken ribs, his head was smashed against a rock-" Kou trailed off. "It's surprising he is alive."

"I don't understand how Momoi got captured, she is strong."

Kou paused. "If there is someone who can match Futaba-chii in combat aside from Mimi, Mamoru and Aki it would be-"

"Jian Hijiri." Tetsuo entered the room. "I just spoke to Miya. It turns out she hasn't been able to contact Jian for a while."

Jian Hijiri. 

Thinking of the man that made Sumire suffer so much made his blood boil. 

When he was abroad, he learned the truth. Of course he did, he raided so many of the black alice organisation bases. When he compiled the documents he stole, he found something, found evidence that linked Jian Hijiri as the culprit who set the Ibuki family manor. Evidence that Jian Hijiri was someone in Sumire's past life.

The man who caused the destruction of their seventh life, the one who killed her. 'Previously, I did think Jian Hijiri and Hikaru resembled each other, but I wanted to be wrong.'

Kou's gaze darkened. "Isn't it enough that he has made Mimi suffer all these years? Why does he have to continue hurting those precious to her! He knows. Hijiri knows how much Futaba-chii means to Mimi. He should know better than anyone. Why?"

It was his first time seeing Kou this angry. But Yuhi understood. Jian Hijiri's actions truly can't be excused.

"Now even Ran is-"

Tetsuo placed his hand on Kou's shoulder. "Don't worry. Kusaji made a trip back to star town. He is probably handling the situation. If anyone can help Ran right now it would be him."

'Atsuro suddenly leaving like that can only be the doing of one person.' Only Sumire would be able to persuade Atsuro to go anywhere. Does she know already?

'Hikaru, I won't let you off this time.' He made a mistake. He should have torn Hikaru's soul to shreds to make sure he didn't harm her. But, didn't he try? He tried but there was a thread between Hikaru and Sumire. Not a soul bond but something else, a thread of madness. That's the reason why he cast the magic to follow Sumire into her next life.

'I was afraid this would happen.'

It was a mistake, he should have called Atsuro over then and figured out a solution together. But he was focused on that small part of her soul that still lingered in the air after her passing.

 ______________________

Yuhi didn't know how he managed to work under the circumstances, the same went for the others. But, in the end of the day they are all professionals. They know how to fake a smile in front of the camera.

It was much later when Sumire returned to the room. Seeing him lounging on the bed, Sumire quickly removed her shoes and joined him on the bed.

"My dear."

"Yes, my love, life and soul?"

"Don't be upset with me." Sumire mumbled.

"I could never."

He really couldn't be angry with her. Yuhi kissed her forehead, only to notice something.

"You have a mark."

"Ah."

Yuhi frowned when he saw the green symbol. It was Mashima's insigma. "What's this about?"

"He said it will keep me protected when we go to the mountain region."

"If he is that worried he should just come with us."

Sumire paused. "If he did go with us, wouldn't it be awkward for all three of us to share the same tent?"

"Isn't it going to be awkward with Mamoru there?"

"Well, Ru won't see it that way."

She does make a point. It's Mamoru after all, Mamoru stayed by Sumire's side for many years and watched her with other guys.