Chapter 56

"Well then, I guess this is goodbye," Chi said standing up from her table, "come on, I'll get you to your vehicles,"

"Huh? But our extraction is not till tomorrow night," Yukina said.

"I know, but your gonna have to go there anyway, so why not be early?" Chi said.

"That's… true..."

"Is it just me or does Yukina seem... A little sad," Yuji thought.

"Oh! There's also an open area there, that we usually use for explosive experiments and training, you could go there and try to test out your ability," Chi said, looking at Yuji.

Yuji nodded, "understand, thanks,"

And so, all of them went out the room and walked over towards the other side of the building, where the military transportation vehicles are being held.

"Hey, Yuji..." Yukina whispered, being close to him.

"Yeah?"

"Are you ok? You spaced out earlier," Yukina whispered, "you got bit twice back there, is one shot enough?"

"Yeah it is, I'm not feeling anything weird relating to that, I'm just tired," Yuji replied.

"Is that so..." Yukina said in a worried tone.

After a short moment.

"We're here," Chi said as they walked inside the massive underground parking lot.

"This place is huge," Yuji said, "and look at all those tough-looking vehicles,"

"Those tough-looking vehicles are for when our City is breached or about to get attacked," Chi said.

"Breached..." Yuji said.

BEEP* BEEP*

Suddenly, red lights started flashing around as alarm sounds filled the area.

"Breach warning at Eastern wall, district 18, possibility of a breach, extremely high, beginning evacuation," the voice from the speaker broadcasted.

"District 18, that's barely by the border of the north," Chi said as she reaches for a device on her ear.

"To all available combat personnel, prepare for combat and head to the underground garage," Chi said, speaking through her earring-like communication device.

"Isn't this bad!?" Yuji said in a tense tone.

"Calm down..." Yukina said grabbing Yuji's shoulders.

"Yeah, cool your jets," Chi said, "this isn't anything big, this happens from time to time,".

"What?" confused.

"Even in City A, breaches are a not so uncommon occurrence," Yukina said, "you never experienced a small breach before since your city was smaller and was easier to protect, not to mention has one of the best defenses,".

"I... I see... But is it ok to leave like this?" Yuji said, being worried.

Yukina stayed silent and looked at Chi.

"All ok!" Chi said cheerfully, "I really wanted to send you off myself, but looks like that isn't happening,".

Chi went closer to the both of them, slapping Yuji's back and patting Yukina's shoulder, "over there is the vehicle I chose to send you off with your things, it's a casual car you can see anywhere so that it won't take too much attention, there's a driver there waiting too, just say your name and purpose and it's all good,"

"Troops preparation done, available units heading towards the driveway," the voice from Chi's earing-like communication device emitted.

"Now then, let's go!" Chi said, cheerfully pushing Yukina and Yuji forward. she then steps back and turned around.

"Yukina! Take some missions in City again soon ok!?" Chi said, gaining distance from each other as she starts to run.

Yukina halted and looked back at Chi, "I will!" She shouted, looking directly at Chi, as she waves goodbye without looking back.

"Let's go," Yukina said, turning around.

"Y... yeah," Yuji said as they both began to walk.

And so, they separated paths not knowing when they will meet again.

Chi met up with a massive group of soldiers outside, as Yukina and Yuji left through a car.

The car passes the soldiers, going in the opposite direction, as Chi looks at the car, watching them drive away

A few minutes later.

Yukina was staring blankly at the car window as if she was lost in thought.

"You seem worried," Yuji said.

"Maybe... Just a bit," Yukina replied, "it was a high-level alert after all,"

"I see..."

Yukina then let out a sigh, "but if it's just that, then this might be just an empty worry, she is very powerful after all," she said, "but if it's the archdemon candidate... Then I'm actually worried, we still haven't scoped out its full capability yet..."

"But didn't we see that Akuma running from the opposite direction of the city?"

"We did... But you'll never know what's on those things' minds when they actually have the capability to think..."

"I see what you're worried about..."

"Though worrying right now won't be the best for us... Chi's right, we need a good rest," Yukina said, "with that being the case, you should sleep if you can, I don't know what's going on in your body but I can tell by your look that you're really tired,".

Yukina then moved closer to Yuji, as he gets shocked by her sudden action.

Yukina moved closer to him, reaching her head closer, as Yuji was stunned, locking eyes with her.

"Does being bitten take energy out of you?" Yukina whispered.

"I... I think so..." Yuji replied with a slightly nervous voice.

"I see, even the way you whisper seems off," Yukina said pulling back her body, "you should sleep while you can... This might take longer than we thought,".

"So that's what it was..." Yuji thought.

"Maybe your right... I should rest my head for a moment," Yuji said slouching on the car's seat.

"I'll wake you up, when we're there," Yukina said.

"You should rest too you know," he then closed his eyes.

"Go on ahead, I'll rest later at our destination,"

"If you say so..."

As if his tone was fading, Yukina tilted her head in question, "Is he asleep already!?" She thought.

Yukina moved a little closer and whispered, "Yuji?".

Yuji did not move or say a word.

"That was fast..." Yukina said, "he must be really tired after that, maybe if I was a little more careful, he wouldn't have been bitten," she thought.

Yukina let out a sigh as she slouched on her seat, "reflecting on what's been happening, Yuji... Sure has potential," she thought, "on our way here, I told him what I know about Alicia and how I saw her ability work, after that he just began improving so much all on his own, he even improvised her ability in a short period of time, and for my own theory on this, it seems he can grow stronger and stronger whenever he gets bitten by an Akuma... But such power can definitely have some sort of consequences or limits... I'm sure he's aware of that,"

Suddenly, the car made a sharp turn moving Yuji's motionless body.

Flop*

Yuji fell on Yukinas lap, sleeping soundly as Yukina became flustered.

"E...eh!? Wh... what's this... What am I going to..." She panicked, as her cheeks glowed bright red.

She looked at Yuji's face, noticing how peaceful his expression was, she slowly calmed down.

"Jeez, how can I disturb you when you're looking like that,"