Chapter 130

Both Shinobu and Yushiro sat back on the boats while the lady sitting in front brought them to a stall selling souvenirs. The boat ride was supposed to be give passengers the feel of being at a river market.

Smiling, the lady waited for Shinobu and Yushiro who exchanged glances with each other. They wanted to get something but the thought of Douma and Chachamaru's wellbeing made it difficult for them to focus on other things.

It took a while for them to decide on what they wanted. Shinobu leaned towards the front of the boat to see what the store had, the items on display looked interesting. Maybe she will get something.

"Those pins are really pretty and they have snacks too." Shinobu looked around the store while Yushiro sat in his spot waiting for his friend.

But all that was halted when the lifeguard at shore made an urgent announcement telling everyone to stay away from any source of water for the time being.

"What? There's an emergency?" Shinobu looked at the direction where the announcement was made.

Yushiro sprang up from his seat, causing the boat to shake vigorously for a while. "Staring at the commotion over there isn't gonna save our butts. We need to leave now."

Back at shore, the boats arrived with the crew getting off and stepping onto the comfortable sand that was reassuring enough from the events that happened back on Twin Island.

It wasn't over yet, because the same exact wave that Akagi warned them about had caused chaos in the area. Groups of people were rushing to the other attractions and resting spots after the lifeguard told them about the hazard coming towards them.

Akagi and Kurai walked over to where Douma was while Chachamaru, Banri, and the others helped Bunta who was supported by Ime standing beside him.

"We'll take care of the meteorite, get everyone else to safety before that wave arrives here." The silver-haired man told Douma who blinked in bewilderment at his statement. The group had to get the carrier ready on time, and it seemed nearly impossible given the speed that the wave was traveling at.

"Wait do you guys have the-" Douma was cut off by Kurai who tried to get the meteorite away from him.

"It's alright this weight is nothing compared to what we've handled before. What's important is that everyone at Dice and Roll Valley is away from these currents."

The currents were strong, that wave was the last of the island's retaliation. Douma nodded and followed one of the group's teammates towards the attractions located near the shore and bodies of water.

Coincidentally, Shinobu and Yushiro had left the boat ride that wasn't too far from where Douma was and happened to be running in the same direction.

Douma was guiding people away from the shore when he spun around and met the purple gaze of Shinobu's who looked just as shocked as he was.

The person he helped stepped away and thanked him before catching up with the rest of their family members.

"Douma... you're back..."

The angel stared at Shinobu for a while. He was glad to see her again but there was something else gnawing at him the more he thought about the state of their bond from now on.

That incident which had taken a toll on Chachamaru's wellbeing, Shinobu was Chaos' next victim. Douma recalled the battle on Twin Island and the entity's words replayed in his mind very clearly and the longer he looked into Shinobu's gaze, the louder they got.

Yushiro stopped behind Shinobu and watched both she and Douma stare at each other for a while. He decided to keep a distance so as to not get in the way of their dreamy reunion. These two are back at it again. Yushiro huffed and crossed his arms feeling a little annoyed.

Well it doesn't hurt to hide this terrible news for the time being. I don't want her to be disheartened during our trip. Douma gleamed and took out a golden fan, bringing his weapon up slowly.

"I've missed you so much Shinobu and I have a lot to share with you so please stay by my side. This temporary separation will be the first and last." Douma covered his fan with his golden fan, he had to put up a smiling facade with an exaggerated sugarcoating twist to hide the reality of the situation that pains him to speak of.

Even though it was obvious that Douma was putting up this persona to shrug things off, no matter how obnoxious his words sounded, Shinobu was happy to see Douma again. She couldn't stop worrying about him. Though he was always prepared for the worst scenarios, their friendship meant a lot to her which is why the angel had been on her mind since he left for the mission.

Which seemed to have been completed since Douma was here. That means Chachamaru had returned to. Shinobu looked around to see if the large feline was around, Douma noticed the violette looking around for something and he just knew what that could possibly be.

"Next time don't put your missions and vacations in the same bowl." Shinobu told him with a slightly serious tone in her voice.

"Of course, I guess there was a mix of ingredients this time around," Douma replied, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. Shinobu sure is feisty sometimes. He wondered how long she's been waiting for this very moment. "Chachamaru is helping the group bring the meteorite to our comrades who are waiting at the entrance."

Both Shinobu and Yushiro widened their eyes at Douma who found their reactions amusing. It was fascinating wasn't it? The team found the meteor that people have been talking about for years.

"What?! You found a meteor?!"

Douma chuckled at his two friends who were both surprised by Atlas' discovery. "Yeah haven't you heard about the meteor that landed on that island?"

Silence as Shinobu and Yushiro looked at each other, confused.

Oh so they don't know anything about this meteor, how unfortunate.

"Where is the meteorite?! Is it the same one the news was talking about?!" Yushiro said pointing an accusing finger at Douma who narrowed his eyes at slightly. How dare Yushiro disrespects him like that, he wasn't making this up.

Clearing his throat, Douma put down his fan so they could see the rest of his subtle expression. "Yes it is."

Shinobu seemed interested in his findings. Her violet eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Can we see it after this?" She asked, sounding hopeful.

Douma grinned, "Of course you can my dear Shinobu."

"Oh cut it out with the lovey dovey talk! What's with you all of a sudden?" Yushiro yelled, something wasn't right. He could see it right through that smile the blonde was putting up with.

That same smile almost turned into a frown but Douma was fast enough to hold on to it. Are my worries that obvious? He hoped they wouldn't think too much of it.

"The meteor landed in that faraway island. That's interesting." Shinobu said, holding her chin with a thinking expression.

The next few people who passed by the three friends brought Douma back to his main focus; making sure everyone avoids the shore for now.

"Oh yeah we better hurry that wave is on its way." Douma said as both Shinobu and Yushiro followed the blonde to the path leading to the forested area where the adventure camp was. Yushiro recognized the cobble wall of the rock-climbing station. He was about to ask whether the climbers were taken somewhere safe when he noticed it was empty which made him relieved. Having to deal with a potentially disastrous wave while rock-climbing would be terrifying.

While Douma and Shinobu were ahead of Yushiro who was struggling to control his breathing from his own anxiousness derived from the thought of not being able to make it, the green-haired boy saw clouds of mist forming in the area.

Shocked, Yushiro spun around to find its source but there was nothing in the corners, just trees and bushes.

However, Douma and Shinobu were gone. Which could only mean he was far behind.

This raised an alarm for Yushiro had to catch up with them before the wave hits.

But this didn't make any sense, both of his friends couldn't have disappeared faster than a blink of an eye. Yushiro didn't even blink, not once when the fog appeared.

"Guys? Hello? This isn't funny." Yushiro called out their names a few times but got no answer.

So he decided to continue running down the path until he bumps into them. They couldn't have gotten that far it was only a minute ago when this forested area turned foggy but it didn't explain why he felt isolated from everyone.

While Yushiro was finding his way out of the fog, Douma and Shinobu were still running past the trees and infrastructures approaching them. They had no problem navigating through because the surroundings were clear.

Shinobu glanced behind her, worried that Yushiro might be far behind them, but their worst fears came true. Yushiro wasn't behind them anymore.

"Wait Yushiro's missing!" The violette shrieked as she slowly came to a stop.

Douma stopped running as well. He spun around and widened his eyes in horror. How could this possibly happen? Yushiro was with them just a second ago.

"No something's not right here-" Shinobu was interrupted by a loud scream coming from the line of trees a distance away which sounded disturbingly familiar.

"Help!" Yushiro cried in a constricted tone.

"This is bad." Douma said hurrying in the direction Yushiro's cries were coming from with Shinobu following after him which he expected since leaving Shinobu all by herself given the situation would be a terrible idea.

When the two friends got to the place where Yushiro was in danger, they were met with a loud cackle.

In horror, Douma and Shinobu watched Yushiro's limb freeze while the teen was standing in an almost translucent goo on the grass which was turning him into a plant or structure covered in moss, rocks, and tree bark.

"Help!" Yushiro cried, he was still recognizable but not for long. If they don't rescue him fast, the boy will turn into a moss-covered statue of some sort.

The other person who apparently looked too monstrous to even be called one laughed. It's beak and webbed feet reminded Shinobu of something she saw in a book or picture.

Junbo was standing beside Yushiro, preventing him from escaping though he couldn't.

"That's a kappa, what's a kappa doing here this has to be a prank. They're mythological creatures there's no way they'd just come out of a painting and imprison someone like this." Shinobu took a step back, her breathing grew heavy from just witnessing the very same malevolent spirit that folks warned people about whenever they passed by rivers and lakes. The nightmarish stories surrounding these creatures.

Douma extended his arm as a way of telling Shinobu to stop moving. The violette wanted to ask him why he was stopping her from getting away from this creature but she decided it was best not to maybe Douma was aware of something she didn't know about.

"My my, you're very clever. However this is no prank and I'm in fact very real. You should be honored that I'm letting you see me. Most of us would rather stay hidden." Junbo said, looking at Shinobu and the angel beside her with an analytical gaze.

The kappa was certain, that the violette's friend standing beside her was no human but an actual angel which meant he had to be careful. Another supernatural entity was present and clashes between them would lead Dice and Roll Valley to the same fate as Twin Island.

Not that Junbo cared about these humans and their attractions, but having this angel get in the way of he and the other yokai's plans was going to be a problem.

"Don't go near him! Run!" Yushiro yelled at Douma and Shinobu who knew what he meant from the strange glistening liquid on the grass. It reminded them of mercury only this time it had the ability to turn people into a part of the forest.

"Hahaha you're next!" Junbo summoned a pair of vines that lifted Douma and Shinobu off their feet like a whiplash.

The green-haired boy felt the instinctive urge to jump in and help but he couldn't move. His limbs were frozen.

Shinobu got up from the ground and sprinted away from the vines thrashing around in the air above her.

Just when she was about to run over to Douma, she felt the squelching mush of a puddle within the grass and looked down to see that her foot had stepped on the very same glossy liquid that was turning Yushiro into a statue.

"Oh no..." Shinobu trembled in her spot, watching the forest floor spreading to her ankles and then to her knees.

The spread was gradual but a portion of Shinobu and Yushiro's bodies had already been covered by the moss and vegetation. Douma had to save them fast.

And it wasn't going to be easy with this treacherous spirit. He was too keen on decorating the forest that he'd stop at nothing to make sure Douma doesn't get in his way. If the kappa gets away people's lives will be at risk.

"There's not much time left. You'll have to get through us to save your friends." Junbo took out a strange object that floated between his webbed hands.

Douma narrowed his eyes at Junbo who towered Shinobu and Yushiro, making them feel small compared to this monster. He didn't say a word, the angel took out his golden fan and got ready to give this spirit a taste of his own medicine.