Back with Kaito the constant arguing with Jin had took a long break. Instead what replaced it could only be called a long silence. One that was really making the already timid Patty more nervous.
Though Jin didn't like Kaito he had to respect the young mans tracking ability. Maybe if they were to work out how loud he was, there could be something there. Maybe.
Kaito halts them with a raise of his hand. "I hear talking."
One after another. They all enter a low crouch, slowly slinking the way forward, through the thick junle terrain. Aside from Bein, who didn't have a need to crouch as he was already perfect sneaking size. Peering over the edge they were surprised to see that they had found the thieves finally.
Jin looked closer. "It would appear we were the first to find them."
Patty looked down, and nearly lept out of her skin. "There's so many of them."
Bein nods, squeezing between them. "And look at all that heavy machinery, what could these thieves of yours be planning anyways?"
Bein's observation was no exaggeration the thieves had arrived heavily armed, Large excavation machines lined the jungle floor, which even atop their perch.
The constant clamoring was also starting to reach them. Whatever they were planning with the Crystia, and digging here. Jin was sure it wasn't anything.
Besides that, Bein was curious to see why Kaito had so little to say on this.
"What're you looking out for?" He asked.
Kaito never looked away from the ground below them. "I'm looking for Rika."
"Oh right, your friend." Bein climbed atop Kaito's head. "So, which one's this girl i've been hearing about?"
Kaito scans the area looking around for her. Until finally his eyes landed on their target. "There!" Kaito dramatically pointed. "That's Rika!" Kaito's face beams with joy.
Jin crouches down beside him. "Good, we've found the theives and located your guild mate." He says before turning to Patty. "I suggest we wait, engaging too soon with the targets could sully our chances at victory."
Jin checks his weapons before finishing. "It's important we stay qu-"
"HEYYYYY!" Kaito shouts as he dives down towards her.
Jin takes a deep breath. followed by firmly planting face into his hand. "This child is so irritating."
Rika scans where the shouting could be coming from. She darted around in search, but even she failed to see the Kaito shaped meteor flying at her, and when she finally did. All she could muster was a quick. "AH-" Before she was tackled into the bushes nearby sending them flying deeper into the jungle.
When they finally land he's on top of her with a big dumb smile on his face. "Hey Rika!"
Just with the way he entered alone Rika couldn't help but laugh. "Hey Kaito!" But she then furrows her brow remembering he's supposed to be your enemy. She jumps up, shoving him back. "Go away Kaito, I gotta get back to my guild."
Kaito jumps in front of her. "Wait, you don't have to go back to them, i'm here now you can come back to us!"
"It's not that simple Kaito."
"Rika, please, come back. I miss the times we shared, the laughter, the adventures. It doesn't matter what happened, you belong with us."
"Kaito, it's not that simple. We were never really friends. We only saw what we wanted to see. I was a stranger wearing a friendly mask."
"Why do you feel so distant? Those moments meant so much to me. Why are you staying with them? They don't know you!"
"I need them because they need me, Kaito."
"But why? Why do they matter so much?"
"they're the only people who see beyond the surface.
"I do see you, Rika."
"You see the mask, not me. There are things I've never shared, shadows lurking that I can't reveal. Our time together felt more like survival than friendship."
"Talk to me. I want to hear your truth."
"Every moment with you all felt like a performance. I crafted my words to fit in, to belong. But that just deepens my loneliness because even when surrounded, I remain isolated."
"Do you think listening to him will fill that void? He uses words as chains, not bridges."
"It's not about him, or even the guild. I can't say everything. The terrifying thought of being my true self, voicing my real thoughts and dreams, is overwhelming. Without that facade, I fear I'll stand alone."
"The hardest thing for me is trusting someone else with my debt. I struggle with that. It feels like no one cares enough to bridge that gap."
"I care, Rika. I genuinely want to know the real you, the soul beneath the mask. Don't let him convince you otherwise. His words poison."
Rika feels the sincerity in his voice, a warmth she's craved. She wrestles with the pull to trust him, longing for the simplicity and genuineness he offers.
"My, what a touching reuinion." The leaders slices through the vegitation in his way. "Now boy, what do you think you're doing with my theif." He snarled.