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- Wow, did ya hear what they said about the Federation?!

- Whaaaa, what are ya talking about?

- Ahah, haven't ya heard the rumors?

Three men were talking together around a terrace, glasses of alcohol in front of them. Two of them were drunk, while the third was beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol on his brain. One of the three, the one with brown hair, laughed.

- He didn't hear!!! Still, it's biiig, biiiig news!!!

He slammed his fist on the table, smiling broadly. The maid who went to get another woman's order clicked her tongue.

- Y’all so loud…” she murmured.

The man did not hear her and raised an index finger to the sky.

- Three days ago, some level 9 Longers attacked the Kemono Federation!

- What?!

The man who knew nothing about it stood up, not believing his ears.

- Are ya lying?!” he shouted.

- Hehe, I'm not lying. It's a rumor that's not a rumor, but the truth. Four level 9.

- FOUR?!!

- SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

The woman who wanted to place her order jumped over the table and approached the trio before hitting their table. Luckily the glasses were in their hands, otherwise... One of the three men frowned.

- Hey, hey, it's not unimportant news, ya know!

- I know, I heard about it ! But y’all making too much noise!!!

- Tsk.

He crossed his arms and turned his head. The woman clicked her tongue and returned to her table before sighing. The maid did the same and asked for her order.

- A simple orange one will do.

- An orange one for Mrs. Kari!

Kari squinted as she looked at the trio of drunken men. She had heard of the Longers attacking the Kemono Federation... and all of them had been eradicated by Maslow, the Constable. The one some considered the most powerful Kemono on Arcave, but also the most powerful person in existence. She wasn't even a Queen or a Goddess and yet she was considered so... Kari wanted to see her with her own eyes, but not being able to even move from Lost Hell, that would never happen.

- Four levels 9…

It was something incredible, but above all frightening: so many Longers of such high levels in the same place, at the same time... Before that day, there had only been two of them for centuries; and now, four?! Moreover, they had all been eradicated by Maslow alone...? As far as she knew, the Kemonos did fight before Maslow arrived, but Kari still couldn't believe it… Though, it was her King himself who had mentioned it.

In short, it was serious.

- Here's yar orange one, ma'am.

Kari grabbed the glass and sipped it before looking at the maid.

- Thank ya very much.

The maid bowed and went to another table, while Kari had her head full. She should have been walking with Vixen, but he had decided to take care of something first. She didn't know what he was talking about, but it would be about his past... She didn't want to get into his personal life, so she had decided not to think about it anymore. All alone around a round table with a rather old-fashioned parasol, she was sipping her drink while looking at the sky.

It had been a few weeks since they had seen any Longers in Lost Hell. To learn that such an attack had been launched on the Kemono Federation was more than a little strange... When they hadn't seen a level 9 in ages, four of them were coming at once? If Maslow wasn't as powerful as they said she was, how would they have done it...? She knew very well that the Kemonos were not to be underestimated, but against such monsters... Kari couldn't even imagine the horror that they must have known. She had fought Longers in the past, but lately there had been very few of them in Lost Hell. She didn't mind, and in fact it was normal: most Longers came from underground caves or from the oceans, and to get to Lost Hell, you had to cross Teizania first. Even if Longers were not rare in the middle of the continent, Lost Hell was a country with complicated conditions and everyone was fighting to survive: in short, Longers had no reason to come to such a place. However, it was still strange that there were none at all for a few weeks... And the attack on the Federation... The time between the two was quite tight…

- A coincidence?” Kari wondered as she put down her glass.

She knew that taking the head with such a question was useless, but what could she do: it interested her. She scratched her hair and finally sighed, finishing her drink without thinking about it further.

*****************************************

In the same day, a man was backing down a dark street, tears forming in his eyes.

- N-No... What do ya want from me...?!

He was handsome and his eyes were an emerald green that would make many women fall in love with him, and in fact, he had succeeded in bewitching many of them. His bed sometimes had to support three to four women who were in his arms or having fun with him: he was a charming man who could use words to his advantage. He was a manipulator who could have his good side, but who did not hesitate to cheat on his own girlfriend; even his wife.

- I-I did nothing to—

- Shut up.

The Kemono grabbed him by the collar and tackled him to the wall with a frown.

- I have nothing against a little shit like ya, but I was paid to destroy yar ass.

- !!!

The man struggled, but he had no Power to protect him. His allowed him to change the color of his eyes, it sucked, but he liked it... Now it would do him no good!!!

- W-Who, my wife?! Who asked ya that?!!

The bunny-eared Kemono smiled.

- Who knows?

She clenched her fist and sent it into his face, causing the loss of a tooth.

A few minutes later, Cerise came out of the street with a sigh, blood on her gloves and clothes.

- I went there too hard…” she sighed.

- Cerise!

As she walked quietly, a man called out to her. She turned around and stopped, hands on her hips.

- Gank? What are ya doing here?

The man stopped a few steps away from Cerise, his boss, and took a deep breath of air. He had been running for a long time and couldn't take it anymore, but he had arrived in time. He took a letter out of the front pocket of his pants and offered it to Cerise. She grabbed it and looked at the name on the letter.

- Whaaat?

She squinted and waved the letter.

- This isn't a joke, is it?" she asked, her eyes crinkling.

Gank shook his head.

- It was in our mailbox. I could have waited for ya, but I figured it was better for ya to see it now, since ya weren't coming back all day.

Gank knew where Cerise was from Garendo, who told him where she was going for work. Almost no one was in the FIREFIGHTERS building today, so Gank was the first to see the letter. Cerise looked at the name again and clicked her tongue before cutting the top off the envelope.

- I didn't want to read its content, since it's for ya…

- Yeah, don’t worry.

She tossed the envelope in the air and began to read the contents of the letter. Her eyes moved from line to line without hurrying, but she could read fast enough. Halfway through the sentence, she had a reaction that surprised Gank. Cerise clutched the letter tightly and gritted her teeth.

- …! Fuck!!

She finished reading the contents of the piece of paper and finally threw it on the floor before biting her thumbnail. Gank took a step closer and grabbed the letter she had thrown away, but he didn't begin to read it.

- Is it that bad?" he asked.

Cerise stopped biting her nail, turning her back on Gank. She sighed and her bunny ears perked up in a way that Gank hadn't often seen. She pulled her hood over her head and frowned.

- He is back.

- He…?

Gank didn't know what she was talking about, but when he saw Cerise's serious and piercing look, he began to read the letter in his hands.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Cerise, my dear Cerise.

As ya might have guessed, getting a letter from me isn't very... happy. I know ya'd rather never hear from me again. Like, it's been what? Maybe three years since we've talked. It's been a little while, isn't it? Ahah. I already know the look on yar face right now. I'll be honest and I'll be quick, but we have a problem. Do ya remember the man who killed yar dear friend? Yeah, ya know who I mean.

He's back.

He's back in Lost Hell. I don't know where exactly, but my internal radar started beeping exactly three days ago. As ya know, my Power allows me to know how far away someone is when they're within a close enough radius, but I wouldn't know where they are exactly, sorry. In any case, take care of yarself. I know ya’ll kicking his ass, but that's not the case with everyone ya know.

Take care of Porencha. I know how much you love her.

Hoping to see you again one day,

One of your friends.

Gank dropped the letter in turn, mouth agape. He looked at Cerise and she picked up the letter, balled it up and ate it before swallowing it with an unpleasant sound. She sighed and gritted her teeth.

- We don't let our guard down.

She clenched her fists and turned around.

- I'll finally be able to finish... with him.

************************************************

The sky was still illuminated with a blood red color, Arasol gradually starting to set in the horizon. Time passed slowly and quietly and the people of Lost Hell lived as they could. A country that few people wanted to visit or even stay in. The most inadvisable place for vacations, as well as any other island.

Lost Hell was a real hell on earth, but not all its inhabitants were demons.

There were many prejudices about those born in Lost Hell. Violent and aggressive people who felt no empathy for anyone. Thieves, rapists, assholes or even real demons; and yet, these prejudices, these rumors, were just judgment. It was not the truth.

The inhabitants of Lost Hell had to live with complications, poverty and strength. Staying weak was not an option, or you had to be well surrounded or very smart. Lost Hell was not a nice place and he didn't hide it. Killing was not uncommon ; stealing was not uncommon l; playing between life and death was not uncommon. Far from it. Murders, crimes, masquerades. Living in Lost Hell was not easy and no one wanted to stay there; only the insane or those with an incomprehensible mentality would dare to stay there.

However, not everything in Lost Hell was hellish.

- …

A man crouched down, putting both knees on the ground. He was clutching something in both hands and smiling.

- Hey.

He spoke in a soft voice. Two people were behind him, both waiting patiently for the man to finish what he had to do. The man was not wearing a hood, letting his hair blow in the gentle breeze.

- Hehe, it's been a while since you and I have talked, right?

He gently clutched what he had in his hands, a friendly smile still on his face. He seemed calmed, but his heart was beating faster than one would think. Eyes attentive and illuminated by his own soul, he calmly observed what was in front of him.

- I hope you are well.

He nodded slowly and finally placed what he had in his hands in front of him. He remained crouched and continued to smile.

- I'm doing pretty well. I'm used to this country, you know.

He scratched his cheek.

- I think I'll be here a little longer. Longer than I expected, anyway.

One of the flowers in the bouquet began to waver in the wind, but it was well attached to the rest of the flowers. In front of the man was a tombstone.

Bubble chuckled, chatting with Mamou, buried a few feet away.

- Porencha came to see me not long ago and asked me to tell you that she was sorry she had not been able to save you. Despite her hopes, she knew that there was a great chance that you would die very soon, but she didn't want to talk about this possibility since you had been so strong. Imagine, Porencha says you are strong, again!

Bubble stood up and gently shook his head.

- But of course, she says it. You were stronger than me, after all.

His heart was tight. Since Mamou's death, he hadn't been able to sleep a single peaceful night. He hadn't cried again since then, since he almost never cried, but he didn't feel well. He was feeling so many emotions at once, it was complicated and tiring for him.

- I'm sorry... that I couldn't save you.

- Hey, it's not yar fault…

Mody touched his shoulder and shook his head. Bubble kept his gaze fixed on the tombstone, but he answered Mody.

- I know... But since it's nobody's fault, I'd rather say it was on me.

Syrianna sighed and slapped Bubble's back. He blinked and rubbed his back.

- Hey, that hurts!" he said.

- Ya're talking nonsense. The fault is her mother who left her alone in the street.

- ... Yes, I guess so.

Bubble had not forgotten the horrible act of Mamou's mother. If she hadn't done such a thing... If Bubble had found her before... Maybe... Maybe...!

- …

Bubble squinted, a sad look on his face.

He had decided to stay with Mamou, but life had decided otherwise. At least he could sing a beautiful lullaby for her. He had been able to say goodbye to her in his own way. Bubble took a deep breath of air and exhaled while closing his eyes. He finally smiled again and clenched a fist to his chest.

- Mamou, from where you are, I hope you can hear me.

He looked up at the sky and his eyes observed the beauty of the clouds that flew without worry, as if nothing could disturb them.

- Know that your big brother Bubu will become even stronger. I will help anyone I find on my way... for you.

He turned and pulled the hood over his head before saying one last thing:

- ... Sleep well, Mamou.

Syrianna and Mody placed their bouquet in turn, next to those of Gareed, Bubble and even Porencha.

As well as the 57 others that decorated the tomb with a multitude of different colors.

- Let's go," said Syrianna.

- Hm.

The three of them walked away from the cemetery with its many graves. Bubble would never forget Mamou and he planned to visit her again, as long as he stayed in Lost Hell. One day he would go somewhere else and find a new reason to live, but he already had a purpose in life: to help anyone who was in his way, whether he had to use his Power or not.

***********************************************

The wind was blowing strongly in the desert. One step at a time, a figure covered in a grayish-brown sheet walked toward his destination. It was easy to get lost in the Desert Justice, but this person knew very well where he was going and how to get there. Her footsteps were quickly covered by the sand that was stirring in the strong wind, but it wasn't a storm either, so she had no worries about walking.

She arrived on a dune and looked at the huge building that was about a ten minutes walk from where she was.

- … Eh.

The figure smiled, her head hidden ¾ of the way through the hood she wore.

The Kemono Federation stood before her in all its splendor.

- …

It had been almost two weeks since the Federation had been attacked by the Longers. She had heard the news, but had not hurried back as quickly as possible: she had time. All the time in the world. The figure took a step forward and let her long black and purple hair blow in the desert wind. Her blue eyes watched the Federation calmly and she finally smiled.

- ... Hehe, it's been a long time.

It was a woman — a Kemono, to be exact. She sighed with relief, finally home, and cracked her neck before smiling again.

- I wonder if you missed me…

- Sheeeeerah.