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The building inside was much larger than expected. The garage had already been quite spacious, but the hallways and offices were even more so. Or rather, there were a lot of them and with a lot of room in them, which surprised Bubble: he would have thought it was a fairly small place, not as large. The woman in the long coat took them into a large room that had a giant mural that went around the walls, while the ceiling was decorated with... bloodstains. Or maybe it was just bad tasteful painting...? In any case, Bubble made sure that Mamou didn't look up. The woman sat down on the big black couch and put her feet up on the table before grabbing a lollipop and putting it in her mouth. She threw two of them towards and Bubble grabbed them both. He asked Mamou if she wanted them and she nodded with a small smile, her cheeks still wet.
- But big brother has to eat one too!” she says.
- Okay,” he smiled.
They sat down on the sofa in front of each other and Mamou put her lollipop in her mouth and stuck to Bubble. This one looked at the woman and before she even said anything, he looked at the top of her head. Seeing that his gaze had landed there, the woman smiled and pointed to her long rabbit ears.
- Yeeep. I'm a Kemono, a little bunny who has PUNCH!
She knocked in front of her and started laughing. She sat down comfortably on the sofa and began to talk.
- First of all, I have to introduce myself: my name is "Cerise", I'm the leader of the FIREFIGHTERS.
- The leader…
- Exactly. Gank is like my right-hand man and Garendo, the guy ya blew off, he's just... well, a local guy. Sorry ya had to run into him in such a bad mood. I hesitate to make him leave the team, he breaks my ovaries, tsk.
- That's all right. I'm sorry I sent him packing... like that.
- Hey, he made the girl cry, that's unforgivable. Honestly, I'm mostly surprised ya beat him up like that. What are ya, a God?!
- …
Bubble didn't react to Cerise's words, but the woman laughed like it was the funniest joke ever. Should he relax, in such a situation...? In any case, when he turned his gaze to Mamou, he noticed that she wasn't stressed at all. She seemed calm, which reassured him. Should he do the same? From what he had heard from Syrianna and Mody, the FIREFIGHTERS were known to be raving lunatics, but as long as he didn't get on their bad side... The Kemono in front of him was the leader of this group, so he had to be careful with her attitude and manage to have a good relationship with her.
- Porencha is from the FIREFIGHTERS. If I have a bad relationship with the leader—
— then counting on Porencha's help would be a waste of time. That couldn't happen, because she had to help Mamou at all costs. He didn't want all this journey to be for nothing... It wasn't in his plans.
- Well, in any case, ya have a bit of a shitty welcome. I feel bad, even if it's not my fault.
She showed Bubble her teeth and he didn't know what to say, but he made an effort.
- It's not a big deal. Mamou was not injured, that's all that matters.
And he meant it. The little girl looked at the man beside her and smiled at him, the lollipop in her mouth. Because she was currently eating it, she didn't say "Thank you," but it was clear that she still wanted to thank him for his rescue.
- And it looks like ya aren't either! However, Garendo has quite a monstrous strength!
- I was lucky.
- Ah, « lucky » ya say! Ya really don't want to assume ya're strong, little guy.
Bubble didn't say anything back, but he didn't like it when people talked about his own Power. His power, his strength, his abilities... none of it mattered. Why should he talk about something like that when he didn't care? What mattered now was to protect and help Mamou; he didn't have time to talk about himself.
- I guess I'm not weak," Bubble admitted.
- Ya’re going to get me mad…
The man squinted: as he had said before, he should not have a bad relationship with the leader. However, if he didn't want to talk about a certain thing, he preferred to avoid the subject, even if it would make her a bit angry. Cerise scratched her hair and seeing that the conversation was going nowhere, she changed the subject on her own.
- In any case, I'm surprised to see foreigners in Lost Hell. It's not every day ya see that,” she confessed.
- Oddly enough, I'm not too surprised," Bubble said.
- Disgusting landscapes, brëel waiting for ya at the borders, a dead sky... If I hadn't been born here, I would have left long ago!
The curse that was in every inhabitant of Lost Hell was truly something frightening and Bubble was glad to be born somewhere else. He didn't wish anyone to be born in a place that could only be considered hell.
- I would have preferred to be born in Armm, eh!” laughed Cerise.
- I understand.
- Lost Hell is really a shitty place, isn't it... Ya really came all the way here to see our Porencha... It's soooo cute! Very cute!!
She starts to laugh and Bubble scratches his cheek. He knows she's teasing him, but even so…
- I wonder how she'll react when she finds out!
- It's just someone who recommended her to me. I'm counting on her help, but I hope she'll accept," Bubble told her.
- I don't think ya have to worry. She'll be glad to help ya, I'm sure. She can be too nice, that little Porencha.
Hearing her refer to everyone as "Little" intrigued Bubble: how old was she? She looked pretty young, though... He wouldn't go so far as to say she was underage, but she was never more than thirty; even twenty-five seemed a bit much.
- In any case, the girl must be strong, to support the sight of Lost Hell,” Cerise noticed.
Mamou took the lollipop out of her mouth and looked proud, a big smile on her face.
- Hihi, it's because Mamou strong! I want to become as strong as big brother Bubu!
- Oooh, you call him Bubu?
- Yes!! This is Bubu!!
- Bubu!
- Bubu!!
- Bubu!!!
Cerise and Mamou laughed together and Bubble chuckled, finding their discussion quite cute. Syrianna and Mody had told him that the FIREFIGHTERS were strange, but even though he understood what they meant, Cerise didn't seem so… aggressive. Or mean. That's just it, she had that friendly air about her that he really liked. Was it because he was accompanied by Mamou...? Maybe it was just because she was in a good mood: he remembered seeing her with a beaten woman, after all.
- By the way, I wanted to ask you a question," said Bubble.
- Aaah?! Which one?
- What exactly do the FIREFIGHTERS consist of?
It was a question he had been asking himself ever since he got the recommendation for Porencha. Cerise's bunny ears perked up and she blinked.
- Ya don't even know that?!
- Unfortunately, no.
- Aaaah, I don't believe it!
Cerise shook her head, arms crossed.
- I'll make it short and simple: I, Cerise, am the leader of the FIREFIGHTERS, and we're the crazy people.
She stuck out her tongue with one eye closed, but she didn't insist on this madness.
- We get paid to beat, torture or harass specific targets, but we have the right to not accept everything. Now, we don't mind torture, but I hate rape, so I don't want my people to do that.
Which was a good thing: Bubble hated it too. Though, could he say he was... "reassured"? After all, from what he heard, the FIREFIGHTERS were a pretty dangerous group, after all.
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- What is rape?" asked the little girl next to him.
- A-Ah, it's nothing!" said Bubble.
Mamou questioned her with his eyes before turning to Cerise, but she refused to answer. Mamou insisted a second time, but Bubble explained to her that it was something of small importance and very serious. Mamou was satisfied with this answer.
- Sorry to say that kind of word in front of the girl," Cerise apologized.
- No problem... But I see the kind of group you are.
- Hm, hm. We're not here to laugh, but even though we can be violent, we know who our friends, allies and enemies are. Our clients are always respected, but we always ask for money in return for the torture of a target. Well, ya're more a client for Porencha, I guess ya don't want anyone to torture?
- I have just arrived and I confess that I don't like violence very much…
- Ya say that, but ya saw how ya beat Garendo?! I wonder how he'll take it when he wakes up, ahah!
- A-Ahah…
Bubble scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed, but also annoyed. Cerise noticed the discomfort on the man's face and squinted, but she quickly returned to her usual smile and did not delay on the subject.
- In any case, Porencha should be home soon,” Cerise admitted.
- Oh, she's not here now?
- She just went to get something to eat and is still taking her time. Don't worry, ya can talk to her in a few minutes. If she refuses to help ya, I'll just have to give her a beating.
She pounded her fists together, a not-so-reassuring smile on her face. Nevertheless, Bubble was happy to know that Cerise was on his side: he wouldn't have to try to coax her. He was also reassured to know that Porencha seemed to be a nice woman, even if something intrigued him: if she was so nice, why was she at the FIREFIGHTERS? He didn't have time to think about it: Cerise continued to speak directly.
- But apart from telling you that I was the boss, I didn't introduce myself well... I'll start again, hm.
She cleared her throat and touched her chest with a smile.
- I'm Cerise, leader of the FIREFIGHTERS, but also one of the most powerful in this whole Lost Hell shit!
As if she were introducing a king or queen, Cerise spoke about herself with emphasis on half the sentence. Mamou opened her mouth wide and withdrew the lollipop from there.
- One of the most powerful?!” she said, excitement in her eyes.
Cerise nodded happily, probably because she had managed to intrigue the little girl. Bubble was also interested in the title of "one of the most powerful", but just by looking at her, he could tell that she was very strong. He didn't want to have fun fighting her, he was sure of that…
- Yeeep! Many say I'm the one with the most powerful fists!
- Your Power makes you physically stronger...?” asked Bubble, intrigued in his turn.
- Heh, I don't reveal my cards. I'm just not someone to be underestimated and my fists aren't there to say "Hiiiiiiii", they're there to say "Goodbye"! Ahah!!!
She laughed again and Mamou followed her lead, even though she didn't understand what Cerise meant. Bubble smiled, but he was now interested in the nature of Cerise's Power. It was impossible to find out the Power of either of them just by looking at them — with perhaps some exceptions — but some people were able to "read" people's Aura to find out the nature of their Power. Whether they had a Fire or Water Power, for example... Unfortunately, Bubble didn't have such a capacity.
- In any case, if ya become my enemies, I don't promise ya'll come home with yar teeth," Cerise said.
- Oh? Is that a threat?
- Naaah, I trust ya and ya seem to be attached to the girl, so I'm sure ya won't do anything stupid. But ya better be polite to my little Porencha, or else—
- We're not here to look for any trouble, and respect is a great value in my house," Bubble cut her off.
- Respect, very important!" said Mamou with a pout.
Bubble had made sure to educate Mamou as best he could, even though when he met her, she had already shown a very good education. Whoever had been her parents had managed to teach her the right values…
And yet, they had still left her in a street, alone.
- I see. That’s good!
The words of the two clients reassured her greatly. Even if she didn't mind making enemies and having to fight, she didn't always want to have to use her fists against everyone. Besides, could she hurt a little girl like Mamou? Even Cerise would have a hard time raising her fist against her, despite her aggressiveness.
As they chatted happily, a noise sounded behind them and everyone turned toward the front door.
- Heyooo— Oh, guests?!
A pretty woman in a droopy outfit entered the room, but she stopped when she saw the man sitting on the couch and the little girl who had stood on the cushion to watch the woman. She smiled at them and waved her hand.
- Nice to meet ya, my name is Porencha ! Who are they, Cerise ?
- We were talking about ya, Porencha. They're here for ya, for real.
- Oooh, for me?
- Just look at the little one, ya'll understand," said the leader.
Bubble was happy to finally meet Porencha, the person who could help them, but now he had to hope that she would agree to help them. They had Cerise's support and she had told them there was nothing to worry about, but Bubble didn't want to be too optimistic.
However—
- ?! This little—?!
She quickly approached Mamou and touched her face to better observe her eyes. The little one had been frightened and even startled, but Bubble told her that everything was fine. Porencha stopped pulling Mamou's eyelids apart and took a step back before turning her attention to the man, a much more serious look on his face.
- Ya're looking for me for her...?
He nodded. Porencha squinted.
- Who told ya to come and see me?
- A person named K-H-O.
- Very particular first name,” admitted Cerise.
- It's a nickname, I know who it is. Aaaah, this guy…
She scratched her hair and nodded blankly, as if she had accepted something in her head.
- I'm willing to take a look at it, but I warn ya, I don't promise anything.
- No big deal.
Bubble took a serious look in his turn.
- I've come all this way and I'm sure of one thing: I didn't do it all for nothing.
He clenched his fists and Porencha nodded for the third time.
- Good. Wait for me outside, we'll see about that. I need to have a little chat with Cerise first.
Bubble agreed and grabbed Mamou's hand.
- Let's wait outside, shall we?
- Hm.
Mamou was a little uncomfortable, but at Bubble's side, she wasn't too scared, so she agreed. They both left the room and Bubble sighed heavily after closing the door behind him. He looked at Mamou who was smiling, but mostly he was watching her eyes. Now that Porencha had agreed to help them, he could only pray that she could actually do something about Mamou's illness.
The disease in the name of the Tide.