- This is the tower we're looking for, right?

- Without a doubt, yes," Bibi replied.

Na had his head up, watching the great tower with his dark eyes. It rose high into the sky, as if it wanted to touch the clouds with its antenna. It was in good condition, unlike the surrounding buildings. It was difficult not to notice and was imposing. Na didn't know what they would find there, but he was curious. Sure, they were only looking for a scientist named « Tarka », but his mind was already imagining the tower's interior decorations. Bibi started to move forward, not wanting to observe the scenery any longer, and Na followed her. She wanted to end this story and go home just like Na, but her reasons were different...

She was disappointed in her heart, but she would not share this feeling with the man.

She had hurried her steps, paying attention to her surroundings. Both should have been killed by Naim and Bibha, making them enemies of the Great Sanctuary. They were trying to reach this group, but it was going to be very complicated... If Bibi had been more careful... While walking towards the big tower in front of them, she looked at her hands. Even if she had been able to rest properly and was healed, she wouldn't be able to use all of her Power again... The form she had taken to defeat that Longer would have to recharge within her and even in danger of death, she wouldn't be able to pull out that asset. She could wait a few days to recharge her Power, but she didn't want to wait any longer than that. When she had spoken with Na, she had understood that he really wanted to find his friends, which she understood. This town was in ruins and even though it seemed like there were few Longers, she didn't feel safe here; so Na must have felt even worse. As soon as they had made it through this silly ordeal, she planned to rest and take some time for herself. She never thought things would turn out this way...

- That Bibha would ask us to do such a task and then just betray us...

If she had kept her promise, they would have been done with this ordeal and could have gone home. Bibi would still have been disappointed, but staying here any longer made her sad. They arrived at the door of the science tower and looked at Na with her blood red eyes.

- We might be attacked right away, so be on guard," she said.

Na nodded.

- Be careful too…" he said in his turn.

She smiled and showed him her fists, ready to fight if necessary. She hoped it wouldn't be necessary, but nothing was certain. Bibi turned on her heels and looked at the tower door. Annie had told them that a scientist named "Tarka" was here and could possibly help them get into the Great Sanctuary... She had her doubts, but if she could avoid going back and saying hello to Bibha, she would take the risk. If Annie had lied to them, then Bibi would use force, though she didn't want it to come to that. The door in front of her was large and without a handle... However, there was a bell next to it and she pressed it without waiting. She waited with Na at her side, tapping the floor with her foot.

- Yes?

A voice rang out from the void and Na looked around, wondering where it was coming from. Bibi motioned for him to stay put and then she looked toward the door.

- We want to talk to Tarka," the girl said.

The silence gradually settled down, making Na nervous. Bibi waited patiently with her arms crossed, although she was getting tired of the lack of response.

- Why?" the male voice asked.

Bibi wondered if she should tell the truth: if she said Annie's name, then she would be putting her in danger. Although she had no friendship with her, Annie had been kind enough to heal them, help them, and tell them the scientist's name. She uncrossed her arms and squinted her eyes.

- Someone told us to talk to her if we wanted to ask something in particular," Bibi said.

- What particular thing?

- That's our business.

- Then the answer is no.

- ... We just want to have some information.

- Ask me, I'll answer.

Bibi gritted her teeth: she was already tired of this conversation. The man speaking through the microphone was too suspicious and asked too many questions. She tapped her foot faster, now impatient.

- That's between Tarka and us," Bibi said.

- If I don't know what you want to talk about, I—

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

- It's a secret.

- Who are you?

- My name is Bibi, the man behind me is Na.

- Who told you to talk to him?

- I will not reveal his identity.

- You are not members of the Great Sanctuary, how did you get here?

- We were invited to join the Sanctuary.

- So you are the ones who fought yesterday.

Bibi hit the wall and got angry.

- Can we talk to him or not?

The voice did not answer anymore. Bibi clicked his tongue and approached Na, trying to calm himself down. The man scratched his cheek.

- It looks like... it's going to be more complicated than I thought..." he said, not knowing what to say.

- I knew it... I didn't want to admit what we were doing here so they wouldn't know, but now they'll never let us see Tarka. Shit, what...

She spun around, wondering if she really wanted to use violence. Bibha had already turned down their recruitment, so if she started fighting members of the Great Sanctuary, they would never have a chance to join...

- You can't get into more trouble than that... If not peacefully and by gaining their trust... What a mess I got myself into...

Bibi understood her stupidity. She sighed and rubbed her eyes. She had to join them with Na, but on the other hand, she didn't necessarily want to...

- All because of this test...

She was regretting her decisions. She turned to Na and saw that he was patiently waiting for her words. Nevertheless, she did not know what to say to him. She had gotten herself into a dilemma and she didn't know how to get out of it. Bibi had solutions in mind, but none of them suited her... She had been a complete idiot, all because of her impatience and naivety. However, she couldn't tell him about it... Even if she wanted to, she couldn't say anything. Na noticed that she was moving around, unsure. He watched her thinking about the situation and finally asked her something:

- Can't we go to Tarka without fighting...?

Bibi snapped out of her thoughts and took a moment to answer.

- ... I don't think so. They know we were turned down by Bibha, I think...

She was not happy. This was far too complicated, when it should have been very simple... She had managed to defeat such a Longer for nothing...

- How had they managed to keep a level 6 Longer in the first place?

Bibi had many questions about the Great Sanctuary. She had only been interested in this group because of one person, but now their very existence intrigued her... However, that was not why they were here. She touched her head and looked for a way out of this mess. She didn't know how to get to them when they had already been turned away and forcing their way in to meet Tarka seemed like a horrible idea. She had to be peaceful... Bibha wouldn't accept them, so they were stuck. However, without joining them, how were they going to pass the test? Bibi wondered if-

- You know, Bibi...

She blinked and turned to Na again. The latter scratched his hair with a forced smile.

- It's okay... we can give up.

Bibi stared at him with wide open eyes. Na was smiling at her, but he couldn't hide his real emotions behind his expression. He looked calm, yet his heart was restless. They had to resort to violence to get the scientists to accept them and to see Tarka, under Annie's advice. Nevertheless, Na knew that they were not looking for a fight: they had to do it peacefully. He understood the situation, although in a less complete way than Bibi, and proposed what he had in mind.

- It doesn't matter... Maybe we'll find another way at another time...?" he said.

The sadness in his voice was audible. His hesitations, his fears and a part of despair. Bibi could feel them and it made her heart tighten. Na was willing to "sacrifice" himself only to not force Bibi. He wanted to return to the Kemono Federation; he really wanted to. He missed Sheerah, he hadn’t yet talked much with Hushimao, he wanted to know more about Kituhn, Ronaa still had to talk to him about love, Kaide explained her famous recipe and the last member he didn't know still had to show up. Na wanted to talk with Maslow, to look for clues and to find out about his own existence. To learn more about the Kemonos and the world of Arcave.

Knowing he couldn't go home made him sad. He had already lost his first home by losing his memory; now he was losing his new family.

And all of this, Bibi could only understand with the emotions he couldn't hide.

She didn't know Na well, but she liked him; very much. She wanted to learn more about him, even though that had never been her goal. She cared about him, even if she didn't want to.

Why did his sad look affect her?

Bibi didn't know who Na really was: she had no possible clue about his past. She could not and would not help him, yet her heart ached at the thought. When she had met him so recently, when they had only talked for a few hours...

Her eyes enjoyed watching his.

She knew she was being naive, foolish, and deviating from the path she had taken... but her heart was not controllable. She could nod, tell him that deep down, it didn't matter. Go find Kill, find another time to get through this silly ordeal, regain her energy and get to know each other. Become better friends, maybe learn more about this town and the others and even befriend people like Kill or Annie. Meet Tarka another day, let the business flow and take a chance another day. Bibi could also move forward on the path she had taken, continuing what she had decided so shortly before...

- So why don't I want to see him sad?!

Bibi clenched her fists, gritted her teeth. She had never been a violent person: her Power was to defeat Longers and protect others, not to attack human allies. She didn't want to fight others; only the monsters that threatened humanity. She was powerful and yet she never sought combat. She couldn't even use her full Power, even in its other form. She always wanted to find a peaceful way, even if she could be cold and insistent.

Bibi would never want to take a human life.

- I'll even kill Bibha to get us to this fucking Sanctuary.

And yet, her mind suddenly changed.

She turned her back to the science tower and began to walk forward without hiding her emotions. Na looked at her in shock, disturbed by her words. What she had said seemed so out of character that he did not know what to say. Killing Bibha was not the solution he was looking for. He did not want such a thing.

But the expression Bibi made froze his throat.

Anger was visible in her blood red eyes and her dark blue hair fluttered in her furious walk. She pulled her scarf tighter and cracked her neck.

- Let's go, Na.

She gave him no choice: it was an ORDER. He had to obey her. Na hesitated, but his body finally listened: he would trust Bibi. To him, she had said such words in anger, but he was worried... He wanted to tell her that it was not worth it, but Bibi spoke before him.

- We will join this Sanctuary with force and go home, both of us. Don't sacrifice your happiness for any reason.

Na only nodded, but he had to admit that Bibi scared him. Her voice was no longer the same: it had changed from friendly, kind and gentle to violent, angry and without empathy. She walked into the wind, which was getting angry, as if affected by Bibi's emotions. She stared at the horizon with her bloodshot eyes and her clenched fists proved that her words were to be taken seriously. Bibi knew she was acting abruptly, but never in her life had she had to deal with her own heart.

And her heart, right now, was telling her that she wanted to help Na.

In this story, Bibi was not thinking of herself, but only of the man beside her. While she had found herself in such a place for a totally selfish, though understandable, purpose, she now decided to help him. While he should have been just a pawn in this story, he was now an ally. While she had expected to see him as neutral...

He was now a friend.