You’re in My Way

I tore through Qing Qing's house. Kitchen? Empty. Living room? Deserted. Even checked under her bed like she'd be hiding there.

My mind raced. That kid's words about Black Leg blood being Lung's weakness. Qing Qing's sister vanishing without a trace. The Corps erasing her existence like she never existed.

Shit shit shit. Was Qing Qing planning to kill Lung? Over her sister's disappearance?

I slumped against the wall, sliding down to the floor. Last night's promise echoed in my head. The desperate grip of her hands, that determination in her eyes. Was this what she'd meant by not giving up?

No. I shook my head hard. The Qing Qing I knew wouldn't resort to murder. She was the girl who spent hours picking perfect ingredients just to cook me dinner. Who offered her home as a judgment-free zone.

But did I really know her? We'd only met days ago. For all I knew that cheerful exterior could be hiding someone willing to do anything for answers.

"Damn it!" I slammed my fist into the wall.

What would Inorin do?

Inorin would've already been looking. She wouldn't waste time doubting. She'd charge in headfirst to stop Qing Qing from doing something monumentally stupid.

I snatched up my hoodie and jacket from where they hung freshly cleaned. Even now, Qing Qing's thoughtfulness surrounded me. Which made this whole situation even more messed up.

"Come on, Peng!" I scooped it up as I bolted for the door. "We've got a friend to stop!"

***

I burst through the Feilong Corps headquarters' doors with enough force to make them bounce off the walls. Empty hallways stretched before me. 

Perfect timing. Most Corps members were probably passed out after fighting Black Legs all night.

The logistics room's entrance loomed ahead. A stark metal door with "AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY" stamped across it. I kicked it open.

Behind a desk cluttered with tablets sat a librarian with square glasses. 

"The officers list. Clock in-out records. Now."

He glanced at my clothes. "Should I have security escort you-"

I slapped my Dragon's Eye emblem on his desk.

The librarian's spine snapped straight. "My deepest apologies," He then bowed so deep his forehead nearly touched the desk. "But I regret to inform you that I've received strict orders not to share any personnel information. Not even to Dragon's Eye members."

"Who gave that order?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot divulge that information."

I sighed and stuck my head out the door, scanning both directions down the hall. Empty.

"What are you doing?"

"Just checking for witnesses." I pulled back inside and did another sweep of the room. No cameras. No other staff. Just me and Mr. Square Glasses.

"Good news. There aren't any."

His eyes widened just before my fist connected with his jaw.

Peng's flippers smacked together in a happy clap as the librarian slumped across his desk.

"Glad you enjoyed the show." I snatched the tablet from where it had skittered across the floor. Spider-web cracks spread from one corner, but the screen still flickered to life. My fingers flew across the interface. Whoever designed this clearly played too many RPGs. Dropdowns nested within dropdowns.

Personnel... Active Duty... Dragon's Eye Division...

Names filled the screen, each with a tiny portrait. I scrolled dozens of faces wearing those stupid black and yellow uniforms.

No Qing Qing.

I scrolled back up. Maybe I missed her? Back down again, slower this time. 

No. No no no no NO!

The tablet slipped from my fingers. Peng jumped back as it clattered against the floor.

They'd already erased her. Just like her sister. Like she never existed at all.

My knuckles cracked as I clenched my fists. That bastard Lung. He'd known. He'd known everything when he smiled and had me join the Corps. While Qing Qing cooked me dinner, they were already deleting her existence.

All because she knew too much? Because her sister found out your dirty little secret?

Peng nudged my leg, making a concerned "peng".

"Yeah." I crouched down to scratch its head. "We're going to find her. And then I'm going to punch that face of his until he tells us where both sisters are."

***

I burst through the logistics room door, scanning the hallway. An officer rounded the corner, nose buried in papers.

My fingers snagged his collar before he registered my presence. His papers scattered across the floor as I slammed him against the wall.

"Where's Lung?"

"PENG!" The penguin in my arms let out an angry squawk, flippers flailing in sync with me.

"No one knows! He just appears when he wants to! Please, I swear-"

"You're telling me no one knows where to find the leader of the Corps?" I shook him harder. "Try again!"

"Kuroha." Fang's cold voice cut through my interrogation. "Release him. Now."

I dropped the officer and spun around, grabbing Fang's uniform instead. "Perfect timing. Take me to Lung."

Fang's fingers wrapped around my wrist, breaking my grip. "Learn some civility first."

"Screw that!" I slammed my palm against the wall beside his head. "Lung did something to Qing Qing and you're going to help me find him!"

Fang's expression didn't even twitch at Qing Qing's name. No surprise. No concern.

"Huh, so you knew, didn't you?" My voice dropped to a growl. 

"I will not allow you to threaten Master Lung."

"Seriously? You care more about being Lung's obedient little dog than the girl you're betrothed to?"

"Silence!" Fang's jaw clenched, eyes blazing.

The air around me thickened, invisible pressure crushing down on my shoulders. My knees buckled as gravity bent to his will. Blood forced its way up my throat, splattering across the pristine floor.

But I could only laugh. The sound came out wet and gurgling. "Using your Chimu inside Feilong Corps? In broad daylight when you could wake up every Black Leg in the ravine? Pretty ballsy move coming from someone who just told me to learn some civility."

The pressure doubled. My bones felt like breaking under the crushing force.

"Last chance." Fang's voice was like ice.

"You know what's funny?" I wheezed. "I've only known Qing Qing for what, a few days? But she's shown me more real friendship than you probably have in years of being her fiancé. And I'm not gonna lose another friend because some general asshole and his lapdog decided she knew too much!"

Something clattered across the floor. A familiar daikon keychain, worn and faded. Peng had rolled it toward me.

My arm felt like led but I still reached for it. The moment my fingers closed around the radish, white flames erupted from my knuckles.

"She's worth every punch. And you're in my way."