Chapter 17: Protect the Kids!

“What are they doing? They’re totally leaving the plan behind!” Shinsui said.

“No choice! Proceed to plan G!” Nitsuji said.

“Okay! Go crazy, right?” Shy said.

“Go all out!” Nitsuji said.

“Roger!” Ace smilingly agreed.

“Okay, I’m wrong!” Shy said to herself.

“Whaa—! What are these guys?! How come they know our hideout?” The kidnappers were shocked.

“Jen, what’re you doing? Go protect the kids!” Jairo ordered.

“Don’t order me around.” Shut up, Jairo!

I punched the guy who was about to stab Jairo from the back. Of course, using the FB Hand Protector!

“Whoa!” The boy was amazed.

“What’s wrong, Nee-chee?” Ken asked.

“Those two... Why are they protecting that boy?” He asked.

“It’s because it’s our mission.” Ken answered.

“No. They’re protecting him not because they need to but because they want to.” Then, Nee-chee smiled.

“Just as thought, we’re totally outnumbered!” Nitsuji said.

“It’s because Jairo charge in!” Ace said.

“We already got the kids! Now let’s go out of here!” Nitsuji exclaimed.

“Give up. We got the place surrounded!” The leader of the kidnappers said.

“May I ask? What are you going to do with these kids?” Shy asked.

“Hahaha, we’re going to sell them.” He said. That brute!

“Sell?” Shinsui asked.

“I’ll create an opening.” I stepped up.

“Idiot Jen! You’re the most sensitive one among all of us!” Nee-chee yelled at me.

“Did you say something about me, you damn knucklehead?” I looked at Nee-chee.

“Eh? Did I say something, Ken?” Nee-chee asked Ken. He’s sweating.

“Yeah, you did!” Ken confusingly said.

SMASH!

I clobbered Nee-chee!

“Huovou muorcy, Juon!” Translation: Have mercy, Jen!

“You’re annoying as always, Nee-chee!” It was then that Jairo stopped me.

“What?” He grabbed my right arm.

“Why are you stopping me, Jairo?” He seemed tense.

“I’ll do it.” He added.

What’s he saying?

“What?” I said angrily.

“Hey, Jen! Jairo! This is not the time to fight!” Nitsuji yelled.

“Why don’t you tell Jairo to stop being so stubborn and let me handle it for goodness sake!” I exclaimed to Nitsuji.

“Do you have any plan, Jen?” Shy asked.

“Yeah.” I replied.

“Let her do it, Nitsuji.” Shy insisted.

“But—!” Nitsuji was about to stop me.

“It’s Jen, Nitsuji. Trust her.” She smiled at him. Heh! You can’t really fight back to her, can you?

It was then that one of the kidnappers managed to point a knife on my neck.

“Whaa—! Jen’s in trouble!” Nee-chee shouted.

That time, Jairo was also about to help me but I handled it pretty well.

I held and twisted that kidnapper’s arm and he kneeled down holding his arm.

“What the?” Shinsui reacted.

“Jen’s so...” Nee-chee exclaimed.

“Don’t worry. I’m not as hopeless as before. I trained with Shiru in that one whole year.” I explained.

“So you mean you’ve been together with Shiru in that one whole year?” Nee-chee asked.

“Yeah?” I said.

“Did you guys marry or something?” He asked.

“YOU, ABNORMAL SCAMP!” I kicked him!

“So where were you two off all this time?” Ken asked.

“I’ll explain it all, later.” Yeah, I was busy.

“Hehe, you have nowhere to go brats!” The kidnappers said while smirking.

“Ummm, they’re getting scarier and scarier.” Shy said, as she hid in Nitsuji’s back.

Of course he (Nitsuji) blushed! And I happened to notice that. Tsk, forgot to bring the camera!

“You thugs, you’ll pay for depriving the freedom of these children!” I said.

“What’s this? The wind is circling around Jen’s body.” Nee-chee exclaimed.

“I... I... can’t... breathe.” I can cut someone’s flow of air, basically oxygen.

“You... bitch!” You should start conserving oxygen.

“Oho? You got a nice sharp tongue there! Well, should I have the pleasure of cutting it for you?” I said after hearing the “bitch”! I’m gonna kill him!

“Yep, she’s a monster!” Shinsui and Nee-chee said. The kidnapper’s knelt and lost consciousness one by one.

“Wow!” Ken said.

“Nitsuji, hurry. While I’m immobilizing these scoundrels, take the children to safety. I’ll be fine here.” I said.

“Ace! Shinsui! Ken! Nee-chee! Shy! Jennifer! Jairo!” Nitsuji called to them.

“Roger!” They took the kids away.

“So? Why are you still here, Jairo?” He hasn’t move even a bit.

“Jen, why’re you looking so pale?” He asked.

Gosh, now’s not the time! This power will backfire soon.

“Get out, Jairo.” It was then that I fell down.

I was coughing up blood.

“That power exhausts your body, Jen! Stop using it!” I really hate that side of you. You can always see through me.

“This is... nothing.” It was then that Nitsuji and others came back.

“The children are safe. Hashiko arrived with a jet plane. The police are also on their way. Let’s—!” Nitsuji cut off what he’s saying.

“What’s wrong, Jen?” He asked.

“I’m fine. I just need a little rest.” I was barely standing.

Jairo and Nitsuji already realized. That it poses a great toll on me... This power.

“Jairo.” Nitsuji called.

“Why?” Jairo asked.

“If it’s not troubling you, could you please stay with Jen for a while?” He insisted.

“I said I’m fine, Nitsuji!” I was trying to help so I don't need the concern.

“That power!” Nitsuji yelled.

“It came from the artifact right?” He added. I became silent.

“And I won’t ask for a very detailed explanation from you, Jen. I know that you’re keeping this from us for a reason. You’re not someone who will hide something as important as this. I won’t ask you anything, so please reconsider having Jairo as your partner.” He insisted.

I couldn’t say anything. Perhaps, Nitsuji was all right about it and I was just so stubborn to admit it.

Meanwhile I accepted Nitsuji’s order. Jairo was providing me a support, since I couldn’t walk properly.

It was then that I saw one of the kidnappers stand up, and was about to attack Jairo using a gun. Jairo noticed that too.

“Jen! Down!” He was about to push me sidewards but sorry to say, I was the one who shoved him.

“Wha—! Jen!” Why did I save him?

I remembered what Mirlo said before.

***

“Unlike me, Jairo was considered gifted in our family. That’s why, our parents had high expectations from him. He was raised to kill. That boy is always alone and sad. So when you meet Jairo in the future, please be his friend, Jen.”

***

Jairo and I were really alike in so many different ways.

The kidnapper managed to pull the trigger of the gun and I was shot.