-Vol 4: To The North Pole!-

-Vera’s Thoughts-

Although she hadn’t seen that epic fight between Kenshin and Lyda’s summons, Vera guessed that Kenshin must have used every ounce of strength on his body to save her. She had first hand experienced the power of that cloaked woman. She wasn’t someone a hunter like Kenshin whose level was below 100 could contend against that’s why the thought of him fighting with her (Lyda) didn’t cross her mind.

Her body was aching all over, but even with that she got up and looked for prey for their food. At first, it surprised her to find well-prepared beds, but then she recognized the cave and thought Kenshin might have put them away here just in case.

She also tried to find food in the same way but didn’t succeed. Hence she hunted for some on her own. This place tends to frequent by many animals like those snow wolves back when they stayed here last night. With her aching body, Vera set out to hunt.

XXX

A few hours later when Kenshin woke up, he found no one around him. Vera seemed to have disappeared somewhere. Although it made him worried a little, he didn’t think about it much. After all, Vera was even stronger than him. Even in her weakened state, she could still hold her own against some animals that move around in this area. He just casually opened the map and tracked her location. He had marked her as an alley since the first time they started this mission. A few seconds later the map showed that she was not that far from him and was stalking some wild animal in this area.

Thinking it might be because she was hungry, Kenshin closed the map and laid on the ground lazily and waited for her arrival. He had many things in his mind and need some time to digest them.

Another hour later she finally returned, holding a white boar-like animal. How come bores are in this cold area? Kenshin wanted to ask this question but held it in.

“Oh! You are already awake?” she was startled to find him already awake and looking her way, although still lazily laying on his mat.

“I just woke up. I should ask you how are you, but judging from your actions, I think you are somewhat okay now. Are you hurt anywhere?” Kenshin asked while lazily sitting up. He was not really hurt anywhere, just emotionally and psychologically tired that’s all. He wasn’t even tired at all, his Tireless Body and Passive Regeneration made sure of that.

“I am okay, a little sore here and there but overall okay! Kenshin…” her words stuck in her throat suddenly as she was about to say something. Then slowly a small blush began to spread throughout her face. It was really embarrassing for her to look at Kenshin in the eye after what she had thought about him a few hours ago while he was sleeping.

“That time I nearly k….no no, what am I thinking at this time?’ Vera berated herself as she shook her head of the dirty thoughts. Kenshin was not only her subordinate but also her saviour, she couldn’t just have that kind of ideas about him, can she?

“Leader, are you okay? Your face seems to be very red! You should take rest and let me handle that animal.” Saying so, Kenshin got up from his mat and walked towards Vera with his hands extended towards the animal on her shoulder. He was very concerned about her health, she was a vital member of his upcoming plan, he couldn’t allow anything to happen to her. If worse comes, then he would throw caution to the wind and have her drink a recovery potion.

When Kenshin was coming near Vera, she nearly panicked and unconsciously took a step back. The way Kenshin came was a little ambiguous, looks like he was about to hug her. Before that, since her thoughts were occupied with making some critical decisions, she didn’t hear him ask that question. As such, she thought he was about to hug her.

Seeing her avoid him made Kenshin a little embarrassed. Which boy won't feel like that when a girl suddenly avoid them? Not everyone has thick skins like those Playboys. He stopped in his tracks and looked at her weirdly and a little embarrassingly.

Realizing her actions, Vera quickly came closer to Kenshin and patted his shoulder. Then she coughed into her hands and looked at Kenshin, tried to act normally.

“Don’t push yourself! I know what you have to go through for saving me from that certain death situation. Let me do this as a form of gratitude towards you, I know what you have done for me can’t be repaid by simply this but just let me help even if just by a little.” Although she was trying to look normal, the words were real and directly came from her heart. She was really that much grateful towards Kenshin for his actions. She very well knew that if it were another person in his location, they would have chosen to flee on their own. Even she was unsure of what option she would have taken had she was on the same situation.

In her career, she had seen many hunters and many seemingly righteous person or gentlemen. They would always claim one thing and would do another. Even if they do something for others, they would always make sure that everyone knows that. That didn’t mean that there were no good people in the world, but they were scarce.

Although she only met this boy named Kenshin just two days ago, he had already made her admire him time and again. Starting from his danger sensing ability to his speed of learning things and recently his actions of saving her. He had already left a mark on her heart and Vera was unable to do anything.

But, it's not like she hates this development. In fact, she liked it. She liked that feeling in her heart whenever she thought of him saving her from all those adversities, even playing with his life. Although she hadn’t seen the danger Kenshin was in that time, a woman’s intuition couldn’t be underestimated. Her instincts were telling her that this boy called Kenshin had gone through greater lengths to save her.

Looking at her weirdly Kenshin could only nod. He didn’t know what happened to her, but she seemed quite absentminded. After every word she spoke, her eyes become distant as if remembering something.

‘Guess the shock of losing to that woman had affected her deeply. I hope she recovers quickly from that.’ thinking like that he backed away and sat on the mat in a relaxed lotus position.

If Vera had to listen to Kenshin’s thoughts right now, one could only wonder what she would have thought. As a man who had left his EQ the moment he left school, how could he read the mood? In fact, it would be a miracle if he realizes Yuki’s intention about him this time around.

After sending him way, Vera took the boar to the cave entrance and started to dismantle it with her knife. It also helped her calm her mind, away from those chaotic thoughts. And half an hour later, both Kenshin and Vera sat face to face with the boar hanging in the middle above the fire.