2.6

The Call of the Wild: A dainty flower

Hiro felt like he was thrown into a particularly violent washing machine before landing on his feet again. The young man looked around, eyes wide at the scenery. No more were the Wild West steam train, but of the American wilderness instead. Not like the geographically muted Hiro would know.

The other two, Fleur and Eikichi didn't fare much better. The former was on the verge of panicking. The bald man, however, kept his cool, scanning the surrounding.

They were swallowed by a dark void, two possibilities presented itself. Either they had somehow been teleported away or this was an illusion. Eikichi soon spotted something, or more like someone, sitting on a nearby rock. He wasn't there before.

Wearing a warm brown jacket, the middle age man sat silently on the rock, sharpening his machete. He looked up to them and tipped his cowboy hat, flashing the friendliest of smile.

"Howdy, the name is Jack Thornton, what's your?"

"Eikichi Kira"

The bald man answered instantly, the other two hesitated and decided to remain quiet. Jack laughed out loud.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Kira, but you should be more careful" He held up the machete, its blade shone "What if my power activates by knowing one's name"

"Does it" Eikichi replied nonchalantly.

"No, but I know someone who does, quite a nasty one. So what about you, by now, y'all should have receive your power" Jack said, his voice filled with gentleness, a hint of sadness in his eyes "Hm, I'm sure I would get to see them soon"

The bushes started to ruffle and then came the wolves. They soon surrounded the group. From behind Jack, on top of a high rock was the most majestic beast. Fur white as snow, the pack leader stood, gazing down on its preys.

Then without any warning, the silent truce was broken.

It was Eikichi who immediately hurl something at Jack, it was a throwing knife which he 'borrowed' from Doraemon. The man simply dodged the weapon, whistling a high note.

The wolves jumped at the bald man but the first to reach him received a kick to the head. The rest coordinate their attacks but their primal instinct couldn't be a match. Eikichi swung up a branch on top of him effortlessly to avoid the initial barrage. He then jumped down and with a mix of throws, kicks and chops, five of the beasts were taken down.

Outrageously adept, that was the impression Hiro got when hearing about the bald man exploits. Next to him, Fleur didn't look too surprised.

So the stories were true, Eikichi was truly quite an individuals. Compared to Hiro, who had just many if not more tales told about him. Thinking about that was rather depressing for the young man, they were both revered, but he was far outclassed.

Jack Thornton didn't sit still, however, the man lunged forward with his machete. He was fast, but Eikichi simply sidestepped to the right. The bald man held his enemy right's sleeve with his left hand. His other hand found its way to Jack's shoulder, the cowboy was held down effortlessly, the machete twisted out of his hand.

'Is it over?' Hiro thought to himself, he then saw a smile on their enemy's face. It wasn't one of bitterness, that he had to resort to this.

The cowboy drew out a revolver with his other hand, pointing straight at Eikichi. Fleur grasped, how could this be, guns couldn't be taken to Eden! Her concern while normally valid, didn't mean much in this instant. The bald man, despite being in quite an awkward position, still holding onto Jack's sleeve, dodged the shot easily.

Before he could avoid the follow shot, however, two wolves were already on his back. Eikichi delivered a wide kick to down them both. This caused his grips to loosen, which resulted in a more well-aimed shot.

The bald man could easily dodge it but another wolf was already onto him. There was no avoiding both, and in the milliseconds that followed, Eikichi made his choice.

He thrown himself into the shot which hit point blank. With his momentum, Eikichi fell onto Jack, breaking several of the cowboy left fingers with his grip. The gun was taken and thrown straight at Hiro.

The young man clumsily grabbed the weapon, it took him several seconds to hold it successfully.

Meanwhile, the wold had taken a bite out of Eikichi's leg. The bald man rolled to the side to shake off the beast. He would then be surrounded by the whole pack. With this injury, he wasn't going to get out of this one. To make matter worse, this nasty open wound was primed for blood infection.

Freed, Jack Thornton stood up again, amazed by what had gone down. He gazed curiously at his broken fingers "Such struggle, it's futile to go against mother nature but it is also man's nature to struggle" His face was one of amazement and sadness "You put up a wonderful fight, Mr. Kira, I am glad to have met a man like you"

He tipped his hat in respect as the wolves dawned on the bald man. Jack then turned to Hiro.

"Would you kindly give me back my gun? Your hands are shaking, boy"

The young man immediately pointed the gun at the cowboy, this would be a 'no'. Time seemed to stand still as the wolves circled the desk worker. Finally, after a great deal of effort Hiro pulled the trigger only to hear a heart dropping click. Click, click, click. Every pull of the trigger was met with that sound.

"What a shame" The cowboy said as a wolf jumped at Hiro. Suddenly, something flew past him. It was another beast, one wandered near Eikichi.

The bald man, with monstrous effort picked up the wolf and threw it away. The beast collided with his friend which was jumping on Hiro mid-air. Jack stood with his mouth agape, how could this be. This Eikichi might as well not be human, so such a man could exist.

"Damn I looked cool there" The bald man commented as the pack all jumped at him. His bitten leg had stopped functioning, this was dead end for Eikichi.

Hiro could feel something tucking his shirt, it was a someone, or more precisely Fleur.

"We need to get out of here!" The woman pulled him away.

Two wolves were going to chase after them but stop, they decided to focus on the bald man. Despite not having one of his limbs, he was putting up a frightening fight. Jack watched on, such tenacity, a shame they were to be enemy.

Fleur and Hiro ran and ran, soon the later found himself left behind.

Momo-chan: [I can't tell if she is really fast or if you are a disgrace]

The young man didn't even retort, he was focusing on how to get out of this situation alive. Fleur wasn't particularly fast, but she navigated the jungle with ease. Jumping over logs, ducking under branches, hopping on rocks with various size without any loss in speed. She was certainly nimble for a make-up artist.

Hiro had to stop and breath, at least nothing was following him. The young man hid behind a particularly huge log lying on the ground, covered in moss. He looked to the size and was surprised to find someone right there.

"…!"

The Hiro of yesteryear would scream his lungs by now. But after enough times being jump-scared by Suiren, he had gotten used to it. Besides, this face was way more aesthetically appealing than a cracked white mask. The other side didn't take any chance though, a hand was already over the young man mouth.

"Shhh" Fleur did the loudest 'shhh' ever, she noticed it halfway, however.

Despite the heavy exercise, the woman was barely sweating at all. She had somehow tied up her hair during the escape while still clutching onto the handbag. Fleur wasn't going to let some wolves nonsense got in the way of her being a pretty flower.

"We are probably stuck in this realm, just running away would be too easy" Fleur commented. 'Too easy'? The young woman sighed, it was not like she was in a movie or a shitty story, maybe just running away would work fine. The woman looked at her companion to see him still sitting there with his eyes wide open "Um, Mr. Hanazawa, are you alright?"

"You sure are beautiful…"

Hiro commented unconsciously. Momo-chan was still at awe. He never looked at the woman much before, but now her image was being slammed straight at him. It was a different kind of beauty than Suiren (his imagination) or maybe Willow if she even qualified. To him, Fleur was striking with her platinum hair and red lips, but not too in-your-face like Doraemon.

"Oh thanks" The woman didn't let that compliment escaped her ears of course. On her face was a smile hundred percent girlish. She instinctively reached up to check her hair.

Fleur's expression immediately changed back to one of seriousness in a split second "Anyway, as I was saying… we could try running away… Yes, I was definitely saying that"

"That would be too easy, would that work?" Hiro replied.

On another thought, being in another world with a super power sounded like a shitty story alright, Fleur concluded. Then, a development so on point it could only be fate or poor pacing happened. A voice rang around them, it was of Jack Thornton.

"Not many could escape from my initial ambush" The sound was carried by the wind all around them, it rang genuine "But nature is a cruel mistress, she will get her target in the end. Surrender yourselves and I will make sure your end is painless. I promise"

The howl of wolves soon enveloped them. The predators were nowhere near but with their speed, the distance didn't mean much. Sooner or later, the two would be found out. It was time to make a choice.

"Let's run away" "Let's go back" They both said in unison.

"What, why would you want to go back there" Fleur rejected that idea.

"Well… we are in that Jack's power, what if we need to defeat him" Hiro said without hesitation "Besides, what if Eikichi is still alive, we can't leave him"

"What the…" Fleur didn't understand, was this a real person speaking to her. No one in their right mind would go back to where they nearly got mauled by wolves. Yes it was actually, the young man believed in everything he said. The time spent behind the desk must have messed with this guy's brain "Do you have any plan for that then"

"… No" After a great deal of thinking, that was Hiro's bitter answer "I need you help"

"Are you crazy, what make you think I could do anything" This dainty flower wasn't going to fight any wolves. What made this guy think she could help even?

"Victor told me by now, everyone should have developed their power" Hiro looked straight at her "What's yours?"

Fleur had completely forgotten about that, which was exactly her intention "No!"

"No what!" The young man was confused.

"I have no power!" A lie, of course, but her power might as well be nothing, Fleur thought. She was excited to receive one of course, the woman was filled with excitement. In her mind was full of amazing possibilities and training montages. She could feel changes happening, energy was swelling within her it was all so exciting, then the power came.

Yup, that simple, Fleur could do it right away, as natural as breathing or walking or raising her hand. Which made sense, their power was an extension of themselves, asides from special cases like Hiro or Doraemon.

Then why did she develop such a power, Fleur pouted.

Meanwhile, Hiro was thinking hard "I see… If so, you should run away then" The young man completely believed her.

"What about you?"

"I… maybe I could do something" Hiro said, turning away "We should move now before those wolves reach us"

The young man bolted as soon as he finished speaking. Fleur was left behind, not knowing what to do. That Hiro guy was out of his mind, she thought. If only he also decided to run away, it would so much easier. How could Fleur make off with this feeling of guilt within her now.