Chapter 26 - Return

The sun shone bright as a new day began to approach the resistance camp in the region of Traispe. Everyone in the camp had been preparing for they were about to eat their breakfast to start the day. In the far side of camp, Jade had woken up and finished her necessary preparations to start her day. She had let her long hair loose on her shoulders and she wore her standard outfit which was her same outfit when she used to work as a bounty hunter. The expression on her face was somewhat relieved because she had known that Creed was going to be alright. She had been visiting him in the doctor's tent everyday and what she always saw was the same. It was Creed lying down on the bed in the tent. He had been asleep for three days now due to exhaustion.

Jade was going to the tent again in order to see if Creed had awaken. She had missed how the way he looked at her. His mannerisms and his voice which had always rung in her mind. The moment they had shared in the balcony during the Gala was still fresh in her memory. She did not want that night to end, because in her mind, she really had loved him with all her heart. She made her way through the camp in order to look for the person she cared about the most. It was a fairly hot day as the sun shone above the camp. The resistance members were busy as usual with reinforcing their defenses and gathering supplies to increase their strength.

She now had made it to Tenzan's tent and she felt her heart beating stronger. Jade had hoped that he was awake. She wanted to see him again, his smile, and everything. Going in the tent excited, she called out his name.

"Creed?" she had said.

But she did not hear an answer, instead what she saw was his bed was a mess. Sheets rustled and messy and his pillow fell on the ground. The window on the side of the bed was also opened hinting that he wanted some fresh air.

"Not here." Jade wondered "Did he get up already?" 

She went out of the tent and saw one Resistance Soldier standing outside for some time now. Speculations came to her mind that this soldier might know where Creed is. Jade approached the soldier and asked him.

"Excuse me, did you see anyone get out of this tent?" 

"No ma'am I'm so sorry." The soldier replied

"It's alright. Thanks." She replied with a smile.

The soldier walked past her and went his way. She still had no clue on where Creed was. It was impossible that he had gotten far because she knew that he had now choice but to stay here due to the incident that had happened in Etto city.

"Where could he be?" She thought to herself. "Maybe I should ask Jephtah" she added.

She made her way to Jephtah's tent which was just near hers, because he might kow where Creed is. It was again a long walk, under the hot sun. It felt like summer in the region and one could think that this day could not get even hotter than it is now. Jephtah stood outside his tent doing his usual thing which was smoking a cigarette. He puffed the smoke from the white stick and blew it out, feeling the sensation of heat that satisfied him so much. Then, he noticed Jade walking his way and he knew what she was going to ask her. She got nearer and then she asked him:

"Hey Jephtah have you seen Creed?" 

"Did you check Tenzan's tent?' Jephtah had replied.

"I had, but he was not there. He might've gotten up already." Jade said.

"Well that's a tough one. I haven't seen him around here maybe you should ask Tenzan." he had said.

"That sounds like a good idea. Any idea where Tenzan is?" Jade asked him.

"He's at the Truck parking bay, just right outside the camp." Jephtah said as he inhaled another smoke from the cigarette.

"Thanks." Jade said as she made her way to the Truck Parking bay.

The truck parking bay was their first stop since they got at the resistance camp. She had bad memories at that place because that was the time when Creed was still afflicted with the mental condition that Feiryon had given him. Jade did not want to see Creed ever get hurt again because she was afraid that she might lose him. 

It was a short while before she got at the truck parking bay and when she did, she had seen Tenzan there. He was trying to start a truck that had malfunctioned due to motor problems. The Soldiers had asked for his help due manpower shortage of technically adept soldiers, but he reluctantly agreed because he really did not know anything about fixing automobiles. He was more adept in healing the human body. Jade had gotten near him and started a conversation.

"Hey Tenzan." she said.

Tenzan saw her and replied; "Hey." He was still preoccupied in fixing the truck.

"Have you seen Creed? He was not in your tent a while ago when I checked." she asked him.

He had known where Creed is because he was the last person to see him before he had gotten out of the tent. 

"Yeah I know where he is. He's on top of that watch tower in the outskirts of camp. You actually just passed it on the way here. He said something about getting some fresh air I think." Tenzan said. "He might be still there if you hurry." he added.

"Thanks Tenzan!!" Jade had said as she ran to the direction of the watch tower.

"Ahhh the youth today. So active and full of energy." Tenzan said. "Gosh I feel old." he thought to himself as he went back into fixing the truck.

She ran towards the watch tower which she had past when she went to the Truck Parking Bay. It was just like that of him to seclude himself and get some fresh air. Creed was always a fan of places where he could get fresh air and the top of the watch tower in the camp was certainly a good place for him. 

Jade had finally reached the watch tower and she saw someone on top of it. She could not get a closer look because it was really too high for her to see so she went in the watch tower and used the stairs inside of it to climb to the top. When she got to the top, she had seen the person more clearly. That long brown hair that had fallen on the base of his neck, that familiar battle-suit, the eye-patch that he always wore, and the prosthetic left arm which had glinted when the rays of the sun hit it. It was him, the person that she had cared for the most, Creed.

He still hadn't noticed her because he was preoccupied with feeling the wind hit his face gently. His hair was blown by the wind too. She now moved closer to him hoping that he would notice her.

"Creed." she called out her name.

He had heard his name be called and he looked for where it cam from. He looked at the door leading onto the outer area of the watch tower and saw a familiar face. He saw the familiar blonde hair which was loose on her shoulders, the sky blue eyes that had the power to look in the soul of a person, her smile which had the ability to bring back his strength.

"Jade." He said with a smile. 

Without thinking, she ran towards him and embraced him tightly. She held him so tight and she thought to herself that she would not let him go ever again.

"You've returned..." Jade had said as she still embraced him.

Creed put his arms around her as well.

"Yeah.. It's okay now, I'm here." he had said.

"I was so worried...I thought you would never make it.."  She replied to him and she started to cry.

He lifted up her face and he wiped the tears that were falling from it. Jade saw his eye and it had brightness and life again. She always loved the look of his brown eye. He tightened the embrace, never letting her go.

"I'm sorry, I made you worry.." Creed had said. 

"It's okay." she replied with a smile and they continued to embrace

But suddenly, Jade felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She took her phone out of her pocket and checked the message.

We have updates. Meeting with Leio at the main tent, we have a plan to take back Etto. Take Creed with you. -Jeph.

She looked at Creed and said.

"Well... I guess duty calls." she said.

"Yeah... I guess so." Creed said as he hid his blush.

Without knowing it Jade had surprised him with a kiss on the cheek. He was stunned when he saw her do that and he began to blush even more. 

"See you at the main tent of the meeting." She said as she got down from the watch tower.

Creed had stayed on top of the tower in order to think of more things. He thought of Jade and what she was to her.

"Kira, you're right. I do have someone to protect here in this world. Thank you for helping me." Creed had thought to himself as he looked towards the sun.