The others nodded.
"If she has a few days to just recuperate and relax, it will help her process the information. She would handle it a lot better and we wouldn't need to be as worried about her panicking. We just need to give her some time to relax and enjoy life. Not deal with all these stressful events that keep hitting her left and right," Itsuki proposed.
"I agree. It might help her a lot." Haru smiled approvingly.
"Alright. We'll have to tell her after whatever vacation we figure out, but we need to start digging into this now. If the person behind Storm’s murder is a part of the Council OR is trying to get onto the new Council, we need to figure it out immediately and stop them," Yoshi declared.
"You’re thinking the person who either set up or contributed to Storm's death may be outside the Council and is trying to sabotage them?" Quil clarified.
I could see where Yoshi was coming from and what Quil thought of would be the perfect plan to initiate if you wanted power.
People were tired of all the crime going on across Nokamato and everyone was blaming the Council. What if the person pressing the buttons was setting us all up as a way to cause unrest?
"It makes sense. That could be another thing to consider. Let's deal with this later. Quil, I'll help you out today," I offered.
He nodded, stabilizing Crim's head so I could get a good grip on her to lift her up into my arms.
"Malachi and Itsuki, I want as much information as you can find on the Arashis. Haru, you stay home and figure out how we can release the seal and prevent anything bad from happening to Crim. I'm thinking because her birthday is coming up, the seal is putting too much strain on her," Yoshi pointed out.
"That would explain why she gets nosebleeds and fevers," I realized.
Haru nodded. "That definitely could be a reason."
"Aki, can you stay with Crim? I'm fine with any of us staying, but I can tell she's the most comfortable with you," Yoshi instructed.
I nodded, pleased with the decision. "Fine with me."
"Quil. You’re with me. Let's get an update on what’s going on and then we’ll try to see if we can locate those swords," Yoshi instructed.
"Alright," Quil nodded in agreement.
"Let's get moving. When Crim wakes up, try to ask if she remembers why she passed out, but don't probe her too much. I don't want her getting anxious either. Encourage her to rest and tell her we're going on a vacation," Yoshi directed to me.
I nodded. "Okay. Good luck guys."
We all nodded and got to work.
I glanced down at Crimson and lowered my lips to her forehead.
I won't lose you, Crimson. I won't lose anyone I care about without a fight.
"It was just a nosebleed! Why is Quil looking at me like I died?" I exclaimed and pouted at Quil who had on his tough guy face standing at the end of my bed.
"Crim, I don't see why you're arguing over some time off," Itsuki protested softly.
He leaned against the wall near my door. Haru was sitting on the floor next to my bed and I was currently in a testosterone sandwich with Aki on my right against the wall and Yoshi to my left. Uru lifted her head to howl quietly. Quil stared down at her, before reaching out to stroke her fur.
"It's not like I'm arguing. Well, I am, but only because I don't think I need a vacation," I defended. I'd never been on one and I was already behind on commissions. I couldn't take more time off over a nosebleed.
It was evening and I had been knocked out for an entire thirty hours. The moment I woke up, Haru did a scan using his magic to make sure I was okay and now the guys were all proposing I take some time off.
"Is Crim awake and being stubborn?" Malachi called out from the hall. The others had told me Malachi went to get some things for this potential vacation, so when we were ready all we would need to do is pack a few clothes and off we'd go.
"Yeah, and yeah," Itsuki replied.
"Crimson, you need a break. You're stressed." Haru frowned at me.
"I'm always stressed when I have to see my parents. This time is no different," I muttered.
To be honest, I was even more concerned about this visit. I knew my birthday was gonna be soured thanks to my father and all the shit that was going on.
With Storm's case, the divorce my mom hadn't even told him about yet, and the incident last time that screwed up his meeting, I bet he would try extra hard to ridicule me all night long to get back at me.
"It is different this time because we're not gonna sit and watch you get even more stressed over the next three days, unlike Mr. Bipolar would have," Quil announced.
Malachi came into the room; relief blossomed on his face when he confirmed I was awake. "You good, Hottie?"
"I'm okay, Hottie McHot Pants."
Aki was still asleep, resting his head on my shoulder and Yoshi looked to be dozing off on my other side. "Were Yoshi and Aki up until recently?" Malachi asked.
"Ya. Aki was gone the moment after Crim said she was okay," Itsuki replied, smiling at the trio on the bed.
"Yoshi?" Malachi asked, looking at Yoshi who didn't move.
"They're tired. They were up the whole time wanting to make sure they were awake when you woke up." Quil looked at me as he spoke.
I smiled, feeling a little special with everyone's love and attention. It felt nice to have people care for you when you were sick or unwell. I didn't feel one hundred percent better, but I didn't feel super sick as I usually did around family visit time, which I had to thank Haru for.
"We don't need to do a trip or anything," I announced.
"Crimson, when was the last time you went on vacation?" Itsuki inquired.
I frowned, looking down at my lap. "I haven't been on vacation before," I whispered. I didn't need to look up to picture their stunned expressions.
"Never? Not even when you were a kid?" Malachi questioned.
I shook my head. "Nope. Disgraced child, remember? I didn't deserve to go on vacation and when I moved out and lived with James we always tried to plan something, but there was always the issue of his family or someone he knew seeing us together.”
I looked up to see all four guys staring at me with upset expressions. Even Haru looked displeased by my confession.
Uru growled softly to add to the conversation.
"Crimson, you work your ass off. You should be going on vacation more than once a year," Malachi stressed.
"I guess? I don't know. I just keep delaying it so...I'd love to see my best friend though, sometime," I admitted, wishing I could talk with Hakua. We hadn't been able to chat at all since she'd been forced to transfer training temples due to the shitty reception up there. I could only imagine how lonely I would be if the guys weren't in my life.
"Your best friend, as in Hakua? I think you've mentioned her a few times," Itsuki recalled.
I nodded. "Yeah, she's out on the outskirts so the travel time and all, I can't go. I'm behind on commissions. I can't keep letting my clients down."
"Aki took care of that," Malachi announced.
I looked at him curiously and he smiled.
"He left each of them a detailed message that you'd been pushing yourself lately due to the large influx of orders and fainted. He asked if you can have two weeks to rest and reassured them that their commissions would be made as soon as you got back."
"What? Weren't people mad?" I asked, shocked that Aki was able to do that in less than thirty hours. It took me hours to write a good enough email to send to everyone without checking it a hundred times.
Quil sighed and shook his head. "Aki said everyone was very supportive and worried about you. They know how much time is dedicated to their artwork and have been worried for some time that you'd burn out. We already received a few flower baskets from your loyal clients including a huge teddy bear from J.H."