Malia

"This might not be the best occassion, but you look really pretty, Lia."

Malia smiled half-heartedly as Sina fixed her hair in the long oval mirror. She had given Malia a temporary black dye to put on her green hair as a way to remain inconspicuous in Kiribati. It suited her nicely, bringing out her eyes and dark pink lips.

Malia's hair was swooped over her shoulder in curls, wearing a cropped black top that sat a bit too tight and a long black flowing skirt. Sina found brick red lipstick in one of the drawers, it was expired but it still managed to look nice on Malia's lips.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Malia turned around and frowned at Sina. "I think her parents would appreciate it."

Sina frowned, looking at Captain Jared who was gagged on a chair in the corner. He stared at them like they were vermin, occassionally grunting in anger whenever either of them would pass him to get something.

"I think I'm needed here more, but give her parents my condolences," Sina said. "I'll hold down the fort. You be careful."

Malia wanted Sina and Jack to join her in Kiribati for Sika's funeral, but they figured that it would be safer if just Malia and Halo went. In the meanwhile, Sina and everyone else would work on getting Captain Jared to talk.

"I'm going to see if there's a potion or some kind of incantation I can say that will make it easier for him to tell the truth," Sina said when they were out of the room. Malia leaned against the counter of the kitchen, humming to herself.

"Yeah, I'm sensing that we can't just beat it out of him. Not without wearing him down first."

"Time is of the essence," Sina sighed. Malia looked at her friend, noticing that she was weirdly relaxed despite the unpleasant circumstances.

"Where's your girlfriend?" Malia asked.

Sina's eyes panicked and she whipped a look over her shoulder to check if anyone heard. It was early morning, so she hoped no one else was awake.

"Don't call her that," Sina hissed. "And she's probably asleep. We were up last night discussing stuff."

"Stuff?"

"You."

Malia rose an eyebrow.

Sina gave her a look that was basically a scolding. Malia sighed because she already knew where this was going. Misty was avoiding her ever since the fight at the table, but Malia was too focused on the important things to address it.

"I think you should apologize," Sina said. "I know what she said was dumb but the way you reacted was bad too."

"I think I reacted perfectly actually. She was being ingorant," Malia scoffed.

"Ignorant," Sina corrected. "And really? You think that was a perfect reaction? If anything, Lia, your reactions have been getting worse. You're on edge all the time that everyone feels like they're walking on eggshells around you."

Malia wanted to snap, feeling her neck warm up. But that would prove Sina's point. So she choked it down.

Sina clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Look, I'm talking to you so calmly and you're entire face is red already! You need to get your emotions in check, Lia. We're gonna deal with some big stuff soon, dangerous things that will require you to keep your cool.

"I know you're scared for your mother. I know you're scared in general. We're all scared, trust me. But just think about this, if Vaea was infront of you right now and you were in your current emotional state, he would defeat you. He'd defeat you because his emotions are kept intact, and yours are not."

That mental image made Malia's stomach turn. Thinking of losing to Vaea just because she could not contain her anger...she would never forgive herself. Malia groaned and covered her eyes with her palms in exasperation, wanting to scream.

"Dammit, Sina," she grumbled. "Fine, I'll apologize. You're making me feel bad."

Sina smiled after getting her way, and Malia wanted to toss something at her. She was the only one who could get to Malia like this and she knew it.

"I'm gonna get ready. Jack, Misty and I are going to go explore the jungle. We're gonna see if we can find any useful plant and animal matter."

"Be careful," Malia told her. Just as Sina was about to leave the kitchen, Halo walked in, wearing a dark green shirt with brown trousers and black boots. His hair was dyed brown thanks to Sina, and overall he looked handsome. However, Sina and Malia shared uncomfortable glances.

"Is this good?" He asked, turning to Malia. He frowned when he saw her grimace. "Do I look bad?"

"Halo...you are going to Sika's funeral. Why are you dressed like that?" Sina asked him. "You're supposed to wear all black."

Halo awkwardly gulped. "Oh...I wasn't aware. My apologies."

"Wearing anything else is seen as disrespect to the dead," Malia told him. "Have you never been to a funeral before?"

"Sai and Kailanian people do not have the same funeral rituals," Sina interjected, but Malia's irritation remained unyielding. Its like he didn't know anything.

Halo stood hopelessly and Malia rounded the counter of the table and dragged him back to his room, kicking the door closed with her foot. She forcibly positioned him infront of his mirror and walked to the double-doored cupboards, yanking open the doors and searching for anything black.

"I'm really sorry, I should have asked." He muttered behind her.

"I keep forgetting you're basically a foreigner," Malia said, shaking her head. "You're like...Kukoan by name alone."

The silence that followed was awkward. She could tell he was thinking of what to say.

"I've never been to a funeral before. Not a Sai funeral...or a Kailanian. I've never even been to my father's funeral. To this day I've never visited his tomb. But that's no excuse, I suppose. You asked me to go with you and I should have asked Sina about your customs."

Malia found a long-sleeved black shirt and a navy pants that looked like it would be two sizes too big for Halo. It would have to do, there was nothing else present.

She turned around to give it to him when she found him standing there with his shirt unbuttoned, his chest just staring at her.

Malia froze with the clothes in her hand and Halo carelessly walked up to her, taking the shirt from her. He slipped the green shirt off infront of her. He was so close she could feel his body heat radiating off his skin.

"Thank you, you're always helping me," he smiled, sliding the black shirt on. "For once I'd like to be helpful to you, Malia Lui."

Malia tried not to stare at Halo's...impressive..everything. She wondered if he did this deliberately. He was extremely oblivious all the time, but with her...it was like he did these little things with intention. She tried not to pay any mind, as normally she wouldn't think too deeply about it. He was still himself and she was well, Malia Lui.

But maybe, just maybe she should make him feel the way she did. Everytime he brushed her, even the slightest, its like that part of her skin would catch fire. And Halo would continue as if nothing happened.

"I like helping you," she said, flicking his hands away from his buttons and tying it for him. Halo's eyes widened as he looked down at her. "It makes me feel good."

"Really?" He sounded so surprised.

"Mmmm mmmm."

He was staring at her so intensively, Malia almost forgot what day it was. She felt her skin rush with warmth again, forcing her to step back and clear her throat.

"You're on your own with the pants," she said, holding back a laugh. Halo grinned.

"Yes, don't worry, I wasn't expecting that of you."

"I'll wait outside then."

Malia left the room, fanning her face. Having a crush was fun. It felt like a reward in the terrible circumstances they were in. Luckily for her she didn't think of things deeply or else, liking Halo would be a real problem for her.

Imagine that! Trying to be in a relationship during the start of a revolution. But the fact that it was Halo made Malia grin. Not only would it piss off Vaea, but he'd hate it. It would be the ultimate slap in the face. I took your crown and your brother, Malia thought callously.

The entertaining thoughts vanished as soon as Halo stepped out, and it was time to go.

***

After the train ride, Halo enchanted the boat they climbed in with a speed potion. However he didn't sail harshly, showing off his expert marine skills to Malia.

She watched him carefully, noticing the pull on his arms whenever he would tug on the ropes. His veins and muscles would bulge, his hair swaying in the wind like he was an angel.

Malia was curious. She moved closer to him as the waves carried them on the water. "How come you never went to your papa's funeral?" She asked, her voice just above the wind.

"I had run away before then," Halo answered. He didn't seem to be uncomfortable with the topic, but his eyes drifted in a way that showed he was remembering it all.

"I just...wanted to get away. I knew what his assassination would mean. I'd be forced to the throne."

He was so afraid of taking power that he didn't even see his father off to the afterlife. That had to be a big fear. "And what about his tomb? How come you never visited when you came back?"

Halo shook his head as though he ate something sour. "I was encouraged to go by Augus, but there are too many superstitions around it. I'm not fond of the supernatural."

"Really? Then coming to a Sai funeral was a mistake. We're all about the supernatural."

Halo's golden skin faded with colour. Malia wanted to chuckle at his ghastly expression.

"Just don't look back after we send off her body and you'll be fine. If you look back at the dead person, they'll come back and won't truly pass because its like inviting them back. You need to separate yourself from them completely."

Malia continued to explain the Sai rituals to Halo after they boarded the harbour. All the possessions of the deceased had to be burned, while someone who wasn't family had to set the body off into the ocean after the ceremony. Spider lilys had to be draped over the cloth that covered the body, as the flowers were important for the dead to understand that the living were saying goodbye.

"The dead person might turn into an evil spirit if not sent away properly," Malia said as they walked. "And Sika was a girl. A child's spirit is said to be more sensitive."

"That's terrifying," Halo visibly shivered. They were on their way to the burial grounds, a river in the woodland on the southern side of Kiribati. Malia noticed that her picture was up on nearly every wall, the colour of her hair even correct to the specific shade. Not just hers, but Sina's as well.

Luckily with her black hair, she was indistinguisiable in a crowd. Halo blended in better as well. Surely every officer was alert for a man with pale green hair and growing white roots.

Something was different about Kiribati. There were writings on random homes, the words in a funny font so Malia struggled to read it. She nudged Halo and pointed at it, asking him what it said.

"Down with the tyrant. We fight back with fate." He read, turning to Malia with both brows lifted.

Malia smirked, feeling proud. It looked like enough people were finally getting fed up.

When Malia and Halo got to the burial grounds, they saw a giant crowd, hearing the loud hymns they sang first. The beat of the drums made birds in the trees flock around them, like they were spirits themselves being called. They slid in the back row of people, realizing they had showed up just in time for Sika to be set off.

The atmosphere made Malia nauseous. She never got comfortable with feeling sad, it never came easy to her. She saw Sika's mother and father, Mr and Mrs Federeci wailing as someone dug a grave with her things, setting it on fire. After a while of it burning, it was flattened with dirt. Sika's burnt possessions were buried infront of an angel statue, her name no doubt carved at the bottom of its plaque.

Malia felt her heart tug, her eyes finally finding Sika's body in the longboat. Her face was uncovered, her body drapes with a white cloth covered in piles of spider lillies. The last time she was at a funeral was her father's. There was so little left of his body, he was surely haunting the battlefield he never returned from.

She was so young. That was the tragedy of it all. She had not known the lengths the police would go to. She didn't know how big of a threat she was to them. But with how full her funeral was, nearly the entire Kiribati was present.

Malia picked up a white rose, promising herself Sika's death would not be in vain.

Her boat was picked up by non-family members and carried to the river. They set it alight, and as the flames started consuming her body, people started turning away and leaving. Malia nudged Halo, reminding him to not look back at her.

As people passed her, she received strange glances. Some people not recognizing her. While others stood shocked. She saw Terran blink at her a few times, then he shuffled on. Aira Lin was ahead of him, narrowing her eyes at Malia as though she could not see her clearly. Malia pulled Halo by his hand, slipping out of their eye-view and heading straight for Sika's parents.

They lingered around her statue, their eyes turning into saucers when they saw Malia and Halo.

"M-Malia Lui, is that you?" Mrs Federici said.

Malia dove in to hug her, squeezing the woman tightly. "I wasn't going to miss this for the world, Auntie. Sina sends her condolences, she really wanted to be here."

When Malia looked at Mrs Federici, her eyes were drenched again. "I don't understand. S-She just went out for food in the afternoon...then she didn't come back. I don't understand why they took my Sika."

Mr Federici was disturbed, his face empty. "They killed her because she knew too much. She was telling the truth, she was telling everyone that you saved her. She didn't know she'd die."

Malia stuck out the rose and handed it to Sika's father. He took it with shaking hands. "I won't let her death be for nothing, I promise. I'll find whoever did this."

"They have your mother too now, Malia," Mrs Federici said, her voice strained with pain. "We kept trying to get her back, but they attacked us. The police drove us in our homes and set fire to shops. In the end, Aira Lin let them take her. She is doing nothing to free her now."

Malia grit her teeth, but tried not to show it. "I know, Auntie. I'm working on it, I promise."

"Malia, the people believe in you and Sina. Most of us are with you. Those who aren't, will learn soon enough," her father said. "Stay out of the town centre. It is not safe for you. Get out of here, I think Aira Lin may have spotted you."

Then, like clockwork, Aira Lin and Terran advanced on them.

"You have some nerve coming here!" Aira Lin raised her voice. "That young girl is dead because of you!"

"That's not true," Halo stepped in, moving infront of Malia. "Malia saved her life. The police killed her."

"So you do not believe it was a suicide?" Mr Federici chimed in angrily. "You told me Sika succumbed to her stress of being abducted. But you do not even believe your own words?!"

Aira Lin grit her teeth, getting tied up in her own web. Malia was enraged at how she still failed to protect her own people.

"Thanks to her, people are rebelling, what will become of our community? All you're doing is getting people killed!" Terran added on. Malia couldn't be bothered. She grabbed Terran by the shirt and punched him into the arms of his mother.

Halo shielded her again, pushing her back with his arm. Aira Lin was horrified and Mr and Mrs Federici gasped.

"Malia, I think you must go," Mr Federici said.

"Yes, you should," Aira Lin spat. "Because I've alerted the police that you are here."

"You fucking old bat!" Malia screamed, pointing at Aira Lin accusingly. "You're the worst Elder ever! I never liked you!"

"You are unrighteous!"

"Say it enough and you'll start believing!"

Inbetween the trees, the black uniform of the Kaua police could be seen approaching. Their long-flowing robes waved in the wind, their swords shining a striking, deadly silver. Halo grabbed Malia's hand and they began to retreat, running deeper into the trees.

They weren't carrying heavy, which made escaping somewhat easier. But if there was a fight, both of them would be screwed. All Malia had on her were two potions, one of weakness and one for regeneration. Halo had on him a parrying dagger and no potions at all. Maybe they underestimated how recognizable they were.

But that damned Aira Lin, she really was a piece of work, wasn't she? She couldn't even let Sika be sent away in peace, she just had to involve the police.

Malia threw a look over her shoulder, seeing a three groups of police officers advancing. They paused as the ground decreased in incline, a steep fall ahead of them as the forest valley stretched out. Somehow they had to make it back to the boats.

"Where do we go?" Halo turned to her worriedly. "If we drop down we might break something."

Malia looked around, seeing the sturdy trees that surrounded them. "Go climb! As high as you can!" She said and ran to the nearest one. Halo followed suit, his eyes widening as he saw Malia climb the tree with little to no effort, her expert parkouring skills once again no joke.

Malia rested on one of the lower branches when the police finally appeared below them. They looked up, one of the officers readying her rope. Malia prepared herself for it, but the policewoman missed her, giving a hard tug to the branch she rested on instead. It broke and gave way, forcing Malia to jump and swing to another branch on the other side of the tree.

She wobbled as she gripped above her, her heart in her throat. Halo was also being attacked, but two of the groups focused entirely on her. They were huddled so close together below her, and an idea came to her like lightning.

Malia withdrew her weakness potion and dropped it onto the two groups. The cloud and splash of it all only landed on some of them, but the attack was enough to send them dispersing. Malia dropped to the ground, instantly picking up a sword from the weakened police. She started swinging on the group that remained, seeing them down to five.

The cloud of potion residue had gotten to the rest of them, evident in how slow they were to defend. Malia struck one across the chest, meeting a block. Another strike came from behind her, forcing her to throw out a massive swing, hitting all the blades at once before retreating into a roll.

As she landed feet away from the steep drop, another rope was flung toward her. Malia's wrists were interlocked, the police pulling her away from the edge. The sword was dropped, but with her strength vs their weakness, she was able to pull two police toward her. She spun them with her own momentum, before rolling her wrists out and booting both of them off the hill.

Their screams could be heard as they bounced off the steep ground, probably breaking a few bones in the process. More than a few actually. Malia couldn't care less. She turned her attention on Halo, who was still up in the tree, somehow climbing to the very top.

The other police officers were climbing after him, with one already at his level and actively trying to stab him. Malia ran to the  trunk, dodging a fall from a police officer. He landed right next to her, a cloud of dust poofing from his person and his weapon landing blade first in the dirt. Malia pulled the sword, starting to climb the tree as well.

The clanging of blades grew heavier as she climbed. Halo was surrounded on all sides. He slid back as a police stuck out a sword to his stomach, hitting the trunk. Then he threw out a kick, knocking the police off the branch and into the ground below.

Three left. Malia made it across from an enemy. She swung around the trunk to make it to his side, delivering a kick to his side at the same time. The police grabbed Malia's leg and nearly threw her off, forcing her to grab onto the trunk for dear life. Her sword fell from her hands, just as a stab of his landed in her stomach.

He ripped it from her flesh immediately, the sudden pain sending Malia plummeting. Her back hit the jungle floor, the wind getting knocked out of her entirely. The world turned black quickly, the sound drowning out in a blur.

***

Halo

"Malia!!!"

Halo panicked when he saw Malia plunge to the forest floor, his skin flushing hot as he laid eyes on the blood leaking from her stomach.

No. Out of the two of them, she had to make it out. She was worth so much more.

The world paused for a moment. Halo was still being attacked by three enemies. He glared at the man that stabbed Malia, hanging on the branch above him as he jumped to break the branch he stood on.

The branch snapped, hitting the police below him in the head. It took him down, leaving the one below him vulnerable. Halo couldn't fight like this any longer. He decided to jump, landing in a roll on the ground. It wasn't a soft landing, his back and calves feeling a harsh vibration. The other two decided to drop down as well, and Halo felt more confident.

He drove the one into the tree trunk as soon as he rose from the floor with his foot. Halo struck him across the chest, then spun an elbow into his face to knock him down.

The other policeman aimed for Halo's head with the hilt of his sword. Halo dodged and  grabbed the man's wrists, throwing them to the side before tackling him to the ground. He let out a primal scream before punching the policeman in the face, the rage in him exhilirating.

He had never fought like that before. Even after facing pirates, drunken sailors who couldn't hold their liquor at bars, and other fiends. He felt like he had something to fight for this time. It felt like this mattered.

Halo got up, looking around at the destruction. Inbetween the pile of unconscious men he found Malia. Cuts lined her pretty face, blood leaking from her hairline as well as the puncture in her stomach. Halo fell to his knees and quickly pulled his shirt off.

He tied it around her waist, suppressing the wound. The belt around her waist leaked with a pale yellow substance, and Halo unhooked the belt to find broken glass. Dammit! It was a regeneration potion. It must have broken when she fell, now it was useless.

Halo dipped his fingers in as much as he could, trying to rub it on Malia's tongue. Due to the glass being shattered everywhere, Halo couldn't tell if it was meant to be consumed or splashed over oneself. He just had to take the chance.

When he finished, he scooped Malia up in his arms and darted in the opposite direction of the burial grounds, with no real clue of where he was going.

***

After what felt like forever of seamless travel, Halo hit a stone wall. There were homes in the distance, Halo figured he must have hit the town boundary. He carried on till he found an entrance with an archway. There was a sign that stated to only close the gate during the nightly hours, before animals trespassed inside.

Halo didn't wait. He sprinted with Malia in his arms, determined to make it to the quickest home. He prayed he would not have the police called on him, feeling like he ran far enough from the scene to the point where his legs felt like they were bleeding.

He could not knock on the door of the nearest house, and resorted to shouting for help instead.

"Help! Someone please! A woman is injured!"

His cries were heard quickly, the door swinging open with urgency. He saw a tall young man, along with a small older woman. Their eyes widened at Malia, as if they recognized her.

Halo was desperate. He'd been through the forest for a while and he had no clue of her state. "Please help me," he begged. The woman yelled at the man in a dialect Halo didn't recognize and he took Malia from his arms.

He carried her inside, with Halo following closely. The man laid her on a bed, propping a pillow behind her head. The young man turned to Halo, giving him a once over.

"That's Malia Lui," the man said. "Do you know her? Where did you find her?"

"She's my partner," Halo said, suddenly breathless. "The police did this to her, can you help, please?"

"Of course," the woman said and nodded to the man. "Keanu, go lock the doors."

Keanu nodded and left the room, his mother, Halo assumed, went around the bed to feel Malia's pulse. Her chest rose and fell, but she looked bleak.

"Oh...she is so badly injured. Poor girl. I do not have any potions for her."

Halo heard the care in her voice, like she knew Malia personally. "Do you know her? Can you help her?"

"Of course I know her. She is like a daughter to Kiribati. She is everyone's child. She helped my son when the Pomlams attacked our shop. And she broke the big Pomlams nose!"

Halo didn't know what that meant, but whatever it meant, these people were fond of Malia and were willing to care for her. Now he had to get her out of the danger zone.

Keanu came back, bringing a marigold with him in a mortar and pestle. "Ma, we can heal her with this. If we make it into a powder, she can still digest it right? Even if we don't have stands?"

"Yes, yes," his mother said. "You are so smart. You, Malia's husband. Help me put salt on her wound."

***

Augus

"Malia Lui has been tracked in Kiribati, sir!"

Augus heard the news in his office, internally groaning. What is that moron doing now?

He had thought after the close calls with her mother and the Sai girl Sika, that she wouldn't succumb to Vaea's obvious probes at luring her out.

Sir Hanu was excited to spread the news. Augus remembered the talk he had with Malia's mother, who made Augus swear that whenever there would be news about Malia, that he would come straight to tell her. So that was the first thing he did. Augus bolted for the dungeons, his face falling on the ground when he saw the cells completely empty.

No guards in sight.

No.

Not wanting to be found lurking in the dungeons by himself, Augus arrived in Vaea's throne room, finding the King fencing with Yunoa Hira while Leilani Hira watched on the sidelines.

"Your Majesty! Malia Lui has been tracked in Kiribati!" Augus announced, feigning excitement. Vaea paused the match with a flick of his hand, taking off his mask to give Augus an uninterested stare.

"And a spoon is found in soup, Marshall Na. Why don't you alert me when you have her head on a stick for me? Or her blood on your hands?"

Augus struggled with what to say next. "Your Majesty...do you believe she is coming for her mother?"

Vaea shrugged. "She can show up if she likes. But she'll be sorely disappointed. I had her mother removed from here."

Augus breathed in relief but tried not to make it obvious. At least he didn't say he had her eliminated.

"Removed, your Majesty?"

"Hard of hearing, Augus?"

"But, your Majesty, I could have removed her for you?"

The eye contact with Vaea was strong. Augus had a feeling that Vaea didn't trust him. That feeling wasn't a good one.

"I removed her myself, Augus," Vaea said, suddenly studying his rapier. "I am being extra careful with my leverage. After Captain Jared's disappearance, I can't trust what secrets he might be telling. Misty Hira is also missing. With this break-in, I've decided to be extra careful. But don't worry, Augus, I will tell you her location soon enough."

Would he really? With how Vaea was doing his own thing on the sides, Augus didn't feel as involved anymore.

"Of course, your Majesty. I shall go and prepare to do my search in Kiribati along with the other Guards."

"Bye-bye."

When Augus was at a secure and lonesome location in the palace, he saw his earpiece having rung multiple times. All calls were from Halo.

That paints the picture for me. Augus called his earpiece back, and the answer was instant.

"Augus!" Halo sounded panicked.

"What are you doing!" Augus couldn't helo but scream through his teeth. "What part of Kiribati isn't safe do you not understand?! Stay out of it! Where are you now?"

"I couldn't tell you even if I knew Augus," Halo said, breathless. "I just know I'm at the end of some boundary. Malia badly injured. She fell from a tree and got wounded by one of the Kaua. She has no healing potions or anything, she's unconscious with me right now."

Augus felt like he would die from a heart attack. He didn't want to feel dramatic, but Halo wasn't anywhere close to the harbour.

"I'll come get you. I'll bring an airballoon."

"What?" Halo gasped. "Augus– how?"

"Do not question me! Its bad enough you are in this mess. Why are you in Kiribati anyways?"

"I promised Malia I would attend Sika's funeral with her," Halo said and Augus wasn't surprised. "It was all well, till that Aira Lin woman alerted the police."

"Alright. Sit tight. I'll be there soon."

***

A/N: I was so excited to write this chapter lol. Happy reading!