Chapter 13 : Stealing

"So, what you're saying is that there's a whole other planet that can sustain life out there in space?"

Kaya was currently patching up Clover's broken arm, after he led her to an abandoned building, the place he had accustomed to calling home. Kaya had spent hours telling him everything, her being the guardian and The Seven Wonders.

"Is that the only thing you picked up from my explanation?" Kaya asked with a sigh as she finished bandaging his arm. She clasped her hands together and sprawled on the bed, feeling extremely tired after what just happened.

"...Sorta." Clover sighed and pulled off his beanie before ruffling his own hair. He, then glanced at his gem once more, still surprised by how it was out of this world. "Yeah."

Kaya smiled a bit as she stared at the ceiling, glad that she was finally able to find a wonder after weeks. However, she had no idea where to go next. Who were the other wonders? Where will she find them? Just these thoughts already made her stressed out.

"Have you found any other wonders?"

Clover suddenly asked, snapping Kaya out of her thoughts. He was sitting on the bed, hugging his knees to his chest and there was a fireball floating on his palm, his eyes glowing red for a few seconds. It served as the only source of heat in the cold and damp room. Kaya raised an eyebrow at Clover, surprised by how he looked so used to his powers. She, then shrugged, thinking that it was a natural instinct that was gained after the gem's activation.

"I haven't. Actually, I met one of them before but back then I didn't know anything about The Seven Wonders or me being a guardian."

"You've met one?" With a flick of a wrist, Clover's fireball was gone and now he was staring at Kaya through his blonde bangs. "What did he look like?"

Kaya stared back. "How did you know it was a he?"

There was a moment of silence before Clover answered with a shrug. "Just a hunch."

"Well, you are right." Kaya sat up, completely missing the fact that Clover was lying. "Now that I think about it, I can say that he's the bearer of the gem of darkness. I can't really describe his face though, since he always hides it under that hood of his."

Clover gulped, confirming that the person who saved him really was another wonder. He started to sweat once he remembered the overwhelming power that came from the gem of darkness. What sort of power did he have? Just thinking about it terrified him.

At the same time, Clover was having an internal war with himself. What should he say? He knew that finding another wonder was extremely important but he was also conflicted by his words.

"Also, don't tell Kaya that I paid you a visit."

It was obvious that he and Kaya have met before and Clover didn't know why he hadn't caught onto it sooner. Then, he realized that he didn't even know the bearer's name, so saying that he did meet him would make no difference. To him, it was a win-win situation. Clover didn't know how wrong he was.

As Clover drowned in his own guilt, a loud growling noise rang through the room, making both of them alert. Kaya looked down and her face turned red in embarrassment after realizing that it was her stomach. Clover caught her glance and chuckled a bit at her flustered state.

"When was the last time you ate?"

"A few days ago..." Kaya looked away in embarrassment, trying her best to hide her flushed face. Clover, then frowned, realizing how serious the situation was. He stood up and brushed the dust off his jeans.

"Well, that isn't good. We should get you something to eat before you pass out because of hunger."

"How?" asked Kaya, still on the bed, her silver hair loose and sighed deeply. She would admit that she has been hungry for a while now. "We don't have any money."

"It's simple, Cow." Clover said with a grin and Kaya could see a sinister gleam in his eyes. "We steal."

"Clover, we are not stealing!" Kaya said with a glare, a bit triggered when Clover called Kaya, Cow, after she remembered how he smoothly stole her watch.

"How do you think, I survive here without any money?" he said with a chuckle and put on his beanie. He knelt down and tied his shoe laces while giving her a glance.

"Stealing was my way to survive. Besides, if it's against your morals, I'll do it. You can just be a distraction. If you don't want me to... well, I'm not bringing you to the hospital."

Kaya hated how Clover was right so she scoffed as she followed him out the door.

...*****...

"Steal, you say?"

Kaya shouted angrily as she sprinted, nearly losing her breath. "It was okay, you said!"

"Oh shut up, Cow!" Clover was pulling her by the arm, the sirens of the police car echoing behind the two of them. "How would I know that some policemen would stop by the bakery?!"

The plan was simple. Kaya would enter the bakery and talk to the owner, pretending to be a student looking for a part time job. Clover, on the other hand, would enter through the back window, stuff some pastries in a sack and leave without a trace. Kaya's interview would end exactly when Clover was gone, since she obviously didn't have the requirements to work.

It would have been simple, if the baker didn't recognize Kaya as the girl on the watch list. It would have been simple if the baker's wife wasn't in the kitchen with a gun in hand, catching Clover in the act. It would have been simple if the bakery wasn't the local policemen's favorite.

"How did he even recognize you when you hid your silver ha--"

"This is no time for ranting, Clove!" Kaya said while taking deep breaths.

There was absolutely no way that they would outrun the police cars by foot, so they were getting closer. Clover glanced at the sidewalk and saw some skaters, recognizing them as those he befriended a few days. Still pulling Kaya with him, he tackled one of the skaters to the ground and snatched the skateboard. Since it all happened too quickly, Kaya wasn't able to say anything. The next thing she knew, he was riding the skateboard while carrying her on his back.

"What are you doing?!" she hissed as she held onto Clover, struggling to keep herself balanced. Clover wobbled a bit because of how she kept moving, almost running straight into a pole. "Stay still or we'll both fall! You and I know that running won't do us any good so hold on."

Clover skated with ease, swerving to dodge the people and the cars on the road. Kaya was struck with awe by how skilled he was and she honestly felt like she was in the middle of race. Actually... they were.

Gunfire started and Kaya tucked her head into Clover's shoulder to hopefully dodge the bullets. She could hear the policemen shouting at the two of them to stop and surrender.

"Are they crazy?!" Kaya shrieked when more bullets started to fly in the air. "What if they hit a civilian?!"

"...I guess it can't be helped." Clover clicked his tongue and opened his palm, flames coating his hand. His gem glowed as his eyes slowly turned bright red.

"Clove... what are you planning to do?" Kaya raised her voice a bit because of the noise and stared at Clover's flames with wide eyes. She knew that she should be used to his powers by now but it still surprised her every time.

"Damn." Clover said and Kaya instantly followed. He shot out a pillar of fire from his hands, surrounding both of them from the sides and back.

"We obviously can't defend ourselves so this is the plan. If my flames are hot enough then maybe, just maybe, they'll be able to disintegrate the bullets before they reach us or anybody else."