Battle Plan

Morning came with barely any sunlight coming in. The weather is gloomy as ever making it just another lazy day. Kai felt something soft and squishy around his arms. He hugged it tighter and suddenly heard a soft groan. ‘Mmmm, now I know why Eunju love this toy so much. So plush and smells so good.’ What he thought to be Stitch turned out to be Eunju. Her head is on his chest while her arm is around his waist. The warmth from his body is comforting and lulled her to sleep. But she was awakened when he hugged her tighter almost choking her.

She slowly opened her eyes and was shocked to see Kai’s chest right in her face. Her eyes blinked a couple of times trying to understand if it’s just a dream but she knew it was real when Kai pulled her again.

“Yah! Kim Jongin!” she pushed and he fell off the bed.

Kai was fully awakened after he landed on the floor massaging his butt. “What the hell?” he croaked.

“Didn’t I tell you not to do something stupid? You are so gonna get it from Jay oppa! Aish!” she got out of bed and stormed to the bathroom. Kai just laughed at her outburst and walked to the door. “Eunju-ah! Miahne, I thought I was holding Stitch.”

“Whatever! Go prepare your stuff while I shower. We’re going back to my house.” she yelled.

“Okay.” he replied and walked away smirking.

Kai went in to shower after Eunju finished. After a couple of minutes, he went out with just a towel wrapped around his hips revealing his bare upper body. She gulped as she stared him from head to toe. This was the first time in her life seeing a half naked boy in front of her when she hasn’t even seen her brother like this. Her face turned red that even Kai noticed it. “Do you like what you see?” he teased.

“Excuse me? Tch! Dude, I can even see your ribs. Puhleezz!” she stood and went down to the kitchen.

“Yeah right…” he bit his lip and got dressed.

They both wore an all black ensemble from their shoes to the jackets. She approached him before they left to fix his hood and mask. “Are you ready?” she asked.

“Of course.” he smiled while pinching her chin.

Eunju and Kai walked out of the apartment building and headed straight to the streets. It was a bit packed with Snakes and elites. The ground would shake when an ex-Force would stomp his foot to let everyone know their presence. Beggars and street children scrambled upon seeing them and Eunju can’t help but worry about the kids she left with Yoseob.

“Gwenchana?” Kai whispered when he noticed her getting uneasy.

“N-Neh…” she stuttered and forced a smile.

They reached the edge of Central City and when she knew that no one is around, she laced her hands in his and jumped. Kai watched the ground as they passed ghost towns, empty fields, and burnt forests. He shook his head in disgust and furrowed his eyebrows. The hate and rage he had when Eunju came for him have reappeared. A sudden urge to go back and kill Cronus burned inside him as well. But Eunju’s grip on his hand calmed him down. They landed on her porch and he started to look around.

“Wow, this is your house?” he asked.

“Mhmm… Let’s get in!” she pulled him after opening the door and Keiko lunged on her. “Eunju-chan. I’m glad you’re back!”

“Me too sis! By the way, this is Jongin also known as Kai. You can call him anyway you want.” and they bowed to each other. Keiko walked towards him and let him sit to check his condition while Eunju walked to Block b and Infinite. Sungjong was the first one to approach and hug her. “Welcome back. Glad to know that Kai made it.”

"Yeah, me too.” she pulled away and faced all of them. “So how’s everybody?” she asked them.

“We’re all great. Can’t wait to get outta here and kick some ass.” Taeil beamed.

Before any of them can continue, her siblings came out from behind the boys giving Eunju a surprise. “Oh my God! Oppa! Eunmi-ah!” she ran to them and hugged.

“Unnie!”

“Whattup sis!”

“How long have you been here?” she asked them.

“Just this morning… We came with Iris noona.” Jay told her. “So you found Jongin after all?” he added while eyeing Kai from afar.

“Yeah… But technically, it was him who found me.”

“Mwoh?” they all blurted.

“Long story…” she forced a smile.

Jay and Eunmi were sent to help Eunju plan her next move since the boys are now back on their feet. Thanos also received a tip from one of his spies that Cronus already knows about Eunju and Keiko being in Korea but there were no reports if when and how he is going to make his own move. They all huddled together in the living room while the girls handed them food. Jay sat in the middle of the couch as Kai and Sunggyu sat on either side of him and surrounded by the rest of the boys. He laid out a map of South Korea in the table after.

“Block B, you are coming with me to gain control of the southern region while Infinite is going with Iris noona and Kai on the northern part.” he explained while encircling cities on the map.

“What about me?” Eunju asked. “And me?” Keiko added.

“Both of you are gonna stay here with Eunmi.”

“Mwoh? Hell no oppa!” Eunju protested.

“Sis, Uncle Cronus and Beast are after you and this house is gonna protect you.”

“Oppaaa… I’m pretty sure he can’t touch me. I know how he fights. Dad told me everything about him.” she added while Sunggyu and Kai agreed with Jay.

“Eunju-ah, you’ve done enough already. Let us do our part this time.” Sunggyu said with a calming voice.

She surrendered and continued eating instead. Jay gave them instructions as they are about to stop the menace Cronus has been causing.

“As much as possible, do not kill the Snakes. We wanna avoid further bloodshed. Araseo?”

“Neh!” they all replied.

They all went to sleep early to prepare for an upcoming battle the following day. Jay and Kai used Keiko’s room so she ended up sleeping in Eunju’s room together with Eunmi. But Eunju could not sleep a wink so she went to the rooftop. She leaned on the railing and rests her elbows on top of it while checking out the garden maze. It has not changed a bit since she first arrived. The flowers that bloomed made it seemed harmless. Crickets, grasshoppers and sometimes frogs skipped through the weeds and snares. A sudden gust of cold wind passed sending shivers all over her body. ‘When will this ever end?’ she sighed. Warm hands embraced her from behind with a blanket wrapping their bodies together. His body was firm from all the muscles yet comforted her.

“Can’t sleep?” Sunggyu asked.

“Oh oppa! W-What are you doing?” she stuttered after seeing him.

“Keeping you warm. Wae?”

“Oh! T-Thanks!”

Both of them were silent for a bit. Eunju can feel his heart race and his arms tighten around him as if he doesn’t want to let go. “Oppa, if there’s something you wanna tell me, say it. I’m listening.” Sunggyu took a deep breath and paused to clear his mind. After closing his eyes, he slowly turned Eunju so he can look at her.

“Remember what I told you back in the woods before?” and she nodded. “I want you to know that nothing has changed. Even if we all thought you died, my heart continued beating knowing that one day we will see each other again. You gave me my second life and loving you more is the only way I know how to repay you.”

Eunju held his face with both hands and could not hide how happy he made her. “Just keep on living… That’s all I ask.” she then took his hand and placed it on her beating her heart. “I may not show you love the way you know it, but I tell you right now, I'm loving you the best way I know how.” and he hugged her.