Chapter 7

Timeline: 11th of September 2012

"Guys, I've been thinking about what I found out from Tao's mind for days," Luhan announced that morning as everyone was lounging in the living room after breakfast. Tao looked up at his name being mentioned.

"The future Lay told him about the Tree of Life and the Twelve Stones. It's very important that we find these two locations. We need to go to the Tree of Life to nurture our powers before getting to the Twelve Stones. I think we could defeat them if we make it in time. So, we'll need to do some research as to where is the Tree of Life first. And we need to do it fast. Double time. Because the future Lay mentioned that we couldn't make it to the Tree of Life in time."

"We could freeze time?" Chen suggested.

"No, freezing time takes up a lot of energy. Let's save that as our last resort," Lay said.

"I'll search through the web if there's any mention of a peculiar tree," Xiumin offered. Luhan nodded to him.

"Baekkie and I will ask around," Chanyeol told them.

"Make sure not to make it look suspicious. Beware of the Red Forces. If they're around, best not to ask anything to the people around. They might alert their leader about it. Who knows, they might get to it before us. And if that happens, it's going to be disastrous." Chanyeol and Bakhyun nodded enthusiastically.

"I think some of us need to get out of the country to ask around too," Kris voiced out.

"I'll go along with Luhan. We'll go to Africa and check things out there. We'll be at an advantage since I could summon Wind further by a few metres. So, moving around the area there by Wind would be easy. We just need two plane tickets. I can't fly longer than twenty kilometres like Kris." Sehun declared. Luhan looked at him and smiled. Of course, there won't be any objection on Luhan's part to follow the younger one.

"Then, Chan-chan and I will be in charge of Australia. Oh, we'll get to meet kangaroos! It's going to be spring there now." Baekhyun uttered to them, excitedly.

"I'll go check out the Western countries and Russia," Kris said.

"Can I come along?" Tao asked. Kris nodded albeit a little reluctantly.

"Then, I'll come along. I want to make sure Tao is perfectly safe." Tao knew his Papa would say that. Of course, his Papa was coming along. His eyes met his Godfather's and Luhan winked at him.

"Chen and I will stay in Asian regions. There are more rivers and lakes here," Suho uttered. Chen nodded beside him. Seemed like both of them had been discussing about it just now.

"Then, Kai and I will be in charge of America?" D.O asked. Kai looked at him and D.O's ears went a bit pink.

"I'll be teleporting us around so I hope you won't get dizziness or it's going to be a problem."

"I won't!" D.O sulked.

"Okay. Then, that's settled. Make sure everyone carry their weapons and cell phones to keep in touch. Get in touch at least once in two or three days so we would know about each other's whereabouts. It would be better to turn on your GPS 24/7 so that Xiumin can track all of us.

We'll get back once someone finds something. Remember to train in any chance you obtain and evade the Red Forces all you can," Suho voiced out.

"I'll connect everyone's line to my computer so we could all communicate together at the same time." They could see Xiumin's brain turning and working really quickly, even faster than an ordinary human and twice as hard. They were lucky to have a genius like Xiumin or they would end up as lost as an urban frog at a train station.

"We need to start packing and look for plane tickets," Suho told them.

"I'll try to book tickets for you guys tonight. Just tell me where you are landing. I'll arrange a hotel for the first night. But it's all up to you after that."

"Xiumin! We'll forever be grateful for that," Sehun went around the cushion to hug the chubby boy.

"Don't thank me too early. I might arrange the cheapest hotel for you guys. We need to spend as little as possible or our money is going to run out. Don't bleed the bank accounts dry or I'll slit your throat," Xiumin made a motion with his finger against his throat.

"Yeah. We need the money to upgrade other more significant stuff like our weapons and our house," Suho agreed with Xiumin fully.

"So, we'll leave the house for Xiumin to take care of it," D.O said, looking doubtfully at Xiumin.

"Don't worry. I won't destroy the house. I'll make sure the house would be so clean that you would never find a speck of dust on any furniture when you come back. And I won't ruin the refrigerator. Come on, now. It was just one time I spilt orange juice in it. It wasn't exactly my fault! The cap wasn't tight enough and the whole bottle just slipped."

D.O was not convinced but reluctantly let it go. It was not like Xiumin was a five-year-old kid, right? He would not make a huge mess out of his beloved kitchen, right? Right?

Maybe he was just paranoid. If Kai notices him right now, he would have a good laugh before patting his shoulder and told D.O not to worry so much. Very typical.

"Are there anything else we should do?" Tao asked.

"For the moment, I don't think so," Chen said, scratching his head.

"If anyone gets too injured, fly back immediately. Get the earliest plane. We can't risk anyone dying or it would be the end of us," Luhan ordered.

"Try not to stay too long in one place or the Red Forces would suspect us and try to follow us everywhere."

Everyone in the room nodded their heads.

"We'll pack today. A check-list would be nice. I'll prepare one," Kris offered.

"No. I'll do it. You'll just include the unnecessary things. We can't have too big luggage." Lay said. Kris was about to protest that he would never do so when Tao cut in.

"Why don't both of you prepare the list together? I'll train with Uncle Baekhyun and Uncle Chanyeol later."

"Fine. Fair enough."

So, Kris and Lay went to the study to start deciding what and what not to bring along.

Luhan elbowed Tao's waist and the younger boy winced. "Cheeky fellow trying to pair his parents up." Tao grinned at his Godfather. Of course, it was best not to interfere too much and let his parents' relationship develop by itself with time but a little aid here and there was okay, right?

"What are you two talking about?" Sehun narrowed his eyes at both of them. Tao and Luhan giggled. "Nothing!" Tao said. "Aww... I promise to tell you if you become my slave for today." Sehun raised one his eyebrows. He was wondering whether knowing what they were discussing about was worth the sacrifice.

Probably not. "I don't want to be your slave. You'll just make me do all sorts of weird things. Last time, we played this game, you made me-" Luhan slapped his palm over Sehun's mouth at once.

"Eww... Keep the details to yourself. Underage here!" Tao closed both of his ears with his hands, trying to get rid of any unwanted images in his head.

Sehun rolled his eyes again. "Shush. You're the same age as me. And it's not like we did anything too intimate." His words were muffled. At the word 'intimate', Luhan blushed hotly. If only Sehun knew about the future...

Finally, he decided to bite Luhan's hand so that he would remove his hands.

"Gross, Sehun!" Luhan screamed at him while wiping his hand on his pants.

Tao left both of them to their own devices and went into the kitchen with bright yellow-painted walls to help GrandUmma D.O to cook. Well, more like watching his GrandUmma cook while he sat there prettily on a stool.

That afternoon, the check-list was completed.

"Finally! All done," Lay said.

"Credits to me and Lay."

"Hahahar, Kris. I think most of it should got to Lay because I'm pretty sure you included lots of peculiar things not needed during the trip," Kai mumbled. Kris glared at him.

"Okay, we need to get a move on soon. The faster we wipe the members of the Red Forces off the face of the Earth, the better," Suho told them.

Everyone gathered up and placed their right palms over each other's.

"We are one!"

With that, the members of the house retired to their bedrooms to start packing their luggage.

"We'll have to get a winter coat for you. The weather there is much colder and it's nearing winter. We'll go to the hypermarket to get one for you," Lay said to Tao once both of them were in the bedroom. The elder boy pulled out a luggage bag under his bed and stuffed a few clothes of his and some of Chanyeol's. Yeah. Chanyeol borrowed some of his larger ones to Tao.

"Maybe we should buy a few shirt of your own too," Lay decided. He looked at Tao who was busy staring at the check-list. His lips twitched upwards. His son looked adorable when he had a few almost visible frown lines on his forehead.

"We won't be able to see the beach?" Tao questioned.

"I'm not sure. It's autumn now so it might be colder to go there. We'll go to the beach in the coming summer," Lay promised. If Tao is still staying with them for summer next year, that is.

"I just want to eradicate the Red Forces. I dislike them. Despise them. Hate them." Hatred burned in Tao's pair of lovely eyes.

Lay embraced his son and caressed his hair. He tucked Tao's head in between his shoulder and neck.

"Forget all of your hatred for them. They don't deserve a single emotion from you. Not even hatred.

"Humans should live free from all the dark emotions. Then, we'll live a much more joyful life."

"This is only just the beginning, huh, Papa? Everything is just getting started. I hope that we'll come out as the winner of this whole stupid game this time."

"Yes, today, right now, mark the beginning of everything. From here, everything would truly start. We won't know what's waiting ahead of us but what I know is, so long as each of us live with pure love in our hearts, I'm sure the Goddess would aid us in any way she can."

"Wonder when's the ." Lay only smiled to him as they hugged each other.

To be continued...

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Yes, Chapter 7 and everything is only just the beginning!

At first, I thought that this story would be really long. Last few days, my thoughts were, 'Nah! It won't be as long as I thought.' And now? I don't know anymore. I'll just go with the flow and keep writing.

Thank you, readers, reviewers and subscribers. I love you guys so much and you are all my Kray Babies!