(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 176

Chapter 176: Checking in with everyone Chapter 176: Checking in with everyone Like Kellen had predicted, Sakura had come to visit at around lunchtime.  She wasn’t allowed to just storm into the building, so Kellen was called on his cellphone by the front desk.

Kellen answered the unknown number, confused as he sat in his office typing away, until he heard her voice on the other end and the soft, calm voice of the receptionist.  “Guide Woods, we have someone here who claims to know you.

Does Captain Sakura ring any bells?” The receptionist kept her tone neutral, even as Sakura spoke in the background.  “Kellen!

I need your help!” Kellen sighed, dropping his head into his hands.

Brent had already gone off to eat with some of the Espers that he was in charge of.

Gathering intel, basically, so Kellen had planned to head up for lunch a little bit later.

Turns out, he didn’t have much choice.  “Send her to the cafeteria.

I’ll be up there shortly.”  “Understood, Guide Woods.” The line went dead and Kellen sighed again, before finishing his thought he’d been working on and getting up.  Maeve was still in the office when he was closing his own office door.

She looked exhausted, and Kellen could understand why after his briefing from Hill in the morning.

Stopping in, he knocked on her door before he left.  Maeve glanced up, noticed it was Kellen, and a small smile split her face.  “Ah, Kellen.

How are you feeling?

I heard there was a big commotion at the photo shoot yesterday?

Something about you crying and Captain Thatcher panicking?” Kellen’s face went red.

He could not believe that was how the rumour was spreading.

He bet either Brent or Gwen had a role to play in that.

He’d get them back later.  “I’m doing much better after we had a chat yesterday.

How are you doing?

How many researchers on our side got hurt?” He asked, and Maeve sighed heavily.  “A lot.

Most of the Peach and Nemesis Guild researchers were pulled back to go over their results.

Ours were on their way to take more samples.

They’ll recover, and no one lost any limbs, but they are traumatized.” Kellen winced.

That was never good.  “Well, we’ll make sure they have the best teams to help them get through it.

Let me know if you need any help.” Kellen told her, and Maeve smiled at him, her eyes tired.  “Thanks Kellen.” “Did you want me to pick you up anything from the cafeteria?” He asked, and she shook her head.  “No.

I’ve already put in an order for delivery.

Thanks for checking in on me.” Maeve told him, and he nodded, before heading out.

No doubt Sakura would be up there already.  ~ Kellen was right that Sakura was already in the cafeteria, and she looked like a mess.  Well, Kellen thought she did, but she was very well put together for anyone who didn’t know her.  Sakura was wearing her Captain uniform, in all of its pink glory, with her long hair done in two thick, pink braids, and her makeup done in a way that made her eyes pop.

He had no idea how she did it, nor did he care.

She was wearing ridiculously high heels that he also had no idea how she walked in, and she was anxiously pacing near the entry to the cafeteria.

A visitor badge was clipped to her chest, just over her heart, and showed she was allowed to be here.

Not many people would have told her no, but it was a nice procedure that she had followed.

She was respectful, even if others got a different first impression of her.

When she saw Kellen stepping out of the elevator in his Field Guide uniform, she paused, and her eyes went wide.

Her mouth dropped open, and she stared at him in shock.  “Why are you wearing that?

Aren’t you a part of the Saturn Guild?

Did something happen?” She demanded, and Kellen found that he didn’t miss her rapid-fire questions.

He chuckled.  “No, nothing happened.

Guide Jameson and I are training a new batch of Field Guides and we rotate who wears the uniform.

Today was my day to do so.

Now, shall we grab a bite to eat to calm your nerves while we talk?

You seem to be on edge, Sakura.” She worried her lip, before she nodded and followed Kellen to the line.

It wasn’t long because it was later in the afternoon, but that did mean that most of the tables were full and had big, big ears.  Sakura worried her hands, twisting them and playing with her fingers as she followed after Kellen, even after he shoved a tray into her hands.

She glanced around nervously, and Kellen caught a glimpse of Brent laughing and chatting with another mixed group of Guides and Espers.

Sakura noticed where his gaze was, and chuckled slightly.  “Is that Guide Jameson?” She asked, and Kellen nodded.

He was wearing the normal Guide uniform, but anyone could tell he was a little bit different compared to the others.

One thing that was concerning was his size.

He was skinnier again, and Kellen wondered what he could do besides getting him an IV drip that could help him.

The way the Guiding Division was functioning couldn’t carry on.

It was going to kill Brent and Casper.  “The one and only.” Kellen agreed, and she smiled.  “He’s a cutie.

Is he a good partner in crime?” She asked, and Kellen nodded.  “He should be.

I trained him.” She chuckled.  “Ah, then he must be really good if you’re keeping him around.” She said, nervously glancing around the space.

Kellen kept an eye on her, having a feeling he knew why she was being so nervous.

She worried that he was going to be mad.  It was a silly worry, but she was always one to do so.

Kellen hid his smirk from her as they reached the beginning of the selections for lunch and Kellen began to pile his tray with food.

When he couldn’t fit any more plates on his tray, Sakura shoved her tray in his direction.

Meeting her gaze, she smiled at him, and Kellen sighed before using what she had offered.

Kellen ended up shoving his drinks into his leather holster and when they had finished grabbing everything they needed, Kellen found them a table a little bit away from others.  Sitting down, he began to lay out his food in order and Sakura watched him, her eyes sparkling.  “It’s good to see some things never change.” She muttered, and Kellen glanced up at her, slightly confused.

She rested her head on her hand, her elbow against the table as she watched him work.

“You were like this in high school too.

Meticulous.

I liked to watch you back then too.

There was something so…relaxing about watching you.

Like, no matter what changes around you, you will remain the same.” She closed her mouth, before she opened it again.

“You didn’t even care when I transitioned.” Kellen shrugged his shoulders.  “Who am I to judge you, Sakura?

All I had to do was learn a new name and some pronouns.

You’re the one who had to go through all the thoughts and feelings.

It was the least I could do.” Sakura’s face crumpled easily, and Kellen sighed.

“It’s not a big deal, Sakura.” Kellen told her, and she shook her head, inhaling slowly to stop herself from crying.  “You say that, but you were-” She cut off, shaking her head even as she hung it, hiding it from Kellen’s view.

They had never spoken about it, and given her reaction now, Kellen knew why.  “I did nothing special, Sakura, and if other people were asses, that’s on them.

You’re a girl.

End of story.

Unless you decide you aren’t, then we can visit it again.” Her shoulders shook as Kellen began to eat his first plate.  “That simple, huh?” She asked, tilting her face up and Kellen could tell she wasn’t able to stop the tears entirely.

Her eyes were swimming, and wet, but Kellen didn’t say anything about it.

He wasn’t the kind of person to rat another out if they were crying.

He only cried once yesterday.  He nodded, and she laughed, her shoulders shaking with the quiet sound.  They sat in silence for a while, Kellen eating and Sakura picking at the plate she had made for herself.

It wasn’t until Kellen had finished his second of four plates that she spoke again.  “He turned me down.” She admitted, and Kellen nodded.  “Did you bring up my name?” He asked, and watched as she made a face.

It was clear she hadn’t, and it was what Kellen had silently worried about.

Sakura, like the other Captains, had her own huge amount of pride.

It would have hurt her to rely on him when it was basically a Guild matter.

When he hadn’t been tied to a Guild, there was a higher chance she would have done as he had asked, and as he had directed.  Now that he was a part of the Saturn Guild?

This was the outcome.  She sighed heavily.  “He wouldn’t even meet me, and slammed the door in my face through a camera.

He said that if I pushed it one more time he was going to stop working on the stuff we brought back from the gate.” She admitted, and Kellen sighed, Putting down his fork, he met her gaze.  “You should have brought me up.

I know why you didn’t, and I’m not mad, but-” “-But you’re disappointed.

I know.

I should have trusted you, but I just…I wanted to be able to do it on my own.” She had a bitter, self deprecating smile on her face that Kellen hated seeing there.

He frowned.  “Hey, none of that.

We both know he’s difficult to work with.

I’m going to have to leave the Guild tomorrow, so I’ll try to make time to swing by the Guild.

I’ll text you when I’m close by.” Kellen told her, and watched as her face dropped and tears filled her eyes again.

She didn’t stop them, or wasn’t able to, this time.  “What would I do without you?” She sobbed, putting her head in her hands to hide her face as she cried.

Kellen passed over a napkin to dab her eyes with.  “I don’t know.

Live a normal, regular life?” Kellen suggested mildly, and Sakura hiccupped.

Despite her crying, it was nice to see her as herself, and not the fully performative creature she put on for others.

This full of doubt, sobbing creature was who Kellen remembered the most from high school.

Not the clingy, self confident Esper who ran a Guild.  “Kellen, I know you’re joking, but I likely-” Kellen would not let her finish, and shot her an angry glare.

Sakura shut up.

He knew what she was trying to say, but he wouldn’t let her.

It wasn’t fair of her to put that on his shoulders, and he couldn’t have been the only one supporting her.

She’d had friends in high school, even before she awoke.  “You would have been fine.

I’m not some saint who just goes around rescuing people, Sakura, and don’t put that image on me.

It ruins the Field Guide image I’ve cultivated for myself.” He protested, and Sakura snorted.  “I had no idea you wanted to be a tough guy, Kellen.” She teased, easily switching topics, and Kellen nodded, picking up his fork again.  “How else was I going to defend myself?

You know who my Dad is.

If I didn’t get jacked I worried that someone was going to try and steal me for a ransom.” Hell, it was still on the table.

Sakura laughed, but it slowly died.  “Wow, I could totally see that happen too.

Yikes.

I will do my best not to ruin your image.” She promised, before pausing, and watching Kellen.

“How are you…doing after I last saw you?” Kellen tilted his head, confused as he continued to eat.  “I saw you yesterday, even if it was only briefly.” He said, and she shook her head.  “Not in person, Kellen.

When I last saw you…you were…distracted.” Oh.

Kellen swallowed the bite he’d taken before washing it down with a drink.  “Well, I’m much better now.

The Captain and the others helped me out quite a bit.” Kellen told her, and Sakura played with her fingers, her nails a pretty green colour.  “I’m…glad to hear it.

I would have been upset if you hadn’t had people around you to support you after that.” She told him sincerely, and Kellen blinked.

He had forgotten that under everything she was just a soft girl who cared about others deeply.  Smiling, Kellen reached out and placed his hand over hers, and watched as her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed.  “Thank you for worrying about me, Sakura, but I made it out just fine.

How are you doing?

How were the front lines?” Kellen asked, and she dropped her head, staring at where his hand was on top of hers.  “Well, they’re the front lines.

Chaotic, as always.

I felt like our team were the only ones who weren’t as shocked by the mutation, but that was only because we’re around poison quite a bit.

But you already knew that.” She gave him a glare, and Kellen laughed.  “Well you can’t blame a man for wanting to have information, especially when it comes to something like that.” Kellen said, and she relaxed quickly.  “I know.

You like to know things.” She murmured, before picking up her fork and poked at her food again.

“Talking to you, and how calm you are about everything has really cooled my head.

Is it…Would it be okay if I stopped by to visit again?” She asked, and Kellen shrugged.  “Why not?

You have my number, don’t you?” Her eyes widened at his casual way of speaking.  “I’m allowed to just message you?” She asked, shocked, and Kellen gave her a confused look.  “Why wouldn’t you be able to?

Did I ever seem bothered when you messaged me in the past?” He asked and she flushed.  “Uh, no, but-” “Then just message me when you want to swing by next time instead of just stopping in like this.

Not that I’m complaining, but I am going to be busier in the next little bit, so I might not be around as often.” She nodded, before putting down her fork.  “Then I should get going if you’re getting busy.

I’ll…see you tomorrow?” She suggested softly, and Kellen nodded, before she got up, picked up her tray and dropped it off.

She waved at Kellen as she headed for the elevator, like she wasn’t a Captain of a Guild who’d barged into another Guild to speak to him.

Shaking his head with a smile, Kellen finished his own meal before he headed on his own way.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB Thanks for reading!