Something's been bothering him.

That day back at the Manor, Salem's fit of fury, the lie she spoke in order for Katai to free her, damnit Katai...He of all people should've know that by now, that if anyone was willing to kill someone, they would do it by any means necessary.

But when Gin saw the events unravel, it bothered him, Taka was somewhat becoming like him when Apollion refused to allow Gin to fight Yu Hao.

And even then, Salem's wrath...Was akin to Gin's wrath when he lost Judith...

With both of them like halves of what Gin was back then, leaving each of them to stew in the feelings Gin once felt was something he wouldn't wish for anyone to experience it...

He looks at Misu dead in the eyes, he was serious, its a face Gin hardly makes often unless he's adamant on something.

''There are some things that need to be taken care of, as Taka's guardian, at least one of them, I must be there to comfort him in these hard times, and I need to look for Salem before she does anything reckless, especially since Katai said he isn't going to do anything if anything were to happen to her.''

Then he remembered what Samuel said before he departed.

All the more reason to be concerned, he hated that he had to leave Misu and the pups again and he swears that not only he will return with his life, but it will be the last time he has to leave for this amount of time.

He places both hands on Misu's shoulders, his expression remains unchanged.

''I may not be a Draconis by blood, but after the things I saw...I cannot help but feel like there is something left for me to do, but I promise, when I get back. We should definitely go on vacation to the Isthmus with the pups, hm? I've been saving my salaries!''

He levitates off the ground and pulls up the window, right before he can leap out, he faces Misu.

''I really don't know if its safe...But if I refuse, your training might've been for nothing...But if you wish to come, I will protect you with my life, ok?''

What Gin wanted to say was that he was afraid of letting Misu involve herself in such an affair, but if she accepts, he will scoop her off the ground and wrap his arms around her instinctively like how he used to back in the days he was gradually falling in love with her.
(Gin T. Mikoto)
The couple flew for many miles, over the city of Loranthis, through Strata District, walked a couple miles in the desert with Misu on top of his shoulders, there was something strange about Gin today, like he is giving off an entirely different vibe, not that it was a bad one...It was unusual.

Each transition of each biome in Valmasia, its like Gin was becoming more and more determined to get to the Manor, he knew that Katai was a man of his word yet again, so was Gin, he needed to see Salem and Taka, he needs to talk to them before they have to suffer the same trials Gin had, Taka with his grief, Salem with her rage.

He kept going with his head held high and determination radiated around him.

Each step he took, he remembered his younger years like it was mere seconds ago, losing his mother, losing some of his siblings, losing his friends...Even lost his first lover to the man he once called his father.

Being wrapped up in the wrong company, hurting people because they too harmed people without knowing that he's any different. He has came to accept that people will be people, being better than the next when it comes to human nature only leads to insanity.

Showing compassion to the ones who suffer by the actions of others reminding him of how he hurt Rena by kidnapping her...He knew he was wrong, rage made him do stupid things.

Seeing his childhood with Yu Hao Takashi replayed in front of him through the lives of Salem, Taka, Vindictus and Katai. Which made him get himself involved in more than his fair share of conflict. Soon from now, he has to face Radiant Dawn with Ladon Larencia...

He's not even sure if he's going to make out of that alive.

But Samuel reminded him of someone he hated much more than Apollion.

He hopes he isn't too late to find Salem at the manor, instead, he found Aziza, a Drakanite and Kaiza. He lands in front of the group with his strawhat covering over his eyes, he remained serious like a business man.

''Hello, Miss Aziza. How's it going, have you seen Taka or Salem around?''

Straight to the point he was as he carefully places Misu down on her feet. He pulls out a small dagger and spins it around masterfully and pulls out an orange, allowing the spinning dagger to peel the skin off nigh perfectly. He uses a claw to open up the orange and divide it into eight pieces before sliding a piece in his mouth.
(Gin T. Mikoto)
Aziza was slightly surprised seeing Gin though what he had to say added to the stress and pressure she was already feeling. She felt the stress pilling up but it wasn't in her character to crack. She held herself together so it would lead to panic. She felt it in her gu but she took a deep breath. Pain is a relatively objective, physical phenomenon; suffering is our psychological resistance to what happens. Events may create physical pain, but they do not in themselves create suffering. Resistance creates suffering. She took a deep breath and would explain.

"Well she thought tracking him down and trying to fight him was a smart idea, she basically gave herself up and hasn't returned . Now Taka went out after them as well and nobody seems able to stop and think about what they are doing just fucking go out and ask to die!" She said clearly angry.
(Aziza Malakia)
''Did you try to stop them?''

He asked bluntly yet again, Gin too was in shock, he knows what the Ryozo is capable of and he heard whispers of Samuel's abilities, but seeing how he changed from the first day he met him to the very last...

Gin seemingly froze, he should've known that Taka would follow after her.

He regains his composure and his pupils slit, the runes on his Mordred's Touch glowed cyan for a brief moment before the light faded away, how Aziza acted was out of character but he really cannot blame her.

She walked in on a male on top of her daughter, smothering her with kisses and holding her down, now her daughter is hunting down the same guy who assualted her and Gin's redemption towards Kilanjo chased after her.

Things can only get worse at this rate, and his fustration was visible.

''Do you at least know where they ran off too? Do you have an idea where they could be right now? If not, I'd gladly try to find them before they get into more trouble.''

Taka is a barely decent fighter, he is still green in combat while Gin has been through his share of conflict and violence, Gin learnt how to fight because he copied others, he was never original, he copied Apollion's attacks, he copied Klianjo's frenized but controlled movement, he copied Judith's strategic attacks...This made him wonder what Taka went through to become as skilled as he is.

He looks away in the distance for a moment.

''Oi, Aziza, have you considered trying to look for your Salem and Taka?''

He was obviously going to ask her to tag along, Katai already said he is not going to look around for Salem if anything happens to her, but Gin expects Aziza to have a different mindset, if she will not come along, Gin will do this ENTIRE investigation if he has to, especially after hearing Samuel's threat to the Draconis.
(Gin T. Mikoto)
Aziza was sick of the whole situation. She felt sick to her stomach and almost enough to throw up. Gin was a solution but she didn't want to entirely rely on him. Though she already felt weak for having if any very little power over the situation. She needed help but she wasn't wanting to ask. Though he seemed like he was going to be her only option. She slowly raised her head towards him.
"I didn't even get the chance. They left befor eI even got the chance to talk to them. They took off before I got to do anything." She said sounding less angry and just sad now. As if her energy was being drained.

"Gin. . .whatever you could do to help my daughter would mean the world to me. I know I'm not enough to protect her and I've failed as a mother. I've tried but , I know I've failed and I don't think I'm even worthy of saving her. I need you Gin, I'm not enough for her. She said nearly in tears. Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart but it felt the opposite.
(Aziza Malakia)
[22:29:04] ''As a fellow parent, I understand how you feel to be worried about the well-being of your children, I really do. But I know for a fact that you are a highly capable warrior as well as healer. But I will not lie to you. I am not so sure that rescuing them will be a task for me and me alone. HOWEVER. I noticed something off about Trystle Cave...The scent of rotting Yokai flesh is intensified, much greater than usual.''

He takes a flashback moment as he explains what he found there. When he entered the cave with Misu, in certain places, highly concentrated on the eastern section since he prefer to take that route for any treasure or yokai horns he can sell in Loranthis or traders in the desert or something.

''When I entered a specific part of the cave, there were chunks of Yokai flesh left lying around, I do know for a fact that Yokai have a thing for cannibalism in order to boost their evolution, but when I decided to be a man and hold my nose to examine the flesh, I noticed something peculiar in the flesh itself. There were NO bite marks on it, rather...It looked like magic or a weapon or tool of some form or fashion was used to shred it up the way it was.''

Sure, it could've been just anyone who did it, probably some psychopath who wanted to make sure the yokai was GONE. But Gin is highly observant, he was train in Radiant Dawn and read alot of books on the human and yokai anatomy as well as gathered information on Oscuri, Drakanites, briefly on Neries as well as his own kin and a couple others.

''Sure, anything could've happened, anyone could've done it, but when I examined the flesh even closer...I noticed it was soaked with water, most likely water magic for more reasons than one. One: adding water to a dead body is like adding perfume without taking a bath, most likely intensifing the scent of the body thus making the area hard to tolerate due to the smell and probably hard to pick up scents of others as an Ookami, its possible that they DON'T wish to be found, lets not forget, dozens of people go missing in the caves every year and I have a theory either Taka or Salem or both of them got lost in the caves and Asena knows what happens to them.''

He just about finished off his orange, Gin was really going in on this case as if he is a detective or something. His intentions were to find a possible location where Taka and Salem could be and considering how far they could've gotten in a span of days, the first suspected place should be the Trystle cave considering the highly suspicious methods of hiding possible scents, but its possible that it could be the work of bandits. But that's impossible, most bandits cannot handle people like the Draconis, but as of right now, he will consider this a possibility.

''Why Water magic of all magics? Its hard to access that amount of water in the caves without being attacked by Yokai of all stages of evolution, bandits by the dozens or worse case scenario: Vampires. Either it was WELL plotted out or the culprit had water magic in their arsenal to be using it at that much quanity to potentially mask their location, therefore. I have a suspect in mind already Aziza and a possible scenario, but lets remember, Bygonegrove and the Yokai forest are the only other two places those two might've ran off too in that short space of time so I maybe wrong about the cave, but for you. I intend not to waste any time.''

He offers her a reassuring smile and walks over to her, wrapping his arms around Aziza to comfort her, these are hard times, the return of the Dreamer, the Citadel taking action, Radiant Dawn on the verge of declaring war on Nostvale which is rendered by many a suicide mission.
(Gin T. Mikoto)
Aziza couldn't hold her tears back as she stepped forward into Gin giving him a large hug. He held more hope than she had in anyone. She didn't want Katai doing it cause she knew what going down that path would do to him. She knew it would be a path he couldn't turn back from. She was a genius of sadness, immersing herself in it, separating its numerous strands, appreciating its subtle nuances. She was a prism through which sadness could be divided into its infinite spectrum. Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.

" What ever takes to stop him. I don't care what ever it takes to find him and make himpay. I've lost all sympathy for him. Do as you please with him. It's aagainst my nature to speak like this but he is beyond my forgiveness
(Aziza Malakia)
He knew that the number one suspect is most likely Samuel Ryozo, being a Vassal of Radiant Dawn and in charge of training the youths, getting the rundown of his magical prowess was not beyond him. And the more he thought of it, the more it began to piece together. He had the motive, means and abilities as well as knowledge to pull this off.

''I maybe asking for alot, but...Mind if you tag along with me Miss Aziza? When I retrieve your daughter and Taka, I feel like its right for you to be there when I do...That way, they would believe that you cared enough to look for them. Ladon didn't do the same when it came to Lena, but the circumstances are different, and I am not so sure if he has an accomplice or something. If anything happens to me, I need a healer...If you can do that for me, I can gurantee that your kids will come back in one piece.''

He pretty much swore on his life to bring them back, failure is not an option, if he dies, not only he will be breaking his promise to Misu but to Aziza.
(Gin T. Mikoto)
[23:27:56] Aziza would think for a moment as he mentioned it . Sh thought deeply and on the outside she wanted to jump right onto the oppertunity though no inside something was conflicting with her. She felt something in her that was making her feel afraid. She wasn't sure why she was so afraid, or what was holding her back. There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. Though the chance of either finding her daughter dead or worse or even dissappointing her again. put more fear in her than anything.

Come on Aziza get your shit together! I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. She said raizing her head to him. "Of course I want my daughter back more than anything.
(Aziza Malakia)
''Well then! Its settled! In a couple hours we depart, forgive my last moment notice but it in times like these, hours could be days for those who have been kidnapped or even worse...''

His tone of voice lowered upon those last two words.

He takes off his massive strawhat and switches out with a smaller one, he feels much, much more controlled with it and less stressed out, once they find Samuel Ryozo, his ass is grass, especially if they find him with Salem and Taka.

However, Gin mentally prepares himself for some dirty work if things ends up like that. And his death must be covered up as skillfully as possible, though its irrational and potentially gather the attention of the Radiant Dawn, he cannot allow people like him to breathe the same air WITH him knowing that any day he may attack or kill Taka or Salem when he could've stopped it.

He's sure as hell that Aziza wouldn't neither.
(Gin T. Mikoto)
He was livid. Terribly furious. And Gin was one of the fools responsible for allowing this terrible thing to occur. “Gin! Why did you allow that blasted spawn of evil to get away unpunished! I trusted you to deliver it! You and Aziza… just like Apollion. No stomach to do what needs to be done. Only to do what’s wrong…” He was clearly fuming. Angry as he could possibly be.

He took a deep breath. “That doesn’t matter now. What does matter is that we track that shit eater to the ends of the earth…” He patted the charred and blackened skull on his belt, “So that he can join this one in Azrael’s halls.”
(Vindictus)
''Well, things happened when you left, and clearly no one wasn't allowing me to do what was needed to be done, unlike you who just showed up and started yelling at me, I've been gathering up a search party AND managed to find one possible location.''

Gin was waiting on Aziza to return with whatever equipment she has to bring, its only a matter of time before they begin and end this search once and for all.

''Aziza asked me to end him, since I owe her double time, I plan on erasing him from the face of the earth. But since you seem to be just as upset as I am, I'd rather ask you if you'd like to do the honors of burning him into a crisp?''

He pulls out two oranges and hands him one as Gin asks one more question.

''Have you done your own investigation? Found anyone willing to find him and eliminate him?''
(Gin T. Mikoto)
He looked at him. He had that tone. That eerily queer and happy tone. The kind that sounded like an absolute psychopath ready to Snap! And he liked it! He gave a smirk at Gin, who was clearly unhinged, “I have not. But I can confirm he has not returned to the Radiant, and is not anywhere in Loranthis or Dragon’s peak. I spoke to Sophia Ryozo, his sister, and she has confirmed my suspicions, although she wants me to send her a letter when he is found, which is… Impractical.”

He took a look at his locket and at Stells once more, “Nevertheless… he is not in Nostvale either. I have made sure of that.”
(Vindictus)
''Sophia huh? Sibling rivalry? Unfinished business? Oh well, lets just say that if Sophia is coming after him, she either kills him or drags him back to Radiant Dawn, either or, I am just fine, I just gotta keep up my little act for Radiant Dawn a little longer too...''

He declared. He crosses his arms and shakes his head as he switches into his MUCH bigger strawhat.

''But lets not forget why we are tracking him in the first place, its to retrieve Salem from him as soon as possible, whatever you, Taka, Aziza or Sophia wants to do to him after we capture him, I can't give two fucks about what you do as long as we bring Salem back here in one piece, ok?''
(Gin T. Mikoto)
[09:12:28] He smiled at Gin, catching his drift, “I mean… I have No Idea where he could possibly be!” He was clearly being sarcastic, “If a certain, white haired Ookami were to find him, and maim him before I found him, WHATEVER would I do? Except deliver him to his dear sister?” He began a full and terrible laugh, “LET’S HAVE SOME FUN, WON’T WE?!?!”

His golden eyes gleamed with the occultic and building depravity within him. Something from Gin was rubbing off on him, and it wasn’t anything good, it was the enjoyment that came with squashing the unjust in the midst of thier actions. “Let the Morninglord guide us on our quest to deliver ‘the poor unfortunate boy’ to his end yes?”
(Vindictus)
Three months passed, usually whenever a person has gone missing for this long, they are usually dead, but Gin and Vindictus checked Bygonegrove thoroughly, or at least the best of their abiltites to do so, however, no matter how powerful the duo are, travelling deep into the Yokai forest is suicide.

Despite all of those trials, if Salem's gone, the least Gin can do is retrieve her body and return it to the manor.

''Its been three months Vindi, and not a sign of Salem in the forests, now all we have left to check is the cave, and the smell of that flesh is only getting worse. Do you have any magic that can be used to track people?'' He asked. He was highly considering taking the Ryozo eye so that doing things like this could be much easier, however, doing so immediately would bare no fruit considering he has no medical vail to preserve the eye.

Cave after cave after cave.

They searched, removed boulders that contained the bodies of many, lost to time.

(Gin T. Mikoto)
He took a lick of his lips as he looked back at Gin, “We could check that cave entrance that was partially blown and covered with Rubble? I mean that has to have been deliberate. No way that someone did that by accident. Pretty sure Dad mentioned that place once or twice too.” He looked around with a mix of ambivalence and excitement. “Once we find him… the fun can begin!” He began to laugh again as he bowed his head slightly.

He was taller than his respected and venerated Elder, but he still cared to follow his lead. He had a malicious smirk on his face as his golden eyes blazed anew with wrath. It was clearly seen. He would not leave Samuel to his own devices this time. “Now then… shall we investigate this? I am eager to get this done. Salem has suffered enough under the heel of this terrible man as it is, I am sure of it.” He was sober once more in his speech, without a hint of amusement.
(Vindictus)