[center][img]https://i.gifer.com/2r5w.gif[/img]
Level 6: 15/60
Location: The Maw: The Kitchen
Word Count: 728
Points Gained: 1
New EXP Balance--- Level 6 : 16/60 [/center]

	Sakura was pretty close to limp, only barely adjusting herself to be as comfortable as possible in her captor's grasp. Sobbing quietly, her face twisted with fear and shame, she could do nothing but gasp as she realised her next perilous situation. Bound and tied! Hands over her head, feet dangling, hanging over an open fire. The butcher warned her not to struggle but she couldn't help it. Heat licked at her little legs. They started to sweat and she shifted awkwardly, coughing, at first as a by product of her crying but then as a result of the smoke she accidentally inhaled sharply. With a laugh, the big chef blocked the door entirely as her allies fruitlessly battered against it. 

	A blazing fire was beneath her, and all three Seekers were hung above it, ready to use ingredients. And all of it was Sakura's fault. Her stupid non-plan. What had she been thinking? She hadn't been thinking. Hunger and desperation had made her reckless. Of course there would be chefs nearby that would hear the noise, right? How could she not have predicted that? 

	The arguments and back and forths of the chef caught her attention. Clearly they did not like each other very much. Real people, not monsters, were the most dangerous thing onboard this ship. Opposable thumbs plus intelligence. It helped that they were four times her size, of course...and she had none of her training. This was the worst day of Kasugano Sakura's life.

	The same probably went for Bella and Rika. They're lives had just begun. Rika was still unconscious, and Bella was being poked and prodded at by their cruel captor. Sakura squinted, spotting that Bella seemed to be...growing? Like she was seven. From one little snack? Mentally, Sakura kicked herself. If that magical undoing of their youngness curse kept up, in one short, full meal, Sakura could get to 14 years old and absolutely wipe the floors with these chumps. Sakura knew without a doubt in her mind that these fat bastards were cowards. If she was at her best, or even at her mediocre, she could punch their guts so hard they came out of their mouth before they could say 'bon appetit'. Impotent, indignified fury filled the little girl's heart, only causing more tears to spill forth.

	Rika woke back up, and Sakura just stared at her, a harrowed expression on her face. Rika struggled briefly but, it was pointless. [color=f49ac2]"I...I don't know."[/color] She said, voice quiet and small. She looked at Rika's back pocket and then up to her own bindings, and then to the long fall onto the flames below.

	[color=f49ac2]"...I guess...we just...hope they come for us. Somehow."[/color] Sakura sobbed, swallowing dryly. Rika had a pair of scissors, but there wasn't much they could do with that. [color=f49ac2]"It's not stupid, I'm stupid. I'm sorry, Rika-chan...Bella-san...I'm sorry. This never should have happened."[/color] She hung her head a moment. While looking down, she saw MiMi, Junior's friend, come through the door. They really were coming for them. Mimi lifted Sakura's spirits, stopping them from being crushed entirely. 

	Gritting her teeth, the starved child thought to convey some information that might be useful. [color=f49ac2]"Bella-san, you are getting bigger." [/color] She whispered to her Abyssal friend.[color=f49ac2] "I  think eating did it. In- in a good way. You aren't fat or anything-"[/color] Sakura said. She shook her head. [color=f49ac2]"This is besides the point!"[/color] She whispered, coughing some more. 

	[color=f49ac2]"I'm not sure how old you are, but...if eating just a little gives you some years, then maybe it's worth it? If I could eat enough just to get to 14 years old, I'm sure I could wipe the floor with all three of these chumps..."[/color] Sakura said, blinking away tears. [color=f49ac2] [i]"Kuso...kuso!"[/i] [/color] Sakura swore angrily to herself, squeezing her eyes shut as she lifted her legs up high to get away from the heat. But the hunger in her belly and exhaustion caused her to relent. Frustrated and defeated, the only plan she could think of that wouldn't make things worse would be to wait and hope for rescue. The idea of even more people putting themselves in danger on her behalf tore her up inside. Ideally they would focus on Rika and especially Bella first, since the Water Princess can still fight, even slightly.