-Y/N's POV-
We eventually returned to the meeting point and all the other squads were there apart from the squad that was sent to eliminate Crowley Eusford.
As soon as Mito lay eyes on me she sprinted over to me and immediately engulfed me in a large hug, "My God, Y/N. I was so worried! Are you ok? What happened?"
"I'm fine, Mito. I just ran into a bit of trouble."
Shinya walked towards us, "Yeah, if you consider encountering the 7th and 13th progenitor 'a bit of trouble' then you're right." He scoffed, and I rolled my eyes as Mito gasped loudly and exclaimed, "Y/N-!"
"Alright, I'll be giving the briefing on how the war has been progressing." Guren announced, pacing around the area, as the small crowd quieted down,
"I had set multiple squads on missions intended to assassinate noble vampires, all of which that have so far been successful. All that's left is 3 noble vampires: Seventeenth Progenitors Chess Bell and Horn Skuld and Thirteenth Progenitor Crowley Eusford. I have sent 9 squads to annihilate them but we are yet to hear from them and their progress."
"Well then, what do we do in the meantime?" Norito queried,
"We wait. I said I'd give them 24 hours considering the ranks of the vampires, they have 1 hour remaining if they don't return in that time then we will have to go ourselves." Guren answered, "That's all."
I nodded as everyone dispersed into their groups to converse.
"Alright, I've got to go for a while but I'll be back before an hour." Guren turned to leave,
"Where are you going?" Shinya raised an eyebrow,
"Your dear brother wanted to see me." Guren deadpanned walking away,
"Don't think I've forgot." I heard in my ear, causing me to jump I turned to find Shinya hunched next to me smirking,
"Don't." I said but he didn't respond, and instead frowned,
"I'm sorry, Shinya. What do you want?" I half begged,
"I don't want anything, Y/N."
Mito sighed, "It's likely the squads that were sent have been wiped out."
"That's true, it's inevitable we'll have to go, I'm calling it now." I replied,
"That's awfully pessimistic, Y/N." Goshi piped up,
"War itself is pessimistic, what optimistic thoughts could you possibly have?" I sadly smiled at Goshi.
~•~
-Guren's POV-
I strolled in to what appeared to be an old arena; in the center was a large scythe with 3 chains wrapped around them which held 3 vampires around the neck, who appeared to be close to death with shackles around their wrists.
At the sight of me their eyes lit up and I almost felt bad at the little bit of hope and excitement they expressed.
"Blood." I heard one of them mutter before it ran towards me, I stopped walking as it was forced to stop by the chain wrapped around it's neck being extended to it's full length.
I turned to Kureto who I knew was sitting on one of the tall walls, "You're sick." I chuckled,
"I know." Kureto smirked,
"Are they test subjects?" I questioned,
"Yes, but they're utterly useless now. Kill them."
"Is that an order?"
Kureto ignored me and jumped to another question, "Did you seriously come alone?"
"You told me to didn't you? Or did you want me to bring someone else?"
"No. I just thought you would've been afraid I would kill you."
"You would've had me killed long ago if you, pleased. I'm still of use to you now so you definitely wouldn't want me dead right now."
"Hmph." Kureto clicked his fingers and 3 gunshots rang out simultaneously, I didn't flinch nor turn to watch the 3 vampires behind me get shot and disintegrate, "You're right, Guren. You're awfully useful to me as of now, I'm even willing to overlook the fact that you're toying with my woman."
"Toying? That's a rash accusation." I chuckled, "Did you call me to whine about the fact that you can't get a girl with their consent or did you want me to actually do something?"
Kureto got straight to the point, "I see you've already started on disposing of the nobles residing in Japan, commendable. All that is left to ask from you is after you've completed that go to Nagoya airport for further instructions."
"Is that all?" I looked at him, skeptical.
"You sound dissatisfied, I'm not asking for much, you know."
"I know. I also know you have an even bigger plan, a plan you can't tell me."
"So what if I can't tell you? If you know you will still have to follow the instructions I give you know anyway."
I looked up at the sky and smiled, "Right. I'll go if that's all." I turned to leave,
"Good, make sure to pass my greetings to Y/N."
My jaw clenched although I continued walking, "I'm sure she'd rather do without it." He chuckled at my response, seeming satisfied at getting under my skin.
~•~
-Y/N's POV-
The hour was nearly up; less than 5 minutes to go and Guren still had not returned, everyone was getting concerned as the time drew nearer to when our next mission began. No report had came informing us of the status of those who had gone on the mission.
"No messenger and no Guren, great." I huffed,
The Guren squad minus Guren had moved away from the rest of the impatient soldiers to a more secluded area,
"Of course you're worried," shinya muttered emotionlessly,
"And you're not?" I shot him an incredulous look,
"Never said I wasn't."
"Then why single me out?"
"Because I enjoy picking on you."
"You don't even seem amused yourself so what's the point." I lifted my hand to gesture at Shinya's blank face which this time didn't sport his usual amused smile,
"Well I tried, didn't I?"
"Stop trying."
"Oh, Y/N." Goshi suddenly turned to me,
"Yeah?" I raised an eyebrow curiously at him,
"Were you bitten by a vampire?"
"Huh?" my eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "No, why?"
"Well there seems to be a mark on your neck..." he pointed out,
I immediately realised what he was talking about and got flustered,
"Oh that! T-that's just from a small accident, yeah an accident." I hastily came up with a lie on the spot without realising Shinya was ready to pounce onto this one,
"From what I saw that was no accident..." he trailed of making sure he was loud enough for everyone to hear,
I nervously laughed and elbowed him in the side, "What?"
"Really what happened, Shinya?" Mito asked smirking so I figured she had guessed what had happened and wanted to join Shinya with the bullying currently going on,
I glared at Mito before shooting Shinya a pleading look, "Wouldn't you like to know..."
And Mito and Goshi echoed a 'yes'.
"Well..." Shinya drawled, "If we're talking accidents it seems Guren's mouth accidentally got attached to Y/N's neck."
"Shinya!" I exclaimed turning to face him and raising my fist to punch him although he caught it and pinned my hands behind my back,
'Ooh!" Drawled Goshi as he confirmed what had happened with a wide smirk, I knew he was enjoying this, considering the type of person he is.
"Oh you were a witness, Shinya?" Mito edged,
"Unfortunately, not once, but nearly twice. A cruel case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, I suppose. Although if it weren't for the vampires I'm afraid to think of what else could've accidentally happened." I wriggled in Shinya's grip as he teasingly wriggled his eyebrows,
"I never knew Guren had it in him. He usually acts like a nun on her period." Goshi chuckles,
"Let me fucking go, Shinya! I'm going to kill all 3 of you and offer you as a sacrifice to the nobles at the Town hall. How fucking perfect, they can have one each." I seethed my eyes narrowed,
"Oh, She's MAD mad." Mito fake winced, Goshi nodded in agreement with a similar expression on his face,
The 3 didn't seem to be taking me seriously considering I was currently being restrained by Shinya, "Just you wait until this bastard releases me you lot will really have it."
"Looks like your staying like this forever." Shinya said lazily, I looked at him and saw he was restraining me with just one hand,
I caught Sayuri running towards us from the corner of my eye, "I'll kick your asses later." I seethed,
Shinya let go of me, "What's the matter Sayuri."
"Someone from the rescue mission is back, it failed. He's severely injured and will probably die, Guren's with him." Sayuri said out of breath,
I took the opportunity to attempt to high kick Shinya although he caught my leg as if he was swatting a fly.
"Alright, we'll be there, Sayuri." He smiled at her nodding as he still clutched onto my ankle causing me to hop, "Come on lets go everyone!" He began walking fast on purpose to make me struggle on purpose,
"LET GO, SHINYA!" I exclaimed hopping quicker,
"Oh, I don't think we'll get there on time, we should run." He pretended to start jogging as I yelped,
Although as soon as we were about to turn the corner he let go of my ankle knowing Guren was there.
I glared at him as we turned the corner and found Guren kneeling next to a body.
I sighed sadly.
Guren noticed us approach him as he stood up and turned to us, he wore a somber expression.
"What was with all that racket?" He asked with little energy,
"I wa-" I began although Shinya slapped his hand across my mouth. I winced in pain but still glared at him,
"Oh, were we too loud? That probably wasn't something you'd want to hear at that time either. Sorry~" he said bowing apologetically, genuinely feeling bad for causing noise and bantering around while a comrade was dying.
Guren stuffed his hands in his pockets, "You claim to not like bullying the weak but you always bully, Y/N."
"I am not weak!" I argued huffing,
"She's the only weak person who is fun to bully." Shinya said with fake shame,
"Am not!"
"You probably bully her because she's the only person you can do it to without looking like a sadist, right?" Guren's tone dripped with sarcastic pity,
"Right!" Shinya agreed,
"Everyone thinks you're a sadist anyway. You're the reason why Shinoa turned out the way she did,"
Everyone else mumbled in agreement and I smirked at Shinya,
"Actually if you paid attention to the rest of the family, you'd realise the attitude came from father." Shinya shrugged,
"Alright, I don't want to hear about daddy dearest at the moment. Gather the other squads, we need to brief them on what's happening."
"Yes, sir." Sayuri and Shigure said simultaneously and immediately walked over to where the rest of the squads were,
"You lot go ahead, I'll wait here for a bit." Guren turned to gaze at the atmosphere,
As the others walked away I looked at him sadly, I walked up behind him and wrapped my hands around his waist looking up to find a stoic expression plastered on his face,
"I know you don't take these kind of things well, are you ok?"
He looked down at me and shot me a lazy smile, "I'm alright, how're you feeling?" He took out a hand from his pocket and ruffled my hair,
"I'm alright, too." I muttered,
He could tell I didn't really believe he was alright, he sighed, snaking his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his sides, I felt his cheek on my forehead as he rested his head on mine,
"Guren, don't suffer in silence." I broke the silence,
"It's my fault." He said quietly,
"It's not your fault." I attempted to assure him,
"I don't have enough power to do anything, after all these years..."
"Guren-"
"I just have to keep losing people."
I felt something wet against my forehead causing my stomach to drop.
"If anyone lacks power it's the Hiragis. They're sending hundreds to their deaths but who is it that still remains at the top? The vampires. You're killing off the noble vampires, doing everything you can to make this battle easier but what are they doing? Too scared to get their hands dirty. Don't blame yourself for the deaths caused by the Hiragis." I lowered my voice, "Be patient, Guren. I know you're time to overthrow them will be soon."
"How did you know." He said already knowing the answer,
"I just assumed, unless I'm wrong?" I looked up at him and found no hint of sadness on his face, he was good at concealing those kind of things,
He looked down at me, "No you're right. Shinya too."
"I see," I said nodding, "I guess I'll join too."
"Y/N, it's not something you can just join."
"I have nothing to lose at this point."
Guren thought for a while, "You have a point. Alright."
I beamed at him, "Thank you."
I felt his lips press against my forehead, "Let's go."
I nodded.
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Hey guys, I finished my exams this Monday which is why I haven't been on for at least 3 chapters. I see y'alls comments and I love y'all. Thank you! <3
Alicia~