-Narrator-
"Thank you for inviting me."
"Well, I'm just doing my job as an ex-army personnel, am I not?"
The two chuckled, "It is very much appreciated; tell me Akane, are you sure you saw them here?"
"Very sure, they had come to look for the mother of a young boy I've known for quite a while." Akane confirmed, pouring the two of them some herbal tea,
"Interesting, who would've thought Y/N L/N and Guren Ichinose would've dropped by?"
"Funny isn't it? Well he is from near here." She nodded, "He's a sharp one. I do feel bad, they are a sweet couple after all-" she stopped abruptly,
"Ah, you wouldn't like to hear that would you?" She shook her head, slightly bemused, "Excuse me, well I do feel bad, they're very nice people after all and I'm ruining their peace, I'm very aware of that. I do feel like, however, that Guren is suspecting me. He asked about how I survived the virus, but it was such a sudden question I couldn't give him a very convincing answer."
"No need to worry about that. We will keep an eye on him from now on. Even if he does suspect you, there is nothing he can do about it." He took a sip from the hot tea,
"Well if you say so."
"Very well, I must thank you again for your co-operation and loyalty to the Japanese Imperial Demon Army, even after all these years, Akane."
"It is my absolute pleasure, Kureto Hiragi."
~•~
The group of 5 had arrived at an abandoned town square, where the others were by detecting Sayuri's mobile signal, they didn't have all the fancy military tech they were once used to so they had to improvise,
"Be careful, Nico, stay near us." Y/N warned him as they approached the area where the other group was occupied,
Although she immediately began to regret not elaborating on why he should be more careful as the moment he saw Mito his face lit up and his little legs ran for her,
"Wah! It's the lady with the cool hair! Hello!" He exclaimed, as the two groups looked on in horror,
"Nico, don't come over here!" Mito screamed, causing him to freeze in his tracks, Y/N had already began running after him calling for him to come back,
He looked back, "Hm? What's the problem?" He yelled back, although it was too late and he was completely open,
They all saw a vampire en route for him and Y/N figured that she had no time to grab him and dodge the vampire; so her best bet was to push him out the way and let herself be caught,
"Nico go quick!" She pushed him towards Goshi and Shigure who'd also sprung into action, hoping one of the two would catch him; She winced straight after as a hand wrapped around her neck and slammed her into a brick wall,
Y/N squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself to feel it's fangs sinking into her skin, although before he could even move the vampire burst into flames and dispersed, Guren came into view, with his sword, looking distraught before he picked her up bridal style and ran towards the others.
"Are you okay?" He checked on her,
"I haven't taken a hit like that for some time but I'll be alright." She smiled up at him,
"Are you sure you don't have a concussion?" He stopped as they reached the others who were already in a formation,
"I'm pretty sure my demon would've dealt with it by now." She rolled her eyes,
"Yeah, Guren, stop being so dramatic." Shinya also mocked, making Guren roll his own eyes,
"Oh really?" He challenged before placing her on her own two feet,
Y/N thought she was fine for a while before the pounding in her head intensified and the dizziness kicked in, she fell back into Guren, "Maybe not now though."
"Yeah okay, princess." He rolled his eyes again, his voice low enough so only she could hear,
Her cheeks flared instantly as he pulled her onto his back, "We need to find a place for Nico and Y/N where they'll be somewhat safer." He announced, acting as if he was never flirting,
"Hey why me?" She frowned folding my arms,
"You're hurt and you need to recover," he argued back,
Y/N huffed in annoyance before a sudden idea popped into my head,
"Use me as a sniper instead! Nico can stay with me." She suggested,
"Oh, that's not a bad idea. We could do with a sniper." Goshi nodded, eyes focused on the vampires in the distance, they were also watching our squad intently waiting for another move to be made by us,
"Why aren't they attacking? We've literally killed one of them," Mito mumbled to herself,
"What if your position is compromised?" Guren turned his attention back to Y/N's proposal,
"Let me go with someone." She thought for a while, "Maybe Shigure? She can booby trap the place."
Guren still looked reluctant,
"Shigure do you oppose to that?" She asked her, Shigure looked over her shoulder before yelling back a no, Y/N smiled at Guren,
"Ok fine." He sighed, "Shigure please bring Nico."
"Yes sir." Shigure obeyed, dubiously looking back before grabbing Nico's hand and escorting him in the same direction Guren and Y/N we're heading to,
"Guren I really think I'm fine now." She insisted,
"We're almost there can't you just wait a few seconds?" He grumbled,
"Hm...I don't wanna." Y/N whispered, nearing her lips dangerously close to his neck,
He shot her a threatening look before stopping in front of a clock tower, and putting her back on her feet,
"Since you can tease me, I'm sure you're much better."
"You see?" She grinned at him, shooting him a quick wink, in which he responded to by frowning.
"I'm going to survey the building, you guys wait here for a bit." He unsheathed his sword as he entered the building,
Y/N suddenly felt a tug on her top and she turned around to find Nico, who stood nervously. He had a guilty expression on his face,
"Nico, what's the matter? Are you okay?" She knelt down so she was at his level,
"Y/N...did you get hurt because of me?" He asked in a tiny voice,
"Hey, what makes you think that? I never got hurt because of you. I'm completely fine now!" She gave him a big grin, in an attempt to make him feel better, but instead he burst into tears,
"Hey, Nico-" She pulled him into a heartwarming hug, "Don't feel bad for something that wasn't your fault." She rubbed his back soothingly as he quietly wailed into my shoulder,
"It was my fault though." He hiccuped,
"Hey!" She pulled him back to look at her, "I'm all better now, in fact I can even race you."
"Race?" He thought for a while before pouting again, "How can I race you? I'll just win since you're injured," he looked like he was about to cry again, even though he unintentionally dissed her,
"You can't win, I'm all better now, I promise." She reassured, "In fact, when Guren comes back, the first one to the top wins!" She suggested,
"Are you sure?" He wiped at his tears with his sleeves,
"Of course I am-"
"Actually, I'm going to have to go in in front of you guys, sorry to ruin your fun." Shigure interrupted, she'd have to go ahead as she'd be the only one able to respond best in case they had any unexpected visitors,
"Then race with us..." Y/N invited,
"Nope~" Shigure replied sarcastically yet monotonously,
Y/N turned back to Nico, "We'll race another day." She winked at him patting his head,
Guren returned, "You guys should be good, I'm going back to help the others. Y/N keep your phone on so we can communicate with you."
"Alrighty," I responded, "After you Shigure." She gestured for her to enter first.
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A/N: This Akane isn't Yuu's family, she's someone completely different here.