Chapter 1: Wanting to be Normal
Fine's family has been Hunters for generations. So other hunters know their names and are loyal. People excepted the daughters to follow their parents footsteps, but only one succeeded their expectations. Rein decided to become a hunter while Fine simply wanted to be normal and not hurt anyone or anything.
Though one day Rein left early for a 'doctor's appointment' so Fine had to walk alone. On that day she was responsible for cleaning up and putting the supplies away. Rein was suppose to be her partner but she has better things to do besides actually being there for Fine.
When the clock turned to 5, her cellphone rang and she answered.
"Fine? Where are you? Are you hurt?" Her mother asks instantly.
"I'm fine mom! I stayed behind because it was my turn to clean up. Sorry to worry you." Fine answered. "I just finished up so I'll be heading home now."
"Don't come home yet! Stay there!" Sound of crashes come in the background. "W-We're having some difficulty! Shade will come pick for you in a minute so don't move!"
Fine wasn't surprised about this. Her family is well known and most wanted in the supernatural life. They're top hunters and have many enemies. So much for normal life, huh? "I understand. Teach that berserker a lesson."
"You got it!" Elsa hung up. Fine slowly closed her phone. The window opened and the wind blew to Fine's face. She pouted. "Why do you always make a dramatic entrance, Tskui-senpai." She glances at the window and made eye contact with the boy. He grins.
"How many times do I have to remind you? We've known each other for a long time so call me Shade." He said.
"Impossible. That'll be weird. Anyway," Fine tries to push Shade out of the window, "Come up like a normal person!"
Shade held a strong grip. "That'll take forever! And did you forget?! Falling from a 2 story building won't do much damage! I won't die!"
"Then why are you holding a death grip?"
"I said I won't die, but it doesn't mean I'll get hurt!"
"You have land perfectly anyway. Don't act like this isn't the first time you fell from the second floor."
"This is different! I'm not prepared!"
Fine sighs and backs away. "For a pure blood, you have personality."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Not really." Fine grabs her bag and walks up to Shade. He swipes her off the ground. "Where would you like to go?"
"I'm pretty hungry."
"Let's go get ramen then." He jumped off with Fine in his arms and began hopping roof to roof.
Shade's different. He has traits of a normal high school bky, except cut out the perverted stuff, but he's not even normal. He's a vampire pure blood from the Tskui Clan. The Tskui Clan is one of the very few supernatural beings who allied themselves with the Hunters. They help catch and eliminate every Berserker.
Fine actually knew Shade when she was younger. When she was first introduced to him, she didn't make a first impression and worked really hard to gain his friendship. It took a whole month just to befriend him! She should've been afraid, but she was brave about it. She didn't care he was a vampire. She doesn't want to hurt anyone or anything. That's been her motto...
"Senpai?" Fine said.
"Yeah?" Shade said.
"You smell like concrete and smoke."
"Can't be helped. I was there when the Berserker came crashing to your house."
"That's going to be the 6th time this month." Fine sighs. "Can I move in with you? I'm tired of the smell of smoke and construction."
"What makes you think living with me would be any better?"
"Hmm...good question. Then I'll find my own apartment."
Shade nearly stopped in midair if he hadn't caught balance. "You can't! Who'll protect you when a Berserker comes? What will you do if you can't defend yourself?"
"You make me sound weak and pathetic." Fine flicked Shade's head from behind. "I know a couple barriers and if that won't help..." She leans to Shade's ear. "You could move in with me." Shade gulped. Fine giggles. "Just kidding! Gee senpai! You're such a pervert!"
"Whatever! I was going to refuse anyway." Shade continues hopping on the roofs. "Also...if you want to buy your own place, you'll have to discuss it with your parents."
"Speaking of parents, what did mom and dad do this time? Which Berserker is it this time?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary. Just a party of goblins avenging their leader."
Fine thought, 'How's that suppose to be ordinary?'
"Hey Fine."
"Yes?"
"Now that we have a moment, I've been meaning to ask you something."
Fine's heart skipped a beat. "W-What is it?"
"Well..." He smiles nervously. "Which ramen place to you want to go?"
Fine uppercut Shade.
-.-.-.-
This house was a wreck, but Fine's family after like it was just another mission. Elsa saw Fine and smiles.
"Oh my baby's safe!" She cooed and hugged Fine. She rubs her cheek against her own. "I was so worried about you! Did Shade hurt you?"
"More like she hurt me." Shade muttered.
"Looks like we'll have to rent a hotel for the night." Truth said. "Did you eat yet, Fine?"
"Ramen, but not too much." Fine answered.
"Nothing is too much for you. Your stomach is a bottomless pit!" Rein joked.
"Well, this girl with a bottomless stomach, brought you your homework. Unless you're willing to fail and restart the year."
"O-Oh. Thank you..."
Fine looked around and wondered around their destroyed home. Shade was talking to Truth and Rein was being babied by Elsa. Fine reached the spot that was once her room. The ceiling was slowly crumbling what's left of it and her room was filled with ashes, spears, and belongings Goblins dropped. She wanted to puke, but walked in. She flipped her bed over and found a small chest.
"Thank goodness this managed to stay in one peace." She said happily and held it close. Then she saw something in the corner of her eye. "Hm?" She crawled to it and carefully dust it before picking it up. "Oh?" It was a simple red jewel, yet something about it was odd. It may look ordinary, but it looks like it went somewhere.
"GIVE IT TO ME!" Hissed a voice.
Fine's eyes widened and she saw a goblin coming towards her. With instinct, she punched it in the face, but she punched it in the mouth. It's teeth scratched Fine's hand. Luckily she sent it back, but sadly she injured her writing hand. It was stinging like crazy and it was bleeding a lot for scratch marks.
"Ow..." She whimpered.
A knife pierced into the Goblin's head and it then to ashes. "Fine!" Elsa said and looked at her hand. "That's not good. Shade!"
"On it." Shade took Fine's hand. "This is going to sting. A lot." Fine nodded and Shade squeezed her hand. She tried not to scream in pain, but when it was over Shade let go and her hand was good as new.
"Th-Thanks." She rubbed her hand.
"I thought we got everything." Truth said.
"I'll go check around if there's any more!" Rein said and dashed away.
Truth and Elsa asked a million questions to Fine. To the point she said, "I'm getting my own place."
-.-.-
Today is Saturday and the family decided to stay at the Hunter Headquarters. They stayed in a room that resembled a hotel. Shade went with them because he basically lives with them since he's been there for Fine from time to time. Fine hid the jewel in her pocket and kept her chest close.
"House was destroyed again? How many times this month? 5th?" The leader, Grace, said.
"6th." Fine corrected.
Grace smiles at Fine then frowns at the family. "Not only that, you endangered my cute little niece!" Grace cried and squeezed Fine. She glared at Shade. "You may have healed her, but she was still injured! You're lucky to be a pure blood."
"Yes ma'am." Shade said.
"Lady-" Truth was cut off by Grace.
"It's Grace-onee-sama to you Truth! You use to call me that all the time when we were little! You followed me like a duckling and even cried every time I left you alone! You even said 'I wanna marry you one day!' But you married Elsa and gave me adorable nieces to spoil! Fine is so much like you because she hates girly things and runs away when she gets the chance."
Truth and Fine turn red of embarrassment. "L-Laby-"
"Grace-onee-sama."
"Grace-onee-sama... We have a problem."
"What is it?"
"Fine wants to move out!" Rein cried.
"EH?!" Grace grabbed Fine by the shoulders. "Is someone threatening you? Are you in a delinquent faze! Please tell me it's not the delinquent faze! Not you!"
Fine rolled her eyes. "It's none of that." Fine said.
"Then why do you want to move out? You have a lovely family and overprotective friend. What could be the problem?"
"Everything's the problem! Don't get me wrong, I love my family and Shade!" Shade blushes. "But I'm tired of the house being destroyed and the smell! It's so terrible that I can't take it!"
"Smell?"
"The smell of the goblins ashes! And everything else that has come to the house! BUT THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT RIGHT NOW! I want to live a normal life where I can be able to come straight home and enjoy family dinner! I want to be able to go out with friends without being tracked by every step I made or hunted down! I know I shouldn't be complaining, but I just want to be normal..."
"You know that's impossible." When Fine looked at Grace's face. Her pretty face was serious and looked wise. She leaned close to Fine and whispered. "I know you're trying to run away what happened couple years back. No one could blame you, but it had to he done." Fine clenched he'd fists and Grace leaned back. "You have the blood of ancient huntsmen. No matter how badly you want to be normal, you cannot because you were born in this life for a reason. Don't try to run away from your destiny. One of these days you'll become a great Hunter. Maybe you'll succeed me. We all know just how powerful your body really is."
Fine stomped away and slammed the door. Grace sighed and sat in her chair.
"Sometimes I wonder who the real parent is." Grace said. "Shade."
"Yes?" Shade turned to her.
"Watch over her for us, please? That girl attracts danger without knowing it."
"Yes ma'am." Shade left the room and closed the door quietly.
Rein shared at the floor. She closed her eyes like she knew what she was going to say is regrettable. "Lady Grace?" She spoke.
"Auntie is just fine Rein. We're alone anyway." Grace said.
"I think we should let Fine get her own place."
Her parents looked at her like she was insane! "You know she can't! She doesn't have a weapon!" Truth protested.
"She may not, but she has Shade! When he's around her, she's safe. So what if we put her in the apartment complex that's between the Hunters Headquarters and the school! Doesn't that place have this huge barrier and not only that, Shade could live with her and keep an eye on her for us!"
Grace thought for a minute. "Doesn't sound like a bad idea." She said.
"Are you insane?!" Elsa finally spoke. "Shade may be on our side, he's a boy! A boy! Living with Fine is like a sin! What if he does things to her in her sleep and sexually harasses my baby girl!"
"Thanks for having for much trust in me." Shade said as the reentered the room with Fine. She looked annoyed.
"So I have permission to get an apartment, but I'll still be under your watch." Fine said.
"I haven't decided yet." Grace said. "I'm considering it. Only in one condition."
"I honestly don't want to know."
"How will know now of you don't know?"
"Because I already know what it is."
"Then is it a yes or no?"
"I'll go with no."
"Then no apartment."
Fine pulled on her sleeve. She turns red and shyly looked back and forth. "If I do it... I can live in the apartment, right?"
"With Shade."
Fine took a deep breath. "Alright! I'll do it!"