It was the biggest mistake he ever made in his past four years and if he can, he would take the knife near his bed and cut his wrist or neck with it. But no, a normal knife wouldn't hurt him, and actually, that is a knife for the meal they brought an hour ago. He doesn't feel like to eat something even though he can hear his stomach growling and probably his left eye has turned into kakugan, but he clutches his fingers, feel the blood clothing his tip of the nails and focusing his gaze on everything except the tray.

All Mika wants now is just back to his bedroom in :re's attic and sleep for an entire week.

They said Lacus and Chess brought him here and from what he heard, he makes one of investigator injured badly but not dead.

Mika sighs, hugging the pillow tighter. He glares at the door near his bed as if it insulted him and let out another sigh. Just about one more hour, someone who looks like doctor had told him a little earlier when he complained about why is he must stay here when he's not injured at all. One more hour, eat, and you can go home.

But Mika doesn't even want to spend another one minute in this place, let alone one fucking hour. He told them he's not even injured—everything has healed and he's good except the usual waves of hunger he'd been experiencing on and off for the past eight hours. But he can handle it, as long as they give him his bag, he can drink some coffee with sugar cubes from Krul and everything is gonna be fine, plus, he really hates the smell of disinfectants when it's not even a real hospital.

Krul walks in on him just when he's stopped glaring at the door and attempting to suffocate himself with his pillow. Mika keeps his face buried for a moment longer before looking up upon hearing Krul's footsteps. She approaches him without a word and sat on his bed.

"Morning dear," Krul greets him with her soft smile. Mika tucks his pillow under his chin when he let his gaze travels to her long pink hair that scatters on his bed with some of it touching his bare legs and tickles him. Towards the blond hair boy who is glaring at her, Krul tries to reduce the weird tension in the air before they start having a proper conversation. "It's not your fault, Mika. And you should rest up more after such a long night."

"It's probably 11 a.m.," Mika tells her after a short pause. "… I have a shift at 1 p.m. you don't want Touka-san killed me, do you?"

"How are you feeling?"

"Physically, I'm good. Mentally, I don't think so. But I can handle this with my own."

"You remember anything from last night?" Krul asks carefully, eyeing his lips before let her attention wander to Mika's flocks pale yellow hair and his pair of sapphire blue eyes.

"Not really," he replies, moving to cross his legs as to escape the pink hair from tickles him more. "But I heard that I…. attack one investigator… is he alright? I mean, I know you have a connection and… whatever, don't mind me."

Mika feels his cheek grew hotter as he saw Krul's eyes widened in surprise before she let out small chuckles. It makes him turn his focus on the floor, he shouldn't ask that. He makes another mistake.

"He's fine now," Krul finally enlightens him, "You just bite some part of his shoulder and legs, after one or two weeks I think he can back to work."

Hearing that the investigator safe makes Mika relaxes, it's weird that he actually worrying about a Dove and feeling guilty to almost eat him. Then he remembered some dark alley and a sound of someone screaming and begging for his mercy right before his ear and after that, he woke up in his small room, locked up, and chained to bed before they pushed and forced him to climb up some truck and meet another alley and the scene replaying again and again. This is not the first time as he suddenly feels something like déjà vu.

"Krul…. Why is this happening again? I lose control over myself again after activating my Kagune. You said it'll be fine as long as I drink coffee with your stupid sugar cubes, and actually, I'm doing fine until today… why…?"

Ever since finding out about his own circumstances after what happened back in Hyakuya Orphanage and make Ferid almost died with his both hands stained with blood, he knows something wrong with him except the fact that he becoming a half-ghoul. First, he knew very well that he was born as human. Second, Mahiru or anyone from Sanguinem's lab hasn't done anything to his body before he attacked Ferid. Third, he always black-out and feels a sweet aftertaste of blood in his mouth when he woke up. Everything connected in his brain and with an addition of what happened yesterday, Mika knows he's not even a normal half-ghoul or is it because the Seraph thing in his body?

Mika blinks out of his reverie when Krul grabs both his hands, staring at him imploringly.

"You're doing fine. As for the sugar cube, I told you that it only works to suppress your hunger not make you satisfied or full. You must eat," She says, and Mika feels himself almost break into a smile despite everything, it's reassuring to know that Krul has treated him like a normal person and cared so much about him after everything he did to her.

"Can I trust you, Krul?" Mika asked, shifting his hold to give the young woman's finger a soft squeeze. "I guess you said this just to make sure I feel safe and obey you and your words, but, I met Yuu-chan. He's dove now, and Mahiru-san did tell me about what CCG probably done to him all these years."

"Then, save him like I saved you that time."

"…. So you can use him for your experiments?"

"Mika…"

"Tell me your reason of having Seraph, your personal reason."

It's a wild guess, but Krul looks slightly taken aback. "You really want to know?" she says, sounding utterly dejected with the question. "What can you do for me if I answer you?"

"Hmmm," Mika hums thoughtfully, leaning back as he lets go of his hands and leaning back into the wall. "I was actually planning to take Yuu-chan to a place where you, Sanguinem, CCG, or anyone can't find us. Let me hear your reason to consider which side I should support." He turns and let his cold stare piercing through a pair of rose eyes.

"Then which side are you right now, Mika?"

"Yuu-chan's."

"What if he knows who you are, turn his back on you and throw you to Cochlea?"

"Stupid question... You already know my answer, Krul." Mika breaks into smirk as he cocked his head to mock the pink haired ghoul, "Will you save me if Yuu-chan capture and throw me to Cochlea?"

"You already know my answer, Mikaela." Krul said with a wide smile on her face.


As he listens to door closed behind his back, he changed into his indoor slippers and prepared two pairs more before hurriedly exited to the living room.

In his 18-year-old life, this moment was the most complicated.

After the news about Yoichi is attacked and injured badly he running all the way to the hospital followed by Shinoa and Mitsuba only to see Kimizuki slapped Shinoa's face and cursing for her incompetence as a squad leader. Yuu can't even opened his mouth and watch as Mitsuba tries her best to separate both of them which end up she punched the taller boy and swear that he will receive bad punishment for this and catches Shinoa from falling to the ground.

The most reassuring part is Yoichi's wound isn't life-threathening and the doctor said he should be fine to back to work after two-three weeks, even if they finally ground out that Pinocchio and Ukaku ghoul is in District 13 whilst they can continue their plan, the team isn't happy at all.

Yuu can't even imagine Guren's reaction when he heard this.

That night, Shinoa told Kimizuki and Yoichi to go to their patrol near the section that she assumed as Pinocchio's hunting area and told them to find them no matter what and run away with some information. She didn't know that Ukaku ghoul would be there too tonight and attack Yoichi, it's her miscalculated. Yuu knows the reason of Kimizuki's action is not about Yoichi, but more about Shinoa didn't tell them any detail about the plan and the fact that Shinoa forgot about their ranks and the ghouls ranks wasn't a good match. At least two First-class investigators needed to face S and A ranked Ghoul.

As pouring Oolong tea to three glasses he took glances towards Kimizuki and Shinoa who sat at dining table. Mitsuba come and help him to prepare some snacks and tries to open up small talk only to be ignored. Shinoa didn't even respond to her sarcastic joke like she always does, it makes Yuu let out a huge sigh.

At any rate, the discussion will be delayed because of this weight tension and Kimizuki is acting strange today.

"Help yourself with the tea—uwaaaah!"

And Yuu accidentally drops the glass as the tea spill out on the table, both Kimizuki and Shinoa jump from the shock and escaping the fluid that is dripping from the edge of the table. Yuu froze at that moment as Mitsuba face palmed.

"… Sorry."

"You have that unique abilty to serve visitors, Yuu-san." Yuu found the smirk back on Shinoa's face as she helped Mitsuba cleaned the table and notice Kimizuki's snort too.

"I bet you guys really like to humiliate me," He grumbled under his breath.

Shinoa turns her back and announced that she wants to change her clothes before they initiate the discussion.

After the Oolong tea accident Shinoa come back to her old self and can't stop to bothering him for every-single-information about his academy era and it makes Yuu wonder where she heard all of it, but it also makes Kimizuki throw some comment that makes him grit his teeth and regretting his stupid action. Of course, he is glad that the weird tension has gone, but he didn't know that he must lose his face and become a target of bullying by these people. Only Mitsuba that seem not interested and sit on the couch busy with a magazine from the tea table in the living room.

Kimizuki brought his glass and sit near Mitsuba and ask her about the procedure of visiting Cochlea. Yuu join them and sit on the arm rest with a mug of coffee and look at locked door near the TV. He wonders why Shinoa chooses his apartment, not their brand new office and then he remembered, Shinoa is called into Associate Special Class Hiiragi Shinya's room and back with darkening atmosphere as her mood changed after that meeting, so it's probably the reason she doesn't want to back to the office for a while.

Yuu felt more disturbed when the door open and Shinoa showed up with a long sleeved t-shirt and a pair of over-sized training. Shinoa has been living with him for nearly one week and she always uses short sleeved t-shirt with shorts even when their neighbor stop and told him about some event for next month. Shinoa didn't even make an effort to change clothes and showed them her scars and told them it's from an accident with a sheepish smile.

Is she didn't want her teammates peering about her scars? And so, why is she letting strangers know about that and easily lie to them? Now he thinks about it, is Guren knows about this? Who else knows about her scars? Is Mitsuba really didn't know anything? But what's more important is; are the scars really come from accidents? What kind of accident was it? Why has she shown him the scars, anyway? Does she trust Yuu and believe he won't ask her anything? Then, why Yuu never asks her about the scars up until now?

"Yuu-san… Yuuichirou… Rank 3 Hyakuya Yuuichirou!"

Yuu snaps back to reality and found him staring at Shinoa, the girl put her devilish smile again before asking him, "Do you imagine dirty things about me while I busy sorting up the document?"

"Don't jump into weird consclusion, you make people think I'm that kind of person."

Yuu casts one last glimpse towards the girl who sat with both legs curled before relaxing his back and notice that Kimizuki and Mitsuba join to sit on the floor. It's likely because her usual hair style that Shinoa's hair looks more curly, he constantly thinks that the girl looks better with her hair down like this, but he remembers their job and think it's impossible for a long haired girl to fight with her hair swaying around without being cut by Kagune's movement.

"Let's start with summarizing our development until today," Shinoa announces. "What we know: 1. This Pinocchio ghoul is one of a member Pinocchio group and reappearing again after his friend killed by Narumi's squad two years ago, 2. Both Pinocchio group and Pinocchio ghoul's hunting area don't have any significant pattern and they always attack us—investigator rather than civilians. 3. Pinocchio's ghoul has assistance or backup member, the Ukaku ghoul which is probably the last member of Pinocchio's group because what happen to the third one if Pinocchio ghoul is here to avenge their friend. Then, thanks to Yoichi that we finally found out mysterious ghoul come to a place that is far from the heart of the district and probably a place where every desperate person ends their life and jump off from the abandoned buildings, and then some of the investigators saw a ghoul with Pinnochio's mask hanging around near that area. That is why I told Kimizuki and Yoichi to patrol that area today, and we hit the jackpot."

Shinoa let her gaze wanders and found the third of them nods, and continue, "What I told you all: 1. Yuu-san and I found out Pinocchio group's base and found out there are three of them and they meet with someone that is probably from Sanguinem's group which is positive sign that they related to each other, 2. Ukaku ghoul is probably living outside District 13 and only come here to help Pinocchio's ghoul action, whether their former friends or not, 3. I told Yoichi to inform you guys about my guess that Ukaku ghoul's identity is probably the ghoul from No. 108 case, and Yoichi even found it weird and inform you guys about that mysterious ghoul disappearing right before Pinocchio's ghoul start killing our comrades."

"So there's something that you haven't told us?" Kimizuki ask and wrinkles his brow, "Why did you do that First-class Hiiragi Shinoa?"

"… I don't think it's necessary as I don't know that Pinocchio ghoul would really appear tonight, and we can still continue gathering information while I'm searching what is true and not with this information." Shinoa says as she let her gaze down.

"Wait… what does that supposed to mean?" Yuu asks and grabs Shinoa's shoulder.

"Shinoa use informant." Mitsuba is the one who answers that as Shinoa scrolling up something on her phone.

Yuu blinks blankly as starring to the lilac-haired girl as she put her phone down and took one deep breath. She gazed at the phone screen with an intense stare as if she burns a hole straight through her phone screen and he could almost see the gears turning in the girl's brain as she processes the words from documents or information she bought.

"Okay." She put a wide grin on her face. "First of all, I apologize for hiding this important information from you all and causing Yoichi and Kimizuki faced dangerous ghoul with little information and vague order. And for Micchan, sorry I sold your apartment to Hide-san to buy this and you can live with me as I already found new apar—no, it's more like a mansion."

"SHINOA!" Mitsuba stands up from her seat, her eyes full of murderous intent as Shinoa keeps her grin like sunshine ray.

"Have you ever heard about a rabbit can die because of loneliness?"

"You're not a rabbit! Don't involve me with your weird world!"

Shinoa smile became even wider as noticed Mitsuba's face become redder as regretting what she have said, "I always want to live with you since our academy era, if I don't live with my sister I would do everything I can to live with you in the dorm."

Mitsuba points her finger at the girl and yell, "That's not what I wanted to hear?! Why you… what I have done to make you do such a thing!"

"You did nothing," Shinoa blinks in a creepy innocent expression as she continues "I just want to live with my beloved friend, that's all."

"This isn't what a friend would do, and I think you should consult with Dr. Shiba about your personality and your head." Mitsuba groaned and curled her fingers into a fist when she notice Shinoa just raised one of her eyebrows as a response.

"I'm surprised that you actually cared about my mental health, Micchan." Shinoa really doesn't understand or maybe pretending to not notice that Mitsuba just insult her, Yuu suddenly pity Mitsuba for meeting and knowing her long enough to make the girl can easily mess with her life. "Please sit down… I can't continue if you stand like that. We can continue later if you want."

Mitsuba fell into deep silence and before she can open her mouth Shinoa cut her off with, "Now, Hide-san told me almost everything I need about this Ukaku ghoul, he called Knight among ghouls as he always works as bodyguard or protecting something or someone. He is part of Pinocchio's group and the strongest one, he also called Binge eater from District 13 before he joined Pinocchio. His kakuhou type is Ukaku, he joined Sanguinem about 4 years ago or the exact time when case 108 happen, no information about where he lived before. Hide-san was former Division 2 in this commission and he told me that this Knight ghoul's rank now about S~. Plus, Knight lives in District 13 and actually a right hand of Sanguinem's leader."

"Wait… looking at the ranks doesn't this case should be handed to a higher rank investigator?" Kimizuki asked.

"Ah, that. Yes, we can't handle them alone, that's why the original plan is us helping another squad to solve the case and catch the ghoul, but, if you think Associate special class Ichinose didn't consider the risk about the newborn squad to face this case then you're wrong. He knows we can't face them alone, that's why we need to learn what teamwork is. Remember the first mission he gave us? In one week I want all of you become close enough to not let others died in a mission." Shinoa shrugged her shoulder and play with her hair as looking right through Kimizuki's eyes.

As she read the change in Kimizuki's eyes Shinoa continues, "Plus, he knows we bear high-rank quinque and a product of Special-class Hiiragi Mahiru's experiment so… it's not our rank that matters it is our ego and pride because he know how strong this squad members are. If you have any complaint more than that then why you join Hiiragi department in the first place? Washuu department is the one who let works under strict law and won't send a Rank 1 investigator to face SS rank ghoul alone."

"I personally don't think Associate special class Ichinose would give us a difficult case without a reason behind it," Mitsuba says as if she wants to cut Shinoa's words but fail at the last moment.

"Also, we have Micchan and Kimizuki-san who is more competence and full of experience, Yoichi-san who is a previous member of Division 2, and Yuu-san who is really good using his quinque even if he just a mere Rank 3," Shinoa said with a gentle voice.

"Don't forget about the famous Goddess of Death First-class Hiiragi Shinoa."

Shinoa stares at Yuu, slightly bewildered. "How did you know? Am I that famous? Or you…"

"Stop! You make me regret what I have said." Yuu pouts and notice smile on Mitsuba and Kimizuki's face. Really, if it's about bullying him everyone suddenly become intimate.

"Now, let's talk about what we have to do after this… actually, I'm surprised you haven't said anything about avenging Yoichi-san, Yuu-san." Shinoa said purposely put a different tone when she pronounces his name.

"You're the one wh—"

"There's two ways… first is waiting for the ghoul to attack us again and second, assuming their next step and trap them." Kimizuki said as he cuts off a protest coming from Yuu's mouth.

"As expected from someone who love to work the nasty job!" Shinoa cheered. "Waiting would only make this person explode and start shouting I WILL KILL ALL GHOULS, so I think we should choose the second one."

"… Stop pointing your fingers at me!" Yuu protested.

"What's the plan, then?" Mitsuba say with a frown.

"Do you guys know the reason why Pinocchio and Knight attack Aihara squad?" Shinoa ask with unusual light tones.

"Attention?" Yuu tries to guess and greeted with a surprised stare from Shinoa.

"Wow… there is a real brain in your head, Yuu-san"

"SHUT IT!"

"And yes.. Pinocchio wants our attention distracted to District 11 and make us assuming that he moved his territory there that's why he or they make more than one attack which is enough to make everyone panic and call for help to the main office. If it's their motive, then why attack Yoichi-san and Kimizuki-san today?" Shinoa looked at Yuu waiting the raven haired pull a surprise answer again.

"Because it seems that we still focused in 13?"

"No. You may not believe me, but they seemed not expecting we come today." Kimizuki open his mouth, "I felt both of their movement strange as if hiding something…"

"… Hiding something… well, that means we will have another ambush if they want us to be silenced. If they found Kimizuki-san wandering around the city I bet they'll fall to our bait," Shinoa put a smirk and immediately add, "We'll discuss the plan tomorrow along with Yoichi-san because we don't know if he had a better idea than us." And with that, Shinoa warped the meeting up.

"Now, I must back to hospital and told Yoichi about this," Kimizuki says as he stands up and exiting the room. Mitsuba follows him, "I left my key in our office," is what she said and Shinoa informs her to pack everything after this case closed. Mitsuba gave the girl a glare as response.

"You really sold her apartment for that?" Yuu asks.

"No. I sold her apartment to buy this new mansion. Look, I don't have so much money to buy a huge mansion which can contain all of us and it's near from office only 3 minutes by walking." She said and folds her hands behind her back and looking at Kimizuki and Mitsuba busy checks everything on their pocket coat after changing into their shoes.

"Why you buy such a huge mansion in the first place?" Yuu said after a long sigh.

"Because when you need a place to go and called home, you can come to that mansion."

Shinoa visibly brightens up and waving at Kimizuki and Mitsuba close the door, the most surprising part is Shinoa oozes so much positive energy that make even Kimizuki and Mitsuba's expression brightens. They probably heard what she said.

Yuu holds the urge to ask about the scars, but then he didn't want to broke such a good atmosphere and can only look at the girl as she removes the long sleeved t-shirt and leaving only black tank tops. She walks to her room and glances at him out of the corner of her eyes.

"Oyasumi, Yuu-san."


The good thing is Touka isn't glaring at him.

Probably bad thing is Lacus is the one who glaring at him.

Mika had brought everything with him after escaping the branch base of Sanguinem ten blocks from :re that consist of the news that he and Lacus is expected to guard Eusford mansion next month because the possible ambush coming from Dove and a gift from Chess—his mask and Lacus's Pinocchio mask inside his bag.

"Why you left your mask?" Mika ask as he walks and passed the table with high school girls and notice a soft murmur about a plan asking him out after this.

"I have tons of them. It won't affect anything if I lost one." Lacus answer with a low tone as he took some glances to three doves sit down near the counter, Mika notice that as he nodding at Touka who told him to change his clothes and get back to work.

"Why are you glaring at me?" Mika asks when he notices Lacus bitter expression remain the same in this past fifteen minutes.

He knows Lacus has something to tell him, probably about last night as he finally knew Mika was letting himself starving and clinging over a stupid sugar cube. Ever since Krul put Mika under his surveillance, he knows that Mika is one of the famous one-eyed ghoul and something that always make Hiiragi Mahiru's eyes smiling at him whenever he inform her about Mika's wellbeing and Lacus find it strange as the blond always eat lesser than he and Rene and he must force him to eat or at least drink some blood before engaging battle.

"Because you start to starve yourself... again," Lacus answered with a mocking smirk.

Mika stared at him blankly, then places his arms over the counter table.

"Mind your own business."

"Still want me to stop?" Lacus says after serving one customer with a smile and pass him the order. "One caramel latte. take away."

"You messed up and Krul also wants you to stop playing with doves and do your job.. but, I guess you won't listen after they found us wandering here." Mika replies with a soft voice as working on the order and listening to Touka's order to tell Yomo make another sandwich for table 10, Mika pass the words to the silver haired man from the window. "So… you want to silence them?"

"Obviously." Lacus said with a cold voice and serve another costumer as Mika served the caramel latte to young women and bow to her as she disappeared into the front door and passed one plate of sandwich to Touka.

"I'm surprised you're actually helping him out not stop him." Touka raised one eyebrow and give Mika one smirk before turn her heels and proceeding to the table 10.

"Is avenging Rene means everything to you?"

"I take that as you want me to kick your ass and throw you to doves office, Shindou." Lacus tells him and left the cashier table and flips his apron. "Make some excuses for me. Oh, Mika.. you can have that Pinocchio mask, I don't need it."

"Where you going?" asked Mika but Lacus remain silent as he enters the employee room behind the bookshelf.

"Ah.. Mika.. Someone from table 24 wants to meet you, let me handle the rest, but make sure you come back or tell me if you want to take outside. Where's Lacus?" Touka suddenly appears and make Mika switch his attention back to her.

"Out. Don't know where. Table 24? Okay."

Mika works to mentally prepare himself for the confrontation as he makes his ways towards the other end of the shop where table 2 placed. This place is a special one with more deceit and secrets. If someone wants to meet him at table 2 that means it's from Sanguinem, Mika can't help but tsking as he doesn't want to encounter anyone after what happen last night and his nice and warm conversation with Krul. But then he can't help but gazed at the blue haired girl who greet him with a bright smile.

"Chess…" Mika greets her with a polite bow. He stands before Chess grab his hand and pull him to sit beside her.

"Say, Mikaela… are you ready for the main attraction?" Chess returns with a grin, she put her hand on Mika's chin forcing him to look at her. "Is Lacus already go for the hunt?"

"Please speak with human language." Chess chuckles at Mika's sarcastic joke, "You do tell him something about dove's movement, don't you?"

Chess shakes her head, averting her gaze. "That's cruel.. I just warned him not to use main road because there's two pair of doves looking for him and you."

"No thanks to you he's out and probably want to play with them." Mika said and let go of Chess hold on his arm and chin. He waits, watching her expression fill with amusement as she stands and grab her shoulder bag.

"Let's go and watch, Mikaela."

"No, I… I still have some work to do here, I'll catch up later." Mika said while putting a smile. He resists the urge to fidget as Chess stares at him, her dark red eyes studying him with such intensity that he's almost sure she's going to bore a hole in his face.

"You seem a little off today," she observes, "Did Krul-sama scold you? Or are you afraid of hurting some doves again?"

"Is there anything new about Krul scolding someone, especially me?" Mika responds with as much joviality he could muster. "Please make sure Lacus is still alive because he still has a lot work to do."

"Sure." Chess tells him and Mika just about to congratulate himself for the successful evasion when he notices her subtle look of sympathy. "I really miss the time when you first join Lacus's team, Mikaela. Even if it's harder to talk and make a contact with you but… you really care about your comrades."

That's not my real intent, though, Mika wants to answer, but doesn't because it's amazing how it only takes one sentence for him to give up on putting up his usual front.

"A lot of things did happen,." He said in a low voice, raking his fingers through his hair. Chess nods in understanding and Mika knows she's thinking about that incident when they lost Rene. It's strange how ghouls treat their kind whom considered comrades and treat them as a real family, of course, some people like Ferid is out of the question, but it makes Mika wonder if the gloomy atmosphere near Chess is a real one, not just an act, and is Lacus anger and grief is really for Rene not for documents that man brought with him that day.

"Well then," Chess takes a step back. "I'll tell you if something bad happens."

"Please be careful." Mika agrees.

"See you later, Hyakuya Mikaela-kun."

Mika offers her one last smile before bowing politely as Chess bouncing to the front door and close it with a soft ring of a bell.

He's working in this district as Rank 3 Investigator.. Not so special, as he just a low-rank dove, his current teammate are Kimizuki Shihou—Rank 2, Saotome Yoichi—Rank 3, Sanguu Mitsuba—Rank 1, and Hiiragi Shinoa—First-class.

Hyakuya Yuuichirou… He still alive… and top of it, he's dove. I bet you already know about this, Mika. I think it's obvious. He is dangerous. Once he knows your identity, he'll kill you and then he would find out Kirishima-san and others are ghoul too.

This team is currently marking for both of you, what do you do now, Mika-cchi?

Mika… you smell that? It's Rene's

I really miss the time when you first join Lacus's team, Mikaela. Even if it's harder to talk and make a contact with you but… you really care about your comrades.

RENE DIED BECAUSE HE PROTECTED US! MIKA IS STILL STANDING HERE NOW IS THE RESULT OF HIS SACRIFICE SO YOU BETTER SAID YOUR GRATITUDE TO HIM, KRUL TEPES.

Oh, it's nothing big. I've marked my new target and your job is only making his friends don't come to help.

Itori, Lacus, and Chess voice filling his brain as Mika quietly shut his eyes and clutching his finger together. He dashes towards employee room and notice a small smile on Touka face before the door shuts behind him, he quickly changes into black parka and let his white shirt and founds that Lacus didn't bring his Pinocchio mask with him.

"That moron."

Mika grabs his mask and shoved it into parka's huge pocket and exiting :re from its back door and run towards the main roads he always hate while grabbing the front hood and which can protect almost upper half of his face when he notices a black hair on the opposite road talking with a blond hair girl.

Mika followed both of them without even bother to conceal himself as he need to let them know he is behind. Chess is probably on her way to Lacus's place and he needs to buy some time for both of them.

"We've been followed, Yuu. It's probably Knight." Mitsuba said with a surprisingly calm voice. "Stop, baka. Don't make eye contact. What do we do?"

"Eh… I should've listened to Shinoa to warm my body up before this."

Mitsuba can't help but smile, she glances at some place with less people and notice the reconstruction area two blocks ahead and reaching pressing one button on her earphone and inform the squad leader that they'll be late.

"Don't die."

Yuu also smile when he listens to Kimizuki's voice and nodding at Mitsuba as placing his thumbs on his case preparing for battle, as they leave the main roads and entering the reconstruction area Yuu quickly activate his Quinque followed with click-sound the case grew longer, thinner and heavier in his hand. In half a second Yuu held a shimmering black-red katana, a leather-wrapped grip. The weapon felt balanced in his hand. Yuu looks Mitsuba is ready with her gigantic axe and face a ghoul with white knight-like mask standing 10 meters in front of them.

"You have any last words before I cut your head off, Mr. Knight?" Yuu tries to provoke the ghoul.

The answer is the ghoul run towards them with his kagune which looks like a thorn pierce through his clothes and thick parka and spread like a wing behind his shoulder and shots a crystal-like RC cells to Yuu and Mitsuba but they quickly jump and dodging all the RC cell.

As expected from Ukaku type, even if it was a 2-on1 situation, he elegantly dodges attacks both from Yuu and Mitsuba and reply them with a fist or kick and quickly make some distance to attack them with a rain of RC cell again. As attacking together slowly become a hindrance than a help, Mitsuba suggesting to become a support and protect him from RC cell attack with her huge axe whilst Yuu stand in the front lines and attack him with his katana.

As if noticing the different pattern of attack, Knight is slowly using his Kagune to attack and become a shield and Yuu notice it's gritting his teeth and can't help but smile. We can do this, he thinks. Then, the blue-colored kagune cut his shoulder.

At the same time a cold hand passed over his heart and he can hear Mitsuba shouting his name with horror as she stands in between them and forcing the Ghoul to take a step back. Before she can ever ask about the wound, Yuu shoving his head and focused on his target.

Yuu forced a huge breath to steady himself, so this is what people felt when facing a strong Ghoul. It's probably 10 minutes passed but he already breathing heavily and Yuu can feel his heartbeat knocking at his chest as his head can't stop pounding in panic and fearing to lose and become a burden for Mitsuba. But look at that bastard, he can stand with calm posture and openly in front of them.

"Fucking S rank."

Yuu shifting his katana and watched the enemy, kagune behind his shoulder is shifting to a small wing almost look like a butterfly wing as it warped behind fire-like RC cell coming from his body. You wait for a rain but then the ghoul suddenly appears in front of him Yuu swung the katana horizontally as it meets with the kagune which suddenly become as hard as metal. He forces the katana swinging right suddenly sprang, as if forced by a spring, lift up and almost hits the ghoul's heart but the figure disappeared in last second.

"BAKA YUU!" Before Yuu's body react to the sudden loud voice he hears a loud klang and found Mitsuba stand behind his back. "Do it, Tennouji." She said in a low voice and swing the gigantic weapon to hit the ground, the knock of the weapon against the hard soil sent debris and dust into the air, behind those debris Yuu can notice a dark scarlet colored kagune moves to catch Knight. Mitsuba looked around, but the dust made it impossible to see where Knight go or if her attack hits the ghoul or not.

"What was that…" Yuu can't help but ask and Mitsuba looked at him with an expression as if he just talks with Latin language.

"No time to explain, but it's probably something you boys called Skill when playing RPG." She said.

"Looks like you've caught a nice tight game, there.. Knight-san."

When the dust disappears Yuu notices two figure stands before him. One, is of course Knight and Yuu almost congratulate himself as he saw the ghoul's parka has gone and he can easily see the white shirt stained with blood from several wounds on the arm and the ghoul's side.

"Cinderella…" Mitsuba's tone is really out of her character when the second ghoul no longer look like a silhouette as Yuu can see the blue one-piece dress and pure white obscuring upper-half of her face. "Oh… that investigator from District 20,how have you been?" The ghoul ask with surprisingly friendly tone.

"How's Pinocchio?" Knight asks as he placed his hand on Cinderella's shoulder.

"Save."

"Let's go. We have nothing to do again, here."

"Eeeeh?! I want to play with them too.. the other party is making me bored to death."

It was suddenly difficult to breathe and the scenery before his eyes turned into pure white and Yuu found he sprinted forward, quinque tightly gripped in his hand as he felt something crawling under his skin but he ignored the odd sensation and readying his katana.

What's your name?

How about you gave me one, you're my master after all.

I'm bad at choosing a name.

Asuramaru… My ex-master called me Asuramaru. Call my name, and I shall give you my power.

Yuu still can't believe and think that quinque is something like magic gear from any manga he ever read, and after seeing Mitsuba did with her quinque he want to try something like that too. But before he can call his quinque name something kicked him in the chest. Yuu cried out and fell, he lost his quinque in the process.

His chest seemed to burn and the pain spread to his whole body in a matter of second, whenever he tries to move it only made it hurt more. The sensation is totally different from when Guren kicked him when he first breaking the rule, Yuu biting his lips to not let any scream or cry escape his mouth. Mitsuba run and kneels beside him, help him to straight his back and notice that the ghouls gone.

"Sorry, I'll let them go." Mitsuba said, her eyes full of concern. "Are you okay?"

Yuu nodded. "Kimizuki…. Shinoa…"

"They're okay."

Yuu can't help but smile as he relaxes and feel Mitsuba's warm hand on his back, he looks at the girl and meet with a pair of round violet eyes. "Guren will scold us."


When Guren opened his eyes, he found himself in his office the clock show him it almost midnight and groaned at the tower of paperwork. Gift from Shigure this morning.

"You forgot our promise, Guren."

A voice sounded from the corner of his darkroom.

A girl's voice which he had heard before.

Guren looked in that direction, and when moonlights from the window behind his desk showed up and let its silver ray showered into his room Guren finally found the girl.

Beautiful ashen hair, red eyes looking at him with a soft smile on her face.

Guren felt his heart stop beating.

It was Mahiru.

Hiiragi Mahiru.