Endless ruins of a once proud nation stood before me. What was once supposed to be my new home turned into a fanatical nightmare. Even after all this time, the vast emptiness of the wasteland still wrought an unnerving anxiety within me. There were no screams, no roars, not even the cawing of birds. It was just solemn silence. Just. Silence.

"..."

"Hey!"

I looked behind me, three vampires stepping out of the recently landed helicopter. One of them stepped forward, handing me a plain white envelope with my name handwritten on it in cursive. I took it, taking out my knife and opening it.

"Lord Ferid commanded me to give you this,"said the vampire.

"Uh-huh..."

I started reading the letter he gave me, sheathing my knife as the vampire kept talking. "Ferid wrote detailed instructions for you to follow. We're here to make sure your job is done."

I carefully read the letter, nodding at the very first instruction. I looked back up at the vampire, cocking my eyebrow. I tried holding back an amused snicker.

"And you're extremely sure I have to follow these instructions?"I asked.

The vampire scoffed. "Dumb dog! Of course you have to! What kind of idiot are you?!"

Annoyed, I merely shrugged. "Well, this here first instruction is quite confusing to me."

"Let me see."

The vampire annoyingly swiped the letter from my hand. He brought it up to his eyes, his red eyes darting from left to right and back as he read each line of instruction. Suddenly, his eyes widened.

"Wait—"

I quickly drew my gun and fan-fired it, shooting all three vampires in the head. The two behind the first vampire immediately withered away to ash. The first vampire fell down, the bullet merely incapacitating him. I stepped over quietly, my gun still trained on the vampire, scooping up the letter before rereading the first instruction.

"'Step One,'"I read aloud. "'Kill your escorts.' Told ya' it was confusing...but if you insist on me following instructions..."

"...you—!"

I quickly killed him, the crack of the gun echoing into the distant land. Cockily, I twirled the gun around my index finger before holstering it, fixing my rig afterwards.

"Okay, let's see...blah-blah-blah...only one of them knows...a familiar face? There's only so many people that I remem—oh! No, it couldn't...maybe...I did tell him that."

The road that the vampires tracked the jeep convoy at was only a few blocks away, the convoy itself last seen just ten miles out. I quickly hurried myself down towards the rendezvous point, sticking to the walls of buildings like glue in the hopes that the shots didn't attract any nearby Horsemen of John. The last thing I needed was to be maimed and eaten by one of those disgusting things.

I found a clear intersection free of cars and trucks, perfect for catching the jeep convoy. I hid inside a derelict building with a clear view of the street.

"Aiight you sons of bitches. Where you at?"

"...have patience."

My body jolted itself against the wall, my hand jerking my pistol out its holster. My heart jolted, my eyes darting to a dark corner of the room. My teeth gritted against each other; I knew who it was.

"Dammit...I knew it,"I grunted.

I kept my gun trained on the figure as it stepped out into the light, revealing itself to be—

"Haru...goddammit,"I muttered. "Are you a ghost?"

"Haru" shrugged, keeping a sarcastic smirk plastered on his face. "What do you think?"

"Tsk! I ain't got time for this. Leave me be."

"Huh? First, you cheat on me, and now, you don't have time for me?"

I rolled my eyes in anger, my hand squeezing the butt of my gun. "I wasn't thinking right, okay! I thought I was gonna get killed!"

"And that gives you an excuse?"

"It's not an excuse!"

"Then what is it?"

"I DON'T—"

I nearly fired my gun at Haru, the "ghost" still lingering in front of me. My mind was drowning in thoughts, my head unable to think clearly. Haru was visibly mad.

"...you don't understand."

"No, I don't. If you were killed, we would finally be together again. How could I even begin to forgive you for this?"

I stayed silent, shaking my head and crossing my arms while keeping an eye out in the road. I tried ignoring Haru, hoping he would disappear.

"...you do want to be with me again...right?"

I kept my mouth shut, trying my damnest to focus.

"...did you even—"

"I did—er, do,"I finally said. "It's complicated."

"What's complicated? The fact that I'm dead?"

"Well, yeah!"

"But when you die, you'll be with me again."

"...maybe."

The room fell silent. We eyed each other again, only, I wasn't comfortable staring at him in the eyes. I averted my gaze after just a quick glance, staring just at his feet. Haru stepped forward.

"No. You don't think you'll be with me again,"Haru said.

"I done too much that can't be forgiven."

"You've given up."

I rubbed my eyes, taking in a deep breath. I urged my eyes up, gazing softly at Haru. He was just like how I remembered seeing him all those years ago, long before the Apocalypse.

"If only I died right beside you, yeah? Maybe, we still would've been together."

I turned away from him, slowly stepping outside the building. I found a large piece of rubble on the ground, sitting down on it without a heavy sigh. Looking out towards the empty street, I felt a deep emptiness inside me. My shoulders slouched over my body, my head hanging low.

Haru sat down next to me, placing his hand on my thigh. He sighed softly, retracting his hand.

"What am I doing with my life?"I asked Haru.

"I get it. You're doing what it takes to survive."

"Yeah, but the cost...after this is done, I'm heading home. I need air, I need...I need to go far away from here. From everything."

"Even me?"

I bit my lip, looking up at him. "Well, if you are a ghost, how 'bout you just haunt my ass all the way home?"

We both giggled amusingly. For a brief second, it almost felt normal to laugh again. Then, I remembered what kind of six-foot hole I dug myself in, my shame returning to me. I wiped my eyes, our laughter dying down.

"I was thinking maybe I can erect some kind of symbolic shrine for you. A proper memorial for the special someone."

Haru raised his eyebrow. "Now you're just trying to make me forget how you cheated on me."

"Pfft! I was gonna do it either way. Crowley was just...the spur of the moment. An accident."

"Right...so, how was he?"Haru suddenly asked.

"Huh?"

"Crowley?"

A surprised scoff jumped out of my throat. I turned my face away from him, my cheeks reddening. "Uh, Crowley? Really? You wanna hear about that?"

"Yeah, I wanna know."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "If you were real, you'd be kicking my ass up and down this block."

"Well, I'm dead, so I can't do much. Just tell me!"

"Gah! Well...ur...oof..."

"Oh?"

"Ur...well, he's, you know...a good kisser."

"Did he bite you?"

My head slowly shook back and forth. "Surprisingly no, but he still liked to keep a firm grip."

"Firm grip?"

"He was very powerful—"

"Okay! I heard enough!"

As if on cue, I heard a soft rumbling in the distance. I sighed, shaking my head as I got up. I fixed my hair, taking one last glance at Haru sitting perfectly still on the rubble.

"Uh, I hope we can talk more...later?"

Haru shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe. Who knows."

He faded into nothing. I closed my eyes, gripping the hilt of the katana strapped to my rig. A bittersweet smile formed between my lips, a tired scoff erupting from my dry throat.

"Damn Apocalypse,"I muttered with a smile.

The roar of what I knew to be the convoy grew louder, and soon I could see them barreling towards me in the distance. I knew at least one of the people from the convoy knew someone was to meet them en route, but accidents could happen. I needed to time this just right if I didn't want to be left on the side of the road. Freedom was so close.

They quickly approached, their speed just a hair's width down from outright floored to the max. I stepped towards the middle of the road, my heart racing. With shaky knees and a trembling arm, I stood in the middle of the road as the jeeps were just two blocks away.

Without a moment's hesitation, I quickly drew my gun and fired it three times in the air.

"STOP!"

Luckily, they braked, the sound of tires rapidly screeching to a stop echoing throughout the city. I stood my ground, clenching my teeth and fists as they skidded to a complete stop, the lead car stopping just a few feet away from me.

I let out a relaxed sigh, wiping my brow as the doors of the jeep kicked open. A man appeared, pointing at me with his gloved hand. "YOU CRAZY BASTARD!

I merely rolled my eyes. "Oh good, you speak English."

Another face appeared from the opposite door. My eyes widened, the face being—

"Guren! Is that your head I see there!?"

"Yes. I remember you..."

"Wow. You've grown,"I said, stepping over to the jeep.

"You, too. You don't look worse for wear."

"Yeah, well, don't let these here rugged looks fool you. It's been...a long...time."

He rolled his eyes. "Look, if you're looking to finally head to safety, I suggest you—"

"No. I'm fine where I'm at, but I'm looking to make a trade for some food."

His eyebrow raised. "A trade?"

"I got some dirt on our fanged friends from Kyoto. Seems to me that I might know a few things that you fine folk might not know about."

If what Ferid said was true in that letter, then it had to be Guren who was his confidential partner in crime. In fact, he stepped down from the jeep. I scoffed as I stepped back, the Lieutenant Commander stepping towards me. He said something in Japanese to his men, his force staying behind while we stepped out towards a safe distance.

"How the hell are you taller than me?"

He only glared daggers at me. "You must be Ferid's messenger. What happened?"

"Pfft. Shoulda took your damn offer is what happened. Too much happened in our time apart, now I'm stuck playing servant...until our exchange, that is." I took out the black folder from my jacket pocket, handing it to Guren. "After our little meeting is done, I'm gonna go on permanent vacation back home to where I belong and far away from all this crap I've been swimming in."

"Hmph." He flipped through the folder. "Where have I heard that one before?"

"Oh look, you've grown a sense of humor, too. Are we good?"

Guren took his time looking through the folder. I tried getting a peek at what was inside, but he snapped it shut.

"What was in that folder, anyways?"I asked. "Is it about that kid you saved."

"None of your business,"he said. "And, yes, we're good. I'm sure we should give you some of our rations to make this exchange look real."

"Yeah, as if it weren't shady enough."

"Stay here—wait! Put down your weapons."

"Wha—? Seriously?"

"There's no way I'm turning my back to you. I know your abilities, gunman. Disarm yourself."

"Urgh...fine. Life's precious, ain't it?"

I begrudgingly took off my rig, disarming myself of my gun, knife, and sword. I tossed it over at Guren's feet, the LTC finally turning around and walking back to his convoy. I took out a flask from my jacket, drinking the last of the alcohol left inside.

I was so close to getting out of here; all that was left to do was get some barely edible army rations and then head out to Kanagawa and then home. I would finally be free of all this nonsense.

Guren finally came back with a small backpack. He tossed it over to where my rig was, his hands placing themselves against his hip. I gave him a cheeky smirk before grabbing my rig first.

"Y'know, Guren-san,"I said as I quickly buckled my rig together around my waist. "It goes without saying that our mutual bastard-of-an-accomplice isn't one to be trusted. That thing is a snake. Best thing to do with snakes is cut off their head and leave the corpse to rot."

"Is that what you're gonna do?"

"...you're the one with the longer sword."

I clapped my hands together, grabbing the bag up from the ground. I took one last look of the world around me, shaking my head.

"What a God. Damn. Shame."

I held out my hand to Guren for a handshake. Guren took it, keeping that straight look on his face.

"Well, I guess this is—"

The loud crack of a gunshot rang throughout the city. The air in my lungs was knocked out of me. Something tore into my abdomen, knocking me off my feet. The next thing I felt was the asphalt on my back and a searing pain surging throughout my belly. I couldn't even scream, much less gasp for air.

Guren, his eyes wide, looked back behind him. I craned my neck up, looking past Guren and at whoever the hell just shot me. I placed my hand against the bleeding wound in my belly.

I couldn't believe it. Just in front of the convoy was a black-haired, green-eyed boy with MY revolver pointed at me. I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief.

"Well, dip me in dog shit!"I coughed. "A kid?!"

He roared something at me that I couldn't make out, but from what Guren said next, I knew I was being double-crossed.

"Y-You!?"Guren gasped. "You're working for them!?"

I was utterly horrified. "Y...you devil! You—AARGH!"

Guren stomped on right where my wound was. I let out a bloodcurdling scream, the LTC saying something back to his comrades before running off. He left me, the jeeps immediately firing back up and driving away, leaving me to choke in their dust and my blood.

"GAH! GUREN! COME BACK! NOO! AAARGGHHH! YOU SNAKE!"

My mind was racing. I was so close! How could have this happened! I was outgunned...by a fucking kid!?

The last thing I remember before my vision faded to black was the sound of quiet footsteps...and an unmistakable laugh.

His eyes were closed, blood pouring out of his lips and abdomen, his hand bathed in blood. He was barely alive, but with each breath, his soul was slowly leaving his body. It would only be a few minutes until Thai would die.

Crowley and Ferid looked down at Thai's body, the former with a frown.

"He's gonna die, soon,"Crowley sighed. He crouched down, taking off his glove before wiping blood off of Thai's hand. He licked his finger. "Still tastes like a drunk."

Ferid paced slowly around Thai's body, licking his lips with a fierce smile plastered on his face. His eyes were like a rattlesnake's peering down at Thai's face.

"What a shame. I honestly didn't think little Yuu-chan would shoot him like that."

"You killed his friends,"Crowley said. "Seeing Thai probably made him think that he was here to steal him back."

"Hmm...perhaps. Oh well!"

"Huh? You're just gonna leave him like this?"Crowley asked.

"Of course not,"Ferid chimed. "He's still a valuable asset to me. Maybe if you kissed him, he'll wake back up!"

Crowley sighed. "First, he's not a princess, and second, he's not asleep. He's dying."

"Fine-fine. Sound more concerned, Crowley-kun. He's your friend, after all."

"Do you have a way to save him, or not? We can't move him the way he is now."

Ferid softly hummed, reaching in his pocket before taking out a small vial of blood. He swirled the blood just above Crowley, the latter's interests suddenly perked.

"Who's blood is that?"

"Our Second Progenitor, Urd Geales. Before he left, he said he saw some interest in Thai. So, I told him that one day, if Thai proved himself worthy, I'll turn him."

"And, you think he's 'worthy?'"

"Hmm...maybe not, but I'll have another friend for eternity, again!"

Crowley looked back down at Thai, resting his head on his hand. He sighed one more time, taking the vial from Ferid.

"Well, let's wake him up."