Never underestimate a beast.

Chapter 14

Damn, nothing like starting the day with a mission with not one rookie but two. It was bad enough that Kota was so energetic, but add Okami's morning zone out to the mix equaled a crappy morning. She just stared out at the City of Mercy, most likely reminiscing about what lies beyond the city. But thinking about last night made it hard for me to look at her long, so I busied myself with checking my God Arc.

. . .

Damn! This isn't good. I got stuck with a Zygote while Okami fought off with a Kongou. I needed to finish this fight fast before she got killed. But the damn Zygote Sakuya was fighting arrived making it hard to land a hit. Damn it all! Kota coming over to her drawing his Zygote along into the fray didn't help the situation at all!

The little pests were really pissing me off and it didn't help that I would constantly check my armlet for their status. The occasional cry she would make was slowly driving me to madness. To my surprise 30 seconds later the armlet said that the Zygote and Kongou were defeated, 5 seconds later Okami charged in my ally way taking on one of my Zygotes with Kota on her tail. She shot me and Kota with a team-bullet and soldiered on. Later Sakuya came around the corner just in time for the last Zygote to fall.

Okami scared me for a moment when she pointed her gun at Sakuya, her eyes were full of feral blood-lust I feared she wasn't satisfied yet. But I was ashamed of myself when it was only a recovery bullet. She shot me with one too even though it was only a light scratch, but she said 'she was learning light medic skills and we were good practice.' Hm, so that explains why her and Kota have no scratches at all. She kept looking toward the church when I asked what was wrong she said it was nothing.

. . .

Entering the Den, we find Lindow lazing about on the Entrance coach.

"So you managed to make it back before us. Good work today." Sakuya greeted as we approached him.

"Yeah, I managed to wrap things up early. How'd you guys do?"

"As per your command the same as usual," I replied.

"Right we fulfilled our mission and didn't lose anyone."

"You should have seen us. Brilliant team work –we were so tight!" That Kota had way too much enthusiasm.

"I don't remember you being of much use." I retorted, earning a nice cool down slump from Kota and a giggle from Sakuya.

"I guess you weren't there when he got a nice shot in on the Kongou's face." Okami came to his aid.

"…"

"Is that right? Well then I can go on more dates in the future." This earned a squint from me and Sakuya.

Kota not understanding the meaning of said 'dates' responded in his idiotic way. "Aren't you suppose to be hooking me up with some girls first?"

"Huh, right, as if you can handle a girl." His face was normal, but you could hear the hidden meaning.

… Well most of us could. "I don't understand these 'dates'." Commented Okami. "From what you've said, it is a challenge addressed by the female for the male which the male must accept for his pride?"

"What? No!" replied Kota, the only one willing to correct her. "A date is –"

Then the alarm went off about an Ouroboros core being extracted causing an uproar in the Den.

"What's an Ouroboros?" asked Kota. "Is it powerful?"

"It's in the Terminal if you look deep enough." I replied to his pointless question. "Do your homework once in a while."

"Well, I don't think we're quite ready to take it on just yet." I could practically hear the nervousness in her voice.

"What?! Not even with a team like ours?" Kota said with a sour face.

"One or two casualties, maybe," I had to grin at Kota's reaction. But Okami's threw me off guard. She looked excited; she even had a hungry look in her eyes.

"Hey, come on." Lindow replied trying to cheer Kota and Sakuya up. "If we can survive somehow we'll get it eventually. Don't worry about that now, just focus on staying alive." I'm starting to hate that line.

"You know that line's getting really old…"

"Right, and I'll say it to you tile I'm blue in the face. You'd probably head to your own death if I wasn't watching."

"Damn you, shut up!"

"Whoa, yes sir. I'm tired so I'm going for a hardy meal."

That bastard got some nerve, but I don't have time for this. I've got my own special mission, or 'date' in Lindow's terms, coming up this afternoon.

. . .

Ah so they called the beast Ouroboros. It was rare for me and my brothers to come upon one. But when we did, we ate for days and its moss made a comfy bed mats. Its smell was all over Lindow, so delicious, it made my mouth water. It took everything I had to control myself in front of the others, they don't like when I unleash my animalistic nature.

But I always went after one with my brothers, Lindow fought alone. I had to make sure he was alright, so I followed the scent toward him. It lead me to the Sick Bay, he must have been hurt. I startled him as I opened the door.

"Oh, it's you. Hey there."

"Are you hurt?"

"Huh? Nay it's just a scratch. But Sakuya wouldn't let me go until I got it checked."

"That's good, so you'll be able to go on that mission with us tonight?"

"Yeah, sure. A couple of Ogretails and Cocoon Maidens is child's play." Lindow replied rubbing my head. "Oh, and don't tell anyone you saw me here."

"You wish to keep the info that your mate is the dominate one a secret? Very well, I shall respect your privacy."

"What? No! That's not it, it's… (Sigh) Never mind, just think what you want."

. . .

"… Hey, New-Type, have you ever felt someone's presence around the old office ruins?"

Soma calling out to me, my word, this was rare indeed. But… should I tell him the truth. I did not want to cause panic in the pact so I remained quiet. But, Soma called me out on it alone; he must have felt it too.

"Yes. I've felt it."

"I see… it's usually when I'm on a solo mission… But if it's a non-God Eater… Damn, that means extra work for me… Maybe I'll hand it off to the Research unit."

What? Was it something he was looking for? I would have asked more but Hibari called out to me.

"Okami, Lindow wanted a word with you. He said he'd be in his room." Hibari called out.

"Understood, thank you." With that I left for Lindow's room.

At least he got to the point. "Hey Okami, I need a favor… A new God Eater will be assigned to this branch soon, probably another New-Type God Arc user. I can't prove it, but our director seems to be gathering New-Types to the Far East Branch. Which brings me to my request, if he ever says anything about that to you could you let me know?"

"Why not ask him yourself Lindow?"

"… Sure. I could just ask him myself, but I just find it hard to talk to that guy. Only if you feel like it. If it's confidential, you don't need to reveal it, but I'll give you reward for that."

I paused for a second to try and get the right words. "You are my pact leader, my friend. You have not led me to foolish battles and you've fought alongside me. So I trust your judgment and will heed to your request with the best of my abilities."

"Thanks Okami, I knew I could count on you."

. . .

"I have an introduction to make." Tsubaki summoned the whole unit for this. Damn it, what a waste of my time. "This is a New-Type Recruit; she will be joining your ranks today."

Great more rookies, the bastard himself brought her over. It's like their flooding us with new recruits and we can't plug the hole they're coming from.

"Nice to meet you." She said, she had an air of arrogance that a rookie shouldn't have. "My name is Alisa Ilinichina Amiella. As of 1200 hours I have been transferred from the Russia Branch. I look forward to working with you."

"Hey girls are always welcomed here." I had to roll my eyes at Kota's antics.

"I'm amazed that you survived this long with that frivolous attitude of yours." He appeared to have not caught on to her silent insult. But Okami did, she let out a low growl. Almost a rumble not loud enough for the others to hear, but I did. Her eyes slanted toward Alisa as some kind of warning. I better keep an eye on her, she's reverting back to her basic nature and others weren't noticing it.

"She doesn't have actual combat experience but her score in the simulation were stellar." Then Tsubaki addressed the rest to Kota. "So you better keep up or she'll surpass you."

"Ye-yes ma'am."

"Everyone else is dismissed, Alisa I'm leaving you in Lindow's care."

"Yes ma'am."

"Lindow come with me, I have some paperwork for you." As Lindow and Tsubaki left, Kota tried to make small talk with Alisa.

"So you're from Russia. Isn't it cold there? Well I guess with global warming…"

I didn't care for the rest and apparently neither did Okami since we both shared the same elevator.

"We have a mission tonight, make sure you're ready."

She gave me a toothy grin, showing off her canines. "I'm always ready."

. . .

It's as hot as ever down in the Infernal Subway. It's been ages since I've been on a mission here, ever since I had to help babysit the rookies. Speaking of rookies, Okami has been tense ever since we got here. We split into groups to look for the Chi-you, Kota with Sakuya and Okami with me.

Okami has always been one to keep her guard up during mission, but she was more so than usual. She even had a slight shake about her as she looked around, this did not sit well with me.

"What are you doing Rookie?"

"What is this place…" Her alto voice was missing the edge it usually had.

"This is the old subway tunnels, or what's left of them." I answered. "Long ago, people used them as a means of transportation."

"I don't like it here." The fear in her voice was evident. "This is a place of suffering."

"Suffering?" I scoffed. "Suffering is everywhere."

"Yes, but the winds wail here."

"You're just hearing things." But that didn't stop her shaking; I had to let out a heavy sigh at her antics. "The sooner we take down the Chi-You, the sooner we can leave."

That got her to pick up her pace. We found it in the circled opening; it was surrounded by Cocoon Maidens on each side. There was no sneaking up on it, so we charged the Cocoon Maidens taking them out before they caused trouble.

Her style of fighting was reckless, the way she'd charge at the Chi-you while it got ready to strike only blocking at the last second or barely jumping over its head as it tried to grab her. But she got the job done faster, by the time we were done devouring it and she started to talk to her God Arc Sakuya and Kota joined us.

"Where have you guys been?"

"We had to take care of some Cocoon Maidens." Sakuya answered my question. "You guys ready to head up to the surface."

"Yes let's," Okami was practically sprint walking.

Catching up to her I had to add my two cents. "Fear is nothing but a block in your way. You must learn to surpass it or you'll never move forward."

"I know but… it is also fear that has kept me alive for this long."