XXV

Uneinigkeit

He could feel his jaw crack under the blow, damn he must have been hit hard. Falling over he caught a quick glimpse of the person who had taken him by surprise.

"Seriously what is it with you bastards going around and harassing little girls!?" It seemed the question was aimed at him though it sounded more like an accusation. Damn his jaw was really causing him some pain; no doubt that person had managed to hit him with a fine blow.

Staggering backwards he grabbed for the nearest thing to hold on to, behind him he could hear the two girls shout and yell at either him or his assailant. His head was spinning as he finally managed to orientate himself, looking back he could clearly see that man that had attack him.

The man looked as unfriendly as he had thought and yet he seemed awfully familiar to him but he couldn't understand why. "Please, there has been a slight misunderstanding, if you would just give me a moment to explain."

"Seriously is that the best excuse you idiots can come up with!?" The man groaned and yelled at him, seemed like he has said something rather stupid.

"No really I mean it, I don't mean to do any harm to these girls."

"You are lying to me son, now quit with your bullshit and let me give you a lesson you won't quickly forget!" The man cracked his knuckles as he took a few steps forward before looking at the two girls that were behind Dai. "Well you are causing me a lot of trouble brat, seriously why can't you stay out of trouble just for once?"

"Ah but Bando-san we didn't mean to get into any trouble." Mayu replied as she tried to apologize and Dai looked at her, he knew that name from somewhere.

His attention shifted as the pink haired diclonius yelled as well at the man "Mayu is right, that man came after us!"

"No wait, you seem to have it all wrong, I am not after any of you. I just want to talk." He wanted to say more but he couldn't as the man that the girls called Bando came right at him, Dai narrowly avoided the punch, it was a close he had to admit as it became evident this man wasn't a brawler but a trained professional. The next punch was quick to follow and he allowed himself to fall in order to avoid it, a quick recovery saw him back on his feet.

"Nice one bastard, few have managed to dodge me at the last moment." Bando spun on the spot as he delivered a kick to Dai's legs, sweeping him of his feet before he could realize what had happened. "You didn't notice that one, were you to busy peeking at girls you pervert?"

"I am not a pervert, I wasn't peeking at any girls and I really have no idea what you are accusing me off here." Dai rebuked as he grabbed his badge, he didn't want to use it but it seemed there was no other way for him to make this man stop. Almost ready to pull it out he stopped as he realized that it would do nothing but give away his cover, if he wanted to find the diclonius then he couldn't let people know who he was. "Don't take me lightly!" Dai snapped as he jumped forward only to find himself countered by a nasty blow to the stomach.

"Ah great." Bando said through closed teeth as he heard the man, just what he needed as he watched how Dai dropped to the ground. "Really you perverts are just annoying me." He pulled out his gun as he had no longer any interest in going on with this fight, besides he had already enjoyed himself with beating this no good for nothing pervert.

"Bando-san No!" Mayu and Nana cried out in unison as they saw his gun. Dai had a similar shocked expression on his face as he hadn't expected this, still he wasn't entirely unarmed himself.

Seeing one of the girls draw away Bando's attention for just a few precious moment he seized his chance to pull out his own gun.

"So the kid has a gun, do you really think I am impressed by that?" Bando remarked as he pulled the trigger easily knocking the gun out of the man's hand. "I had expected you to be better but damn you bastards are just idiots!" He fired a second shot right in front of Dai's feet. "Seems like you are at least used to get fired at." Bando remarked as he noticed that the man didn't flinch from the shot.

"I got stuck in a firefight very recently, I took a few hits." Dai noticed that the two girls were still standing there. Why hadn't they fled with such a chance? He was in no way able to chase them if that man kept him at gunshot. "Are you just going to shoot me now or what?"

"I was thinking about it but I would rather do this the good old fashioned way, besides you are not really worth wasting a bullet on." He placed the gun back underneath his coat before turning his attention back to Dai.

"Enough both of you!" Nana screamed as she lashed out at both of them. Mayu didn't stop her as she knew this was the only way to get them apart though she felt bad about it. Dai didn't know what happened as he was hurled into the nearest bush, Bando fared a little better as it wasn't his first fight against vectors or against a diclonius.

"Damn it you ungrateful brat, I help you and this is how I get repaid!?" He gave them both a furious look as he didn't find it in any way amusing. "The moment I get my hands on you I will do even worse than what the psychopathic friend of yours did to that man!"

"Bando-san please don't." Mayu cried as she didn't for either of them to get hurt. "Nana-san please let go of him." She pleaded her friend though Nana could only reply with a questioning look. "I thought you didn't want either of them to come after us?"

"I don't want to see Bando-san get hurt; besides he already knows where we live so it wouldn't make a difference." It seemed though that Nana had forgotten about that little fact.

Getting back on his feet Bando growled as he was in a bad mood now, before he had always gone rather easy on this horned freak because he wasn't after her but now he wanted revenge.

"I didn't have a problem with you because you weren't the horned freak I was after but now I am going to teach you a little lesson!" He yelled at them both.

"I know you are a friend but I won't let you hurt Mayu!" She yelled as loud as she could and she meant every word of it, this man was a person who had helped them both in the past but that wouldn't prevent her from protecting her best friend.

He was about to take a step closer when they could all hear in the distance the sound of sirens closing in, seemed that somebody had called the police or something. No doubt somebody must have seen what happened.

"Guess you two came off lucky, there is no point for either of us to get a visit from the law eh?" He waved them goodbye as he turned around and left, still taking a little peek at where that fool Dai had landed, he smiled to see he was starting to get back up. At least some fight in that one he told himself unlike her, the sound of the sirens was getting louder by now.

"Nana-san!" Mayu cried as she grabbed her hand. "We need to go as well; we can't stay here because of what they might do to you." She pulled on her hand trying to make it clear that they had to leave quickly. "Please Nana-san just hurry." She pulled harder this time.

"But we can't just leave that man, what if he got injured?"

"I am sure he is fine, he landed in the bushes so I doubt he got hurt by it." With that answer Nana finally gave up and allowed Mayu to get her away from the place, they needed to hurry in any case because no doubt it wouldn't take long before somebody noticed their absence.

"Do you two even have the faintest idea on what you have done!?" Kouta raised his voice as all eyes were now trained at both Mayu and Nana. "Didn't I tell you that none of you girls should go outside until that man left the city."

"We are sorry Kouta-san." Mayu was the first to answer him back but in truth she had nothing to apologize for given she had done nothing wrong. Nana remained quiet nor did she try to look at anyone. Her not saying anything was likely the worst she could do at this moment.

"Don't you have anything to say for yourself Nana, you went outside despite knowing fully well you were to remain inside the house?" Still there was no reply from her, normally she would let others know what she was thought of it but this time she didn't.

"I am certain that Nana-chan had her reasons for going out." Yuka remarked as she brought them something to drink. "Just give her a chance to explain herself."

"All right then." Kouta remarked as he sat down though it seemed that her words had the desired effect as Nana slowly looked at them. "I'm sorry, I am sorry that I broke the rules and brought Mayu in danger."

He felt some relief at hearing those words as Nana sounded sincere about her apology. Also about time as they had been arguing about it for some time now.

"Would you care to tell us exactly what happened there?" Yuka asked as she gave a stern look to Kouta, Nana at the least should be granted the chance to explain what happened in her own words. He just sighed as he knew with that look there would be no but.

"Okay then, we will listen to what you have to say at your own pace." He coughed while he sat down though he didn't to hear all that much.

"I just wanted to speak with papa!" She almost screamed the words just to get them off her chest and yet the only reply she got back in return was a couple of surprised faces. Mayu had to remind her that none of the others knew who her father was. She began to explain who Nana's father really was and what had happened to him, Mayu was slightly surprised when she found some help from the most unlikely of corners.

Still she was grateful for it as with her help she could explain the situation better. Saeko seemed to relate and understand what Nana must have been through if she wanted to go out and see her father at a time like this. But then they all heard that the person who Nana had thrown into the bushes was the very person they needed to look out for, Kouta and Yuka couldn't help but sigh at hearing it.

"After all of this you can consider yourself very lucky." Kouta remarked after hearing that, the thing he had feared the most had happened. "Well at least you did a good thing by throwing him; hopefully it was hard enough to make him pass out."

"Kouta, don't say such things!" There was the lecture he was expecting from Yuka and she wasn't too happy with his latest remark.

"Yuka-san has a point." Dreachon, quiet for some time now, broke his silence with a susurrating laugh. "It is vital to make agent Hirano understand that diclonius are not violent, sadly because of someone's certain outburst that might have become more difficult." They all looked back at Nana again who started to shrink or at least she tried to. "That said I do not think any permanent damage has been done, he was given a quick check after which he was allowed to go home."

"So he wasn't hurt during the fight?"

Dreachon turned to look at Kouta as he asked the question again. "At worst he came off with scratches and bruises, nothing that would hinder him." He gestured for them all to calm down as nothing had happened that could have cause a change to their plans. "Nana-san, don't let your past mistakes weigh you down, acknowledge them and take what you've learned and move on."

Kouta scoffed at his remark abruptly. "Are you now taking her side, don't tell me you actually approve of what has happened!?" Of all the people that he counted on right now to make clear to Nana what she had done wrong he was the one that he didn't expected to turn on him.

"What's done is done, there is no changing to that. Furthermore we should focus on what lies ahead instead of the past." Hearing that the others appreciated those words he decided to drop the matter, besides he now needed to worry on contacting the man.

"I guess then we should see if we can get something to eat?" Nana led them know she was getting hungry. "Really I haven't had anything since breakfast." She pressed on.

Yuka had to laugh about as she left for the kitchen, with all the commotion she had almost forgotten about it. "Just give me a couple of minutes and it will be ready for you." Mayu and Saeko were all too quick to follow her if that meant they could start even sooner.

Saeko had to laugh as she kept on singing or at least she tried to. Nozomi had promised her to help practice just like she had done for the others; next to her Nyu was also singing along with a full spirit.

Her first lesson had likely been the hardest as she wasn't really used to being loud, with the encouragement she had gotten from the others over the past lessons she was starting to get better but it was still something she found rather difficult.

"Bei nacht im dorf." Nozomi started again as she always did after they had sung for some time. "Der Wächter rief Elfe." They waited for her to finish after which they followed her lead. She was enjoying it even when she was nervous about doing this is still gave her so much fun to do something with others.

"Ein ganz kleines Elfchen im Walde schlief wohl um die Elfe" Having sung it already several times the words seemed to flow out naturally though she still found it difficult to get her voice right. Still for all it was worth she was giving it her best shot.

"Und meint, es rief ihm aus dem Tal bei seinem Namen die Nachtigall, oder Silpelit hätt' ihm gerufen." Here there was one of those words she had never liked the sound of, the word silpelit as it brought back bad memories from her time back at the DRI. Even when sung in a different language she instantly recognized the word and the feelings it brought back to her.

"Well that will be it for today, we will continue tomorrow." Nozomi said as she already started to pack her books, both girls also looked tired to her which wasn't a surprise to her.

"I have enjoyed it." Nyu couldn't help but smile as she said it, off all the people in the house she had always been the one most excited for singing. Saeko couldn't say much besides nodding her head; her throat was getting sore again.

Nozomi handed her a glass as she heard her coughing. "Take this dear, that should help." Saeko wasn't the first girl to get a sore throat from singing which had led her to take precautions. "Just keep your voice down for the rest of the day and you should be fine for tomorrow."

Saeko was pushing her voice to much, she tried to sing far too high and loud, she had told her several times already but each following session she would sing out loud again. "You shouldn't push yourself this much, you will cause harm to your own throat if you keep forcing it." She remarked again as she could hear her coughing. "Why don't you take some time off from singing with me, give yourself some time to get better."

"I can't, I need to sing." Saeko mumbled as she heard the advice again.

"If you really want to sing you must give yourself some rest, pushing yourself further isn't any good if it destroys what you hold dear."

Later that night after the singing class had ended and most of the others had already went to their respective rooms Saeko was still up and running so to speak though with the way her eyes were becoming heavier it was becoming rather clear that she was pretty exhausted herself. "I'm tired." Saeko moaned as she dropped down next to him. How she just wanted to close her eyes and go to sleep, as long as she was with him she knew that the bad dreams wouldn't come back to haunt her. "What were you and the others talking about?"

"That man… the man you met at that building about a week ago, was he a bad man?"

She had to think about which person he could be referring to, was it the man that been so mean to them or the other man. Still both of them were just a vague memory to her as she was doing her best to forget. "I don't want to remember that, I don't like it."

"I know you do and I am sorry for bringing this up but I must know, Saeko-chan did that man that help you get out hurt you in any way?"

"I… don't… want… to remember, please don't be mad at me. Can you forgive me?"

She watched as he shook his head at her comment. "You have nothing that requires forgiving, I am the one who has let you down." She could feel how he gently caressed her face, she liked his touch. Even then she felt sorry for not being able to tell him what he wanted to know, she didn't want to let down her new master even if he did not wanted to be called that.

"I have a favor to ask?" She had wanted to ask this for some time but lately she hadn't felt the courage to try and ask for this, now she was feeling confident enough about it. "It's about my body, at least my old body. Do you still have it?"

"It is being kept in a cryogenic stasis to prevent any further decay, what do you want it for?"

Saeko look at him with her eyes wide. "I want to burn it, Nozomi-san told me that was a good way to say farewell to a loved one." It probably sounded strange coming from her mouth but she did want this, she wanted a chance to say goodbye to her former life. it was one of those things they talked about after the singing had ended but it had really intrigued her.

"That is a curious request you have, what is the reason for this all of a sudden? Until you have not made even a single request or remark with regards to your former body."

She pointed at the skull that had been lying there all this time. "That bad man did horrible things to me but if he hadn't done those things to me then I would have never met you and got to enjoy this life. I cherish it more than anything in the world." Tears were starting to roll down her face. "I hate him yes but he did give me one good thing."

"I won't comment on how flawed that logic is." A short growl accompanied it but to her it didn't matter; she had at the very least asked what she wanted.

"It would mean a lot to me if you would help me with this." She stopped for a moment as she gathered her nerves to say everything she wanted to. "Will you be there when I say goodbye to her, will you keep me company then?" She felt relieved to have said it out loud even with her throat sore, still the look on his face wasn't the one she was hoping for.

"It took courage for you to ask that, I will provide you with your old body for you to cremate. Tell me have you decided then on a location where you want to bury the remains?"

Saeko stopped for a moment as she hadn't thought about that but then she hadn't expected to being able to ask the question in the first place. "I never thought about that, what would be a good place?" All the places she had ever been to or visited weren't suited for burying her former body, she wanted a nice and calm place to grant herself a chance to bury her troubled past.

He had to chuckle at her question. "Pick a place you like or have good memories off, somewhere you had always wanted to go to." That seemed to make it only more difficult for her as she hadn't visited many places nor did she know enough on where to go.

"Give it some thought and let me know when you do." They both looked up as they could hear footsteps coming up the stairs.

"Yuka-san!" Saeko yelled as she saw her face appearing from behind the corner. "Did you come to play with us?" Her question was greeted by a warm smile.

"I'm afraid not dear but Mayu-chan and Nana-chan are playing some cards if you want to join them?" No quicker had she said those words or Saeko rushed down the stairs, forgetting all about her earlier remarks about being tired.

"If she is going to fall and break a leg I will hold you responsible." That was a rather rude remark from him but she was used to it. "Now tell me what you want to talk about."

She was quick to cast him a foul glance. "It's about agent Hirano and Saeko-chan." A quick sigh from him told her that she was dragging up something they were supposed to be done with. "Don't you dare to sigh against me; you are the one that wanted this to be cleared."

"Very well but this will be the last time we will discuss anything about her."

She couldn't help but smirk. "Trust me, I won't need another time after I have told you this but shall we focus on what comes first?" She held up the phone he had given Kouta. "This thing comes from you so I take it that it includes this great technology you have access to?"

He grinned at the question. "That is an interesting observation but yes it does contain such technologies and your point to this is?"

"I want you to program the number of his phone into this one, we can then safely contact him without being traced through whatever means right?" She felt a bit irritated when all she got was a simply nod. "Aren't you going to say more, will you then please insert the number?"

"Why should I?" He simply asked. "I programmed that number already in it when I received all his information, that is how we are currently tracking him."

"You are telling me you can trace a person through their phone use?" The smile on her face faded. "Doesn't that require him to use it like almost constantly?"

Now he was smiling. "We don't need that, I will not go into the details but suffice to say just having it with him is already enough, sensors that were placed throughout this city will register and triangulate his location then."

"Bastard." She whispered even though she knew all too well that he was bound to have heard it, still that didn't matter to her. She looked at the phone again as she felt a bit cheated having had to wait for him while all along she could have called him.

"When were you planning on telling me this?" She didn't expect an answer anyway.

"With regards to Saeko-chan I take a guess that you had this little talk you wanted with her?"

Yuka grinned as now she was the one with the answer. "Oh I most certainly do but I do wonder if I should really tell you given your attitude."

He let out only a soft moan as he rolled over. "Do as you wish, it really doesn't matter to me."

"I don't believe that for a second, I know that deep inside you care more about that girl than any of us but you just pretend that you don't because you are scared of it." She couldn't believe she had just sad that. "You told me your species doesn't understand the concept of love like we humans do, is that the reason. Is it difficult for you to understand her feelings?"

"You are assuming an awful lot." Dreachon said through closed teeth. "Now get to the point or leave."

"She loves you plain and simple." Yuka said it abruptly. "After all of this is over she wants to come with you, she wants to go with you even into space despite not even knowing what it actually means." Pausing for a moment she noted there was no visible reaction from him. "It takes a lot for a girl to be willing to leave everything she is comfortable with for the sake of being with a person."

"Even if I wanted her to come along I simply can't take her with me, it is impossible."

Yuka noticed that he stressed the words for some reason. Was there a reason for this.

"Truth be told I do wish you had rather not told me this, it only makes matters more difficult for me. What is going to happen to her after I am gone will be up to you and Kouta-san."

"That sounds a little dramatic." At least that was how it sounded and felt to her, almost as if he was making an apology for something he had done or was going to do. She wanted to grab his shoulder but another growl persuaded her otherwise. "Would you like to talk about it?"

"I would prefer not too, certainly not now. Perhaps at some other time." He breathed deeply as he waved for her to leave, now Yuka knew there was something relating to Saeko that he wasn't telling.

She got up and made for the door, halting there she spoke to him. "I don't know whatever it is that is causing you this much problems but I want you to know that if you ever need any help or someone to talk to… that I am always here to help for her sake." Leaving the room she could barely hear something, to most it would have sounded like a deep sigh but she smiled as she knew what he had just said to her.

"Thank you."

Kouta held the phone in his hands as he looked at Yuka and then back to Nyu, Mayu, Nana and Saeko. "I am feeling really nervous about doing this, what if this does go wrong?"

Nyu assured him that it would be alright and even Nana agreed to it. "We have to do this."

"Are you sure you don't want me on the phone, he knows my voice?" Yuka asked as she had done before but Kouta wouldn't have any of it, he would call first and if he was certain then he would allow her to talk with him.

"Here goes." He offered a small prayer as he selected the number that had already been programmed in it, just like he said. The dialing sound to him was more like thunder, each second seemed like eternity to him until it finally got picked up. He was surprised to hear the man so casually pickup and yet he also felt scared about making the first contact. Then as he listened for the man to introduce himself he couldn't help but find the voice awfully familiar to him. Casting that feeling aside he introduced himself to the man and slowly started to steer the conversation into the point that Yuka could take over the phone.

"Good luck." He told her as he handed her the phone, the others girls were looking as well with an equal mix of excitement and impatience.

"Good evening agent Hirano, it is me Yuka." She waited for a moment before she said another word, from what she had heard Dai had sounded rather surprised that she had managed to find him instead of him finding them. "Yes I am fine thank you for asking, the girls are fine as well. I still want to thank you for having helped us escape that night. I owe you and as such I would like for you to meet the diclonius that have been living with us." That sounded harder than she had thought.

Kouta grimaced as he too knew that this was the point of no return, they couldn't go back.

"No I can't allow you yet to come to our house, we need to be certain that you won't be a threat to our family. I am certain that you would understand if you were in my position."

The tension was becoming high as Yuka went back and forth giving only small answers or remarks, none of it did any good at easing Kouta's growing impatience or his ever present worries and concerns.

"There is a place where we can meet if you are sincere, I do have to ask for you to come alone. Don't bring anybody with you or contact anybody… I really want you to meet them but if there is any danger to my family then I will end this offer." She said her farewells and then turned off the phone as she dropped it on the table.

"Now we should just wait right?" Kouta asked.

Exhausted Yuka leaned back on the chair. "I agreed to meet him at the park; you know the one in about two days." Nana breathed through her teeth not saying a word while Nyu left the room. Kouta looked at her with a concerned expression on his face.

"I'm off to get something for those of you who want a drink?" Silence greeted her question and she could understand why, it seemed something was causing her family of a great deal of pain. Was it related to her or was it something else, for some reason she had to think back at the words that had been said by that woman at school shortly before all of this seemed to happen.

Well that had certainly been a call that he hadn't expected, for that matter how in the world did she find out his number. He couldn't have believed his ears when he heard her voice but it was her voice alright, it felt good to know that she and the girls had indeed made it back safely and best off all she had offered him the chance he was hoping for. Feeling the need to sit down from the nerves or the already building excitement he looked for the nearest bench.

"So close, just need to be a little patient." He told himself as he realized it was going to be another two days before he could meet them.

"Now I just need to kill some time." Thinking out loud he started to think on the direction she had given him, perhaps it would not be a bad idea to start looking for it first thing tomorrow morning and then to do a little recon so he would have an escape should things go wrong. Until now he was certain that nobody had been following him but as he had learned in this profession it never hurt to have options. Even then he wasn't entirely comfortable with this for if commander Shimada found out he could forget about making a career if he was lucky.

"I just need a couple of days." Now he was starting to curse as he needed to be back at command in about two days, this was going to be pretty tight if he didn't want to give away his intent. "Not when I am so damn close, not now." He cursed again as he kicked the bench.

What he needed was something that would buy him a couple of days extra, well he did have an outstanding reputation so far so even with something simple it would be easy to fool them.

Then he got an idea although it was a bit tasteless to him, he knew that agent Hata had family in Kamakura itself so he could explain his presence here should they ask. After that he could tell that he had a bad case of a cold with wasn't too hard to imagine with this kind of winter.

Thinking about it further this seemed like the best way for him to gain those crucial days.

"Well I guess I should go then and grab myself some dinner." He could already feel his stomach rumbling in response as he set off in search of a good place to eat.

Those two days went fast as both sides were anxious for this meeting though for some people the anxiety was becoming a bit too much for their own comfort.

"How much longer is this going to take?" Kouta was becoming increasingly nervous as it was almost time for them to go. "Please tell me you are going to be careful with this?" He kept pacing around trying to keep his nerves under control but at that moment was now so damn close it was hopeless.

Yuka took a hold of his hands. "I am not going alone." She hinted at both Nana and Dreachon who stood there discussing something. "They will be there to help me should it go wrong." With the two of them keeping an eye out she was confident that should anything go wrong she would be in good hands.

"Make sure you wear this at all times, it will be your only protection should anything go wrong." Dreachon stepped forward as he handed her something. "Don't lose it."

She took a hold of the device he was holding up for her. Looking at it she noticed that it was small and light, both of which surprised her given she was to be protected by this.

"Can I ask what it is and how it works?" She asked in a bemused way as she held it up.

"In human terms it is a small portable personal energy field that will protect you from small arms and such." He pressed it and they could feel how the air around them felt different, like it was charged or something. Taking a step back he turned and addressed Kouta. "Throw something at her, make sure you throw it hard."

"Wait a moment, you don't really mean that! I can't throw something at Yuka!?" He waved around with his arms. "I am not going to do this, no way will I do something that stupid!" His arms crossed he was making it clear that under no circumstance could he purposefully throw something at a member of this family, he blatantly refused to do so.

"I get the impression you have no faith in me." Dreachon chuckled as he picked up an object itself tossing and catching it as he looked at Yuka. "Either you throw now or I will."

Nana scoffed at his remark. "Don't you dare to force Kouta-san, nobody does that to my family." She clenched her fists as she stepped in front of Yuka.

"Don't be so melodramatic." He laughed at her. "What point is there for me to cause harm to Yuka-san, that field can withstand far more than your vectors can." He held it up for him to take it. Kouta sighed as he reluctantly picked it, guess there was no way to avoid this.

"I swear that if this doesn't work you won't be safe from any of us!" Casting a foul glance he could just catch how Dreachon rolled his eyes, closing his eyes he aimed for Yuka hoping that the damn thing actually worked. Taking a deep breath he pulled back his arm and threw.

The girls kept joking and laughing on how it had ended though they did feel sorry for poor Kouta who still seemed to be in a little shock after what had exactly happened. Suffice to say the device had worked exactly as Dreachon had told them it would though it had been an experience in itself to have actually seen it firsthand.

"Well that was a rather exciting moment wasn't it?" Yuka laughed as they walked across the streets, behind her Nana was still looking at her to make sure everything was fine.

"I did tell you it worked fine but you wouldn't believe me." He growled while pointing out they needed to keep moving, in his opinion it would pay off to be there earlier to make certain that the chances of an ambush would be reduced.

"Do you really think he would do such a thing?" Nana just like the others still wasn't entirely happy about it but she had agreed to go along and protect Yuka. Meanwhile Kouta would remain at home to keep watch over the other girls while Dreachon accompanied both Yuka and Nana. Given he was the most experienced and skilled when it came to combat, a feat that Yuka had clearly seen that night which gave her the confidence to know she was in good hands.

"I just need to be clear with the two of you and especially you." She pointed her finger at him. "Nobody is going to be killed by either of you." She knew that Nana wasn't going to do such a stupid thing but with him she wasn't certain, if given the chance he likely would.

"I really mean it, if people get killed that will only make it more difficult to convince him."

He grinned. "You are stating the obvious, I won't kill but do not expect me to sit idle if things go wrong." Coming at the entrance to the park they separated from him, it seemed better to keep him in the back out of sight.

"Do you really think he will come?" Nana asked in a hurry, she was becoming rather tense.

Feeling the tension Yuka rested her hands on her shoulders. "I trust him Nana-chan, I have seen that he is a good man and besides I know that you will look after me."

"But I-." Nana couldn't say more as she began to blush. "I won't let you down, I promise."

Yuka hugged her there for a moment, how good it felt to have this strange family of hers.

"Wait for me under this tree, I don't want to scare him." She went further to the agreed place, coming there she noticed she wasn't alone as a figure appeared. "Agent Hirano is that you?"