Nanashi had high hopes the likes of that strange demon, who later on told Haruto his name was Saif, would be leaving as soon as the ship he came on left port. He did not, much to her disappointment and fright. He was still renting out that third floor room in the inn and would only eat his meals in his room, rather than in the hall with the other guests. He kept his room immaculately clean though, seeing as how Nanashi was the unlucky one who had to tidy it up daily. Yet, Nanashi noticed he went out, more like slipped out of the inn and tavern when it suited him. Usually he came back flustered and would slam money down at the bar near where she was working. She was quick to deduce that he was doing this to pay for the next day's room and board.

She watched him cautiously the last time he slipped back in out of the tavern. He seemed less flustered, but more defeatist when he came back after the lunch rush. He went and fetched his bag and left without a word. Haruto exchanged a confused look with her when they watched him leave.

"Have a nice day, my friend Saif!" Haruto shouted out the door cheerfully after that brooder.

Nanashi had been watching him out the window and saw him make no sign of hearing Haruto. Nanashi let out a little laugh, mostly out of relief that Saif was gone.

During the lunch shift lull, Nanashi ate with Haruto and the two other staff members. They gossiped a bit about Saif, but Nanashi did keep an eye on the front door, feeling wariness in her bones without any real meaning for it. Saif was gone. It was quite alright.

It did seem alright, until the town's deputy rolled up into the tavern. Haruto reacted first, standing up stiffly. "Deputy Kaito," he greeted with a stiff bow of his neck and upper back.

Nanashi and the other two women stood up as well. She studied Deputy Kaito. He was young, only a few years older than her. He was near sighted, but remarkably perceptive. Rather bookish and brainy. In previous encounters with him, she felt like he played by his own rules, but within the rules of his job. Yet he never took on the role of town protector. He could handle people, but was not keen on defending the town from the wild beast or rare demon who attacked them. The last town protector had been killed by an ice spider last month that had wandered down from the mountains. The memory had sent a chill down Nananshi's spine.

"Miss Nanashi," Deputy Kaito look straight at her. Nanashi felt like her stomach dropped to the floor. Whatever he wanted could not be good. "The mayor has requested to speak with you. Privately. Immediately."

Nanashi felt something seize up within her. She walked robotically towards Deputy Kaito without wanting to. Haruto grabbed her upper arm, forcing her to stop in her tracks.

"Please let go of me," she nearly whimpered.

"Why do you want her?" Haruto asked, hand unclenching around her bicep. She stumbled forward towards Deputy Kaito in a rush.

"Mayor Takenaka wants to see her," Deputy Kaito answered as Nanashi went and stood by her quietly.

Haruto took a step forward, but only one. "Why does the mayor want her?"

"His business," Deputy Kaito responded vaguely. "I didn't feel the need to ask him."

Haruto looked about ready to speak, but he only grunted and sat back down in his chair. He resumed eating his meal with lackluster enthusiasm. Nanashi watched him, almost shocked at how little he seemed to care. Maybe if Haruto was not worried, she did not need to be worried either.

She left the tavern with Deputy Kaito, following him at a respectful distance. She kept telling herself not to be afraid. Haruto would have chased after them otherwise. He had always been rather protective of her and her cousin growing up. Thinking of her cousin put a sad smile on her face.

When they reached the city hall and climbed up the steps both inside and outside the building, she had yet to be worried. When they reached the mayor's office, however, she did see something that worried her.

"Miss Nanashi, Chosuke's niece, here to see you, sir," Deputy Kaito addressed Mayor Takenaka respectfully.

Nanashi stood stiffly in the doorway, see the mayor sitting at his desk and Saif standing across the edge desk from him.

"Thank you, Deputy Kaito," Mayor Takenaka told him. "You may go."

Nanashi shuffled herself into the room so that Deputy Kaito could make his way out of the room and shut the door.

Nanashi felt herself quell when she heard the door shut behind her. She could not think as to why the mayor or even Saif wanted to see her, at the same time. Yet she knew it could not mean she had been accused of committing some crime, like stealing from Saif. If that was the case, it would be the sheriff before her, not the mayor. She wanted also if Saif might be her demonic half brother, come to take her away. He was too young to be her father, but not too old to be her older brother. That was likely some silly daydream though.

Mayor Takenaka learned forward, pulling her out of her reverie. "Miss Nanashi, please take a seat," he told her, gesturing towards the two chairs in front of his desk. She slipped into one and sat up straight back and rigid. She wanted to show no fear nor apprehension. She gave Saif a side long glance, wondering why he was not sitting, but rather than standing at the other edge of her side of the desk.

"He said he preferred to stand," Mayor Takenaka explained to her.

Nanashi turned her full attention towards the mayor. "What is it you want with me, sir?" she asked the mayor politely.

Mayor Takenaka cleared his throat and learned forward. "I am aware that you and Saif here have already made acquaintance." She nodded for a second to ensure him that she was listening and he was correct. "Saif has informed me of his interest in becoming the town's new protector against demons and their beastly kin."

"That's wonderful," Nanashi said, not how else to respond to fill the pause.

"Yes, it is quite relieving to have someone brave enough step up and take Kiyoshi's place, Great Mother rest his soul, but..." Mayor Takenaka paused, as if trying to find the right words. "But he is not from around here. From what little he's told me, he grew up north of the capital, in a small village where being part demon or even part elvish is not unheard of. Quite different from the 99 % human population we have here." Nanashi watched the mayor, figuring the one percent not human he was talking about was referring to her. "Things are different here, a bit of a different culture than for the northerners. Hard to understand our ways sometimes, even if we are all from the same country and speak the same language. It would be far easier on Protector Saif and the whole town if he had a companion with him." Nanashi held her breath, nervous about what the mayor was about to request. "Someone who can understand him. Can sympathize with him and explain things to him as a fellow outsider." Nanashi trained her face to stay calm, while inside she was fuming at the hinted insults. "I was hoping you could do that. Be an example to the other citizens of the town. To know Saif is not someone to be feared, but rather revered as a hero in his own right."

Nanashi mulled it over in her head, thinking over what he said versus what he meant. Put the 'demon's daughter' in charge of the part demon, or even whole demon newbie in town. Should anything go awry, if Saif proved dangerous, she was likely the first person to be harmed, possibly killed. Mayor Takenaka wanted her to be fodder, between this demonic stranger and the rest of the town. She was the most expendable citizen in the town. It only gave her another reason to want to run away when she turned seventeen.

"I'll do it," she said in a soft, conceding voice.

"That's wonderful," Mayor Takenaka cheered, rising up to his feet.

He held his hand out across the void above his desk. Nanashi rose up, bow, and took his hand. Her hand was limp, but his was firm, almost domineering.

Nanashi could not bring herself to look over at Saif.