It did not take long after Sakyo had arrived for Nanashi and Saif to run into demons, persons this time not animals. Saif seemed annoyed after they took down the five of them. According to him, they were plant demons, sown to cause trouble by another person. They were weak things with no minds of their own. Whoever set them loose, intentionally made them damage part of the town. Saif half made, half let her take out four of them by herself. The biggest issue with these five plant demons were they attack downtown, near Haruto's tavern. They had not attacked people directly, but they did do some damage to property. Haruto's tavern and part of the inn were going to need to be shut down for a few days while it was repaired. When they had fought them, they had an audience for it, which included both Uncle Chosuke and Sakyo. As well as other milling townsfolk who happened to be there when the attack started.
After the attack, Saif flitted away, likely to his home while Nanashi stayed with Haruto at his tavern to assist with cleaning it up and repairing it. She noticed Sakyo was helping her and Haruto out with half a dozen other townsfolk. He kept on working near her, which made her slightly uncomfortable. Haruto noticed and started working near her as well. That made Sakyo keep his distance, but she could still tell he was watching her.
In the evening though, after those who were helping Haruto with the tavern were eating dinner, Sakyo excused himself. Nanashi felt relieved to have him gone. She did not enjoy how much he watched her all day. Haruto even warned her discreetly to try and keep her distance from him. He even went as far as to promise he would kick him out of the inn if she wanted him to.
After dark, Nanashi made her way home, blinking tiredly as she arrived at her uncle's house. She stopped short in the doorway. Sakyo was sitting comfortably at the table, the nicest mug they own in his hand. Uncle Chosuke was sitting across from him, hunched over and looking perplexed. A chipped mug sat in front of him. The faint smell of black tea filled the room.
"Hello again, miss," Sakyo was the one who greeted her, rather than her uncle. Her uncle did sit up straighter, rubbing his hand over his mouth. "You must be exhausted from fighting and helping out all day." She looked down, away from his gaze and nodded meekly. "Chosuke, you should pour your niece a cup of tea. And give her your seat. She looks half dead on her feet."
Uncle Chosuke jumped up and rushed to follow Sakyo's ordered. Nanashi doubted she had ever seen anything like it before. She almost did not want to sit down across from Sakyo, nor sit there and drink a cup of overly milky tea her uncle made for her across from him. She was grateful that her uncle stayed with them, standing propped up against the wall behind her.
Sakyo turned to face her head on, asking, "so did you always dream of being the town's protector?"
"Uhmm, no," she said, not meeting his piercing gaze. There was something not quite right about the glint in his eyes.
"How did that come to be then?" he asked in a velvety smooth voice.
"The mayor... Saif... Saif went to the mayor and offered to fill in as the interim town protector. The last one was killed. Saif said he would train the new protector. The mayor chose me." She hoped she made sense and had not babbled too much.
"Saif?" he said the name in an incredulous voice, almost like he did not believe what she said. "How well do you know him?"
She bit her lip before answering. "Well enough to be trained by him," she replied.
He breathed a little chuckle at her answer. "So your loyalty has to be earned," he stated. She was still unwilling to meet his gaze. "Well, you seem tired after your long day, Nanashi." He stood up abruptly and waltzed over to her uncle, proffering his hand to him. Nanashi watched as her uncle shook his hand. "Pleasure meeting you, sir. Hopefully you will consider my offer."
Nanashi froze until Sakyo left the house. She breathed out a forced sigh, fist coming to rest up in front of her mouth. She rose up without thinking, taking the three cups by the table and putting them in the sink to be washed later.
She turned back to look at her uncle. He had a conflicted look in his eyes. "What was that all about?" she asked mousily.
Her uncle just shook his head. "It's late. I'm tired," was all he said. He left the room, heading up the stairs to his own bedroom. Nanashi watched him go, wondering what that was all about.