Maria
" What's the big idea ," I yelped upon being pulled away from the view of a long window conspiring an entire wall of Anteiku .
Arima dragged me into an alleyway, pushing my back against a brick wall and slamming a palm over my mouth .
" Are you fine with being ghoul bait ?"
I raised an eyebrow at this murderous dork trying to swallow laughter .
Nodding my head, yes , Arima let his palm fall away from my mouth .
A slap sent his face turning off to the side, skin taking on a pinkish red complexion.
" Don't ever try to silence me again ! Now tell me about the target and plan."
:
" Their coffee's the best isn't it ," The target opens with , after settling in the bar seat next to me .
" Wouldn't know, this is hot chocolate," I answered, taking an obnoxious sip from the cup and drowning it out with the tapping of fingernails against the warm wood.
The target chocked nervously on the coffee , before trying to swallow its echo in a false chuckle .
My hand slapped him on the back , with a dainty touch while muttering there there … Are you okay ?
" Yep … just nervous is all ," The target admits, rubbing the back of his neck and cracking a toothy grin .
His looks were boyish, I found myself leaning closer towards the cutie.
For a moment he leaned further away from me, a neverous glow flashing across his dark gaze .
" Are you running away from little old me ," I purred into his ear , gripping his hand firmly and stoking the top of it .
A shiver shook him and a giggle slipped from my lips .
My heart was pounding and the feeling of the blood pulsing through my veins sent a shot of dizziness to my head .
I can't believe I am doing this .
Another giggle darted out of me , this time with embarrassment and plenty of blushing .
" Sorry about that ," I stuttered , mimicking the target's movement of rubbing the back of my neck .
My hands were shaking while holding the cup to my lips .
Taking a sip my eyes flickered over towards his with what I hoped was a doe like expression.
" That's mine ," The target laughed just as my taste buds yelled in outrage at the flavor of coffee hitting them.
" Fuck sorry !"
I was drowning my hot chocolate like it was a shot glass that would save my soul from the devil .
Now it was his turn to slap me on the back and ask me if I was okay .
" Doing just dandy ," I breathed out, wheezing in the aftermath of a newly roasted throat and a fresh wave of embarrassment.
Today was truly not my day .
" Look it's alright and I'm Haru ," The target said .
What a little liar pants you are !
Well , Asahi two can play at that game .
" Sorry again ," I began, biting down on my bottom lip and brushing a lock of hair behind my ear ," I'm Hana ."
I glanced down towards the empty cup and sneaked another glance towards the target's face .
Looking like a shy doe that would happily dance with the wolf if only he asked .
" Let me buy you another coffee , " I lightly whispered, going through my pocket to smuggle out Arima's wallet .
" No ," The target firmly said, waving over the old barista and ordering a hot chocolate .
" Thanks … you're really sweet ," I breathed out , batting my eyelashes at the demon like a schoolgirl with her first ever crush .
He leaned towards me and smiled.
If he wasn't a ghoul maybe my heart would be skipping a beat due to infatuation and not the anticipation of the hunt .
" I love the guitar by the way ," the ghoul purred , eyeing the guitar case leaning against the corner with a fond look .
Asshole .
" Shit ! That reminds me I'm going to be late for practice !"
I jumped off the bar stool , sending the new hot chocolate a short longing look .
Tossed the guitar case over my shoulder before gifting the ghoul a pout and a regretful goodbye
Take the bait please .
My steps were of a rather slow gait all the way to the door.
" Wait ! Let me walk you there ."
He held the door open for me and I grinned up at him until the edges of my lips hurt .
Sucker … but now to remember to not let the inner demon lose when he attacks you .
Hopefully I get a real chance to use the sith lightsaber looking Quinque thing .
:
" It's confession time ."
My eyes were wide doe's and a confused what left my lips .
" You're my fifth one in three days , Hana ."
I stopped in my tracks and struggled to keep from ripping his tongue out with my bare hands .
" My name isn't Hana ."
Leaping back saved me from the whip like movement of a kagune but it condemned me to stumble over a full trash can .
Breathing out a curse, while rolling to the side to avoid getting impaled by a kagune never felt so liberating.
It sucks that a banana peel had to be sitting on my noggin .
Really kind of ruins the mood .
" So my identity is revealed , little no name ?"
" Yep ."
My back kind of hurts, hopefully those dam quinque did not somehow run me through from the inside of the case .
" Get your weapon and entertain me with a good fight ," the ghoul declares, licking his lips and seemingly unconcerned about the drool that was running down the side of his throat .
" Sounds just delightful ," I hummed , keeping a focused gaze on the ghoul while getting a weaponized corpse ready .
A gunshot blares through the alleyway and the kangue seems to fade away into nothing in just a matter of seconds.
The ghoul falls face first into the concrete, revealing the form of an annoying reaper holding a firearm.
" You just killed my fun in cold blood ," I bit out , crossing my arms and kicking the woman killer in the head .
" I need him alive ," Arima said , before blasting the ghoul full of bullets again .
" Then why are you shooting him ?"
" These are just RC suppressors ," The reaper answered , pointing the barrel of the gun down towards the ghouls stomach.
" If I can't beat him to death then you can't shoot him to death ," The order leaves me with a low growl , while I step over the useless monster and trail towards the expressionless reaper .
He allows me to rip the firearm from his grasp without a hint of struggle.
His focus is only on the passed out target and the phone pressed to his ear .
Back up would be here soon .
" Why not give those dead female investigators justice with his death , Kishou ?"
" Because this ghoul has too many connections to more dangerous threats to just be slaughter ," Arima answers , it takes everything inside of me to not shoot or rip the ghoul to death .
" Hand the wallet over and you can keep the gun ."
I grinned , the wallet is tossed back over and he passes me a container of RC suppressor bullets .
" Isn't this illegal ? "
" Don't get caught with it ."
I gave Kishou a little salute and said ," Well Snookums, this was definitely a fun date !"