"I should be the one going out there to look for him." Narumi protested and Raidou crossed his arms, fixing his friend with one raised eyebrow.
"Narumi, if he's really a demon only summoners can see him. Besides I stand more of a chance taking him on." Raidou countered and Narumi rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Anyway someone needs to be here to look after Jean and you're the man for the job." He added, hiding a smile behind the brim of his hat when Narumi grinned. Narumi turned his head towards Jean, the latter propped up on the couch with two pillows and nearly buried under the largest and warmest blankets Narumi could find in the agency.
"You could be right but...Raidou?" He groaned when he noticed that the summoner had left while Narumi was distracted. "You did that on purpose!" He snapped and Gouto sniggered, leaping from the windowstil into the street to follow the summoner.
Crossing his arms, Narumi leant against his desk grinding his teeth. "Huh trust that kid to use the oldest trick in the book. Trust me to fall for it, too. Still at least this way I can be sure Jean's safe." He muttered to himself, glancing towards her with a slight smile. "Wonder if she's awake yet."
"Ugh...if this is awake...you can keep it." I groaned, slipping my hand from under a blanket. Rubbing at the bridge of my nose I blinked open my eyes instantly shutting them against the light of the room. "Ohh...way too bright." I muttered and Narumi stifled a laugh, his footsteps moving closer to my bed. Or whatever it was I was lying on.
"You almost sound like me the last time I was hungover. I think asking you if you're feeling better is a bad idea." Narumi chuckled and I opened one eye, staring at him with a closed mouth.
"Yes it is, Shouhei." I muttered after a long pause and he chuckled, kneeling beside my makeshift bed. "Where's Raidou?" I asked, feeling the blanket that reached to the the base of my chin shifting.
"Looking for your demon, Jean." Narumi answered as he adjusted my blanket, giving me a quick smile when I tried unsuccessfully to stiffle a yawn. Though he immediately frowned when I tried to rise, going so fas as to push his open palm against my shoulder forcing me to lay back. "You on the other hand are staying put." He added and I snorted, pushing my head deeper into the pillow.
"You do realize I'll just leave as soon as you take your eyes off me, Narumi?" I pointed out and he raised an eyebrow, resting his hand on my head. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You can barely keep your eyes open. I doubt you could take more than a step towards the door before you collapse." Narumi teased, blinking when I pushed back the blankets covering me. Taking a deep breath I used my hands to push myself up, swaying a little when I stood. Despite Narumi's teasing I managed three stumbling steps and I turned my head, giving him a weak grin before my legs chose that exact moment to give out.
Instantly I felt Narumi's arm around my shoulders and I fixed him with a stare as his other arm wrapped around my waist.
Surprised by his swiftness I let him lead me back onto my bed though the moment he reached for the edge of my blanket I pulled them back. "Jean, I was only going to..." He started until I shook my head at him.
"I...I'm sorry. Not feeling like myself right now." I mumbled, eyes looking at my fingers as I fiddled with the hem of the blanket. "I just wanted to be the one going after him." I explained and he gave me a lopsided smile, his own hands covering my own. I hadn't even realized they were shaking until he gave them a squeeze.
"Jean, you know you need to rest right? You're injured remember?" Narumi reminded me and I gave him a slow nod, silently hoping Raidou didn't cross paths with that demon. "Now are you going to sleep or do I have to use force?"
"What exactly did you have in mind, Narumi?" I whispered, surprising myself a little though the faint blush that spread across Narumi's cheeks made it worth it. I heard Narumi clear his throat as I lay back, my eyes closing while the detective struggled with a response.
"I was only joking, Jean." After a pause he coughed. "What did you have in mind?" He added only noticing that Jean was already fast asleep and he gave him an eyeroll.
Though he brightened when he noticed that the fingers on her left hand were still clutched around his own and after studying her sleeping face he gently released her hand. "Typical. Just when our talk starts to get interesting you fall asleep on me." He whispered and Jean mumbled something, shifting onto her right side. "Never noticed how cute you look when you're sleeping, Jean." He muttered to himself not knowing that a certain summoner had heard every word.
As soon as I heard his footsteps moving away from my bed I cracked open an eye, making sure he was gone before I slipped a hand under the blanket. After a few seconds the hand emerged with a summoning tube in one slightly shaky hand and I grinned to myself, whispering as I held it towards the floor.
A burst of light and Fenrir appeared, shaking his head before he turned towards me. "Summoner, are you well?" He asked moving immediately to my side when I coughed.
"A little weak but I'll be alright, Fenrir. You know you can just call me Jean?" I whispered and he nodded, kneeling beside me. When I ran my hand through the fur covering his head he growled softly and that brought a smile to my face despite feeling worse than I let on to my first demon partner. "If I'd been faster..." I began only to feel my eyelids growling heavy. The last thing I remember is Fenrir gently nuzzling my face before everything faded.
Narumi returned a few minutes later to find Jean fast asleep, her right hand dangling off the blanket. He smiled as he moved closer only pausing when he saw her hand hover in midair, briefly moving from left to right before her hand flopped onto the couch again. Shaking his head, Narumi returned to his desk as he struggled to explain what he'd just witnessed.
"Must have been a demon but I didn't see Jean summon one." Narumi muttered keeping his voice as low as possible so he didn't wake her. "Probably Fenrir." He added, pulling out his chair before he sat. "Guess I can use the time to start the file on this case."
Sliding a fresh piece of paper into his typewriter, Narumi's fingers lightly moved over the keys. As he typed Narumi hummed to himself, leaving only to make himself a fresh cup of coffee when the first one turned cold without him noticing. It wasn't until Raidou returned with Gouto at his heels that Narumi looked up, half a page already typed.
"Nice to see he's working for a change." Gouto chuckled as Raidou walked over to the desk. Rising from his chair, Narumi stretched his arms above his head giving the younger detective a nod he reached for his coffee cup. Taking a sip he grimaced once he found it had turned cold.
"So how did the search go?" Narumi asked, glancing towards Jean who had moved onto her left side while he had been working. Getting a slow head shake in response he scratched at his cheek. "No go huh?"
"He's very good at hiding apparently. We even tried the Dark Realm and he wasn't there. Which makes me think he can stay in his human disguise a lot longer than your average demon." Raidou answered, watching with a slightly raised eyebrow as Narumi headed towards the couch. "How is Jean?"
"Still feeling lousy. But at least I can stay awake this time." I muttered, opening my eyes to see Raidou standing beside the desk. "Nice to see you, Raidou. I can't believe that monster gave you the slip. Just wait until I get a hold of him...whatever." As soon as the words were out of my mouth I saw Narumi looking me with his arms crossed, his eyes narrowed at me.
"Don't even think about it, Jean." He muttered and I snorted, failing at copying his glare.
"What makes you think you can stop me?" I taunted, tugging the blanket off my body. Narumi just watched in silence as I climbed from the bed, legs trembling slightly. This time he didn't stop me as I started to walk towards the desk, barely making it before my legs decided to give way. Quick as a flash of lightning Raidou caught my arm, leading me back to my bed despite my barely audible protests.
"That was a foolish move, Jean. You need to rest right now." Gouto scolded, his tail flicking towards me when I shook my head. "For once I agree with Narumi." He added and I raised both eyebrows in shock.
"Why are you being so stubborn, dollface?" Narumi asked as I rubbed at my eyes, trying to ignore the sting of tears in them.
"If I'd been quicker he wouldn't have laid a finger on me." I told them and Fenrir growled softly, nuzzling my right hand. Giving him a tiny smile I gave the wolf demon a head pat and he growled again. "I know I shouldn't be so down on myself but...I'm supposed to be a summoner now. Not a pushover."
"You are a lot of things, Jean but a pushover isn't one of them." Narumi commented and I gave a weak laugh, staring at him until he scratched one side of his hair.
"Excuse me?" I pretended to growl though I couldn't help giggling when he coughed, cheeks turning slightly red and even Raidou lowered his hat to hide his own grin. "Ohh I get it. That was supposed to be a compliment right? Nice try, Narumi."