"So what's our next move?" I asked a few hours later, taking a sip from the coffee Narumi handed me. Getting an eyebrow raise from my trouble I rolled my eyes at him. "So I'm guessing I can't come with you." I muttered, looking towards Raidou for help. But even the other summoner in the room slowly shook his head and I sighed looking at Fenrir who nuzzled my outstretched hand.
"Sorry, Jean but you're not back to full strength yet. Otherwise we'd be happy to have you working alongside us. Don't take it too personally." Gouto told me, his tail flicking back and forth.
"Yeah I guess you're right. Thanks but I can't help feeling a little left out. I mean I am a summoner after all and I kind of promised I'd help out as much as I can." I responded and Fenrir growled softly, glaring at Narumi even if he couldn't see my demon.
"Look if you're that bored I can find something for you to do." Narumi suggested and I snorted, my eyebrows lowered towards the older detective who shrugged. "It was just a suggestion, dollface." He added and I snorted, chewing my lower lip for a moment.
"Well since I had no other options what help do you need?" I answered and he raised both eyebrows at me, making me giggle at the face he pulled. "Lighten up, Shouhei." I sighed mostly to myself as Fenrir chuckled.
"Well since you asked I could use your help sorting out the archives." Narumi told me and with a nod I climbed to my feet. Instantly at my side, Fenrir raised his head so I could press my hand onto the top of his head to keep my balance.
As we followed Narumi towards the shelves I blinked, looking up at all of the boxes. Noting the wide-eyed stare Narumi let out a laugh. "Not all of them, Jean. Just half a dozen or so." He chuckled when I blinked at him.
Shaking his head, Gouto watched on with something close to amusement on his feline face as Narumi handed me a cardboard box filled to the brim with papers. I started to kneel intending to set it down until I nearly dropped it, my arms still a little shaky. But with Fenrir's help I managed to right them and I let out a breath carefully setting them down on the floor.
"Take it easy." Narumi told me and I narrowed my eyes at him as I started to unpack the box, ignoring the detective for the moment. Shaking his head at me Narumi returned his attention to another box and as he pulled it from the shelf he heard muttering coming from my direction. "Are you talking to me, Jean?" He asked and I glanced up, Fenrir shaking his head unseen at my shoulder.
"No, I was talking to Fenrir." I replied, turning my head back to my demon who rolled his eyes. "I thought you wanted me to help you and not talk." I added with a low growl that sounded a lot like Fenrir.
"I didn't say that. Why are you acting so cold towards me?" Narumi asked and I muttered something under my breath. "Pardon?"
"I said I wanted to help and you try and turn me into your secretary. That's not what I'm trained for, Shouhei." I snapped at him, rising from the floor the box forgotten.
"Slow down, Jean. You can't go out there injured and you did mention that you're bored so I thought..." He trailed off when I crossed my arms against my chest.
"You thought what? Despite what you think I can take care of myself and one demon isn't enough to take me down." I pointed out and Narumi waved a hand in front of his face.
"I know that. Look if you want to take that demon on in your state then fine. The door's that way." Narumi shot back and I shook my head, moving towards the door with a shoulder shrug. Fenrir glared at the detective before he hurried after his summoner who paused at the door waiting for Narumi to apologize. With no apology was forthcoming I growled and despite Gouto's warning I stormed out, slamming the door in my wake once Fenrir had exited.
"Well that was smart. Good going, Narumi." Gouto muttered and at his side Raidou shook his head at the detective who managed to look a little guilty.
"Me and my big mouth." Narumi muttered as he headed to the hat rack to retrieve his derby. With it now placed firmly over his hair he started for the front door only for Raidou to block his path to the door. "Now what?"
"I'll go after her. I doubt she'd listen to you now anyway." Raidou answered and Narumi could only stare as he left, Gouto giving Narumi a head shake before he followed at the young summoner's heels.
"Is everyone mad at me today?" Narumi muttered to himself, scratching at the side of his head.
After leaving the agency I tried to hurry so I could put as much distance between it and myself though I made it as far as a block before I had to rest. Despite my objections I knew that Narumi had been right that I was in no condition to be racing around Tsukudo Cho.
"Jean, we should go back." Fenrir told me, allowing me to lean against his side to keep my balance. "Narumi is right." He muttered and I chewed my lower lip, torn between wanting to return and staying where I was mostly to spite Narumi.
"Jean, wait for us." Gouto called and I looked up to him heading my way with Raidou just behind him. Breathing a little heavily I waited for them to reach Fenrir and I. "Jean, what do you think you're doing running away like that?" Gouto scolded and I actually hung my head before I could stop myself.
"Getting away from the pig-headed, idiot of a detective." I answered back and Gouto narrowed his eyes at me. "He thinks I'm completely helpless." I added with a one-armed shrug.
"That's not it, Jean. You were attacked by a powerful demon and now look at you. You can barely stay on your feet. What hope do you have at defeating him right now?" Raidou said and I shrugged with both arms this time almost stumbling over my own feet in the process.
"Look at you and tell me you can take down a demon in your state?" Gouto asked me in a low voice and I grimaced, holding an open palm over my forehead with my other palm pressed into Fenrir's soft fur. "I didn't think so."
Taking a step towards me, Raidou wrapped an arm around my shoulders to support me and with his and Fenrir's help I hobbled back to the agency. Every step made my growing headache worse I still made it back in one piece.
Frustrated at being left behind, Narumi sat behind his desk. Hoping to distract himself he started to work on the current case file but every time he tried to type something he found himself glancing at the doorway secretly hoping his friends would reappear. They did and he glanced up once he heard the door creak open, Raidou supporting me with Gouto just in front. Unseen, Fenrir followed walking straight through the door his attention fixed on his summoner.
"Jean, what happened?" Narumi asked, rising from his chair and I just sighed barely able to lift my head. "Headache huh? Hang on I have something that'll help." He added with a tiny smile and after leaning over he grabbed something from the desk drawer.
"Thanks, Narumi." I breathed, taking the offered tablets and without hesitating I swallowed them grimacing from the bitter taste. Hearing Narumi chuckle at the face I pulled I gave him one of my best glares and Gouto cracked a grin, Raidou lowering his cap to hide a smile.
"Maybe next time you should take water with them." Narumi suggested with an even bigger smile.
The next morning after a full night's sleep I stretched, yawning a little. "Much better." I grinned and Narumi, who sat behind his desk smoking a cigarette, gave me a nod in agreement.
"You do look a lot better. Ready to search for your demon now?" Gouto asked and I nodded though before I could leave Narumi waved me over.
"What's up?" I asked Narumi who grinned at from. From under the desk he set something down and I stared at the revolver. "Is that...mine?"
"I've been keeping it every since you left. Call it a souvenir at the time." Narumi explained, blushing furiously when I kissed his cheek as a thank you gesture.
The slight weight of my revolver in my jacket pocket made memories of my previous trip to Tsukudo Cho slip into my head. Even with the barrier that the Herald of Yatagarasu somehow managed to place inside my mind, I began to worry about what would have happened had Narumi and Raidou not brought me to the Herald.
I might have done the same as all of those other poor people. Taken my own life or someone else's, I though with a grimace.
At my side Fenrir remained on guard for any sign of our newest enemy or another threat. So far nothing had happened but I still kept my guard up and my fingers brushed the revolver for the fifth time before Gouto, now trotting at my feet stared up at me.
"You need to relax, Jean. I know you're a little jumpy but that barrier will keep those false memories out of your head." Gouto assured me and I nodded at him, taking my hand off the weapon.
"I hope so, Gouto. I can't believe I nearly..." I stopped with a head shake, ignoring a few odd stares from a older couple as we walked past them. "Nope, I need to forgot about that."
"It doesn't help you if you keep thinking about it." Raidou said and I gave him a weak grin as we walked towards the end of the block.
"I'm just wondering what Narumi's doing while we're looking for that demon. He can't see demons can he?" I asked and Raidou shook his head, leaving me chewing my lips. "Then how can he help?"
"For someone who claimed just to be friends with that idiot you seem to spend a lot of time thinking about him." Gouto commented and I felt my cheeks heat up, my gaze moving to the sky above as I willed my cheeks to stop burning.
"Very funny, Gouto" I stammered and Gouto chuckled as I started to walk faster hoping no one else noticed that I hadn't rebuffed the idea.
After an hour searching Tsukudo Cho with no results an idea came to mind and I turned to Raidou who looked back at me with a puzzled expression as I smiled. "We should head to the Dark Realm." I told them and Gouto tilted his head to one side, eyes unblinking at me.
"Why do you think that?" Gouto asked me and I rubbed my forehead, having been hoping at least Gouto understood my plan. Then he smiled at me. "Maybe he's made his way into the Dark Realm which would explain why we've had no luck so far at finding him."
"Yeah that's what I've been thinking since yesterday." I replied and Raidou stared at me, unblinking until I shrugged. "Okay maybe since this morning." I admitted and he gave me a tiny smile before he started to make his way towards a streetcar leaving me to race after him.
While we made our way towards the Nameless Shrine, Narumi busied himself by sorting through the files I'd started but hadn't finished before I stormed out.
As he did a folder caught his eye and he picked it out of the box, setting the box back down on floor. "I can't believe this is about the first time we met." Narumi muttered to himself, a smile crossing his lips as he flicked through the folder's pages. After a pause his fingers touched the photo Tae had snapped; the shock at being caught getting very close caught on both mine and Narumi's faces.
Then he blinked and shaking his head he quickly pocketed the photo. "I thought Tae promised to destroy it. I should have know she wouldn't listen to me. Once again." Returning to his desk he sat and with a little smile he set the photo in the very bottom drawer before he slid it closed, returning to the case file.
At the same time I ran after Raidou who started to head towards the Nameless Shrine as soon as we arrived in Shinoda. I reached him as he rang the bell and with a slightly breathless grin I watched as the Herald appeared from somewhere inside the shrine.
"Raidou Kuzunoha the fourteenth, is something amiss?" She asked and I stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Raidou and Gouto. "I see you have Summoner Jean with you. Greetings."
"Good morning." I replied, offering a little bow before I cleared my throat. "Sorry but we need to go to the Dark Realm."
"Of course but may I ask which one?" The Herald asked and I found myself a little puzzled. Thankfully, Gouto cleared his throat this time with a low purr and when he stepped forward I raised my eyebrows at him.
"Right now we're not too sure since he vanished from Tsukudo Cho. But we know he isn't there since we already searched there." Gouto said and I gave him a lopsided grin, grateful I wasn't the only one stuck.
"How about Dark Ginza-Cho then?" Raidou suggested and I had to agree mainly since I couldn't think of anything else.
"Vey well." The Herald raising her hands and as she began to speak a language I'd heard somewhere before but couldn't place I felt a darkness sweep over Raidou, Gouto and I. I briefly grimaced and Raidou reached out, giving my right hand a quick squeeze and I let out a breath trying not to move as we were swept into Dark Ginza-Cho.
The odd feeling in the pit of my stomach vanished once we touched down though I gave a tiny yelp when I nearly lost my balance as we landed. Purring softly in the cat version of a laugh Gouto started to wander away from our group and with a grin I produced a summoning tube, calling Fenrir out who immediately nuzzled my outstretched hand in greeting.
"It is good to see you again, Jean." Fenrir growled softly and I smiled, rubbing his head before we set off after Gouto with Raidou right behind us.
While we began our search of Dark Ginza-Cho, Narumi poked through the case file that concerned our first meeting.
"I still can't believe Jean came back. Even Raidou thought she was gone for good and that I should move on. Glad I didn't take his advice." Narumi muttered as he flicked through the files and once he found the ones Jean had typed up herself he broke into a smile again. "She'd make a pretty good secretary if she wasn't already a summoner like Raidou. Well, maybe not like Raidou." He thought with a tiny smirk when his thoughts flashed back to the photo. Then he shook himself and resumed his attention on sorting the box.
I really need to get my piorities straight and forgot about that one time we had together before Tae interrupted us. Though if she hadn't walked in on us and taken that photo I wonder if...okay where am I going with that train of thought?
Though as Narumi returned his attention back to the case files he had a smile plastered across his face.