A middle age women kept stealing glances at the duo and Shinichi pulled Nico out of the store before she determine if she should call the cops on them.

"That's it!"

Nico looks down at Shinichi who's tugging his greasy long hair in frustration. Nico furrows his brows in worry wondering what is the problem.

"I can't handle these clothes! "He tugs at his formal wear suit and shorts. It looks worn and has holes and then gestures his hand towards Nico.

"And you barely even fit those pants! Look at how high up they go!"

Nico looks at his pants he's been squeezing into. The pants have stop covering his ankles a while back.

"Well clothes are hardly important when seeking food and shelter." Nico retorted.

"Yes, but I'm tired of evading people because we now draw attention with our scruffy appearance. We are going to get new clothes, restock on supplies, and get ourselves a haircut." Shinichi tugs at the hair brushing his ears once again.

"My hair keeps itching my ear and it's driving me crazy. No offense but I don't trust you to not mess up my hair either so I'm going to get a cut and you are welcome to get one as well."

Nico hesitates but replies, "alright, just a trim" cause who know when we will later. After restocking and getting themselves to no longer looking as a runaway, Nico glances anxiously around.

"What did you see? Are there monsters or something?" Shinichi asks Nico with concern.

Nico shakes his head. "No, it's just we haven't had someone die in a while."

Shinichi scoffs, offended he states, "Barou ~ we don't always run into a crime scene just because we are out -"

Nico quickly heard a noise coming from above and pulled Shinichi back. A blast from above occurred and a black leather work bag fell with a thump and was then followed by the body of a business man. Nico trade looks with Shinichi who only closed his eyes.

Soon screams of witnesses and sirens in the distance filled the air and surrounded them.

Shinichi gritted his teeth, "Not a word Nico, not a word."

Nico snorted and together they were pulled into another crime scene.

Nico was thinking Shinichi might as well be a half-blood for all the trouble he runs into. Rather, at this point it's more than some half-blood's. He muses on this as the bomber roughly chokes Shinichi with his arm. The bomber had lost the last bit of restraint when Shinichi goaded him to draw attention away from the young girl around 8 years who was his original attended hostage.

Not a moment later did the bomber fall dead. The chaos that ensured was hectic and at worst it's left them dodging more law enforcement than ever to escape. Both were unsure how exactly the bomber had died. Much later in a motel they broke into Shinichi croaks out "you okay?" to Nico still fuming in anger and self loathing.

"Am I okay? Di immortal Shinichi! I almost saw you get choked to death? Are you an idiot? No, I-I can't believe you! " Nico continue to rant and yell at Shinichi.

Shinichi held in his retort waiting for Nico to be finished however a knock from their motel door interrupted.

Nico readies his sword and Shinichi as well prepares to defend himself.

Nico swings open the door to see a teen maybe 2 or 3 years older than himself standing outside. He had brown hair and brilliant yellow eyes.

"You, you're the kid that got caught by the bomber instead of my lil sis right?" Behind the boy stood the same little girl who was the original target to be hostage. She smiled at Shinichi and ran to hug him in gratitude. "Thank you thank you thank you!" She murmurs out.

Nico and Shinichi exchange side glances wondering if the other know anything about the teen in front of them.

"I saw how you tried to manipulated the mist and get away. I immediately knew then you guys were demigods. I'm a demigod as well." The boy then gesture to his little sister.

"I wanted to thank you for saving my lil sister."

"How did you even find us?" Nico bites out.

"It's part of my parent domain to be able to track." Shinichi immediately process and narrows down possible parents for the boy.

"So this is new, not often we run into other demigods. I've never seen you at Camp half-blood." Nico commented lowering his sword.

At the mention of the camp the boy sneered and made a look of disgust. "Mom's not important enough to have a place there. My little sister luckily doesn't have a drop of godly blood in her but somehow still runs into trouble. Wait- are you guys not defectors of camp half-blood?

Shinichi and Nico share side-glances. "You can say we do our own thing. You must know that being with the Titan's army isn't safe either and will get you killed".

"What choice do I have? I'm a outcast and either I join or die when I ran into monsters a month ago."

Shinichi eyes narrow and a look of determination filled his face. "I will protect you and help you escape from his army. I have an idea for you to escape this war and you don't even have to fight for camp half-blood. Just please share any intel you are able to me and I will have a setup for you and any other defectors to safely avoid the skirmish. You have my word."

Nico watches the exchange silently wondering how Shinichi will accomplish this.

The older boy gives a look of skepticism and looks between the two. "You?! you look like a five year old."

Nico snorts, Shinichi sighs, "I understand it's difficult to trust me but lets say death is on my side." Shinichi pulls up his bangs and revels the mark of Thanatos glowing ominously. "

A chill ran down the boy's back and he subconsciously took a step back, after a moment he hesitates but asks, "How will I contact you?" Shinichi gives his number for last resort and a location for the next time for them to meet in a month.

"We never got your name?"

"James, and my little sis Emily"

"Shinichi" "Nico."

Closing the door behind the siblings Nico turns to Shinichi.

"Death is on your side? Really?" Nico raises his eyebrow and watches Shinichi shrugs, "Ehh, well as his champion isn't that true?"

Nico shakes his head in response.

so finally overcame the writer's block for this chapter. Everything is drafted so will be posting weekly until story is complete.