The sound of someone humming to themselves woke Narumi from his nap and as he struggled to sit upright he saw Jean standing by the window. To his surprise, she was taping newspaper to the broken window and after watching her for several seconds Narumi's lips curled into a sleepy smile.
"There that should be alright until we can get the glass replaced. Damn Haruki and his demons wreaking a perfectly good window and hurting my boyfriend." I muttered unaware someone was listening to every word and as I turned around setting down the tape I froze as Narumi tried to push himself up using one arm. "Narumi, you should be resting. It's not every day you get cut up by flying glass." I scolded moving to stop him when he managed to rise on trembling legs.
"Jean, this isn't the first time I've been injured and I doubt it'll be the last. Not for my line of work." Narumi told me as I gently placed a hand on his shoulder, hoping he'd take the hint and sit on the couch again. "What are you up to?" He asked and I nodded towards the window now covered in newspaper.
"Keeping the wind and rain from getting in. Plus I cleaned up all of the broken glass but just be careful in case I missed any." I explained, taking a seat beside him when Narumi finally sat with a slight groan. "See I told you you needed to rest." I scolded and he chuckled despite the pain from his wounds as I kissed his forehead.
"You did all of that while I was sleeping?" Narumi asked and I nodded, blinking when he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "Aren't you tired?"
"Not after my nap. Besides I forgot all about cleaning up the mess that Tengu left and I didn't want anyone to cut themselves on the broken glass." I explained, giving my boyfriend a slow grin. "Hey, I should be checking on you and not the other way around."
"Other than my side being itchy I'm fine, Jean." Narumi chuckled, giving me a grin when I leaned on his shoulder. "You sure you don't need a nap?" He teased and I snorted at him giving him a kiss on his cheek instead.
"I'm more awake than I've ever been, Narumi. Once Raidou gets back I'm going after Haruki. This time he's not walking away, not after he hurt you, Narumi." I told my boyfriend who fixed me with one raised eyebrow silent when I rubbed at my eyes. "He's not getting away with that."
"Jean, listen to me." Narumi sighed, cupping my chin when I didn't meet his eyes. "I know you're angry at him but you can't go out there angry. If you get distracted by how mad you are he'll use that against you and that could get you or someone else killed." Narumi explained, holding my chin between the fingers of his left hand.
"Alright already, Narumi. I'll try and keep my focus on beating him so he doesn't hurt anyone else ever again." I muttered and Narumi shook his head not liking the way I narrowed my eyes.
"Jean, take a deep breath," Narumi asked, meeting my eyes when I rolled them at him. "Just do it." He repeated, waiting patiently until I finally took a breath. "Now what are you going to do?"
"Set Fenrir on Haruki?" I answered and Narumi groaned, leaning back against the couch with his eyes closed until he heard me laugh and he opened one eye finding me sitting there with a smile on my lips. "I was just joking, Narumi. Okay, so what do you think we should do?"
"First of all, you should figure out how you're actually going to trap Haruki. Raidou and his demons will help you but you need to focus on tracking him down this time without him knowing you're there." Narumi asked me and I nodded, noting with a slight frown when he winced. "Don't worry about me, Jean. I've had injuries worse than this." He added with a faint smile though when he rested his head on my shoulder I could feel his shoulders trembling.
"Narumi, that doesn't mean I'm going to sit by and let you work while you're injured. Even Raidou needs to rest from time to time and he's the better summoner." I pointed out and Narumi rolled his eyes, giving me a smile when I snorted at him. "I'm being serious."
"Of course you are, Jean but I'll be fine. Now how are you going to find Haruki?" Narumi asked me and I sighed, rubbing my eyes as I considered his question. "Jean?"
"Hang on, Narumi I'm still thinking." I finally answered and Narumi groaned, closing his eyes for long enough to feel my hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" I asked him and he cracked open an eye at me with a tiny grin on his lips.
"Just annoyed that you're going to rush out there and confront Haruki without a plan," Narumi muttered, closing his eye and I shook my head. Once he felt the couch shift slightly he opened his eyes with a groan as I started to pace the room, only stopping after Narumi tried to push himself up from the couch. As soon as he made an attempt to raise himself from the couch his right side started to throb and the pain and with an audible groan, Narumi sank back onto the couch, breathing heavier as I stepped near him.
Kneeling I reached up and Narumi chuckled as I stroked his forehead, offering him a weak smile before I sat next to him. "You keep telling me to take it easy but do you listen to your own advice? Of course not." I complained and Narumi laughed, coughing a little and I sighed. "Wait here and I'll make you a fresh coffee," I told him, heading for the kitchen before he could think of a response.
The smell of fresh roasting beans woke Narumi just as I walked back into the room holding two cups and Narumi yawned, taking one of the cups when I reached the table in the middle of the room. "There you go," I said, watching as he blew on the cup before he took a sip and after I saw a smile cross his lips I smiled too. Taking a seat beside me I copied Narumi, enjoying the hot coffee as much as Narumi did.
It even helped clear my head so I could focus on a plan though when Narumi set his empty coffee cup down on the table I blinked when his lips curled into a smile. For several seconds I couldn't move as he met my gaze though after he started to lean in I found myself doing the same only to hear someone clearing their throat and Narumi groaned for a new reason as he straightened. Once we saw just who had entered the office I sighed, chewing my lip as Raidou and Gouto appeared the latter giving me an eye-roll.
"If you would stop making out every time you are alone with Jean, Narumi this wouldn't happen." Gouto chuckled as Narumi rested his head back on the couch. "Still it's good to see you're feeling better." He added, glancing at Narumi who had his eyes closed and his lips pressed together.
"Oh stop teasing him, Gouto. Narumi did get cut up by flying glass." I scolded and Gouto chuckled, crossing the room before he jumped onto the table nearly upsetting our thankfully empty cups. Narumi just sighed, content to rest as I climbed from the couch picking up the cups before I headed for the kitchen. Raidou glanced over at me his eyes on my back though after he was sure I was out of earshot he cleared his throat, nodding towards his mentor.
"Any news, Raidou?" Narumi asked, wishing his hip would stop aching as Raidou moved in closer.
I walked in just in time to catch the tail end of the conversation and when I heard the name Haruki I froze looking towards Raidou. When Narumi saw me staring at them, my eyes wide he groaned rubbing the bridge of his nose before he beckoned to me. "Next time we should wait until Jean's out of earshot," Raidou said as I crossed the room my arms now folded over my chest.
"He's my problem, guys not yours," I told them and Raidou raised an eyebrow at me while Narumi grimaced looking towards Gouto who purred.
"Actually the responsibility falls on Raidou not you, Jean." Gouto pointed out and I rolled my eyes, moving towards the bedroom I shared with Narumi with my shoulders hunched.
"Gouto, she wants to help. You saw what that summoner did to her. Maybe we should let her help." Raidou argued as Narumi looked towards the open doorway, wanting to follow his girlfriend but with his injury, he wasn't sure his legs could support him. Now standing inside our bedroom I stared at the floorboards, hands shaking until I curled them into fists.
I protected Narumi against a Tengu plus I pulled broken glass from him. I can take care of myself even if I wasn't trained like Raidou. I'll show them how strong I and my demons have gotten.
After making sure my gun was loaded I slipped it into my jacket, checking my summoning tubes, and once they were secure I marched back to the office only to pause at the open doorway the moment I noticed that Raidou and Gouto were nowhere in sight.
"Jean, they can handle this," Narumi told me, sighing when I chewed my lower lip. When my eyes narrowed and I started to head for the door Narumi grimaced, pushing himself back to his feet where he wobbled. But that didn't stop him and he stumbled towards me as I reached for the doorknob, staggering into my path. "You can't just rush out there."
"Doesn't anyone believe in me?" I muttered and Narumi tilted his head to one side in time to see tears in my eyes. "Fine then. I'll bring back Haruki if it's the last thing I do." I growled, pushing at Narumi's shoulder and when he stumbled, barely able to keep his balance, I swept past him pulling open the door before I stepped outside.
I felt a momentary flash of guilt but as I started to run down the road towards my focus returned to finding Haruki Rokurou but I'd barely walked two blocks when it occurred to me that I had no clue where the summoner was or Raidou and Gouto for that matter.
Smart move, Jean. I shoved my boyfriend, whose still injured by the way, and rush away without finding out just where Raidou went.
After standing on the street corner for a few seconds I grinned, my right hand moving to Fenrir's tube.
"We will find them soon," Fenrir growled and I grinned at him, keeping pace with the giant white wolf as we crossed the road ending up near the streetcar stop. "His trail ends here."
"Darn that Gouto. He probably told Raidou where Haruki is but not me. Still, they might have gone towards the Nameless Shrine in Shinoda. At least I think they did." I told Fenrir who leaned against me when I rubbed at my eyes. "Maybe I shouldn't be chasing after that summoner but he screwed up my head and now I can't seem to focus on anything else."
"Jean, let's go to Shinoda. You know I will follow you anywhere." Fenrir suggested and I nodded, reaching down to stroke the fur on his head. That helped calm me and with a nod, I waited impatiently for the next streetcar. We arrived in Shinoda less than half an hour later but Raidou wasn't there and I groaned, leaning against a tree as I stared up at the shrine.
"He's not here either. Where did he go?" I grumbled, looking at the shrine for an answer. At my side, Fenrir sniffed at the ground and when he began to walk towards the shrine I brightened, following at his heels. "He's in the dark realm but which one?"
At the same time, Raidou and Gouto entered Dark Tsukudo-Cho, the former feeling a tinge of guilt at leaving his friend and fellow summoner behind. "Gouto, we shouldn't have left Jean behind. She can take care of herself as she said."
"Raidou, you know how impulsive she is. Whatever Haruki did to her has made her even more reckless so do you really think it would be wise to face Haruki with Jean unable to focus?" Gouto asked and Raidou shook his head with a sigh, knowing that his mentor was right. "I know Jean's getting better but one mistake and that's it." He added with a feline smile as they headed deeper into Dark Tsukudo-Cho unaware that right now I was tracking them with the help of Fenrir. With his sense of smell, we soon found Raidou and Gouto wandering the footpath but I kept a few feet from them ducking into alleyways whenever I thought they might turn around and spot us.
Confused, Fenrir followed my actions though after we followed them to a dead-end Fenrir stared up at me. "Jean, why aren't we joining them?" He asked, looking towards my friends with a slight frown.
"I just want to be sure they're actually leading us to Haruki and not leading us in circles," I explained and he nodded though the demon didn't look too happy when I continued to keep my distance. Despite how careful I was sneaking around Raidou and Gouto already knew I was following behind them and when I stepped out of the darkness something grabbed me around my shoulders, a hand clamping over my mouth before I had time to cry out. Fenrir tensed, ready to defend me until he saw just who had their arm around my shoulders and he relaxed very confused as Raidou slowly shook his head at me.
"See this is why we wanted you to stay behind," Gouto told me as Raidou released his grip on me, and the moment he uncovered my mouth I stepped out of range, my eyes fixed on the pair. Seeing the rage in my eyes Raidou blinked, concerned as I backed away from them. Even Fenrir stared at me concerned when I grit my teeth, focusing all of my anger on Raidou as Gouto stood at the summoner's heels. "Calm yourself, Jean." He ordered but I wasn't listening and Raidou caught the wrist on my left hand when I tried to push him back into the wall behind us.
"Jean, you're not acting like yourself," Raidou said, giving my wrist a hard squeeze when I lifted my right hand this time. The sudden pain caused me to focus and I blinked, my anger vanishing as I slowly let out a breath. "You need to focus on Haruki and not attacking me." He pointed out, giving me a tiny smile as he released my wrist. As I rubbed my wrist I started to agree with them, that maybe I shouldn't have followed the pair into the dark realm though before I could make a choice to stay or go back to the agency we heard chuckling. That's when I knew that my decision had been made for me as Haruki appeared from the darkness, giving me a wide smile as I stared back at him.