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Chapter 14
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"Alright then, I'll read what we gathered so far. According to the young girl we rescued yesterday, the vampires are hiding in an old Omotesando subway station approximately half a mile from Harajuku. In this location, they are also keeping humans. There is a possibility the information we were given is false so the number of vampires may exceed seven and they may be aware we are coming." I said holding the report.
"What is it, Kimizuki-kun?" Shinoa asked noticing him raise his hand.
"What about the civilians they've captured. What would happen if they use them as hostages?" Kimizuki asked bringing up a good point.
"I don't care about hostages. Our enemy has numbers on their side. Our hands are tied enough taking care of ourselves and we don't have time to worry about them as well.' Mitsuba said as I folded the paper up.
"I know it's not a good thing to say, but our lives as soldiers are worth more than a few civilian lives. This also means that if this were indeed a trap, it would be best to run if we are clearly outmatched. We have no time to worry about their lives when we must prioritize our own. Is that clear?" I asked placing it in my pocket.
"Is that really okay?" Yoichi asked with a slight frown.
"It can't be helped. The Black Series are incredibly powerful and wielders are far and few. We're lucky to even be able to gain these weapons, but if we were to lose them outside of our bases...well, let's just say that the firepower of our own army will diminish greatly as we are unable to retrieve these weapons." I explained adjusting my cloak.
"So our weapons are worth more than our lives?" Kimizuki asked summarizing my words.
"I know you don't like it, but it can't be helped. While we are still adjusting to our weapons, once we master them we would easily be able to handle this number of vampires. That is why we must survive at all costs."
"Kanon is correct. That's why it's imperative that no one takes independent action."
"Yuu-kun, that means you."
"I got it."
"Alright then, let's get going! Stay in formation, protect one another, and do not get separated from the rest of the team. Got it?"
"Understood."
"Sure."
"All right."
"Yes!"
"Hm."
"Then let's go destroy those vampires~!"
"Shinoa-san...that peppy attitude isn't very good in this situation..."
"Let's go!"
I smacked my forehead out of exasperation. This girl...she'll seriously be the death of me. I took the lead, weapon in hand. I was a mid-range and close combat fighter so it was better if I was in the front in case we do see an enemy as I can distract them before Yuu or Kimizuki closes the distance and deals with the vampire. People...and those uniforms...they're the same as us. I thought when I felt a hand grab my wrist. I looked at Yuu to see he was gritting his teeth, but he didn't bother to say anything to me.
"Let's continue moving. We don't have time to waste on them." I said walking ahead.
We continued to floor B3, where the vampires are located. I remained silent as I fingered the knife end of my weapon. I was getting nervous, because if this really is a trap...then we're all at risk. I took note of the vampire walking towards us from ahead and I readied my chain, waiting for the order to engage in combat.
"Get ready to attack! Kill him before he can call his friends!" Mitsuba ordered.
"Yuu-kun!" I shouted throwing the chain.
"I got it!" Yuu shouted at me.
I wrapped the chain around the neck of the vampire, forcibly pulling him towards me. Yuu ran forward, his blade piercing through the vampire...killing him. I pulled my chain back, catching the handle of my knife. I walked towards Yuu as Mitsuba ran towards him, fully intent on slapping him again.
"I thought I told you not to take independent action!" Mitsuba shouted raising her hand.
"I'm not." Yuu grabbed her hand, stopping her. "The enemy was unarmed. I also waited for your order before drawing my sword. You don't do anything, but complain with what I do." Yuu said before taking note of something.
"Don't drop your guard!" Yuu pulled Mitsuba towards him, before tossing her to the side. I quickly reacted in catching her before setting her on her feet. "You okay?" I asked not breaking my gaze towards the vampire.
"I'm fine." Mitsuba turned around to see Yuu easily killing the second vampire. "W-What, how is he so strong?" Mitsuba asked obviously shocked.
"It's simple, both Yuu-kun and Kanon are Lieutenant Colonel Guren's students. It's natural that the two are quite strong, but to think he would be this strong...It makes me wonder about your abilities, Kanon"
"Yuu-kun is more skilled at swordsmanship, but we're about evenly matched. I never got the hang of it despite all the training I was put through." I spun the scythe end of my kusarigama, trying to work out the adrenaline I was feeling. "We can't drop our guard, you guys! Stay focus!"
"That's right, we-" Mitsuba and I were interrupted by the sound of glass breaking behind us and I quickly pushed her towards Kimizuki as he was the closest. "Kanon!"
"Gurh!" I was grabbed by the throat and I tightened my grip on my weapon. "Damn it...!"
"Kanon!"
"The information wasn't accurate after all!"
"So you knew it was a trap, but you still came? Really, to think you'd be so stupid to come to your own slaughter. Really, you humans are too easy to use. All we have to do is threaten your family or friends and you end up doing whatever you can to protect them. Even going so far as to betray your own kind. How despicable."
"Is that...what you really think? Yes...humans can be rather despicable, but...we always do what we can to protect our family!" I adjusted the grip on my scythe and I stabbed his arm with my knife end, forcing him to drop me. I turned my scythe in my hand and I cut his throat. "Don't go underestimating us because of that or you'll be the one dead!"
Seeing as we were evenly numbered and due to the fact they were wielding only second level weapons, we were able to finish off the rest of the vampires without any of us gaining any serious injuries. I released a small sigh, looping my chain around my belt. Yuu walked towards me and he lifted my head up to look at my neck.
"I'm fine, he didn't apply that much pressure to my neck." I said pushing his hand away.
"I'm still worried. Geez, what are you thinking?" Yuu asked running his fingers through his bangs.
"I should be saying that to you. Look at you, compared to the rest of us, you're the one with the most injuries." I lightly slapped his cheek and he hissed when I hit the small scratch there. "See."
"Hey, lovebirds! We're going."
"K-Kimizuki-kun, do not refer to us in such a way!"
"Let's get going, Kanon."
"Yeah..."
I walked behind Yuu, fixing my collar. I really didn't like the thought of someone, especially a vampire, touching my neck like that. For a moment, I froze because of the familiar sensation and I was half-afraid I would lose my vision again...but I remembered where I as because of Yuu's voice. Unlike the cute childish voice he had back then...his voice is stronger, deeper...but it was still Yuu and that reminded me it wasn't that day.
"Kanon, what's wrong?" Yuu asked looking at me.
"..." I pulled my hand away from my collar, resting my hand on my scythe. "Nothing, I'm fine." I said giving her a slight smile.
"Are you sure?" Mitsuba asked as we got to the surface.
"I'm fine, really." I took note of the girl we saved a good distance away with what appeared to be her family. "I'm actually glad we managed to get rid of those vampires."
"Hm..."
"Onee-san!" I watched as the girl ran towards me, she stopped before she attempted to hug me and she looked up at me with tear-filled eyes. "I-I'm really sorry! I'm sorry that I lied!"
"Don't worry." Yuu placed a hand on her shoulder, a smile on his face. "You did what you can to protect your family. Don't ever apologize for that."
"B-But...!"
"I would do the same thing if I was in your shoes." I ruffled her hair, a small smile on my face. "I know the feeling of doing something that is bad...to protect those you love."
"What the hell did you people do?! Why did you kill those vampire?! Do you know what will happen to us, to the children?!"
"What is going on over there?"
"D...dad..."
"Many civilians are not allowed to enter areas like Shinjuku or Shibuya as the cities would become overpopulated and there wouldn't be enough space to accommodate everyone, not to mention the limited amount of resources we have...it'd be almost impossible to help everyone. Many have been forced to live outside of the walls..."
"..." Yuu grabbed my wrist, dragging me towards the man. "I...We grew up in a vampire city." The man stopped yelling and looked towards us. "I remember clearly what they did to us. Feeding us next to nothing, forcing us to give up blood...but I refused to let them treat us like cattle. One day, our family attempted to escape...however only the two of us managed to escape alive."
"I have a constant reminder of that day." I looked up at the man and Yuu glanced down at me. "The vampire that killed them, he stole away my left eye. I gained a replacement, but...whenever I look at myself in the mirror, I'm always reminded of what I had lost."
"I often regret that day and I often thought that I should have died with them...but...I won't regret what we chose to do that day. I was happy that I could at least save the one I love, that we stopped bending to the will of vampires who treated us like livestock."
"Damn it...So what?" I stared at the man as he began to cry. "I...It's not as if I wanted to let them take blood from the children...!"
"..." I watched as the man's wife and child reassure him without any words. I moved my body towards Yuu and I dropped my forehead on his shoulder. "Don't move..."
"...Yeah...got it..." Yuu gave my wrist a small squeeze. "I'm not going anywhere."
"I'm sorry...about what I said..." I turned my head slightly to look at the man. "Thank you for saving my daughter."
"Please wait a moment." I lifted my head up to look at Shinoa who suddenly spoke up. "Shibuya is expanding so there may be able to find shelter for a small group such as yours."
I listened to the man cheer up when he heard this and I smiled when I saw the man lift his daughter up in the air due to how happy he had felt. I felt Yuu slid his hand into mine and I interlocked out fingers. He gave my hand a small squeeze, giving me a smile. I returned it with my own, but I still felt anger towards the vampires for the way they were treating us.
"Hey." I turned my gaze towards Mitsuba as she moved to stand beside me. "What you said back there, was it true? That you had left your friends in a vampire city..." Mitsuba said not looking at us.
"...That's wasn't meant for your ears." Yuu walked away, scratching the back of his head. "So don't go about poking your nose in our past." Yuu said unable to look at her.
"Wait."
"What's wrong, Mitsuba-san?"
"I..." Mitsuba looked at the two of us before shaking her head. "No, it's nothing."
"What's up with her?"
"Don't go asking me that kind of thing..."
"Kanon, sorry..."
"It's fine. That man is like us, but...at least he still has his family...I also have family right here."
"...I'm...going to kiss you." Yuu leaned down, kissing the corner of my mouth. He pulled away, obviously embarrassed. "S-Sorry..."
"You're seriously embarrassed about kissing?"
"S-Shut up! It's not easy for me, okay!"
"Geez, when you said kiss I thought you meant on the lips or something..."
Yuu looked away, not saying anything. Really, to think he's embarrassed about the strangest of things. Still, his attitude is rather cute.
So Yuu-chan really did act like this with you.
Mika-kun? Wait, what the hell is the relationship between the three of us in the future anyways if you're so calm?!
Who knows.
Mika-kun?
You don't have to worry about it right now. I still have some work to do, we'll talk about our future plans later.
Alright.
"Kanon, what's wrong?" Yuu asked gaining my attention.
"Ah, it's...I guess I'm a bit distracted due to what happened. It's still hard for me to believe we can really do this...fight vampires..." I said with a nervous laugh.
"We're a lot stronger now compared to back then."
"Yeah..."
"I'll protect you."
"I should be saying that. You always charge in headfirst."
"I'm glad you're here."
"...I'm glad to be here."
"Yuu-kun, Kanon! If you two are done with your lovey-dovey talk then we have to get going!"
"S-Shinoa-san!"
"Shinoa, you...!"
"Hurry up! You two are so slow!"
"Kimizuki-kun, not you too!"
"Come on, Yuu-kun, Kanon-san! We have to get to Shinjuku!"
"Geez, we're coming!"
"Yoichi-kun..."
"You two are so slow, let's go!"
"Mitsuba-san...really..."
Yuu and I walked towards the others...and I began to think of them as more than just allies...they are also family. I always prioritized Yuu above everyone else, but I can see myself doing my best to protect them as well. Kimizuki is like a sibling I can get along with when it comes to studies. Yoichi, I would probably end up seeing as someone I need to help out more often than not. Shinoa...well, I can see her teasing me or arguing with her. Mitsuba, I can see the two of us getting along due to Shinoa's antics. While dysfunctional...they're my family now and I will protect them.
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Chapter 14 Ends
Kanon and Yuu are so fluffy together~! Yuu is also an awkward mess around the person he loves...or I see it like that. Getting embarrassed over little things like kissing is so cute~! Soon...Soon! My Mika-chan shall appear and I shall have a lot more fun messing with them~! I really like messing with people...a lot of fun~! Well, that's all for today so until next time my dearies~! Bye-bye~!