Chapter 3 is here! (Does Happy dance) Well, I took much more time than wanted maybe because the fasting month has started and I'm now tangled in a busy scheduled…Well, I hope I will be able to update sooner next time :3 Enjoy the chapter!

It could sound cliché but his heat was counting the seconds since he last saw both of them. It's been nearly four weeks since he was out in a raid to search for provisions as they quickly ran out of food. He wanted to finish as soon as he can with his duty as he longed to go back to them, to his family.

His eyes fell on a rock which he quickly grabbed. It was heavy and dense, the perfect object he needed right now. He threw it with all his force on a glass pane which shattered into a million of small glistening debris. He entered the grocery story trying to avoid the broken glass as much as he could. The daylight from outside was plainly enough to illuminate the small super-market in which he broke in. It was in a terrible state with unrecognizable alleys and food items laying on the floor itself but what really mattered to him was to find a way to the bathroom in front of him.

After grabbing everything he could need for his toilette, he barged in the males' toilet with much ease. The stalls were unsurprisingly in a pitiful state but his eyes were on the faucet which he wished would still work. He flashed a smile of victory as water started to flow from the tap as soon as he opened it. Shirou hissed at the contact of the cold liquid with his hands filled of scalps and burn and started dreading what would follow. He frowned at the reflection of his face on the mirror in front of him. It seemed to him to be face of stranger though it had the same eyes, the furrowed eyebrows and it reproduced the same mimics Fubuki was doing. He examined his face in every angle, his fingers lingering on his rough face covered with small hair.

EW, A beard

His cheekbones became more visible. Had he lost weight? After blinking a few times, he quickly tore up the plastic package of a Gillette razor and mousse and started shaving the unwanted facial hair until he regained his previous smooth skin. For him, the need to look presentable even at times like this wasn't futile but instead a real necessity so he did not find it eerie to put his head under the tap to wash his hair or to dry them under the hand-dryer.

When he finally looked more decent, he went back in the alleys and started filling his back-pack of anything he could find useful but his thoughts were wandering about Micheo and Ayano. What were they doing? Would they be surprised when he would finally appear in front of them, when he would finally come back home?

Finally finished, he zipped his bag and went outside in the same way he had ventured in. He was stretching his arms until he felt it being grabbed. His heartbeat quickened and no sooner any sound could escape from his mouth that he felt a hard object on his temple.

"Don't move!" a scabrous, male voice ordered while his arm was under Shirou's neck menacing to break in any second. Shirou did as he was commanded and froze.

"Empty your bag!" the man' voice boomed, harsh again.

"No"Shirou replied curtly trying his best to block the fact that he was being menaced with a gun.

"What?" the voice asked and for the first time, Shirou noticed that his voice was shaky. He was as scared as he was of him.

"I said no, I can't sorry 'bout that" Fubuki repeated while keeping his voice polite.

His head was hit with the back of the gun with much force, making him sway but he stayed on his feet and decided to act quickly. Catching him unguarded, Shirou swirled around while grabbing the man's white hand causing him to let the gun fall from his fingers. Enraged, the man staggered back and clenched his fist before punching the white-haired man's shoulder.

Shirou wasn't a fighter not because he didn't have the power or stamina but he didn't have the will to hurt a fellow survivor even when he felt the said survivor's fist swishing past his nose. Droplets of crimson red blood fell on the floor and soon, Fubuki followed. For the second time of his life, he was tackled to the ground and knew there was no use of struggling; his opponent was far too strong.

But the instinct of survival for Shirou right now were undeniable. Would he let down the two only people dear to him on this Earth just because he was acting like a coward? Adrenaline rushed in his blood and soon he caught of a detail he would never perceive before. Here it was, a few inches away, the metallic weapon the man used a few minutes ago. He groaned and gathered his energy for an ultimate, last effort. Finally, he could lift the gun from the soil and pointed it at the man on him.

The color of the attacker's face was drained and his eyes started to quiver,pleading yet Shirou pulled the trigger and watched sourly the body being propelled away from him. He stood up and walked away without turning back to catch a glimpse of the lifeless, cold body while trying to calm himself.

He could not believe he had killed a man. He became one of them, a monster.

Micheo could hardly believe his eyes. In front of him a familiar silhouette was advancing and after spending half a second asking himself if it was a mirage, he jumped to his feet.

"Ayanooooooooooooooooooooo! He is baaaaack!" he yelled to alert his sister.

"Mich, if it's again one of your stupid joke I'm going to kill you" she said not even moving outside the cave.

The little brunette ignored her menace and went running to greet Shirou who was smiling at such a cheerful welcome. The twelve year took his hand and pulled him to walk faster into the cave.

"Was I joking Ayano?" he asked while still holding the man's hand.

The young woman's head lifted up but she was too stunned to say a word.

"You really are back" she whispered after long minutes of uncomfortable silence among the three of them.

"Nah, it's just a figment of my imagination" Micheo said, abusing of the sarcasm as if he just discovered the use of it but he was not taken into account. Ayano extended her arms inviting Shirou to come in. Both one wanted to let go, embracing the warmth and feeling each other's merged heartbeat. His worries disappeared along with her fears and they enjoyed the moment of calm. They felt comforted as if they could conquer the world with just one single, tight hug. Shirou groaned when she tried to go.

"I've not seen you since thirty-two days so give me two more minutes" he begged, his arms squeezing her waist more tightly preventing her to leave. She laughed and rolled her eyes but stayed right there, her head resting on his shoulder.

"Are you done now?" she murmured in his ear.

"Yeah" He sighed letting her go reluctantly.

When did he first realize that his love for her was more than one of a brother? Maybe it was one month ago, the night he had to leave and asked himself what was the pain in his stomach every time he would think of parting. It was cruel that he found his soul mate at the end of it all, when humanity nearly no more existed but he could not withstand his feelings.

"You're hurt!" she shrieked pointing to his shirt covered of blood.

"That's nothing really" he tried to calm her down.

"Of course it is something! What happened?"

And there he was, narrating the whole story of his encounter with the man with the gun. He was often interrupted with the little boy's whistles of admiration and her frantic questions but that did not bother. Neither their usual bickering not the little boy's ironic remarks could make him feel less ecstatic and lighthearted.

Finally, he was home.

Yeah! You read it all! Well, How was it? Tell me by clicking the lonely button below. Come on, I know you wanna do it! Now,now you might think that I'm going slightly too fast right? 'Cause his already in loooooooooove with her? Maybe I am…

Next chapter will be more…intimate? ;)

Have a nice day/Sweet dreams J