Hi guys! Here is another chapter~ hope you enjoy it and please do read and review! the more reviews the more merrier it is!

Flames scorched the village. People frantically gathered their families to escape like a bundle of ants scurrying about. Miku whipped her head around and searched relentlessly. Smoke masked the once dark sky, pulling over it with a grey blanket as houses gradually crumbled down.

"MOTHER? FATHER?" she screamed. "WHERE ARE YOU?"

There was nothing except yells and shrieks in the air.

"Mother!" A sob clogged up in her throat. "Father… please… where are you…" Her voice died down, now barely above a whisper.

All of a sudden, the earth trembled like a small ripple across the water. She cried out and stumbled onto the ground, herself on both her hands and knees. More houses' wooden walls tumbled down. Sparks flew like fragile fireflies. The surrounding was in complete chaos and despairs, as if she was living through the so called hell her villagers often described about.

Then, the smoke in the distance started to brim. A dark shadow was formed, soon revealing a pair of crimson eyes. A breeze whipped past and Miku's eyes widened. She could recognise those eyes and that familiar face anywhere she went. There was no mistaking it, no matter what new form he had taken in or how much she wished this was all a dream or misunderstanding.

Standing in the distance was a demon – her best friend.

And in his hands were her parents – lifeless and limp.

Shock coursed throughout her body like a circuit. Every strand of hair on her skin prickled up and she stuttered. "G-gumiko… w-what are y-you doing w-with my parents?"

He didn't reply. Didn't move.

"Y-you didn't k-kill t-them…" tears brimmed in her eyes, "…right? Y-you w-would n-never harm…"

He met her gaze, his face impassive and not leaking out the slightest hint. The only thing that changed was a glint in his eyes of something unfathomable.

"Say something… Gumiko…" Miku started to plead and whisper. "Please…" Anything, even a word like 'no' could erase all doubt from her. She wanted so badly for all this to be a mistake. All this had to some sort of misunderstanding. There was no way that Gumiko could have done all this. After all, he was her friend… Please… she didn't want to lose her only friend.

Then, without warning, he held out his grisly hands and grabbed her. She screamed.

~~~~0~~~~

Miku snapped her eyes open. Beads of sweat trickled down her cheeks like rain. Coldness swept across her face as she turned pale – paler if she was already too pale. She felt her arms and legs tremble, shaken by the memory of the incident that took place years ago. That was why she never enjoyed sleeping unless necessary. It always brought back unwanted nightmares.

While she was too busy calming herself down, it took her a fair bit of time to realise the warm brown hood lying on top of her. She jumped up, alarmed. She had never owned such clothing, and who did it belong to? Someone else snapped his head up from her abrupt action. Miku blinked as she noticed a young boy sitting beside her.

It was the very same person who she rescued earlier this morning. .

"Um… hello…" She awkwardly waved her hand. "What are you doing here?"

He stared at her with his piercing blue eyes, not speaking, not moving. He was slim and shirtless; his grey pants were the only clothing he wore. There was no sign of sensitivity towards the cold, as if he was immune to it. Then he held out his hand to her with his soft bangs slightly tilted to the side.

She looked at him questioningly. "Uh… what do you want? I apologise… I do not have candy right now…"

He pointed at the brown hood.

"Oh…" Miku scratched her head. "I am sorry. Here you go." She handed it back to him. "This is yours, right?"

He nodded as he took it back.

"Thanks." She beamed, flashing a row of white teeth. "It was really warm."

The young boy gazed at her, a moment longer than it should have been and hastily looked down. He slightly tugged on his brown hood, the blonde bangs sheltering his eyes. Then he looped on his hood. His head popped right the hole and it flowed down over his body, covering his top half. After, he stood up and brushed off some dust from his pants.

She scanned around, her scrutiny stopped midway as her vision lay upon the still body of a demon a few metres away from them. Then the memory flashed back to her quicker than she could blink. She could remember the rampaging of the earth-type monster, and how she was knocked unconscious. Though how was she still alive? And why was it lying there dead?

The dead demon seemed unscathed. Not a single wound or blood was visible. It was difficult to determine the exact way it died as not a single clue was on it. The eyes were completely white and the black lines still lurked on the skin, almost like a tattoo.

Her eyebrows furrowed down. Could it have been that 'thing' with the black wings' doing?

She turned to the boy. "Did you see anything… suspicious?"

When she received a blank stare from him, she searched for the right description. "Like a…a fallen angel?"

He blinked, but then shook his head. Kneeling down, he used the dirt to write words, which gave her the impression that he was mute: I found you after the demon died.

"Oh I see… Then why were you here?"

There was a moment of hesitation. I was picking mushrooms.

"There are mushrooms lurking around here?"

He tilted his head, giving out the feeling of cuteness. Miku squirmed. She could never resist cute kids. All she wanted to do was spoil them, just like what she would have wanted if she was still a little child. Cute kids were always the way to her soft spots – not that she was a paedophile or anything.

She sighed and rustled his hair. "Anyway, thanks for staying with me."

He shrugged his shoulder.

Miku glanced up into the sky. The sun shone from the west, indicating that it was the late afternoons. Night had always been dangerous for humans, especially since it was dark and hard to see outside. Some say that demons were super strong during that period of time. "We should go back to the city soon. Demons are at their strongest during the night."

He wrote down on the dirt again. Allow me to escort you back to the city. It is dangerous as demons roam here.

She chuckled to herself. "Don't worry!" She smacked him on the back. "Big sister here will protect you."

Before they left, she told him to shut his eyes for she was going to slice up the monster and it may gross him out. He shook his head and, to Miku's dismay, insisted that she proceed on and pretend that he was not there. She expected him to hurl up when she jabbed her sword into the dead demon, though he did not flinch. Not even a single blink. It was almost as if he had seen such grotesque scenes ever since he was 5.

She collected a few precious gems and hummed to herself. She knew that the hunt today had granted her a whole week's shelter and food. That was what she liked about earth-type demons, they were very good money-makers.

"Let us go back!"

Without warning, she grabbed onto his hand and dragged him along. She laughed as his blue eyes widened in astonishment. He fixed his attention to her hands – on his. This human was bursting with energy, with life. Her smile was contagious and her brightness seemed to buzz into him when they touched. It had been years since he recalled someone making him feel this way. Since Rei disappeared.

"Come on!" Miku laughed out. "I shall treat you something nice!"

Then she faced ahead as they sprinted. If she had gazed at him for a moment longer – even a second—she would have seen the special glint in his eyes – the ones that he never had for hundreds of years until now.

Perhaps I'll observe this human for a while, he tilted his head, just for a while.

~~~~0~~~~

It was Miku's very first time experiencing the feeling of being kicked out – by magic. There was only one to describe it – unpleasant. An invisible force sent her flying through the gnawed her butt as she landed flat on the ground. She groaned. "What is wrong with you people?"

A bulky man stepped out from the building and loomed over her. "Go home and stop joking."

"I was serious!" She leaped up, levelling her glare with his. "I want to join a guild."

He rolled his eyes. "You?" Jabbing a finger to her chest, a snort grumbled out of his throat. "What can a weak girl like you do? Being an avenger is not as easy as it seems. You must be strong."

"I am strong!" She patted herself. "I can prove you my worth."

A hoarse laugh sounded in the air. He rocked his bald head, a smug smile plastered on his scarred face. "Talk big all you want. I have witnessed many avengers like you who say that, but…" he snarled, "…when they take the tests to enter a guild, they all pee in their pants in the face of danger."

"Tests?" Miku's teal eyebrows narrowed down. "What tests?"

He crossed his arms across his chest. "Three challenging test will be given by the councillors." Then he pointed to the arena – a spiral building with steel doors and soaring high walls. "It happens every year and the next time it will be held in the arena is just in a week's time."

The tealette bit her lips. Such requirements were unfamiliar to her knowledge. She never knew that avengers were expected to pass tests created by the people in charge of Mahard City. The man explained that the tests were used to judge their competence. It is rumoured that many avengers met their ends because of them. Were they really necessary to become a part of a guild?

"Then please tell me where I can sign up for this event." Miku jumped on her spot.

The muscular male flashed a row of crooked teeth. "It is here, in this building – Mahard Guild Centre."

"Then please allow me to sign up." She pleaded.

"No."

She grunted. "Why not?"

"Even if I let you, you need the permission slip from the head of your chosen guild of your acceptance into their group." Seeing the exasperated expression on the girl, he sneered. "So run home and do not return."

"What if I choose to create a new guild?" Miku placed her hands on her hips.

He cackled. "Then you need another avenger with you before creating one." Triumph twinkled in his eyes. "Now then, allow me to ask, do you have another person with you?"

There was silence in the atmosphere. She could not retort back. After all, the man did target right on the correct spot of rendering her speechless. She was all alone and had no companions –excluding from the little young boy that was tagging along with her as she promised to treat him food after.

"I…I…"

"I suppose that is a no then?" He waved his hand dismissively in the air. "Now get lost."

The blonde boy approached the two, abruptly jerking up his hands. He pointed one finger to himself and regarded him with a cool gaze.

Miku's eyebrows shot up. "What? You want to participate as well?"

He nodded.

Tears sparked at the corner of her eyes. She bear hugged him, snuggling his face into his chest. "Thanks so much! Do not worry! I'll definitely protect you!"

His whole body stiffened instantly. Just a bit. He coughed, a little uncomfortable.

The man rolled his eyes. "Well too bad… I am not allowing you to enter either way."

"What?" Miku growled. "That's so unfair!"

"Too bad."

"You –"

The young boy held up his hand to stop her. He stepped a little closer to the guy and crossed his arm.

"What do you want?" The man spat. "There is nothing that will –"

The blonde juggled a bag of coins.

(o.o)-*the man's expression*

"You're in." He wrapped his arm around the boy as if they were best friends.

Len: *glint of teeth*

Miku: (=.=)

Author notes:

At the last part:

Len: *glint

Miku: (=.=)

Me: (=.=)

Miku: whoa! Why are you here?

Me (=.=)

Miku: Helloo?

Me: (=.= )

Miku: what the… what is the author doing?

Me: (=.=) ….. he's hot….

Miku: …. (=.=)