Finally, after a month here's chapter 4. Lots of things happened which is why this got too late.. and I don't feel like putting my excuses here. But anyway, I hope you enjoy this!

Arriving at the location given to her, the redhead walked in without any hint of being cautious. After her they left Umi, Maki had a premonition. Her escorts told her that she was just being paranoid. But the redhead knows better that when she feels this way, it is most of the time, right. So she decided to call her senior. Her premonition was proven to be right when a man answered the phone.

"Senpai-"

"Oh is this Nishikino? Looks like we're right for taking this girl with us."

Maki remained a calm tone on her response. "What did you do to her?"

"We just tied and blindfolded her. We won't hurt her if you promise to come here alone."

"And if I don't?"

"Let's see. We haven't tasted a human in a while so you should know what is bound to happen."

"Okay, I am going. Where are you?"

"I will mail you the address. It isn't too far from Akihabara. We are expecting you within fifteen minutes. Come late and we'll cut her into pieces."

The man quickly ended the call before the redhead could respond. Her two escorts did not even need to ask her what happened because of the change in her mood.

"I'll make them regret this."

After instructing Hideo and Taki what to do, Maki left off on her own and arrived ten minutes later at the location given to her. There were like fourteen men inside. Two of them were standing by the corner as if guarding something.

"Couldn't you be more obvious? I don't even have to rely on my smelling sense to tell that you are hiding her there."

"I don't think you'll dare breaking through a group of full blood werepanthers, Nishikino." one of them said as he walked up to her. Maki deduced that this was the guy she was talking to earlier at the phone by the sound of his voice. "Just come with us peacefully so you won't get hurt, as well as your friend here."

If ever you can't avoid getting in trouble with others from our race because of what you are, don't forget that they will surely underestimate you, and you can use that to your advantage, Maki.

Maki remembered her father's words because of the situation. It was finally proven to her now. Her father said, a full blood werepanther only fears another full blood. It was seen throughout the history that half-bloods were much weaker. But Maki is different. She is no ordinary half-blood werepanther.

"Okay. But at least let me tell my personal guards to get my friend out of here once you take me." The redhead said waving her phone to them.

"Sure." The leader turned to the others and ordered them to get ready to tie Maki after the call.

Smirking to herself, the redhead held up the phone to her ear after dialing Taki's number. "Hello Taki-san? Yes I'm alright. I'm leaving senpai up to you. Take care of her."

After she ended the call, they quickly made their way to Maki. When they were close enough to tie her hands, sounds of two men being knocked down was suddenly heard. She took this as her cue and within split seconds, Maki transformed into her werepanther form and knocked down the two goons that was holding her. The goons were all shocked. They couldn't believe their eyes.

"Weren't you a mere half-blood? How come you can transform?!" one of them exclaimed.

"Yes I am a half-blood, but I am not a mere half-blood." Maki smiled with her glowing amethyst eyes. Some of the goons started trembling because of the blood lust aura Maki is emitting.

"Are you not worried that we might hurt your friend here?!"

"What might you be talking about?"

The leader turned to look over to where Umi is, only to see the truth behind the sound earlier. Hideo and Taki in their werepanther form, were the ones who knocked down the goons guarding Umi. Angered, the leader ordered the remaining ones to transform along with him. Hideo and Taki remained by Umi's side while fighting to make sure that no one would try to get their hands on her.

It was when there were only three left of the goons including their leader, when Maki noticed Umi gaining conscious.

Uugghh. Why'd she have to wake up already?!

As Maki gave the final slash to the leader, the last two remaining, flee quickly. She asked Hideo and Taki to come after them to see if there are more coming, or just running away. When she walked back inside the warehouse, she looked around to see the mess they made of it. The unconscious goons are lying around, and at the corner, she saw her blue haired senior struggling against the ropes that was tied to her. She walked slowly to her before pulling off the blindfold on Umi. Maki then proceeded on cutting the ropes tied on her senior, with her claws.

"Are you okay senpai?" she asked worriedly.

Their eyes met when Umi looked up to her. Her senior blinked a few times and then stared at her from head to toe.

"N-Nishikino-san?"

"Yes it's me Sonoda-senpai. And I wasn't really kidding earlier. I am not a full human."

"W-what do you mean?"

Maki sat in front of Umi and waved her tail to let her see it. "As you can see, I am a half werepanther. The other half is a vampire which I got from my mother. This is not the right place and time to tell you everything. We have to get out of here. But more importantly, are you hurt anywhere?"

"My body just feels weak, nothing to worry about. You're the one who's hurt!" The archer reached out her hand to Maki's face and rubbed her thumb on her cheek. Her fingers accidentally touched the redhead's whiskers, and that was the first time she noticed it.

"I-I'm fine senpai!" Maki jolted backwards surprised by her senior's sudden actions. "I-it will heal after some minutes. I heal at least four times faster than a normal human."

"I see.. May I?"

"What?"

Her curiosity got her. Umi just went and touched the redhead's ears. Maki stunned by her senior's actions, stared at her blushing. The blue haired didn't stop there. Her hands proceeded next to patting her head.

"W-what are you doing s-senpai?"

Umi snapped out of it and retracted to her sitting position earlier. "I-I'm sorry! I just got curious how it would feel to touch them."

Before Maki could say something, she was interrupted by the loud voices of Hideo and Taki calling for her.

"Maki-sama! W-why did you let her see you in that form?" Taki asked anxiously. Both he and Hideo are back on their human form.

"It's fine Taki-san. There's no hiding it anymore after getting her into this mess. How was it?"

"They were just running away. There wasn't any other group of werepanthers around."

"Okay. Thanks for looking out."

Maki reverted to her human form upon knowing that they are now free from any danger.

"Senpai, I will explain everything tomorrow. For now, we will drive you to your house." the redhead said offering her hand to help Umi stand up. The blue haired archer took it shyly and helped herself up.

"I-I guess I'll take up on that offer. I still feel too weak that I might pass out anytime."

They headed out of the warehouse with Maki letting Umi grab on her arm as they walk. She also helped her to get in the car. After Umi told them the direction to her house, Hideo started driving. Umi and Maki are both at the backseat of the car.

"N-Nishikino-san.. Umm. Sorry." Umi fidgeted on her seat.

"For what?"

"For tonight. You got hurt because of me."

"They kidnapped you because of me. I should be the one apologizing."

"But isn't Maki-sama really amazing? Your plan worked out so well." Hideo commented earning a smack on the head from the other.

"You almost screwed up earlier!"

"Don't scold Hideo-san anymore. What's important is that it all worked out well in the end."

When they arrived at the warehouse, Maki asked Hideo and Taki to find another way in to the building so they could fool the goons that she really went there by herself. The plan was to have them ensure Umi's safety while Maki takes out the goons herself. Maki used the phone call to find out if both of them had successfully got inside, and as a cue for them to make their move. As a werepanthers, they can reduce the noise of their step up to the point that no one can hear it. Maki thinks that they used that ability to catch Umi off guard. Taki said Hideo screwed up there when he almost knocked over a box when they got in from the back.

"I already said sorry. I'll be more careful next time."

"But I hope there's no next time for this." Maki said giving Umi a worried look. The atmosphere inside the car became serious again but Taki didn't let it last long.

"And you're still hoping for next time?" Taki gave another smack on the other's head.

"I didn't mean it that way! Wait Taki-san be careful I'm driving!"

Maki and Umi giggled as they watched the two bicker at each other. The redhead gave them a glare when she thought it's time to make them stop. Once they got to Umi's house, Maki volunteered to escort her.

"But really you didn't have to. I've recovered enough to walk on my own now."

"I need to help you find an excuse to your family why you were out this late."

"Oh, so that's just it. If it's about that, you don't need to worry. I can just say that I helped you with something that it has gotten this late to finish."

"Well, I'm already here walking you to your front gate." What is she disappointed about?

Umi didn't said another word until she was about to open their gate. "Nishikino-san, it's okay now. I would have invited you over for some tea but it will be too late for you to go home. Your parents must be looking for you already."

"Hmm.. Okay. But before I leave, did they return your phone, senpai?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I found out they got you because I called the number you gave me and they were the ones who answered."

"H-How could they use other people's phone without any permission?! I have to teach them a lesson!"

"Calm down, I'm sure they've learned their lesson already. Haha"

"O-oh that's right." Umi felt embarrassed for her sudden outburst that she just nodded shyly.

"So, did they return it?"

"I don't– oh it's here on my pocket."

"That's good. Then I am going now. We have a lot to talk about tomorrow. Have a good night senpai."

The redhead had already started making her way to the car when Umi suddenly called her. "N-Nishikino-san!"

"What is it senpai?" Maki turned to face her again.

"I still feel like I need to apologize to you for causing trouble. But, if you still won't accept, at least allow me to thank you." The archer bowed her head, and when she is straight up again, she flashed her sincerest smile to her redhead junior. "Thank you very much for coming for me Nishikino-san." She bowed her head once again before walking inside. The action of her senior froze her in place. It was the first time that Maki noticed how beautiful her blue haired senior is.