We are the Hunters

[17.02.2090]

The lively atmosphere and the bright sun beaming down atop the city… Humans, Demons, Dragonmen and a variety of different creatures crowd the bustling streets. Children run around and play together while vendors shout to gain their customers' attention

This was the capital, Dragonia in all its glory

Miwa and Kei walk down the busy streets of the capital. Their hands are filled with many small grocery bags as they make their way back to the mansion.

The mansion was in a kind of isolated part of the city. Activities around them slowly dwindle the closer they get.

…

Miwa: "We're home!"

Miwa leaves the bags that she was carrying at the door and surveys all 7 rooms on the first floor of the mansion.

After not finding anyone in the kitchen, dining room, wash room, living room, main hall and even the two bathrooms, she decides to go to the second floor where the guest rooms were.

After traversing up the steps, she walks down the long corridor with 5 doors on each side.

She stops and checks Kaiya's room but finds no one… She then goes and checks Izaki's room. She knocks, waits and then enters but finds no one… She then returns downstairs to the kitchen.

Miwa: "Hmm?... Are they really still doing 'that'?"

Kei places the grocery bags Miwa left at the door onto the kitchen counter

Kei: "...I'm not surprised, those two have been going at it relentlessly for the past couple of days."

Miwa: "(*sighs*) I'll just get dinner started then. I plan on making this one extra special. Do you mind checking up on them?"

Kei: "…"

Kei goes to the main hall. After getting there, he flips a red switch hidden behind a huge portrait of dressed in a sharp black suit. In response, the floor split apart, revealing a helical staircase which he proceeds to walk into.

Upon reaching the bottom of the staircase, he is greeted with the sight of Izaki passed out on the floor and Kaiya standing above his unconscious body.

Kei: "...You did quite a number on him didn't you?"

Kaiya: "Huh? Oh, it's just you" She says as she briefly glares with contempt

Kei: "Yeah… Miwa has started dinner, I think it's time for you to head up"

Upon closer inspection, Kaiya's face seems to be bruised and she is breathing heavily.

Kei smirks

Kaiya: "Your persistence, an annoying quality you both share…"

She walks past Kei and goes up the helical staircase. Kei then walks over to Izaki

'whack!'

Kei kicks Izaki in the gut, sending his body rolling a few meters away

Izaki: "Ack!"

He desperately gasps to catch his breath

Izaki: "You bastard, that was a cheap shot!"

Kei: "...Get up already, Miwa has started dinner. Go wash up and head to the dining hall"

Izaki: "Huh!? Hey wait a minute! Aren't you gonna cheer me up after that embarrassing loss I just took?" (*sniffles*)

Kei: "But you always lose…"

Izaki: "Ouch man! You didn't have to say it like that!"

Kei: "Stop messing around and get a move on already"

Izaki: "…Oh I get it now, you just can't wait to eat with Miwa, am I right? (*Smirks*) why didn't you just say th-"

'Stomp'

Kei plants his foot firmly in Izaki's face, sending him flying backward a few meters until he lands on his back.

Kei: "Take a shower and head to the dining hall dumbass!" As he gives Izaki an annoyed look

…

[ Mansion's dining hall]

Izaki: "Woah! This spread looks amazing! you've outdone yourself Miwa"

Miwa: "Thank you, I appreciate you saying that. However, making such a spread would not have been possible if it weren't for Kaiya's help."

Kaiya continues to eat but her face suddenly turns to a slight shade of red

Izaki: "K-kaiya can cook?!"

Kaiya: "What exactly is that supposed to mean?" As she gives Izaki an intense glare

Izaki: "Ugh, n-nothing!)" He shouts followed by a nervous laughter

Miwa slightly chuckles at Izaki

Miwa: "What do you think of this meal, Kei?"

Kei: "It's pretty good" He says before simply continues eating

Miwa smiles while a bead of sweat runs down her face

Miwa: "I expected a bit more critique but that's ok. Well, continue to dig in everyone."

The amount of food laid out on the table was enough to fill the bellies of ten men. It all vanishes within the span of a few minutes, almost solely because of Kaiya and Izaki alone.

…

Miwa: "I've really enjoyed these past couple of weeks with all of you, it was truly a treat"

Izaki: "Same here! We've learnt so much thanks to you. Mr. Mark would definitely be impressed by our progress if he was here"

Kei looks up at Miwa

Kei: "…Is our training coming to an end?"

Kaiya also looks over at Miwa in anticipation

Miwa: "Not necessarily, we still have about 3 weeks left of training, if you can survive that is…"

For a moment, Kei and Kaiya glimpse a horrifyingly creepy smile on Miwa's face

Kei: "{Hmm... She must be up to something}"

Kaiya: "{Sounds to me that from this point on, our training will intensify…"

Everyone sat in silence for a few moments

Miwa: "...Now then, would you boys wash up the dishes? I'll be heading to my bed early tonight."

Izaki: " Ok, not a problem. We'll take care of it"

Miwa: "Thank you…" She says as she gets up and leave the dining hall

Soon after, Kaiya leaves the hall without saying a word to the boys

…

The two boys finish washing the dishes.

Izaki: "That's the last one, we're done now."

Kei: "Great, (*Stretches his arms and yawns*) I'mma head to bed. I'm tired"

Izaki: "Huh?! Come on man, already?"

Kei: "Yeah… What? You got something planned?"

Izaki's face lights up with a devious grin

…

The two boys walk to their rooms with massive lumps on both their heads

Kei: "You're insane, you know that?"

Izaki: " You're one to talk… You followed me"

Kei: "Only to stop you from getting yourself killed. Why the hell did you think sneaking into Kaiya's room and scaring her would be a good idea?"

Yuta: "That face of hers was priceless (*Laughs out loud*) It was totally worth it."

Kei: "(*Chuckles*) She was actually kind of adorable"

Yuta: "Haha you got that right! Anyway man, I'm heading to bed now"

Kei: "Alright, See you tomorrow"

Kei walks to his room and opens his door. As he goes to enter he sees a glimpse of a blonde haired girl going down the stairs…

Kei: "...That must've been Miwa… Guess she didn't go to sleep yet"

…A few hours later…

*Crackle, crackle… Crackle*

In the dead of the still night, several shadowy figures have successfully snuck into the mansion. They slowly make their way up the steps to the second floor.

*Creak… Crackle*

Nine cloaked figures walk ominously down the hall. three of them go to the third door on the right of the hall, another three go to the third door on the left and the last three go to the fifth and final door on the right.

Each group simultaneously opens their respective doors and quietly slips inside each of them.

[Third door on the right of the hall]

The cloaked figures surround the bed in the room with drawn daggers

*Stabs*

The leading cloaked figure raises his dagger and stabs through the bed sheets… but his blade does not taste flesh

Cloaked figure1: " Huh? it's empty…"

The cloaked figure standing in the back soon finds a kunai at his throat before hearing a menacing voice project itself

Kei: "Who the hell are you?"

Cloaked figure1: "B-but how?"

Kei: " I simply hid behind the door and watched all three of you walk right past me" he calmly says while holding the door open with his foot

Cloaked figure 1: "..."

Kei: "Now tell me before I slit your friend's throat… Who are you and who sent you?"

Swoosh

Without hesitation, the second cloaked figure quickly closes the distance and stabs at Kei through his hostage, Killing him immediately.

Kei reflexively releases his hostage and takes a step back into the doorway

Kei: "{He didn't even hesitate to attack. These guys aren't playing around…}"

The two remaining cloaked figures immediately rush at Kei with their daggers…

Bang!

Their charge is put to halt by the sound of a door being knocked off its hinges

Kei: "What now!?"

Izaki's door flies across the hall and slams into the wall

one of the assassins lay incapacitated beside the door

Kei smirks

Kei: "{Good, Izaki is awake too}"

…A few seconds later…

The fight ends up in the hallway

Kei stumbles back while deflecting a knife strike to his head

The other cloaked figure cuts at his stomach but he jumps back to evade

He lands on one knee and quickly looks up at his foes.

He spots an opening in the assassin's defenses and moves to attack

As they are about to clash, the body of another cloaked figure slams into his foe…

Both assassin's are sent crashing into Kei's room.

Kei looks over to the direction from where the body was launched. There he sees Izaki Crushing the head of an assassin with his bare hands.

Izaki: "Hey buddy, looks like you might need some help there."

Kei looks at the lone assassin that was now left before him

Kei: "Ha! Are you kidding me, I can handle this small fry by myself"

The assassin charges with his blade in hand and cuts at Kei with several precise strikes

Kei narrowly blocks and dodges the attacks before knocking the blade away, closing the distance and slitting his foe's neck.

Kei: "…"

The two boys look around at the six assassins that were now either dead or incapacitated.

Izaki: "Who the hell are these guys?"

Kei: "No clue… But I have a feeling that we should go find Miwa."

Izaki: "You think this could be a test?"

Kei: "..."

…

The two boys walk down the hall to Kaiya's room.

Izaki slowly pushes the door open to witness a grisly scene.

Blood is splattered all over the room while three lifeless bodies laid in different corners.

Kaiya stands in the middle of the room looking up at the ceiling and breathing heavily.

Her eyes wander over to the doorway where Izaki and Kei stood.

Kaiya: "One of you is unaccounted for, Where is Miwa?"

Kei: "We don't know, She could be dead already"

Kaiya: "Ha! We all know that's not possible"

Kei: "Still, there may be more of these guys hanging around the mansion. It's best if we move together."

Kaiya nods

The trio head to the first door on the left of the hall…

They open the door to find no one

Izaki: "Miwa's room is empty, what now?"

Kei: "Let's head down to the first floor, there could be more assassins laying around down there."

The trio quickly check the hall and all the unchecked rooms. After tying up the two surviving assassins, they head down to the first floor

The trio move as a group and scour the entirety of the first floor only to find nothing.

Izaki: "This is pretty weird, are we the only ones left in the mansion?"

Kaiya: "It does look that way, Where could Miwa have gone?"

Kei: "Looks like our only option is to interrogate the assassins for more intel…"

The trio return to Kei's room where their captives lay unconscious.

Izaki continuously smacks one across the face until he is awoken from the pain

Izaki: "Good, you finally woke up"

Assassin 1: "..."

Whack!

Kaiya slaps the assassin across the face…

Kaiya: "Who sent you here to kill us"

Assassin 1: "..."

Kaiya smacks the assassin across the face again…

Kaiya: "I asked you a question, It's quite rude for you not to answer, don't you think?"

Assassin 1: "..."

Kaiya: "Oh I see how it is…"

Kaiya takes a seat on Kei's bed and stares at the assassin.

Kaiya: "There are many ways to get information you see, which ones should I use I wonder?"

Kei: "{Great, she's an expert at interrogations too?}"

Kaiya: "Izaki, wake up that other one."

Izaki: "...Ok?"

Izaki slaps the second assassin across the face until he eventually awakens. He opens his eyes to see that he is tied up on the wall along with his comrade.

Kaiya: "Good…"

Kaiya gets up and walks over to the two assassins.

Kaiya: "...Now, for every question you refuse to answer, your friend's limbs will suffer the price. I'll start off with his fingers and toes to ease you into the game. Once his limbs are all torn to shreds, I will then move onto yours. That should give you more than enough time to reconsider your position… Oh and don't even think of doing something as stupid as biting your tongues off, as vanguards we have the power to easily revive someone after they have died for a mere couple seconds."

The assassins' eyes widen in horror as the girl finishes her threats, Izaki and Kei look on slightly disturbed as the girl begins her questioning…

…

The stench of rotten flesh and the pile of blood and guts now stained Kei's room

Kaiya: "52 minutes… quite commendable, Your friend has long since died from his injuries but you have held out quite well"

Assassin 1: "K-kill me. Please j-just do it"

Kaiya: "Very well, you've served your purpose well"

She uses her knife and stabs the assassin through his forehead. She then walks out of the room covered in blood.

Kei and Izaki have been waiting patiently outside for almost an hour enduring the horrific cries from the assassins.

Izaki: "That was a bit unnecessary don't you think?"

Kaiya: "*Glares* You question my methods?"

Izaki: "N-not at all…"

Kei: "...So? What did you get out of him"

Kaiya: "Follow me…"

Kaiya leads the boys outside of the mansion. They soon find themselves in the front yard.

Izaki: "Why did you lead us out here?"

Kaiya: "...Come out here Miwa! This is your doing isn't it?"

Kei: "..."

Izaki: "What?!"

Kaiya: "This was your test wasn't it?! Ha! Well it failed… Those assassins weren't even able to pressure us in the slightest."

Some bushes rustle under the weight of Miwa making her entrance.

Miwa: "A test you say? Well, I suppose I understand how you could see it like that. But in fact those assassins were no test."

Kaiya: "Then where were you when they attacked us?"

Miwa: "I simply encountered them before they entered to ascertain their intentions. I wasn't sure if they were coming after me or they were after one of you. However, I was quite confident in your abilities to overcome them if they attacked you."

Kei: "So you confronted them and let them try to kill us?"

Miwa: "Yes. They were not after my head so I decided not to intervene. They were kind enough to leave me once I informed them of the layout of the mansion."

Kaiya: "I see, so you saw the opportunity and used them as your puppets"

Miwa: "..."

Kei: "Did you get any other useful information, Kaiya?"

Kaiya: "Unfortunately no matter what methods I implored, he would not talk. He lasted quite a while before his mind eventually crumbled under the pressure. I must commend him, He was a true professional." she sighs

Izaki: "All that and we still gained nothing? We don't know who sent them or if there's even more of them on the way"

Miwa: "There's no need to worry…"

Izaki: "What?"

Miwa: "I'll inform Mark and have him look into whoever is behind this. I assure you he is more than capable of such a task"

Kei: "That's a bit of good news at least. So what now?"

Miwa: "I suggest you all return to your rooms and get some rest. Even with this incident occurring we still have a very hard day of training tomorrow."

Kei: "Yeah about that, My room… it's a bloody mess right now"

Miwa: "Oh, now I understand why those screams were echoing from there."

Kaiya: "..."

Miwa: " (*Claps*) Ohk then. Let's get moving shall we?"

[09.03.2090]

After six weeks of intensive training in the mansion under Miwa's guidance, the time for the trio to part ways has finally arrived.

Miwa: "...If you are to die, your dreams and hopes all vanish along with you. But If you are to survive, become stronger and prove your value, you will be given riches and power beyond your wildest imagination, you will become heroes praised by the entirety of our nation.

Bang!

Kei slams his hands on the table and stands up

Kei: "You planned to send us straight onto the front lines from the very beginning!? To fight in this stupid war of yours!?"

Izaki: "You've got to be kidding me! We don't even get to go home after all of this?!"

Kaiya: "..."

Miwa: "...Keep in mind, this is not a request, it's an order"

Kei: "Tch! I'm out of here"

Unable to listen anymore Kei decides to leave the room

Miwa: "Where do you think you're going, if you plan on running I suggest you forget about it."

Kei: "...If I were to run, I would be caught quickly and executed. Being that you'd be my executioner, I'll take my chances with going to the front lines"

Miwa: "Good to hear, I'm glad you aren't making this a headache for me."

Kei: "{If her higher ups wished it, she'd kill any of us in an instant. She's dangerous…}"

Kaiya: "Coward"

Kei turns and looks at Kaiya

Kei: "...What was that?"

Kaiya: " I can see it in your eyes, you're afraid. You make me sick…" She scorns

Kei shakes off the Kaiya's comments and continues walking

Kaiya: "Just the thought of fighting alongside such a weakling pisses me off, you're nothing but a sniveling little..."

Bang!

Izaki's fist collides with the table

Izaki: "Shut the hell up! you've got no idea what you're talking about!"

Kaiya turns her attention to the now furious Izaki.

Kaiya: "How dare you raise your voice at me, do you wish to die?" as she glares intensely at Izaki

Miwa: "[*Clasps her hands together*] Okay. I think It's time we head to bed everyone… I'm truly disappointed but sadly, the damage has already been done"

Kaiya in her usual monotone voice says one final thing before she leaves.

Kaiya: "So annoying. You two losers won't survive a week"

Izaki simply wishes Miwa a good night before returning to his room

Miwa: "{Very soon now, the three of them will understand what it really means to survive…}"

Miwa began to clean the mess that was left on the table and while everyone was asleep she quietly cleans every corner of the massive Mansion.

[The next morning]

Izaki stands at Kei's doorway with a packed bag.

Kei: "...I have no idea what your talking about"

Izaki: "Don't play dumb with me, I know when something's up with you"

Kei: "Just leave it alone will you?"

Izaki: "...You know, we may never see each other again. Are you worried about that? or are you really worrying about Kamui?"

Kei's reaction told Izaki everything he needed to know.

Kei: "I told you to just drop it already…"

Izaki: "Hmm… he'll be alright as long as he's with Morikawa. We might have to wait a bit longer than we planned before we can see them, but i'm sure everything's alright"

After saying those words Izaki stays in the hallway until Kei finishes packing.

Kei: " {*Smirks*} He really is persistent" he whispers to himself

After Kei finishes packing, he and Izaki walk to the yard of the mansion. Kaiya seems to have been waiting and Miwa appears to have arrived only a few seconds before the boys.

Miwa: "Now that we've all gathered here I'd like to share a few words with you all... Firstly, let this not be our final meeting… is that understood?"

Izaki: "..." He nods

Kei: "..."

Kaiya: "Naturally, I don't plan on dying"

Satisfied with the responses, Miwa continues…

Miwa: " I have something for all of you."

She pulls out three blazers

Izaki: "Huh? Jackets?"

Miwa: "Yes, it's a gift from Mark. It's like a blazer and a cape in one, It provides an improved resistance to magic and has some special properties to them."

She hands Izaki a thigh length brown blazer jacket, Kaiya gets a knee length red and white blazer coat and Kei is handed knee length jet black blazer

Kei: "Thanks…"

Izaki: "Oh woah, this looks so cool. Thanks Miwa!"

Kaiya: "Hmm, thank you"

Miwa: "I wish you all the best of luck, be careful out there…"

Soon after, a Carriage arrives at the front of the large gates to the mansion

Kaiya is the first to leave, she shares a nod with Miwa and looks at Izaki to acknowledge his existence. When she looks at Kei however, disgust is the only emotion her eyes reflect. She walks into the carriage without sharing a single word.

Another carriage arrives soon after Kaiya's leave.

Izaki: "It looks like I'm up next... Thanks for everything you've done for us Miwa. You prepared us as best as you could, and I'm grateful for that"

Miwa smiles and responds

Miwa: "...I hope we meet again someday [*Smiles*]"

Izaki: "Yeah, same here."

Izaki then turns his attention to Kei

Kei: "I guess this is it… You better not die before returning home"

Kei stretches his arm out and curls his hand into a fist

Izaki: "[*smiles*] I'll see you soon buddy"

Izaki meets Kei's fist with his own and then walks into the carriage, leaving Miwa and Kei as the last two standing.

Miwa: "...I'm curious as to who this Kamui person is, you seem to be in quite a hurry to get back to your village and see him again."

Kei's shocked face quickly turns to one of annoyance.

Kei: "You were listening to our conversation…?"

Miwa: " I apologize but yes… I couldn't help but wonder what had gotten you so upset last night. However, now I might finally understand."

Kei: "Oh? Well, what I don't understand is why you pretend to care if we survive or not. I'm curious as to why that is."

Miwa: "..."

Kei: "..."

Miwa: "...Don't die"

Kei: "Huh?"

Miwa's expression suddenly becomes gloomy

Miwa: "Can you promise me now that you will not die…?"

Kei: " What?"

Miwa: "Many comrades in the past have made that promise to me. In the end, none of them ever followed through… So in truth, I really don't believe you three will be any different."

Kei: "..."

Miwa: "[*Looks over at Kei*] ...fortunately, it seems you are not one to make such a stupid promise."

As if on cue, another carriage arrives

Kei: "...I'll see you around"

…

Now only Miwa remained at the mansion.

Miwa: "…"

Suddenly a strange blood thirsty smile plasters itself all over her face.

Miwa: "As usual I'm left all alone. I wonder if I'll also be the last one standing this time as well."

Before leaving the mansion she changes from her maid outfit to a black long sleeve shirt that exposed her underbelly but reached a little below her breasts. Her pants were long, black and ran straight into the black shoes that reached between her ankle and knee. The only thing she kept the same was her hairstyle which was a short ponytail like usual.

Miwa: "{This mansion has been quite good to me over these past few months, it's actually kind of like leaving my home….}"

In the midst of her thoughts, a carriage arrives beyond the massive gates of the mansion.

Miwa: "Now then, let it begin. It's finally time for me to return to the front lines."