Far East Branch Headquarters

"No, no, no! Oh… Where is it, where is it?"

The pitter patter of tiny skittered across the metal flooring. Neo tilted her head, standing stock still in the headquarter lobby. Her eyes slowly drifted back and forth, following the small child as she darted around the hall. She looked under chairs, she crawled under tables. She even tried to get underneath Hibari's desk; an attempt that was met with failure. Her chestnut hair was a mess; tossed in every direction as she jumped over and squeezed under every place she could reach or fit.

The girl was familiar to Neo. Vaguely, she was able to recognize her as the little girl she had met so many months ago. The memories themselves were cloudy, visible only through a thick heavy fog. But she could remember the words. She remembered the sensation; tiny fists beating tirelessly against her abdomen. Sobs of anguish, and a river of tears. Though she couldn't recall getting a name… she remembered well the one she had lost.

So, she waited. Simply stood there and watched the little girl rush around, nearly colliding with her legs as she made her way toward a nearby bookcase. Neo's eyes followed her as she jumped, hopping up and down and trying to climb the shelves. She was able to grab, but couldn't get proper footing, Mary Janes slipping off the slippery surfaces. "Ugh…! Can't reach…" Her eyes swept across the shelf, gears turning in her head. A lightbulb came on, eyes widening with realization as she looked over the books obstructing her way. She was one second away from tossing them aside when her feet suddenly left the floor.

"Wh-Whoa!" A pair of strong, gloved hands shifted from her waist when her hands made contact on the shelf; they moved toward and landed beneath her feet to act as a stepping stool. Within moments, she found herself balancing on the hands, making her tall enough for her head to just graze the top of the structure. Her straightened posture sagged almost immediately when she didn't find what she was looking for. "It's not here, either…" Following her reaction, she was lowered, stepping off when she reached the ground.

Erina heaved a heavy sigh, eyes on the floor. A pair of boots remained in her line of vision, quickly drawing her attention upward. As her eyes trailed, the boots became a pair of leggings, then a pleated skirt, and finally, a blue scarf. Her face lit up with joy at the sight of her. She remembered.

"Oh! Hi!"

"Hello," Neo replied.

"You're… Reaper, right?"

"Neo," she corrected.

Erina nodded her head sheepishly clasping her fingers together. "Okay. Um, Neo… I know this is super sudden, but I can't find it…"

"Can't find what?"

"Something very important to me. Can… can you help me look for it?"

"Okay." Neo shrugged, following the child as she continued her search, tearing through the hall. What she was looking for was unknown to her, but she didn't let that stop her from assisting. The two of them wandered around, examining every corner of the lobby; they looked under carpets, under couch cushions, in between the books on the shelves.

Erina looked close to tears after nearly an hour of searching, eyes falling to the floor. "I… I can't… I don't know where…" The shaking in her voice was audible, shoulders quickly trembling to match. It was only when she finally hunched over, crouching to the ground, and wrapping her arms around her knees, when the New Type noticed something strange. Her eyes narrowed, homing in on a small bulge visible from her pocket.

"Hmm?" Neo stepped forward and tapped her shoulder to get her attention. When Erina turned, she pointed downward, drawing her eyes to the protruding fabric. Startled, she quickly dug into her jacket with trembling fingers. A squeal of joy escaped her when she pulled out the small object: a locket with a picture inside. Neo remained silent as she opened it, catching a brief glimpse of the photograph hidden within. It was a face she recognized well, with fair skin and fiery red hair.

"Ah! Thank goodness. Here it is, safe and sound. Thank you so much!"

"It's fine —" Neo's response was cut off when Erina rushed forward, colliding and wrapping her arms around Neo's waist in a tight hug. "I…"

"I don't know what I would have done without this. Thank you, Neo."

"…Yeah. Sure." She wasn't certain how to react. To interact with one so small was foreign to her. She didn't dare return her embrace; a grip too tight could easily snap her in two. Instead, she ran a gentle hand down the top of her head, flattening her messy hair.

"My name is Erina. Erina der Vogelweid."

"You're Eric's sister."

"Yes, that's right! You remember me…"

"I do." Neo gave her a solemn nod. "And… I'm sorry."

Erina shook her head. "It's… it's not your fault. I'm sorry about how I acted back then. I just…"

Neo grimaced at her words. Because it was her fault. She had been there, by his side. And she had done nothing. "He was important to you."

"Yes. He was." The little girl sighed, carefully placing the locket back around her neck. "He was everything to me."

"What…" Neo began, stopping herself for a moment to reevaluate her question. She wasn't certain how to phrase it; she didn't want to come off as insensitive or rude. "I didn't know him long."

Much to her relief, Erina seemed to understand her meaning. "Eric is — he was so kind." Her fingers wrapped gently around the golden chain. "Some people thought he was stuck up." Neo knew that very well. She was one of them. "But that's just because they didn't know him. He used to talk about his teammates all the time and tell me about their adventures together. They meant a lot to him. Almost as much as me… He used to tell me about his trips to the temple. He would go there often to pray for them. That those killed by Aragami could find peace in the next life."

Neo remained silent, taking in the new information Erina offered her. It seemed that her assumptions were wrong. There was more to Eric than he had let on, on the surface. Another bright life snuffed out prematurely by the monsters that plagued their world. And she had let it happen.

"But now… Eric's gone and —" Erina's sentence cut short with an abrupt gasp. Her eyes blew into wide saucers and lifted, locking with Neo's gaze. "Actually… do you have some time? I've got a little favor to ask.

. . .

Far East Branch Headquarters – Veteran's Floor

With the decision made, their plan was set into motion; to utilize the connections within the branch to transform the Den's greatest nuisance into their greatest ally. With the help of the trusted few, they would mold their headquarters into an ideal, Neo-proofed environment. They would enact branch-wide change to expediate her recovery as quickly as possible, and the upper management would remain none the wiser. The first step was to alert the chosen, preferably in the most inconspicuous ways possible. And with the help of some convenient opportunities, they did exactly that.

The first was Gina, and by extension Kanon.

. . .

Gina and Kanon's laughter rang through the halls. Returning from a mission, the two women were making their way back from the lunchroom. With the Aragami population relatively inactive for the time being, the 2nd and 3rd Units found themselves with plenty of free time. In this case, it worked in their favor, allowing the pair and a few other members of their troupe to gather and celebrate this special occasion. After enjoying the last round of a drinking game, the pair made their way to the higher floors to get a nice rest.

"Hiya, Gina! Hey, Kanon!"

"Well, look who it is. What's up, Kota?" Gina asked.

His lips pulled into a bright smile before handing her his note. "Got something for ya. Sorry, I meant to get it to you sooner. Scouting missions and all that, you know?"

"Heh, no worries, I'm surprised you remembered. Thanks!"

"No problem. Anyway, I gotta run. Ichiro's been getting on my case. See you around?"

"Sure thing."

"Happy birthday!" he called over his shoulder, jogging off with a wave.

"How sweet… that was nice of him," Kanon said with a smile.

"Yeah, no kidding. He's a nice kid," Gina agreed, lazily opening the small note. But as it unfolded, she paused. What she found inside was not a birthday card, but a handwritten note.

Contact Ichiro ASAP. Bring Kanon.

Left some customized bullets in your room, by the way.

Happy birthday!

. . .

Annette, Brendan, and Karel were next.

. . .

The four God Eaters caught their breath, standing tiredly in the center of the training room. Annette had been looking to get some extra practice in during her downtime. One never knew when missions would become a regularity again, and she wanted to keep her skills sharp. Particularly, her ranged capability, as she found that her aim still left much to be desired. Without her tutor of choice available, she had instead decided to request the assistance of her two favorite melee and ranged teammates instead.

During their session, they had been joined by an unexpected visitor. Lindow, as one would expect, was still getting accustomed to his new weapon type. As such, Annette's presence had been an incredibly helpful coincidence in the training hall. At least, that was what he had told them. Now, with their session at an end, he sighed. Placing his God Arc over his shoulder, Lindow turned to the young soldier. "Thanks for the help! This gunner stuff really isn't my cup of coffee."

Annette gave a reassuring smile. "I get it. I'm not the best shot either. It's a shame Neo isn't available… she would be a much better help to both of us."

"You can say that again." Lindow pulled a cigarette from his chest pocket, popping it in his mouth. "Oh, by the way… Soma wanted to speak with you. Should probably go take care of that. Soon."

"Who, me?" Brendan asked.

"Both of you." He gestured to Annette and the swordsman beside her.

Annette blinked. "Is everything alright?"

"Didn't say what it was about. But Soma's not a patient person. I wouldn't keep him waiting."

"Heard, loud and clear, captain," Brendan gave a half-hearted salute, sending the ex-captain bursting into laughter. "We'll go find him soon."

"Good idea."

Karel yawned and picked up his rifle. "Well, on that note, I'm gonna head out. Lots to do, money to make —"

"Actually…" Lindow halted his retreat, stepping in his path before he could run off. "I got a nice-paying mission coming up. Figured you might be interested."

. . .

The groundwork had been laid. The requested people were summoned to speak to the respective unit members where they would provide further information. The soldiers arrived at various times, which worked very much in their favor. As they planned, they kept their actions discrete, saving their true intention until locked away in secure locations. All that remained was the debriefing. Which, conveniently enough, was the current topic of discussion.

After speaking with their respective groups, the two made their way into the field. The last thing any of them needed were interruptions. Another team appearing in their sector in pursuit of a rogue foe was their worst-case scenario. Thus, they had spent the last few hours preventing it by eradicating most of the surrounding population. A task which had quickly descended into a friendly competition between two of the Den's most talented God Eaters.

Mentally replaying the final moments of their last mission brought a smile to the veteran's face. "Not bad, Hamasaki. Training's been paying off. Your kill count's getting ridiculous."

Ichiro chuckled and shook his head. "Thank you, but I can't take all the praise, I'm afraid. It's the E3. My senses are sharper, my body is faster and stronger… the cell regeneration doesn't hurt either."

"Yeah, I can imagine." And he often did. Soma would be lying if he said that the possibility of Neo's enhancements didn't entice him. There were only a handful of things stopping him from such an attempt, chief of which being Hamasaki's condition. The effects it was having on a human subject were dangerous enough. To use such a thing on himself could prove disastrous.

The lift finally came to a stop. Exiting the elevator, Ichiro tossed his crumpled pink can into the bin across the hallway. Soma stepped out after him, crinkling his nose at the discarded metal. It was strange enough to see Neo inhaling the First Love Juice at every opportunity, but to see that Ichiro, a human, also enjoyed it was disturbing to say the least. For principle, he had attempted to give the beverage an honest try, but he just couldn't bring himself to see the appeal.

"Speaking of the E3, what do you plan to do about Neo? To be honest, I'm surprised we haven't run into her today."

"Neo is occupied. She went off to —"

"The temple ruins?" Soma finished.

Ichiro paused, giving him a look of genuine surprise. "Nice guess. How'd you know?"

"Neo's always at the temple ruins. Her and Shio both." Yet another quirk that Soma couldn't understand. "What's she doing there this time?"

"Escort mission. Erina wanted to go to the old temple. At least, that's what she told me."

"Who?"

"Erina Der Vogelweid. Eric's sister. She requested her help personally, and she agreed. Said it was something she had to do."

Soma could vaguely remember her from a time long passed. The image of a small child swinging her fists against Neo's stomach made him shake his head. He had been present to watch the little one assault the woman personally. And now, she was running off to help said girl wander off into the wilderness. The idea was odd to him. Behavior aside, Neo had never been one to spend time around young children, with Shio being the first. Perhaps guilt was her motivator; she was one of the last people to see her brother alive. And had she had the capability at the time, Eric still would be.

Shaking his head, Soma grunted. "Hmph. Just like her."

"Yes, it is. Either way, they should be occupied for some time."

"Surely not well into the night?"

Ichiro took a quick look down the hallway, checking for any inhabitants. "Doesn't need to be. Erina is a child, and Neo's social battery is short. When she gets back, she'll probably lock herself up for the rest of the night."

"Sounds like a plan." The two fell into comfortable silence for a few minutes, strolling casually down the hall. The younger veteran did so in careful thought before speaking again. "She seems …different now. Since her return."

"It's the medication, mostly. Keeps her balanced. Or so they say."

"How long is she gonna be like this?"

"Honestly… I'm not sure. I don't think any of us can really know. The only thing we can do is support her and keep her environment as controlled as possible." Sliding open his door, Ichiro stepped inside. Soma followed.

"Not an easy thing to do. You sure this is going to work?"

"It's gonna have to… We don't have any other choice. Which is why it is imperative that everything tonight goes according to plan. Informing only the people who absolutely need to know."

"Funny… considering I didn't get an invitation." The sound of another voice sounded from the darkness, sending both men into a panic. It was a foreign, painful sound, low and croaking like the hull of a wooden ship. Soma's fists clenched, body tensing for combat; Ichiro leapt for the light switch. When the room illuminated, they were met with a head of blonde hair, olive skin, and an intense emerald gaze. "Must've slipped your mind."

"Gunter? The hell are you doing here?" Soma demanded. His eyes flicked around the space for a brief moment, to ensure they were in the right room.

"And how did you get in here?" Ichiro finished. He knew for certain that he had locked the door prior to his departure.

Gunter was undeterred by their threatening stares. He only shrugged, hopping off the dresser to face them in full. "Door was open. Your lock's faulty. Should probably get it checked."

"What?" Ichiro turned his head toward the doorway, taking in the console on the wall. At first glance, it appeared normal… minus a small intermittent spark jumping from the edges. Their favorite New Type must have let herself in at some point before she left. "Damn it, Neo…"

"About that." Gunter spoke up, bringing their attention back to him. "If we could get back to my initial statement —"

"There's nothing to talk about. Get out," Soma snapped.

"I don't think that's your place to say," Gunter goaded, eyes flicking instead to the owner of the room.

The owner in question seconded his assertion. "Soma is correct, there is nothing worth discussing."

"I strongly disagree."

"You need to leave." Ichiro was quickly losing his patience.

"And I will happily do so, as soon I figure out what's going on tonight that's so important."

"Nothing that concerns you, Gunter. Just a mission."

"Oh? What kind?"

"Classified." Ichiro offered him a reassuring smile. But it was cold. There was no warmth in his expression.

"Yeah. I seem to be hearing that a lot, lately."

"Yes, that would be Sakaki's doing."

"I'm well aware." Gunter sneered; the sound of the doctor's muffled voice was still clear in his mind. "A man of many secrets, huh?"

"Certainly. You've been at the branch long enough to know that."

"Yeah, you're right." Gunter chuckled. His body moved slowly through the room, meandering toward the center. With a tired sigh, he leaned against the back of the couch and fixed them with a hard stare. When he spoke again, all pleasantry evaporated. "I've also been here long enough to see through bullshit."

Ichiro's civility vanished in turn. "I'm not sure what you're referring to, but if you're going to be rude —"

"I know about the debriefing." Gunter cut him off, halting his damage control before he could begin. The momentary glance between the two of them told him they had been caught. It was a small, subtle movement. One that, months ago, he likely wouldn't have noticed. But he had learned to be more attentive. Neo taught him that.

Hamasaki's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, shifting toward the doorway. Gunter recognized that expression as well. Yet another skill he had gained from watching Neo. He was planning, calculating. For what? He didn't know. Soma didn't give him time to think on it. He stepped forward, crossing his arms and glaring daggers. "Gunter —"

"I haven't told anyone." The other God Eater quickly moved to defend himself. "And I don't intend to either."

"Then, why are you here?"

"Because I want to know what's going on… and why I'm being kept out of it."

"You're seriously going to ask that question?" Soma scoffed. "The answer should be obvious."

"Afraid not. Mind filling me in?"

"Because right now, your little posse is a bigger to her than they are."

Gunter paused. He was a threat to her? A bigger than they? And who were 'they' anyway? He looked genuinely confused, mind reeling and trying to piece together the meaning of his words. Then, he froze, realization dawning on him. His gaze hardened. "…I am not Otto."

"But you're still associated with him." Ichiro leaned back against the wall, hovering near the doorway. "That makes you a risk."

"No, it doesn't. I know how he feels about her, I wouldn't get him involved in this."

"And how do you feel about her?"

"I —" Gunter croaked. "I… I don't know." The other two exchanged a look; one he couldn't decipher. "At this point, I don't know… But do I know I don't want anything bad to happen to her."

"Fat chance." Soma tensed. He wasn't buying it.

Gunter gaped at them. His eyes flicked back and forth between the two, blowing wide with incredulity. "Wha — I don't!"

"We're supposed to believe that?"

"Yes!" Ichiro said nothing. He stood back and watched the pair of them argue, keeping his eyes on the older soldier's body language as he expressed his frustration. "Why would you think otherwise?!"

"Because she nearly killed you!"

"Exactly! And I haven't said a word about it to anyone, doesn't that count for something?!" Gunter's tirade was interrupted, spiraling into a fit of coughs. His hands flew to his throat, eyes wincing in discomfort from the strain of using his voice. A heavy sigh was the only sound that escaped him after a few moments, slowly getting himself together. When he spoke again, it was in a softer tone. "Do you have any idea how many people have been harassing me, trying to figure out what happened? I just woke up from an asphyxiation-induced coma, and the first thing I get is bombarded by the upper management demanding answers. Answers that I refused to give."

His words didn't fall on deaf ears. He could see Ichiro's expression soften as he spoke, eyes dissecting him with a piercing gaze. He couldn't read his emotion; he could only tell that he was deep in thought. Shaking his head, he tried again. He had to get through to them. "The only thing I do know is that my —" Gunter shook his head. "That Neo tried to strangle me. Now, I don't intend to tell that to anyone, but I think at the very least, I deserve an explanation."

"…" Ichiro and Soma looked silently at one another, a conversation through expression. A moment of clarity flashed across the elder's face, as realization hit him. His hands began to move quickly in sharp, careful motions, drawing Soma's attention downward. His teammate quickly caught on, replying to him in kind. The two continued to speak to one another in sign language, leaving Gunter to stand dumbfounded looking between the two. Neo had taught him some basic sign during their time together. Enough to introduce himself and say hello. This conversation was far beyond his understanding.

After a few minutes, he grew tired and interjected. "Listen. I don't know what happened back there, and I'm not going to say I am completely comfortable around Neo. Not anymore." He took a deep breath and continued. "But I do know that something is going on with her. Something important… and I'm willing to bet Fenrir points it has something to do with why she attacked me. I don't want to cause any trouble. I just want answers."

His words seemed to reach them, the older veteran at least, as he finally shook his head and sighed. There was no point in arguing with him further. Right now, the biggest threat he posed was spreading the information that he already knew, something they could not afford to have happen. Even worse, there was nothing they could do to stop him. Sending him back to the medical ward could only cause more problems than it would solve. Thus, Ichiro finally relented.

"…City of Mercy, 1:00 a.m. You're aware of the old cathedral near the center of the city?" Gunter nodded. "There is an office building exactly two miles north. Second floor." He paused to make sure he was still following before he continued. "Leave for your mission as scheduled and converge at the rendezvous. You'll be in Gina's group, so contact her for more details. Let no one see you."

"Okay. I'll be there." Gunter agreed, finally making his way toward the doorway. Before exiting, he turned around. "…Thank you." With those final words, he disappeared into the hall.

The moment the door slid shut, Soma turned to his teammate. "You sure we can trust him?"

Ichiro sighed. "I'm afraid we don't have a choice… but, for what it's worth, I think so."

"Heh." Soma chuckled, making his way toward the couch. "Wow. You changed your tune quick."

"It was the look in his eyes. I recognized it." The older veteran shook his head. "Look, however he feels about what happened… he cares about her. That much is certain."

"Is it? Seems too convenient," Soma countered. "The woman comes two steps from ending his life, and now he wants to help her? Sorry, I don't buy it."

"Emotion isn't always rational, Soma. If a day ever comes that you feel that way about someone… you'll understand." A moment of pause brought them to silence, eyes gazing forward in an unseeing gaze. An expression that he couldn't quite place flashed across his features for only a moment before disappearing from his face. "Anyway, we should get back to it. We need to finish our preparations before tonight."

Soma shook his head but said nothing further. Leaving the doorway behind, he followed his teammate further into the room. As they put together their items for the evening, he couldn't help but mull over the words that Ichiro had said. Like it or not, he couldn't deny that they were true, as the older veteran had proven it more than anyone. But admittedly, he was apprehensive to believe that Gunter loved Neo. He didn't believe it and he didn't like it. He didn't like the idea of the two of them together in general. It had always bothered him since the beginning. And now, it was a thought that was becoming increasingly aggravating to him.

Giving one long look of disdain, he glared at the object in his hands before tossing it into his supply bag. It was going to be a long night.