Thunders roared ceaselessly all night long, Gabriele sat on a chair just outside the hall where all the students of Kyoto Jujutsu High were reunited with Utahime. His torso leaned forward, almost parallel to the floor with his elbow resting on his knees, his still damp hair covering his vision. The thin walls ruined the solemnity of the moment as he was able to hear about everything. He listened to the scarred woman talking, she wanted to tell them as soon as possible despite the late hour. Couldn't blame her, a tragedy such as this couldn't wait until the first lights of the morning. She went on, her voice was muffled but he could make up the sorrowful yet serious tone as she dropped the news. The room fell speechless, so unbearably so that the exorcist turned his head close to the wall to increase his hearing.

The door slid open abruptly, surprising the foreigner when a cyan-haired girl came running out of the room and disappeared down the hallway, never turning her back, not once. Soon after a petite girl leaned on the doorstep, they crossed their gazes briefly, he understood immediately what she was trying to do and pointed her in the right direction.

"Miwa! Miwa!" The girl shouted as she chased after her friend.

Noritoshi was the next to walk out, noticing the exorcist, and he stopped by him. "Utahime-sensei told us you were the one to find the body, correct?" He asked, seemingly unperturbed by the fact his classmate was dead, his voice so calm. Gabriele nodded in response, standing up from his seat.

"Tell me, how was he dressed?" The exorcist was taken aback by the weird question but decided to answer anyway.

"I can't tell you for sure, but I found something in the cockpit." Rummaging in his pocket, Gabriele then took out a plastified picture dating a few months prior to this day, its corners plastered in blood. The photo portrayed Mechamaru together with the Kyoto girls, his gaze shying away from the camera lens. The cyan haired girl he saw run away earlier appeared to be very embarrassed, while Nishimiya and Mai egged her on to smile for the camera. His gaze focused briefly on the latter, her visage adorned with the brightest smile she could muster, before handing the picture to Noritoshi.

"He kept it inside one of his pockets. My deepest condolences for your loss."

"I see... He kept us close to his very end," he paused for a moment, then the heir of the Kamo clan bowed, again, something that Gabriele did not expect at all. "Thank you for your work, Esposito. It must be tiring having to travel here from Tokyo during a rainstorm for this to happen." He said, taking his leave from the conversation. Confused by the senior, the exorcist was limited to simply thanking him back. A tap on his left shoulder made him spin in place, Utahime was there to usher him to what will be his bedroom for the next two nights. Walking through the corridors, the two crossed paths with Mai, her eyes hanging low, avoiding Gabriele's concerned gaze as they brushed shoulders walking the opposite way. He followed her with his eyes until she stopped in front of presumably her room's door before stepping inside.

The exorcist felt strange, his hand went to his midsection seeking the cause of this weird sensation pervading his guts, as if his organs were sinking deeper into his body.

Finally, they reached his room, Utahime dismissed herself informing the young man someone will bring him a change of clothes very shortly. Now alone, Gabriele entered the room, it was very spartan just like the one back in Tokyo, consisting of a wardrobe, a desk with a chair, a nightstand beside the bed, an empty shelf, and a private bathroom. A shower sounded like heaven right now, so after closing the door behind him, he slowly paced to the bathroom and began to undress. Throwing his shoes under the bed frame, he took the jacket and shirt off in one motion, then after turning on the knob (thanking God they gave him a western-style shower), he took care of the rest of his induments. Before stepping in, Gabriele caught a glance of his bare body reflected in a mirror, his skin riddled with battle scars all over, then the dirty bandages on his neck. Fuck, he forgot to bring the gauze. He frantically looked into the cabinets, letting out a sigh of relief once he found a brand-new roll. Taking off his dressings always reminded him of darker times, so recently he had started changing them while facing away from the mirror. One thing he had found himself admiring about the sorcerers was how comfortable they are with their own scars, especially when they actually have a remedy to never gain one in the first place. Exorcists look upon scars as a disgrace, every laceration on the body is an affront to God as he made us in his own image, thus needing to be concealed. The tattoo falls in this category too, despite being self-imposed and the very mark that distinguished them apart from God's herd.

The exorcist got beneath the shower head, water as hot as his body could handle, rinsing him in his entirety. His muscles relaxed under the warmness, His wet hair plastered against the features of his face. He pinched a strand of hair and extended it until it was completely straight. He had decided to let it grow over the past months, and now it almost reaches his shoulders if straightened, enough to tie together in a bun.

Combing his hair back with his finger, it was time he'd get started with his ritual: Soak, shampoo, rinse, there's no conditioner, pass to shower gel, rinse, and done. In the meantime, the exorcist heard the door open and close immediately after, once he covered and dried himself approximately, he threw a look outside the bathroom, his change had arrived, waiting for him in the bed. Gabriele picked up the fresh attire to inspect it, it was a two-piece kimono? Yukata? He didn't know, but it was soft to the touch, perhaps cotton, of an indigo color. He quickly dressed up, complete with new bends around his neck, and glanced at himself in the mirror in the bathroom. God, he looked ridiculous.

Gabriele sat back on the bed, the time said 23:17, weird, he thought it was way later. Perhaps that was why his body felt this restless despite his tiredness, his biological clock was all screwed up because of the countless nights passed either hunting curses, patching his wounds, or writing reports. Well, he could continue to write the report he had left undone on the train, so boring that it'd actually work in making him fall asleep. Too boring, maybe.

As if on cue, his stomach growled in protest, demanding a tribute in form of sustanance. Gabriele huffed in annoyance, he had been so overwhelmed by everything that occured that he forgot to have dinner. A walk didn't sound too bad at the moment, perhaps a trip to the cafeteria and back should tire him out.

He quietly got out of the room, the hallway was deserted and dark, and everyone seemed to have better luck than him in finding sleep. The wooden floor creaked softly under his bare feet as he made his way down the corridor, often dwarfed by the now far rumbles of the storm. The more he walked, though, the more he realized the two Jujutsu schools were probably nothing alike. Gabriele, in fear of getting lost inside the school, had to renounce and get back to his room, his hunger could wait a little longer. As he was about to go, however, his gaze fell upon a door left ajar. His mind told him to let it be, but his body seemed to not follow any of the instructions the brain was giving out today.

Against his common sense, the exorcist approached the door on tiptoes. He delicately wrapped his fingers around the handle, pulling just as quietly. The sound of a hummed melody stopped him inches away from closing it completely. The young man fought his inquisitive, impulsive thoughts, he was already violating someone's privacy by eavesdropping from behind the door, he should just get back to his room and actually try to sleep. But again, curiosity had the best of his rationality.

He gradually pushed the door, his entire body froze as his eyes took in the view before him. Mai was there, facing away from him in front of the window. Her silhouette was dressed in a white robe, illuminated by the moonlight that finally leaked through the clouds in a momentary truce from the rain. His conscience was entranced, incapable of averting his glance nor it wanted to, cherishing fully the moment as he watched her dance in place, the strings of her earbuds swaying at tempo with her hums, arms crossed as if she was embracing herself. She turned, and he could see her in profile, her features glowing in the darkest hour was enough for his heart to pound heavily against his sternum. Then their gazes met, her initial fright immediately replaced by a warm smile.

"You know it is rude to stare." She spoke, snapping the blushing exorcist out of his trance.

"Oh. Uhm. I'm so sorry, I was about to go back to my room when I saw you had left your door open so I wanted to shut it but I-"

"It's alright." Mai stopped his rambling, stepping closer to him. "Who gave you this?" she pointed at his clothing.

"I didn't bring any change with me, so the school lent me this. I know I look ridiculous."

"That's not true. I think it suits you."

"Really?"

"No." She laughed softly, mindful of the late hour. Awkwardness made itself present as the two proceeded to look at each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. In the end, Mai took a deep breath and invited the foreigner inside. Gabriele gladly accepted, closing the door behind them. Now they were still in an awkward situation, but at least they were awkward in the privacy of the four walls of her room. They sat on her unkempt bed, the exorcist gave a quick look around, her room was exactly like his, with some personal touch here and there as it'd naturally be.

"So, can't sleep, huh?"

"Yes."

"Yeah, me neither." Silence again. Seeing the conversation wasn't going anywhere, Mai stood up and offered her hand to the confused teen. "W-Would you like to d-dance with me?" The girl asked him out of nowhere while stuttering a bit, very much out of character, the young man thought. Even so, he took her hand and stood up, once in position, Mai put her right earbud into his ear, a slow Japanese song was playing at the moment.

_/ Futari - Yamashita Tatsuro \_

In the quiet night town

When no one is around anymore

No one's voice can reach us anymore

Together they let the piano transport them into another dimension, one when the only thing that mattered was the person they were holding on to as their lives depended on it. Mai placed her head on his chest, her ear right above his pulsing heart. Gabriele rested his chin on top of her skull, his eyes closed as he left the girl the lead. Her hands laid on his shoulder blades while his hands were firmly on her hips.

In the hearts of the two of us

Who love each other so deeply

It's as if the coldness of the night is hiding behind our breaths

"I'm a horrible person..." she blurted out emotionlessly, bringing the exorcist back to reality. His eyes opened up, his focus shifting from the song to the young woman in his arms.

"What makes you think of that?"

"My classmate just died... Kasumi and Momo were comforting each other while crying. Me, on the other hand... I couldn't bear to see them in that state and left them without shedding a single tear." her fingers grasped the fabric of his attire, so that's what she was upset about earlier.

The only thing that creeps into the shadows

of the two of us melting together as one

Only the dark night that covers everything

"Everyone has distinct ways to mourn their dead. Some may seek comfort in others, and be vulnerable in their moment of need knowing that someone is there to help them. Some prefer to be by themselves, not because they don't understand but because they outlet their emotions in a different manner, generally doing whatever is best for them to express their sadness." Gabriele explained. Mai felt like she could listen to him rant for hours, his words never failing to tug the invisible strings of her soul, to show him her true colors.

"You're not a horrible person if you don't find the strength to cry right on. Nor you're weak if you give in to those emotions." Without warning, her floodgates opened as tears came flowing like impetuous torrents down her cheeks. Her arms snaked under his back as she buried her face in his chest, sobs becoming more frequent as time went by.

Even if the night continues to sink

deeper and deeper into darkness

They will not be able to cover the hearts of the two of us, united as one

Gabriele held her close in a hug, he didn't know what he was supposed to do, putting his whole trust in his instinct and empathy or rather treating her as he'd have wanted to be treated if the roles were reversed. He gently guided them back to the bed and sat on the comfy mattress, her sobs died down to whimpers. She detached herself from the exorcist, her glistening dark brown eyes staring at his turquoise ones with affection and tenderness, hardly he had ever felt this kind of fondness stored in a gaze directed towards him, not even while looking at his reflection. Then they leaned forward until their foreheads were connected, unmoving for what seemed like an eternity before helping her lay down over the duvet.

Gabriele couldn't tear his gaze off of her, the most beautiful vision he had the fortune to witness. Cupping her cheek with his right hand, he brushed away the residual of her tears with his thumb while she pressed against his palm, enjoying the roughness of his skin.

My love for you is too deep to be sad

"I have to go..." He whispered, reluctantly pulling his hand away from her warmth. As he was about to get up on his feet, he felt something yank the hem of his shirt.

"Wait!" she exclaimed, gaining his attention back.

"Please, stay here tonight... By my side..." Blood rushed immediately into both of the teens' complexions. Memories of the old, decrepit room of his childhood home overlapped with his vision, remembrances of the dreadful nights passed alone in his early days as an exorcist hit him harshly with cowardice. This time it would be different, it doesn't have to be alone, no more.

"Of course." He promptly lay next to her, luckily the bed was large enough to accommodate the two of them, even though a bit clamped. Gabriele embraced her from behind, his fingers enlaced with her own. It took a few moments to adjust, but Mai found herself appreciating the new source of heat as she snuggled further into the embrace. It remembered her days when she and Maki were inseparable in the Zen'in clan household and used to do everything together, like sleeping in the same bed. A peaceful sensation she didn't know she lacked up to this point.

"Gabriele, listen, remember what we said during the event?" she asked him, no response. "Gabriele?" Mai looked over her shoulder, the man in question was already gone to dreamland, he must have been very exhausted to doze off this quickly.

The girl chuckled, as she turned to lay on her other side, Mai took care of the earbuds, careful not to wake him up, and discarded them on the nightstand next to the bed. She looked at him in silence, sometimes the young woman tended to forget he and her had the same age, so much had his duty aggravated on his liveness and expressions. His sleeping face instead gained all his youthful traits the wake takes away, for several hours all responsibilities and worries simply didn't exist anymore. She wondered how many had seen this side of him, knowing how this world works the answer would be probably no one. She felt honored, being granted to see him with his guard lowered around her, in his most vulnerable state.

"Goodnight, my guardian angel."