Shu opened his eyes slowly, hearing a loud banging noise.

“W-what the hell…?” Shu said. He looked around seeing something moving. Shu rubbed his eyes, standing up. He then saw what looked like a little girl rummaging around the shed.

“What the?” Shu said. He then grabbed the girl by her waist, pulling her out. It was a little girl, barely 4 years old, with long messy black hair and a dirty nightgown.

“Who the hell are you?” Shu asked. She looked at Shu very curiously. She then spit on Shu’s face. Shu made a disgusted face, putting her on the ground. She pointed at Shu’s face, laughing and hopping.

“Where are her parents…?” Shu internalized. Shu wiped the spit off of his face. The girl looked up at Shu.

“Who are you?” Shu asked her. The little girl tilted her head in confusion. Shu sighed,

“Well, I’m leaving…” Shu said. He opened the door, walking out. He would walk down the path, looking around at the forest. He would look at where the demon was knocked out and raise a brow.

“It’s gone…?” Shu said. Shu’s eyes then widened slightly in surprise but then they squinted. He looked down at his leg, seeing the little girl had her arm around it while she scratched the top of her head. She then looked up at Shu, grinning. Shu looked confused and then sighed. He continued to walk down the dirt path.

“Should I try and find my way back to headquarters…?” Shu said.

“Headquarters?” A young male voice asked. Shu’s eyes widened, he turned around putting his fist up and putting his hand in front of the little girl.

“You followed me…” Shu said. A person with a black coat and black military pants walked out from the shadows of the tree’s. He had spikey orange hair with a large black spot on the roots. He had hazel green eyes and freckles. He had a large sledgehammer attached to his back. He looked similar in age to Shu.

“Yeah… You guys siblings…?” The boy asked. Shu grit his teeth.

“Bandits…?” Shu internalized. The boy then grabbed his hammer.

“Your energy… It’s reminiscent of a demon’s…” The boy said. Shu put his left arm out, opening his palm. The orange haired boy squinted his eyes. He point two fingers on his ear.

“One.” The orange haired boy said under his breath. A bullet then flew past Shu’s hair. Shu’s eyes widened. He looked around, the inverted sword appeared in his left palm. The boy’s eyes widened,

“Where the hell!?” The boy said.

“Four!” He said. Shu then put his right arm up to the side, opening his palm. A bullet then shot through his hand dissolving as it pierced through. There would be a hole in Shu’s hand that quicky regenerated.

“Regeneration, what the hell are you?” The orange haired boy asked.

“Calm down Kenzo… I know him…” Said a familiar voice in Kenzo’s ear piece. Kenzo raised a brow,

“You know this guy…?” Kenzo said. Shu raised a brow,

“Yeah… I’ll be right there, don’t attack…” The voice said. Just then, footsteps approached the two. Shu looked surprised,

“Youngjae!?” Shu said. Youngjae looked at Shu with a straight face. Youngjae had a little longer hair and wore the same outfit as Kenzo but a different scarf.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“We used to be ‘partners’ in the military…” Youngjae said. Kenzo looked at Shu, smiling.

“I didn’t know you were a friend!” Kenzo smiled, putting his arm around Shu’s shoulders.

“We’re not friends…” Shu and Youngjae said in unison. Kenzo smiled,

“Well, let’s take you and your friend back to HQ!” Kenzo said. Youngjae rolled his eyes,

“He’s killed demon’s… He has to be punished…” Youngjae said. Kenzo rubbed his chin.

“We’ll deal with that once we get to HQ.” Kenzo said. Youngjae sighed,

“Optimistic bastard…” Youngjae internalized. Shu looked at Kenzo with a stern face.

“I’m not going with you…” Shu said. Kenzo looked at Shu.

“How come…?” Kenzo asked. Shu looked at the sky.

“I need to go find someone…” Shu said. Kenzo walked over to Shu.

“Why not get help?” Kenzo asked. Shu looked at the ground. He remembered Matsushima, Kamiko, Keiko, Ayumi, and Lukas.

“Cause I already tried that… It didn’t work out…” Shu said. Shu’s eyes then widened slightly in surprise. He looked down, seeing the little girl, hugging his leg.

“I think she wants you to come with us.” Kenzo said. Shu clenched his fists. Kenzo and Youngjae turned, beginning to walk away.

“I have one request…” Shu said. The two stopped. Kenzo looked back, raising a brow.

“You’ll help me kill Ingrozath…” Shu said. Youngjae grit his teeth. He turned, stomping toward Shu. Youngjae then punched Shu in the face. Shu fell, sitting on the ground.

“YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!!” Youngjae shouted. Shu looked confused,

“WE DON’T KILL INNOCENTS!!” Youngjae said. Shu raised a brow,

“Innocents…?” Shu asked.

“Demon’s are people too… I thought you might’ve understood that when you ruthlessly killed that demon with the family…” Youngjae said. Shu’s eyes widened,

"So... Where's that sword...?" Shu asked. The demon looked back at him in shock.

"Will you spare me if I tell you!?" The demon asked. Shu rolled his eyes,

"Nah... Either way, you're dying here..." Shu said. The demon's eyes widened even more.

"Just tell me where it is, and your death might be a little more painless," Shu said. The demon stopped in his tracks. The demon then swung his club at Shu. Shu's eyes widened in shock, as he blocked the blow with his arm. Shu slid to the left a bid, regaining his footing.

"I'm going to kill you, why fight...?" Shu asked. The demon grits his teeth at Shu.

"Cause I have a family to protect and get home to!" The demon shouted with its eyes watery. Shu's eyes were covered in shadows by his bangs. He glared at the demon,

"You... A family...?" Shu muttered. Keiko ran over to Shu, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Y-Yes, if you tell us where the sword is, we'll let you go back to your family...!!" Keiko shouted. Shu's eyes widened in shock as he looked back at Keiko. Shu pushed Keiko to the ground.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!??" Shu shouted at her. Keiko stood up, looking Shu in the eyes.

"Can't you tell, this is just his job, he has people to go home to..." Keiko said. Shu grits his teeth,

"So did I... But they massacred my family..." Shu said. He looked back at Keiko.

"SO WHY THE HELL SHOULD I LET THEM LIVE??" Shu shouted. Keiko looked surprised. Shu threw the dagger at the ground. He turned looking up at the demon. He pointed one of his swords at the demon.

"Tell me where the sword is, then you're dead..." Shu said. The demon looked horrified,

"I-IT'S NOT HERE!! B-BUT THE GIRL WE HAVE IN THE OFFICES!! SHE KNOWS ITS LOCATION!!" The demon shouted. Shu sighed,

"We came all the way here just to find some random girl... Great..." He then stabbed the demon in the ears with both swords. Shu jumped down as the Demon's corpse fell on its back. Back in the present, Shu looked at the ground, gritting his teeth.

“God dammit…” Shu internalized. He clenched his fists, remembering when his mom said to him with her final words.

“Protect, Fuyumi…” She whimpered. Shu began to tear up.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t listen…” Shu mumbled under his breath.