Nearly a week passed since his departure and Saber began to be efficient in his sword play and increased his strength, speed, and balance. Although he did become a better swordsman, there were still some aspects in his fighting that he needed to work on that Matheus wasn't efficient in, in order to become a threatening hunter. The two went back to Tokyo hours before the anticipated meeting occurred and Saber had the enough time to get back to the school and talk with his friends about his short adventure with Matheus but he needed to go visit Ai first he was wearing nice suit as he making his way to Ai apartment and knocked on the door she opened it she had her hair in a bun as she saw who it was she had a nice warm smile let Saber in they talked about few things Ai want to Saber meet her father as she got ready they left the house.

“Hello, Mia!” She yelled, causing the short haired girl to smile. “Hello, Ai.” she replied, with her own version of cheerfulness: Which consisted of a slight smile and an upbeat, but low-toned voice.

“Say? Is my father around here by any chance?” The author asked looking around the empty shop and placing a finger at her lip.

“Uhhh, yeah, up stairs.” she said pointing to the next flight of stairs, “Why?”

Ai merely smiled another of her cryptic smiles and leaned closer to her, “Oh... You'll find out soon enough...” she said. Mia began to worry, as much as she considered the managers' daughter a sister, Ai's surprised were either good or bad, there was no in between. She could only watch with a single mouth open as the author strolled past her, black and white highlights haired Ikebukuro student practically falling over behind her trying to keep up. Well... she was dragging him by the wrist...

Jack stood by the window of the break room, cup of coffe in one hand, the other behind his back, pressing against his vest in the style of a stereotypical formal bow from mid evil Europe(London specifically), and his eyes relaxing due to the scenery. ikebukuro was his favorite place in Japan, the world perhaps, originally though, he hadn't understood the appeal of it. Why would any half human or dark users want to live in peace with humans? Now he wondered who wouldn't.

Though, he supposed he would still be like that, like the dark Lord that he made himself out to be in order to protect his daughter, Ai was now, she wasn't always this way, she used to be destructive and hateful. Jack didn't like to recall her being that way, besides, all that passed when she published her book. He smiled, and looked over to the picture taken of him and her when she was only 15 years old, she held the book up to her chest a happy smile on her face and he stood beside her, hand rested upon her shoulder. It was a happy memory and the beginning of many more...

The entrance swung open, and in marched said girl with a boy in tow behind her, being dragged by the wrist. “Daaaaad!” She sang aloud as the boy behind her tripped over his feet. Jack turned and smiled, happy to see his daughter, but frowned when he saw the ikebukuro Academy student behind her. Ai... Was never one to bring home boys... and to make things worse this one was a human... Jack knew he wasn't exactly the best example of that, but still. He just hoped the boy didn't end up in her stomach...or Killed.

Ai pulled her new roommate along with her as she entered the break room, she always liked it in here. It smelled of coffee and leather, two of her favorite fragrances, it always had this feeling about it too, a felt as if you were placed outside of time and into a zone of pure comfort and relaxation, however this is not the time for that.

“We have a situation...” She told her father, turning serious suddenly.

Saber watched as the two left the room to discuss, most likely about him. One question ran through Shi's mind: Why did that waitress call her Ai or Ato? He wondered, as he looked around him. He was surrounded by fine china, wooden cabinets, and leather furniture, on which he decided to sit down. The leather squeaked beneath him as he sat down and relaxed on the couch, it was surprisingly soft considering it was leather. He noticed three cups sitting on the tabletop in front of him: one black, one red, and one red with a black accent. They were arranged in a way so that it would look as if the cups were a family... It was kind of sad... If he understood correctly, the manager of this coffee shop was her father, a Half human and her mother was a human. He connected the dots as red being half human and blue being human, while the hybrid cup was Sen. As sad as it was, though, it was heart-warming.

The door re-opened and in stepped the old man and Ai, they both had the same smile on their face, Definitely related...

Sen turned to him and gave him a thumbs up symbol and a smile, which would have been reassuring... If she'd told him anything. She had remained humming the whole ride and when Saber had asked her where their next stop was she simply said: “It's a surprise!”

The old man now sat before Saber, staring at him awkwardly... The new half-human and dark user felt as if he had become a statue, who's only purpose was to stare at him for all eternity, which was why Saber jumped when he finally spoke.

“Mr. Saber... In your life, how many jobs have you held?”

Saber had been asked this, before, it was an embarrassing question, because the answer was: one. He averted his gaze and blushed in embarrassment... “I uhhhh...”

“Just one huh?” The old man replied, smiling, making it was obvious that it wouldn't be a problem.

“Y-yeah...” He affirmed, scratching his cheek and looking down.

“That's no problem... It'll be fun... Working here...” He said. “Our staff is composed over entirely half human, so you'll get to learn the way half human life rather quickly.” He smiled.

“Wait!” He said, shocked, “Everyone?!”

The old man nodded

“You mean the waitress, the guy with the funny hair, and the other woman?”

“Ah! You mean Mia, Alexander, and Lauren. Yes everyone of them...” He then extended out a big, wrinkled hand and said “By the way, my name is Jack, however most people here call me grandfather.” He giggled a bit at the ironic nickname.

Saber took the hand, shakily, and felt it grasp his tightly, much to tight for a man his age, but then he was a Half human (half human are basically super humans with super cell's called dark magic cells they need to eat other humans to consume their meat and they're nutritious to use special abilities.) The older Half human seemingly controlled his arm as he shook his hand, causing Saber's arm to move in the way you would see a worm do so.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Now then, when can you start?” Jack asked, quizzically

And before Saber could even reply, or think to reply, his hostess spoke up. “In about a week from now.”, she answered for him.

“A week?” Jack asked, surprised.

“Sorry, I want him to get a bit more accumated to his new biology... I imagine it can't be easy.”

Jack nodded and said “A week it is then...” He turned to Saber, “See you then.” Their hands broke and Saber and Ai left the shop as quickly as they arrived.

“Ok!”, The female Half human said/ sighed, as she sat in the drivers seat of the car, “we have one more stop and then we're done...” She placed the key inside of the ignition ed, turned it, and the engine roared to life causing the car to vibrated and steadied its rhythm. Honestly the only reason she took it was for Saber's belongings but it's back in the Academy so it won't be so easy as his friends question him as to why he's leaving or moving in with a female, which to be honest wasn't much, his clothing, his books, and some films(all of which were requested by Ai, films she hadn't seen and couldn't find, that she would want to).

“Ah, miss Sen-” was all Saber got to say before Ai stuck her hand over his mouth, she'd had enough of that 'miss Sen' bullshit. Miss was a word reserved for old women, and she was anything but, she was only 25 for Christ’s sake. Still, she wasn't mad, he was just being his adorable normal self, the shy boy that he was. But they were to be living together now, for a while, it wasn't permanent, a year at most and he needed to get used to calling her by her real name. I had told his Teammates he was moving out in two weeks cuz he need to take care of something they want to ask more questions but Ai told them that he needed time to grief about his sister that was a lie he was moving out today, but two weeks notice is always nice. When the time came, Ai would help him find a new one nearby, but until then, they were roommates.

“My name is Ai Ato yeah I know it sounds weird but that's what my parents named me.” She said, eyes still on the road ahead of her. “We are going to be roommates for a while so please use it.” She said

“Ahh... OK, Ai.” He said, a little uncomfortable, causing Ai to smile. She moved her hand over his face and to his hair and began to ruffle it. “Good boy.” She complimented, causing Saber to blush and relax at the same time as she softly played with his hair black and white highlights.

Soon enough(probably to soon for Saber's taste, considering how relaxing Ai's head massage was), they were at their destination, a shop deep in Red light District Saber decided, to look around as he looked up at the plastic board above it. In subtext, it read Mask and Tattoos shop. Saber frowned slightly, his Sister told him if he'd ever gotten a tattoo she'd never forgive him, he'd hoped that Ai wasn't trying to make him get one, in fact, how could he? To get a tattoo a needle must pierce your skin to leave ink.

“Uh, Ai,” he asked, nervous, “what are we doing here?”

Ai kept walking while she explained. “Well, you see Shi, Half human as well dark users will often need to hunt for their food, and when they do that they are liable it is seen by onlookers and their faces will be discovered. That is why you need a mask, because should the time come, you'll need to hide your face.”

At the thought of himself eating humans Saber began to feel cold. I... I can't eat a human! Not a live one Anyway... What the hell is being a dark user this bad

He watched Ai knock on the door three times and return to her idle stance. After the owner of said shop did not open up, she decided to take it upon herself to barge in, “Nico!” She called, the name most likely belonged to the owner. “Come out!” she ordered. There was nothing, nothing but veiled objects upon stands. They waited, but no one came, it was just them, or so Saber could see. He began walking closer to Ai, to whisper: “I don't think he's here...”

“Oh no, he's here, he's just trying to see who will break first,” she whispered back, “he almost never leaves this place.”

An audible sigh was heard, causing Saber to jump a little, and then a voice. “I see, so it's like that huh?”

Saber looked over to the direction of the voice, hoping to see its caster. At first there was nothing, nothing but white drapes and tiled floors. Then a man, who was tall, lanky, and bony, crawled out from underneath the curtain. The man was dressed in black, and had Tattoos covering his visible body. “I never could out last you...” He said looking away, slightly annoyed.

“Awwww, is someone mad?” She teased, walking up to the man, who's hands rested in his pockets, and pinching his thin bony cheeks. For some reason, Saber felt a sense of jealousy. He didn't know why, but he felt like something that belonged to him was being tampered with. He shouldn't have, that wasn't right, to think of Ai as an object... But either way his jealousy was quelled when the dark tall man sleeper her wrists away and rudely asked what she wanted,

“Bah, you're so mean to me big brother Nico!” She teased.

“We're not related, don't call me 'big brother...'” He said, annoyance in his voice.

“I just don't get why you always yell at me... You're so nice to mia and Adam, the latter of which you used to hate.”

“Yeah, but Adam wasn't intentionally an asshole to me.”

“I just like to tease...”

After a full five minutes of light bickering, Ai finally spilled why she came over. “Anyways, that guy over there.” She threw her arm at Saber, who simply waved his hand at the Tattooed Half human. He noticed, however, when the man saw him a smile formed on his face. Not one of bad intention, nor malice, but simple kindness. Nico, that's his name right?, Lifted a hand and motioned Saber to a chair that held on it: measuring tape. “He needs a mask, he's a half-human and Dark users like me... Though his is on the left...”

Saber plopped himself down on the chair and straightened his back up. “I'm very sorry your first impression of me was me arguing with Ai...” He apologized, “She's a friend, and I love her to death, but she just pushes my buttons...” He said as he pulled out a drawer next to him and held a small what like a bread stick, but upon further inspection, which meant nico turning it over, it was a long finger. Saber felt his stomach grumble and crave the treat at the same time... His human side still hadn't adjusted to his dark users nature yet...

“Want one?” The man asked, holding the long finger in front of him.

“Ahhhh, n-no, thanks though.” He said, shaking a little. Nico shrugged and plopped the finger into his mouth.

“Let's see- um, what's your name?” The Half human asked.

“Shi Saber Akamine...”

“Well, Shi, do you have any hobbies?” Nico asked, while setting up the tape next to Saber's head and measuring, then writing the measurements down on a blank paper.

“I like books uh pretty much it?” Saber answers unsure. “I'm sorry, but is this necessary?” He asked.

“Oh yes very...” Nico replied as he took measurements on his head with. “You see the more I know of my client, the more likely I'm going to do a good job on their mask...” He explained, it was either superstition or him just being social.

“I see, sorry...”

“Don't be. Now what type of books do you like?” Nico asked as he examined his head.

“Well, mostly horror...” Saber replied.

“Oh, that opens up more options...” nico said as he once again measured Saber's cranium. “Tell me, are there any girls you like?”

Saber blushed before answering. “Uh, n-no...”

“Really?” Nico asked, “Forgive me but might you be a homosexual” earning a quick “No!” From Saber. “I see... You don't get any attention from girls around your own age huh.?” Saber was silent. “What about Ai over there?” He asked. “You're both half-human and dark users I mean...”

Saber simply stuttered out. “She's kind of... Wild.”

Nico simply nodded and rolled up his tape. “Well I'll call you when it's done...” He told him... “Until then Take care.”

Saber stopped, turned and looked at Nico, a single question in mind. “ nico?” He asked.

“Hmm?”

“What sort of customers do you get in here?”

“Well...” he began, “mostly Half human, but every now and then I get the occasional human to come in and request a mask or tattoo.” He paused. “And then,” Nico placed a finger onto the base of his neck. “I get racing feeling right here in the base of my neck...” He said, bending towards the smaller ghoul. “But, it's not hunger... It's happiness...”