Chapter Text
Guren’s PV
I had just finished with paperwork that was already overdue a long time ago. I don’t remember mainly because I don’t care, but I feel like it had something to do with the new students in training. God knows I never pay attention enough because the world being the way it is, grading papers is the least of our problems. Who cares, like really? Who cares? Certainly not the vampires?
What are they going to do? Ask for the person they are about to kill for their IQ? Oh you’ve got 178? Smart, how’d you feel about being our accountant. Why the fuck would vampires need an accountant in the first place? This got real weird, real fast, am I going mad. About time if you ask me.
Shit I shouldn’t laugh at this.
What we need are soldiers who can fight and follow orders on the battlefield. Not some people who know about the Meiji or whatever period, when we as humans won’t even see the end of the decade if we keep doing the things the way we do.
Shinya would probably laugh in my face and say I sound like Kureto. Well, Kureto is not wrong to be honest, but he goes around things in a very wrong way. Like really wrong. That guy needs to get his mental state in check.
And his eyebrows. No one should be allowed to have eyebrows that cause cancer for me. That and Yuu’s stupidity. God that kid is stupid. Urrgh, they are not even near and somehow they already pissed me off. The day is going great I see. And it’s what, noon?
Door bang and some shouts, oh great.. If it’s Yuu causing trouble, again, I will cut his head off. Last time he started a fight with one of the higher rank officers, because I refused to teach him how to fight vampires. That kid is more trouble than it’s worth. Seraph project or not, it’s impossible to be this stupid.
’’For once, Kureto, can you leave me alone?’’ That was definitely Shinya’s voice. He never yells. In all the years I’ve known the man, not once have I ever heard him scream. I didn’t even know he was capable of producing loud voices, besides laughing at his own jokes.
’’Listen to me, you ungrateful brat, you belong to the Hiiragi and you have no authority over your decisions. You should be happy that we let you have your fun with that Ichinose mongrel for as long as you could.’’ Kureto’s voice was as low as ever. If I would know any better, I’d say it’s mocking.
Also, what is this talk about me? Have the Hiiragi started taking interest in the lowest branch of the all. As if.
’’Shinya,’’ I shouted when he was walking away from Kureto, and passed me. Are those…tears? His eyes were sparkling under the light. The same way I have seen Yuu’s when he thinks he is alone in the library.
He completely ignored me. That’s a first, it’s usually me who ignores him when he is bouncing around me when I’m trying to do work. Not that I actually mind, but I would never let him know that. Otherwise he will never leave me be. As much as I like having the other around.
’’Speak of the devil,’’ Kureto said with a gross smirk. ’’Just in time, I am going to make this short and simple. You are not to be anywhere near Shinya ever again.’’
’’And why is that so?’’
‘’Because your loyalties to the Hiiragi are under the question.’’ Kureto spoke without taking another glance at me and walked away. I don’t believe that even for one second. My loyalties to them are always under the question. It’s been like that since forever. That was a stupid lie and we both know it.
I stared ahead of me, then turned around and made my way towards Shinya’s quarters to get some information from him.
Something feels weird, like a knife twist in my heart.
Shinya’s PV
When I stormed out on Kureto, I heard Guren’s voice, but I was busy holding back the tears.
Hiiragis don’t cry.
Hiiragis don’t love.
That mantra was force fed to me since I arrived at the Hiiragi complex.
But I am the bastard child. I’m a Hiiragi only by name and not blood.
Love.
That’s what Kureto had said. That I love Guren. And that’s why he wanted me to feel pain, because he needs me to be desperate for it to work. I felt something wet run down my cheek.
Why was I the strongest of the all chosen ones? I made friends and watched them die. Until there was only me standing. I can stare all I want at the marks left on my body, but they will never go away.
‘’Shinya... You here?’’ I heard a voice whisper behind the door. It was Guren’s- I can recognize his voice from everywhere, it’s almost pathetic. I wipe those tears quickly and plastered on my flashy smile. The smile I used to give my parents when I was happy. Now the smile carries anything but that. ‘’Oii Guren, did you miss me that bad?’’ I answered, hoping he won’t detect anything I don’t want him to from my voice. ‘’Cut the crap Shinya. Your eyes are red, you told Kureto to leave you alone? What did he do?’’ Guren’s voice was deep and soothing, even when he is questioning. Curse my maiden heart.
‘’ Aaa, you heard that? Heheh…’’ I scratched the back of my neck, trying to think of a believable lie. ‘’Nothing you have to worry your pretty little head about.’’ Really Shinya? That’s all you could come up with. No wonder you are such a loser.
‘’Listen I know you think I don’t care, but I do…‘’ he grabbed my arm in the same place Kureto had just few minutes ago. To which I visibly flinched. Did Guren actually say that? Did I hear him right? ‘’Oooh Guren I didn’t know you even had a heart. I always assumed instead of the warm fleshy beating organ, all you have is this ice cold rock.’’ I tried to lighten the mood and make him forget about the whole thing. I kept walking circles around Guren, he hates it when I do that.
‘’Are you stupid?’’ he sounded frustrated now. Topic evaded. ‘’Well see you then.’’
Guren left, and I could finally breathe. It’s best if he doesn’t know.
Soon I’ll disappear anyways.
I crawled under the blanket without taking off my uniform. I’ll just close my eyes for a few minutes.
‘’It’s always the same scene. Over and over again. Imprinted in my mind permanently. I am walking around the backyard, playing with my white cat, I called her Yuki. She was a stray cat and I took her home. Begged my parents to let me have her. They caved in, because I had the ‘’sweetest smile’’, they would say.
One day I was playing with Yuki like I always did, when I heard my parents argue with someone. ‘’I will not let you take my son the same way you took my sister.’’ ‘’HAHA shut up woman, at least your sister was of use to us, don’t think I will not hesitate to kill you right here. We can leave with him and you get to live, or I will kill you, and we will still take him. This is not up for debate.’’ These cruel words came from no one’s mouth other than Tenri Hiiragi. I took Yuki in my arms and walked inside to see what was going on. Some guy approached me, which made me hold onto Yuki tighter. The man reached out his hand and started petting Yuki. I thought nothing bad, when suddenly Yuki went limp in my arms. I looked up to the man, who grinned and removed his hand from Yuki’s neck. That was the first time I encountered death.
I did not cry.
My parents started walking towards me, when I heard two gunshots, and saw them fall right in front of my feet. I was frozen in place and watched their lifeless bodies. That was the second time.
I still did not cry.
I woke up to the sound of my alarm reminding me to go to the training facility. ‘’Don’t forget to smile’’ I say to the reflection and walking out of the room.
THIRD PV
Shinya opened the door and suddenly Goshi and Mito ran up to him asking questions about his whereabouts. ‘’Where have you been? ‘’ Goshi was practically screaming into Shinya’s ear. ‘’Eh?’’ Shinya looked around dumbstruck, ‘’what do you mean? I was taking a nap.’’ He answered slowly. ‘’FOR TWO DAYS STRAIGHT?’’ It was Mito’s turn to yell.
Shinya looked like he was in pain, because he literally just woke up 5 minutes ago and now there are two people yelling at him, taking turns.
‘’You didn’t show up the day before, we thought nothing of it. Then you didn’t show up yesterday either. And we got concerned. We had to go to Kureto and ask if he has sent you to a mission. All he answered was you are fine. So I am asking, where have you been?’’ Mito spoke it all in one breath so fast, Shinya only blinked to that.
‘’Leave him be, will you. Go practice some more with Goshi.’’ Came Guren’s voice behind Shinya giving orders to the two. Mito and Goshi walked away like beaten dogs, it’s not like they had any choice.
‘’So, will you tell me, where have you been for these past two days?’’ Guren asked softly, like walking around in glass slippers. ‘’I was worried for you, we are a team you know. In case you had forgotten.’’
‘’I lost two days ….’’ Shinya mumbled to himself. It was inaudible for Guren’s ears. ‘’What?’’ Guren asked, because he saw Shinya’s mouth move, but no sound reached his ears. ‘’I said I was reading a book.’’ Shinya answered with his signature smile. ‘’It was so good I got lost in it. Aaaah I’m so hungry, let’s go grab a bite Guren. I missed your grumpiness. ‘’ Shinya laughed and pinched Guren’s cheeks. And then started walking to cafeteria, leaving behind a flabbergasted Guren.
Guren followed him reaching out his hand to make sure Shinya was there physically, because emotionally Shinya was out of reach. Not that Guren himself was very straightforward with his emotions.
‘’Hey, Guren…’’ Shinya whispered.
‘’Huh?’’
‘’Nothing, just making sure....’’
‘’Of what?’’ Guren pried.
‘’You being here.’’
Then Shinya turned around and talked normally as if the previous conversation had never happened. ‘’I want some jam sandwiches, what about you? Cake? Pudding? ‘’ Shinya was bouncing like an excited kitten around Guren now. ‘’I am not the one with a sweet tooth here.’’ He spoke while putting fries on his plate.
They sat down the table, facing each other. Guren stealing glances at Shinya, while the other was devouring sandwiches as if it were his last meal. And then it happened. ‘’Did you just steal my fries?’’ Guren raised his eyebrow, while silencing his laughter. ‘’Like the good old times, remember.’’ Shinya mumbled with his mouth full of fries.
‘’You are such a kid sometimes,’’ Guren let out a sigh and pushed his plate in front of Shinya ‘’here you can have it, you look like you could use all the energy you need.’’
‘’What happened in those two days, you are being way too kind.’’ Shinya sounded worried.
‘’Don’t talk with your mouth full.’’
And they sat in silence after that the entire time. Shinya was eating his sandwiches and fries. Guren stared out of the window, side eyeing Shinya.
Something in his gut telling him to watch out for the other.