Kira

~

By the time I reach the penthouse, it’s nearly 11pm.

My wounds have healed and I'm back in my normal clothes. I try to make my entry quiet but it's no use as a nervous Ares staring at the TV. He turns sharply to me, relief flooding his eyes.

I run into his arms.

"Where were you?!" He's shaking me furiously barely ten seconds after our embrace.

"Out being a teenager," I beam casually.

"That explains nothing young lady!"

"I got carried away, besides, I'm fine, see." I twirl around for a bit. His exasperated sigh tells me that he's had enough of this conversation. He drags me toward the dining area and turns on the microwave, probably heating up leftovers of whatever he and Kat had for dinner.

"There was a sinkhole at one of the cemeteries not far from here." He states simply, "Not to mention there were captives there, they say the serial kiĺler kept them down there to torture later, can you imagine that?"

"I heard, me and my friends were close by," the lie rolls far too easily off my tongue for comfort.

He pulls out the bowl and placed it before me, along with some chopsticks. It's Nabe.

Nice.

I waste no time digging in, swallowing a mouthful as I speak, "I'm happy I'm back safe you know?"

“Don’t talk while eating,” He scolds from where he sits across from me. I can almost see the waves of anxiety leaving me, "I'm glad you're back safe too."

The urge to tell him the truth and apologize for this morning also weighs heavy in my bones but his smile, more tender than I've seen all week, is enough to ease the burden of the secret I now carry. I'll have work hard, harder than I've ever in life probably, to keep that smile from disappearing.

***

I'm up by five the next morning.

My new exercise regime would start immediately. Lucifer's told me I have to train my body as well as my powers. If I overtrain my powers, my body will lack the strength to endure the strain, resulting in what had happened towards my last standoff with Beelzebub.

I take the elevator down and exit the foyer, ready to breathe in the fresh morning air and start the day with a dedication flooding through my veins.

What I'm not expecting is to meet two guys waiting at the door for me.

To my dismay I recognize them immediately.

"What the hell are you two doing here?!"

"We were about to go up and invite you down to join us on our morning routine, but it's nice to see you had the same idea yourself," Kuro grins.

My jaw drops, "How do you know where I live?!"

"It's a testimony to how weak you are that you didn't sense us following you," God Archer murmurs.

He rolls his eyes at me making my teeth grit from the biting remark.

"Troy told you're weak but I didn't think you'd be that weak," Kuro is laughing now, "I kept expecting you to turn back and check or something but you just kept walking? We didn'teven try hiding our Auras that well!"

I feel heat crawl into my cheeks, this kid is about a foot and a half shorter than me, the audacity! I'm really beginning to see why the blond dislikes him.

Speaking of which, I turned to the blond, "Troy?"

"It's my real name."

"And yours?"

"It's still Kuro," Kuro replies with a shrug.

They're both dressed in plain street clothes. Troy's hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail but his eyes were a pale blue and the golden cross now hanging from a chain around his neck rather than his ear. Kuro's red scarf from last night remains as well, wrapped around his neck to matc his mirth filled eyes.

This was my life now. I sigh, remembering I was the one who'd suggested that they both team up with me.

"Isn't it suspicious that your fake name and real name are the same?" I ask starting to jog down the street.

"It's a pretty common name, and besides...I have no family to protect. Unlike you two." He replies blithely like he’s stating a fact and not a depressing aspect of his life. I'm torn between sympathy and apathyon his behalf so I look to Troy who gives me a subtle head shake.

Okay, not going to ask.

"Which school do you go to?" Troy questions.

"Hamada High, why do you need to know?"

"So I can transfer there and keep an eye on you," He shoots back icily, "You heard what the midget said last night, I've been waiting to come here since I learned about Nightmare. My Master finally conceded." He locks eyes with mine, "I meant what I said about my job being to rid this world of Demonic influence. Spirits are nothing but trouble, keeping them on their Plane of Existence is top priority."

"Nightmare wants to do the opposite," Kuro informs. He lead us down a turn, "If he gets his way, humanity has no chance of surviving, it'll be worse than we can imagine.”

He stops.

I get a few more steps ahead before I notice. I turn around to see they're standing together, they'd obviously discussed this ahead of time.

"Kira, right?" He looks dead serious now, "Troy and I know each other's stories, we might not get along but we're willing to put our differences aside to stop Nightmare, we know the risks, and those close to him aren't new to the Magic business either."

"What he's trying to say is that we don't know you. How do we know you won't turn on us the moment he takes someone you love captive?" Troy is straightforward, no words minced.

I didn't have to think of an answer, "Maybe you're right," I watch their expressions become guarded but I'm not going to lie, if they won't work with me then fine but I need them to know where I draw my line.

I never want to start over again.

"My family is the most important thing to me, if razing the world was the one thing that'll keep them by my side I'll do it. There's nothing you can say that'll change my mind. Nightmare’s plan doesn't benefit me either, he's clearly crazy from what Lucifer's told me, but if he cuts me a good deal…” I shake my head, “I'm going to do everything I can to make this team work, help me become stronger, so that I can protect my family. As long as they're out of his grasp, I'll keep fighting with both of you to get your vengeance."

They don't need to know I want nothing to with Nightmare or Magic or Demons.

Not yet.

For now, what I need them to know is that I won't be toyed with as well.

I can see the gears turning in their heads, an internal debate on whether they should trust me or not. I leave them to it and continue my jog but soon, I hear footsteps to my left. Kuro appears at my side, "You've got guts, let's see where that goes.”

Troy easily catches up as well, “Betray us and will kill you.”

I nod, I donn't doubt that one bit. Secretly though, I'm glad that I won't be doing this alone.

***

This school day goes much better than the previous one. All I had to do was ignore Lucifer's constant nagging and not think too much about anything outside school.

Jade and Moriko are walking to the gate with me, discussing where we should go for light snacks when a shrill call shatters my peace.

"Kira! Over here!"

"Shut up brat, you're drawing attention."

"Oh, I think I see her, I should scream louder."

"No!" I yell before Kuro can scream my name, my enhanced hearing picking out their discussion, I'm not about to let them embarrass me at school. I rush to the gate, "I thought we were meeting at midnight?!" I hiss quietly.

"I got bored," Kuro explains.

"How old are you? Seven?" The vein in my brow twitches.

"Thirteen actually."

"Aww! Who's cute little brother is this?" Moriko is squealing, and pushing past me to Kuro, "Kira, is he yours?"

We don't even look alike!...I think...

"Blondie, quit talking like he's a pet," Jade pops her bubble gum loudly before speaking, pulling Moriko back before she can start pinching Kuro's cheeks. "Wasn't talking to you by the way," She points to Troy, then to me, "Friends of yours?"

I give a slow tentative nod because what else is there for me to do?

"Awesome. We were just talking about getting some snacks. You guys wanna come?" Moriko asked.

Kuro exclaims with hesitation, "Yes!"

"We don't even know their names yet," Troy smacks his head.

"But the food," The shorter boy whines.

"Call me Momo."

"The name's Jade."

"Kuro!"

"Zhao Troy, it's nice meeting you," he sounds anything but happy to meet them.

I watch their exchange in wonder and dismay. My intention had been to keep the magic aspect of my life separate from the regular part of it but here they both are, heading to bond over konbini snacks and maybe Karaoke if Momo manages to convince them unlike me and Jade earlier.

"Hey Kira, quit falling behind," Kuro whines at me.

"Last to get there pays so let her be!" Momo joked.

Troy rolls his eyes, again, "Let's get going before it's too late Vermillion."

Utter defeat washes over me, this definitely isn't ending well for my mental health, but I guess things could always be worse.

I run after them, hooking an arm around Momo's shoulder.

Friends and a team, I smirk to myself. Maybe, just maybe, I can pull this off after all.