Kira

~

I'm up by five the next morning.

My new exercise regime would start immediately. Lucifer had told me I had to train my body as well as my powers. If I trained my powers too much, my body would lack the strength to endure the strain, resulting in what happened during my last standoff with Beelzebub.

I take the elevator down, exiting the foyer ready to breathe in the fresh morning air and start the day.

What I wasn't expecting was to meet two guys waiting at the door for me.

To my dismay I recognized them immediately.

"What the hell are you guys 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 beams.

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," God Archer murmurs.

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

"Troy said 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."

I feel heat crawl into my cheeks, this guy was about a foot and a half shorter than me but he had the audacity to be so cheeky. I was beginning to see why the blond disliked 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 were both dressed in plain street clothes. Troy's hair was now cut short and his eyes were a pale blue, the golden cross now hanging from a string around his neck and not his ear. Kuro's red scarf from last night remind as well, wrapped around his neck to matc his mirth filled eyes.

Tgis was my life now. I sigh, remembering I was the one who 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 simply like he’s stating a fact amd not a depressing aspect of his life. I wasn't sure whether I should be sorry for him or just apathetic. I turn to Troy who gives me a subtle head shake.

Okay, not going to ask.

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

"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 locked 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 a top priority."

"Nightmare wants to do the opposite," Kuro informs. He led 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 had 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 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 watched as their looks become guarded. I wasn't going to lie, if they wouldn't work with me then fine but I needed them to know my stand.

"My family is the most important thing to me, if razing the world was the one thing that would keep them by my side I would 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'll do everything I can to make this team thing work, help me become stronger, aso 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 didn't need to know I wanted nothing to with Nightmare or Magic or Demons. Not yet.

For now, I need them to know I wouldn't be messed with as well.

I could 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.

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 didn't doubt that one bit. Secretly, 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 were walking to the gate with me, discussing where we should go.

"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 wasn't about to let them embarrass me. 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?"

"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. I had intended to keep the magic aspect of my life separate from the regular part of it but here they both were, heading to bond over snaks and maybe Karaoke if Momo managed to convince them unlike me and Jade earlier.

"Hey Kira, quit falling behind," Kuro calls out to me.

"She mustn't be hungry yet." Momo joked.

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

Defeat washes over me, this surely wasn't going to end well for me, but I guess things could be worse.

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

Friends and a team, I smirk to myself, maybe I could pull this off.