Ayani pushed me to the ground with her on top of me as multiple bullets started to fire our way.

I just jerked and flinched at every bang.

One of my favorite movies has a scene like this. A shootout between enemies, fighting over a girl.

But in the movie, it wasn't this loud or scary. It was just a movie. But the feeling of the cold floor on my face, the smell of gunpowder in the air, and the pain of the cut on my leg makes all of this incomprehensible to me.

Ayani pulled out two guns of her own and started firing with both hands towards the armoured guards in the hallway.

I tried my best to look away.

I really don't like these guards. They're keeping me from the exit, but I don't want them to be shot for it. They have friends and... I understand the need to go on now. So, I also understand why Ayani shoots and they dodge and shoot back.

I heard a sinch sound and looked up to see blood coming out of Ayani's shoulder.

She bit her lip and kept shooting anyway.

We're outnumbered by at least 8 people and Ayani is taking most of the damage with me under her. Soon, more guards will arrive.

At this rate, Ayani will be killed!

Then, my world started to blur.

I felt a feeling I had felt before, but never to this extent. The feeling of pure jealousy.

Nobody can take Ayani from me.

Nobody! Nobody but me!

Ayani was suddenly pushed off of me by some mysterious force and I stood in front of her.

The guards stopped shooting.

"Ms. Takagara, please move out of the way! " one of the guards shouted.

I glared at him and he took a step back.

"Ms. Takagara, that woman is trying to kidnap you! Why are you defending her! "

I wiped some of Ayani's blood off my face and my eyes started to water.

"It's.... Simple. " I said quietly.

Then I looked up at the guards.

I don't like them but I don't hate them. They have a right to know why they're being shot at.

I gritted my teeth and sucked in my breath.

"Nobody has ever cared about Suu! " I shouted, taking them off guard.

"It's always, Ms. Takagara or the girl! Your rules and your job! Your pride and your eyes! But nobody has ever looked at me and said, "You want to be my friend?". I'm not letting you take her away from me! Clear a path now! "

They all looked to one another anxiously.

I helped Ayani up and she held me close and we began to limp closer to guards.

They slowly, hesitantly, yet hurriedly, moved out of the way and let us pass.

Ayani smiled at me.

"And I thought you were shy. " she said.

I smiled.

"I... Don't know what I am. Maybe... I'm just a Suu. " I said.

Ayani laughed at that which puzzled me.

We came to a fork in the hallway and she pointed towards the left.

We kept walking/limping, expecting guards to be around every corner.

Had the guards protected us by not sending reinforcements?

Soon, we made it to a door in what looked like a basement.

"This is the back exit. You ready, Suu? " Ayani said.

I nodded my head yes but still hesitated.

"That speech back there. About never being looked at like a person. It was amazing. I promise to never treat you like you're less than equal to me. " Ayani said.

I breathed in and opened the door, closing my eyes.

I stepped forward and we were outside.

It's raining. It smells different.

It's... It's...

"Open your eyes, Suu. "

I opened them and saw the outside.

There's a night sky. With stars. Trees. Big. Small. There's grass. And rain.

It's cold and I am feeling it bounce off my skin.

I... Love this.

"Thank you, Ayani. " I said.

She just smiled.

"Look over there behind the trees. There's a car with a driver inside. Let's go. It's our ride. " she said and we went over to it and got inside.

Ayani immediately pulled a box out from under the seat and the driver started the car up. By the time Ayani had opened the box, we were driving away.

I looked out the car window behind me. Through the rain drops that fell and messed with my vision, I saw my house. Well, technically, a house I lived in. It was never mine.

It's smaller than I imagined it would be.

And the more we drive away, the more it shrinks. I wish all problems would be like this.

Drive away from them and they disappear.

I looked over at Ayani and immediately winced.

She had a piece of cloth in her mouth and was using tweezers to slowly pick bullets out of her body.

I grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

She screamed into the piece of cloth as she extracted the first bullet from her shoulder. Blood spurted out of the wound and she started to wrap gauze around the area. After her shoulder, she moved on to her leg, her arm, and several grazes on her sides. She had another graze on her back, but that would have to wait because she couldn't reach it with her own hands and I don't know if I'd be able to treat a graze.

After the ordeal was over, she put the box down and leaned her head on my shoulder.

Suddenly, a question came to my mind that I hadn't bothered to ask before.

"Ayani... Why... Didn't you transform? "

I'd transformed a few times into my GT self. I never really liked doing it though, so I stopped years ago. When I pushed Ayani behind me, I was using some of my GT self's abilities. I didn't transform because, well... I just don't like it.

Ayani made a huffing sound. Kinda of like a repressed laugh.

"I can't transform. " she said.

Huh...?

"Why? "

She leaned on my shoulder more and sighed.

"My mother and father were both genetic throwbacks. They thought I would be, but I wasn't. I'm just a regular human. Even though I was a normal human, I still had a stigma on me. I was a part of the GT world but also not. I became a SS agent because... That's a story for another time. " Ayani said.

I grinned.

If she became a SS agent, then she probably has to be really strong. Usually, agents in movies have to go through rigorous training programs. An SS agent... For people like me... Probably have to go through that, plus more. And she's a regular human and can't transform.... I have the utmost respect for Ayani.

"Do you feel uncomfortable being around plain ole Ayani now? " she said.

Is that how she feels? Why can't anyone tell? Her feelings... She doesn't keep them locked up for sure.

"Ayani... You're my friend now... And you aren't boring at all... I think you're cool. It doesn't matter if you're a GT or not.... I like Ayani. " I whispered.

"We're here. " the driver said and I looked out the window.

Ayani reached over and rolled the window down for me so I could see the building better.

Even though it was dark and raining, I could see Ayakashi Hall pretty well. Mouth open in awe, I just sat there - stunned.

It's... Beautiful...

"This is your new home, Suu. " Ayani said.

I wanted to say something heartfelt like "Finally. " But I couldn't because I remembered one important detail.

"What... If my parents come after me? " I said.

Ayani frowned.

"If they do, then well... Let's just say they won't come out of things unscathed and they sure as hell won't come out with you in tow." she said with a dark look in her eyes.

I shivered in fear, trying my best not to show my full reaction. Remind me to never get on Ayani's bad side.

The driver stepped out of the car and opened my door, extending a helping hand towards me.
I took it and stepped out with Ayani following behind me.

Looing around me, I started to notice the rain begin to stop.

Ayani took my hand we slowly made our way to the doors of my new (hopefully permanent) home. I still felt uncomfortable though. Things are uncertain and I feel like I'm trying to walk a straight line with a blindfold on. I just want things to slow down; to feel a sense of normalcy.

Still thinking about all these thoughts, I looked up at the building towering above me and noticed a pair of eyes looking down on me. Staring into me with raw intensity. I couldn't make out the shape of the person they belonged to but they seemed to be coming from the roof of the Hall.

Who... Is that?

An in the blink of an eye, the reflection of the eyes had disappeared.