...Hey

she spoke coldly

Take it if you want. It's alright. Her voice was ice cold and enigmatic as she didn't show much emotion at all

"I'm fine." She paused before snatching the paper away and checking the information, "Thank you..." There was a slight glint in her eyes as she looked at the data...

The hand on her face surprised her, but she didn't react. Her eyes narrowed slightly as if to debate how much to trust the gesture before her lips curved a little at the edges. "I see..." She murmured, feeling something unfamiliar inside her chest flicker and glow a bit brighter.

Without answering his question directly, she accepted the food he offered, picking at it delicately and slowly eating. Her expression remained neutral as she chewed. It felt...oddly comforting to have someone so close. She hadn't allowed herself to feel such things in a long time. But then again, maybe that was the point of him being near her now. To get past her defenses and destroy what little emotional resilience remained?

"They're...well enough," she answered after swallowing the snack he'd fed her. "As expected." It was true that they were still alive, but with each passing day, it seemed like more of an achievement on their part to continue existing than anything else. She glanced at Murasaki out of the corner of her eye, wondering if his apparent care for her extended beyond manipulation or some greater purpose she couldn't fathom just yet.

The thought of someone making her dinner was unexpectedly...warming. But she wouldn't let herself show it. Instead, she nodded curtly and replied, "That won't be necessary." Even if he wasn't actually asking for something in return, she refused to let him think he could get away with such gestures without consequences. It was her way of keeping some measure of control in their unconventional relationship.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye as he cleaned up after her and wiped her mouth. Something about his expression gave away that he was holding something back, that there was more to this act of care than met the eye. For a moment, she almost felt like she could trust him. Almost. But such feelings were dangerous, and in their line of work, nothing came without a price. So instead of dwelling on it, she focused her attention back on the matter at hand: finding the demon that had been preying on humans once more. "We should hurry," she said simply, standing up from where she sat and readying herself for battle.

Without much hesitation, she followed Murasaki's lead, her sword unsheathed and readied in an instant. Her movements were fluid and precise as they worked together to take down the demon, their combined strength and experience making short work of their target. Even with her doubts and suspicions, she couldn't help but admire the ease with which he fought. But that didn't mean she would let him off easy later on...

She glanced at him before her eyes hardened once more as she held up the demon core. "Leave it," she answered curtly, her tone leaving no room for argument. To her, demons were merely tools to be used, not possessions to be discarded or sold off like some meaningless trinket. As long as they served a purpose, she saw no reason to let them go to waste.

But still, there was something about the way he'd asked... She couldn't shake the feeling that he knew more than he was letting on. Perhaps it was time to be cautious, even with someone who professed to be an ally in their fight against darkness.

"Understood." She nodded curtly before lunging forward with her sword, meeting the demon's attack head-on and cutting through its body effortlessly. With a grunt of exertion, she spun around to face Murasaki again. "Let's hurry," she urged, not bothering to hide her growing impatience. Even if he was playing some sort of game with her emotions, they still had work to do. And delays only risked more innocent lives being claimed by darkness.

Without wasting another moment, she followed him at a brisk pace, scanning their surroundings warily as they moved through the streets. She trusted no one but herself, not even the enigmatic woman whose every gesture and word were shrouded in mystery. But for now, survival dictated that she follow her lead. And so she did, silent and unyielding, her eyes constantly on guard for any sign of danger lurking nearby.

The question took her by surprise. She frowned as she studied his face, searching for some sign that he was lying. But there was nothing, no hint of deception in those cold silver eyes. For a moment, the temptation to accept his offer danced through her mind...but in the end, she shook her head slowly. "It's not necessary," she said curtly, turning away from him once more as they continued on their way. She refused to give in so easily, no matter how much it might hurt inside.

Her fingers tightened around her sword hilt, the metal digging into her palm with a reassuring pressure. Even if she could trust Murasaki...and that was a far-fetched possibility at best...she couldn't forget who and what they were. They were demon hunters first, and any allegiances or feelings beyond that came second. Or worse, were merely tools to be used

Without even glancing at the photo, she growled, "The one that's causing the most trouble." She didn't bother to hide her disdain for this entire situation; she had far more important things to worry about than playing games with Murasaki. Her mind was already racing ahead, plotting their next move and calculating how best to dispose of whatever demon they were meant to deal with.

Her icy blue eyes scanned the crowd around them, searching for any sign that might indicate danger lurking nearby. Even if Murasaki was sincere in his words and actions...there was always the chance that he was just playing her for a fool. And she refused to let that happen. Not again.

Her eyes narrowed as they followed him deeper into the dimly lit alleyway. "What do you mean by that?" she asked sharply, suspicion clear in her tone. She remained close to the wall, ready to dodge or attack if necessary.

She had no intention of giving Murasaki the satisfaction of knowing how much his words cut deep. No matter what he thought, no matter what he believed...she was strong enough to resist any attempt at manipulation. Stronger than him, stronger than anyone else in their world. And she'd be damned if she let him make her feel otherwise.

Her eyes narrowed as he spoke, taking a step closer to him despite herself. "And what if I don't like being this way?" she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. For a moment, all she could feel was the weight of his words, the impossible pull they had on her emotions...and the terrible loneliness that came with not trusting anyone. It was a burden she'd borne for far too long, and it ached inside her like an old wound refusing to heal.

But even as these thoughts filled her mind, she forced herself to remain steady, to keep her expression unreadable. Because if there was one thing she had learned in all her years of fighting demons...it was that trust was a luxury she could not afford. Not now, and perhaps never again.

She stared up at him, her silver eyes filled with confusion and doubt. It was an expression he'd seen on her face before, but never quite like this...as if she were struggling against something deep within herself. For a heartbeat, she thought about pushing him away, rejecting his words and returning to the cold isolation of her past life. But then again...perhaps it was worth taking a risk. Perhaps just this once, trusting someone might not be such a terrible thing.

Her lips curved into a small smile, barely visible beneath the mask she wore. It was hardly an answer, but it was as close as she'd ever come to giving him what he wanted. And maybe...just maybe, that was enough for now.