...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.

With a satisfied grunt, she watched as he dealt the finishing blow, his strength and skill never failing to impress her, even in moments like these when she tried so hard not to let it show. After the demon lay motionless at their feet, she glanced over at Murasaki, a flicker of respect briefly crossing her face before disappearing just as quickly beneath her cold, emotionless mask. "We should move on," she said simply, not bothering to hide her eagerness to continue their hunt and put an end to these demonic incursions once and for all.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye as they faced the new threat, feeling something tighten in her chest as they once again had to work together against an overwhelming enemy force. It was then that she realized how precarious their situation was, and how much she depended on his skills to survive. But that didn't mean she trusted him any more than before; if anything, it made her more wary of his true intentions towards her and their alliance against the darkness they fought against every day.

With a fierce battle cry, she charged forward, her sword cutting through the air with deadly precision as she engaged another demon hunter in combat. She fought relentlessly, driven by an inner rage that seemed to fuel her actions, oblivious to the pain and exhaustion threatening to overwhelm her senses. Even now, surrounded by death and destruction, she refused to let herself weaken or show any sign of vulnerability. The price for such self-control would be steep, but she was willing to pay it if it meant protecting those who depended on her.

As they fought their way through the ranks of demon hunters, their allies and enemies blurring together into a sea of violence, Quanxi found herself once again at Murasaki's side, her eyes locked on his face as they struggled against the tide of darkness. Even now, she could not deny the sense of unease his

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she watched him fight, his movements fast and precise despite the chaos around them. She knew he was trying to protect her, but that didn't mean she trusted him. Not yet. For all she knew, this could be some elaborate trap designed to lure her into complacency before striking a fatal blow. But until then, she would continue fighting at his side, using every ounce of strength and skill she possessed to push back the tide of darkness that threatened their world.

As they fought their way through the enemy forces, she could feel herself growing tired, her limbs heavy and her breath coming in ragged gasps. She forced these feelings aside, refusing to let her body betray her focus or resolve. The demons and demon hunters alike fell beneath her blade, their cries of pain and desperation fading into the distant background as she lost herself in the bloody dance of

Her eyes widened in surprise as he defended her against the other demon hunters and knocked them unconscious. She almost didn't register what he'd said until afterward; his words hung in the air like a heavy, ominous cloud. Suddenly, his actions no longer seemed quite so benevolent. If anything, they only served to further complicate her thoughts and emotions regarding him.

She didn't reply immediately, uncertain what to make of his confession or how she should react. Instead, she remained silent as they continued their fight against the remaining demon hunters, her movements growing steadily more sluggish with exhaustion. Despite her reluctance to trust him, she found herself relying on his strength and skill to keep them both alive through this battle. And for now, that would have to be enough.

She watched him carefully as he dealt with the remaining demon hunters, her expression unreadable beneath the mask she wore. Despite everything, there was a part of her that couldn't help but be impressed by his skill and determination in battle. Even so, she kept her distance, unsure of what to make of him or where their alliance would lead.

Eventually, once all hostile forces were neutralized, they surveyed the carnage around them, bodies strewn about like discarded dolls. The air was thick with the coppery scent of blood and the acrid tang of demon smoke. She turned to look at him as he wiped his glasses clean, an action that seemed almost out of place in this brutal scene. "Why do you help me?" she asked simply, her voice cold and devoid of emotion.

He met her gaze before shrugging casually. "

She blinked in surprise at his words, taken aback by the sudden change in tone and subject matter. "What do you mean?" she managed to stammer out, confusion plain on her features as she searched his expression for some hidden meaning or motive behind his strange statement. Her heart raced; was he mocking her? Or had she somehow misread their situation so far?

Before she could dwell on it further, he grabbed a handkerchief and wiped the blood stains from her face, causing her to frown in annoyance. She fought the urge to protest, unsure of what his intentions were but still reluctant to make things any more awkward between them than they already were. As he prepared to run away with her in his arms, she debated whether or not she should trust him enough to let him get that close. The answer seemed unclear, and so for now, she chose silence over

She kept quiet as they ran, her arms wrapped around his neck as he carried her through the streets and away from the carnage they'd left behind. Despite everything that had happened between them, there was a strange sense of comfort in having someone close like this, even if it was him. It felt...oddly familiar. As they entered the dessert shop, she allowed herself a small smile, glancing at the many sweet treats on display before looking back up at him once more. "Thank you," she murmured softly, her voice still cold but lacking some of its earlier edge.

He nodded in response, not quite meeting her eyes as he set her down on one of the empty stools at the counter. The shopkeeper smiled warmly at them before beginning to prepare their desserts, oblivious to the tension that still lingered between the two demon hunters despite their seemingly amicable demeanor.

She glanced down at her own clothes, spotted with blood and dirt from the battle. With a sigh, she allowed him to help clean her up, her expression softening slightly as she looked up at him once more. For now, peace was something she would embrace, however fleeting it might prove to be. Taking his handkerchief, she carefully wiped away the grime and gore, grateful for the opportunity to feel somewhat human again amidst all the chaos that surrounded them.

When they'd finished cleaning up, they sat down at the counter together, hands clasped beneath its surface as they perused the dessert menu together in silence. It was a strange sort of peace, but one she could learn to live with...for now.

Her eyebrows raised slightly in surprise as he told her this was his favorite restaurant. She hadn't expected them to have anything in common beyond their shared occupation. As he slowly fed her the dessert, she closed her eyes and savored the sweetness on her tongue, allowing herself a small smile of contentment. For now, in this quiet moment, they were just two people sharing a simple meal together - something that felt almost...normal.

But normalcy was fleeting in their world, and soon enough, the harsh realities would return to haunt them both. Until then, she would enjoy this brief respite from the darkness and try not to dwell on what it all meant for their future together. Or apart.

She looked up at him in surprise as he took off his shirt and put it on her shoulders. The gesture felt...oddly comforting. It was as if by allowing him to shelter her like this, she could forget the darkness they were both a part of for just a little while. But she knew better than to trust such feelings; they were nothing more than another tool in his arsenal of manipulation and control.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice still cold but with an undercurrent of gratitude that she couldn't quite repress. As he gently patted her head, a strange sensation came over her, making it difficult to focus on anything beyond the warmth emanating from his touch and the safety his presence seemed to offer, however fleeting. She knew this was all part of his plan, but for now, she could pretend otherwise.

Pretend that maybe, just maybe, there was

She hesitated for a moment before glancing up at him, their eyes meeting once more across the counter. Despite herself, she found it difficult to maintain her cold, emotionless mask around him. There was something about his presence that seemed to bring out feelings she'd long since thought buried deep within her. And as he fed her sweets and asked where they should go next, she wondered if there might be some truth to what he'd said earlier...about protecting her and not letting her lose anything again.

But she knew better than to trust those words. He was a manipulator, after all; his every action geared towards furthering his own agenda. So instead of dwelling on such thoughts, she focused on the task at hand: finding the next demon to hunt and stopping it before it could claim any more innocent lives. "There's been activity near the outskirts of town," she said finally, her voice

As they left the dessert shop and made their way towards the edge of town, she tried not to think about where this new lead might take them or what might happen once they reached their destination. Instead, she focused on the task at hand, following Murasaki's lead with unwavering determination. Even if he was using her feelings against her, there was no denying that his strength and experience made him an asset in their fight against darkness.

The outskirts of town were deserted and quiet when they arrived, the silence only accentuating the tension between them as they searched for any signs of demonic activity. It wasn't until a lone figure materialized from the shadows that Quanxi realized their prey had been found. Her heart raced with anticipation; soon enough, she would be able to test whether or not Murasaki's offer of protection was more than just empty words.

She blinked in surprise as he held up his hand to stop her, quickly glancing at the demon that had just appeared before them. Trusting him enough not to let it get past him, she nodded and waited for the fight to begin. As they engaged the demon together, moving in perfect synchronicity despite their differences, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of camaraderie with him. But that didn't mean she would let down her guard; not until she was certain she could trust him completely.

She didn't hesitate, following his lead as she dashed forward to deliver a powerful kick to the demon's chest before spinning back and readying her sword. The moment it turned towards her again, she swung with all her strength, the blade meeting its flesh with a satisfying crunch. Blood splattered across her face, but she didn't flinch as she pressed on, determined to end this fight quickly and cleanly.

Suddenly, something small and metallic hurtled through the air towards her eyes, forcing her to duck instinctively. As she rose back up, her vision clear again thanks to Murasaki's quick intervention, she saw him standing nearby with his hammer, a satisfied smile curving his lips as he watched her reaction. "You owe me one," he said casually before turning his attention back to the demon they were fighting.

Quanxi glanced at him

"Indeed," she murmured, wiping the blood off her sword with her free hand as she watched him expertly finish off their foe. His display of skill and strength left no room for doubt; he was a formidable opponent even without his unique abilities. She wondered what it must have been like for him before the demon hunters had taken away his hammer, forced to rely on less...conventional methods of combat.

As he turned back to face her once more, his tie straightened as if by magic, she couldn't help but feel a pang of curiosity about the nature of their relationship and what it all meant for them moving forward. For now though, there was still work to be done; demon hunts didn't simply end with the death of a single creature. They lurked in the shadows, waiting for their chance to strike again...and only she could stop them.

She blinked, taken aback by his gesture but not quite sure what to make of it. This was unfamiliar territory; no one had ever cared enough about her well-being before, at least not like this. Even still, she didn't let down her guard as he carefully wiped the blood from her body and face. Instead, she waited for him to finish, her expression neutral despite the conflict raging inside her mind.

Once he was done, he took a step back, his expression unreadable once more. The silence between them seemed to stretch on endlessly, each breath she took feeling somehow heavier than it should have been. Finally, unable to take it any longer, she spoke up. "Why are you doing this?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "What do you want from me?"

She eyed him warily as he handed her back the piece of candy, unable to shake the feeling that there was more going on beneath the surface. But even still, she couldn't deny the comfort and reassurance his presence seemed to bring her in this chaotic world filled with danger and death. For now, she would cling to that small sliver of hope and try not to dwell too much on the why or what it all meant for them both.

She hesitated for a moment before taking the offered candy. As she ate it, her eyes never leaving his face. "We should find a place where we can regroup and discuss our next move," she said carefully. "There are still many demons to hunt, and we shouldn't do it alone." She paused before adding, "If you truly want to protect me, then I need your help. But I must trust you first."

The words were out before she could second-guess them. Now it was up to him how he chose to respond.

She raised an eyebrow at his words but didn't reply immediately, unsure what to make of them. In the end, she decided it was best not to push her luck by pressing him further on the subject; for now, they would work together and see where that took them. As he picked up her sword and slung it over his shoulder as well, she felt a strange sense of camaraderie bloom between them. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was hope for their unlikely alliance after all...