Nanbaka: The Ex

A Year and a Half Later

Momoko looked over the reports and pictures of guards, 15 guards in the past 18 months have been attacked all with the same story. In the middle of their night shift, a mysterious shadow-like figure appears out of nowhere and the last thing they see is glowing purple eyes before waking up in the infirmary. After months of interviews, piles of paperwork, and hours of security footage she finally made a connection.

In the meeting room, she was the last to walk in, she handed a folder full of the reports to each of the supervisors. "I know it's been a long and infuriating investigation, but I finally made a connection to where we can find this mysterious attacker."

"Excellent," Kiji flipped through the reports, "where can we find them?"

"The attacker seems to be hiding in Building 5," Momoko placed both hands on the table, "Supervisor Hakki, have you seen anything strange."

"No, I can't say I have." Inori rubbed his neck. "I apologize Warden, but I can't help."

"I know someone who can," Hajime scoffed. "He knows every inch of that building like the back of his hand."

"Really now?" Kiji looked up from the files amused.

"If we're thinking of the same person, and most likely we are. It wouldn't be a terrible idea to contact him." Kenshirou put his folder down.

Samon and Nuan lived in a nice neighborhood on the outskirts of a big city in China. Progress had been made since they left Nanba, over a year ago, Samon took a job as a trainer. Nuan started seeking more therapy and support groups to help overcome the Number 40 attacks. Their marriage is stronger than it was when they left; they're happy and more in love than ever.

Samon was taking a morning walk through the park with a plastic bag in hand, it was a beautiful day, with no clouds, and the trees provided enough shade on a warm spring day. Samon wore a dark green button-up shirt with rolled sleeves, a thin gold necklace, jeans, and white tennis shoes.

Samon pulled the ringing phone out of his pocket. "Hello?"

"Samon," Momoko replied, "how have you been?"

"I've been good," Samon nodded, "busy, but good."

"I apologize, but I need your help with something," Momoko continued. "There's been a serious number of guards being attacked. I have suspicions to believe that the attacker is in Building 5. Would you be willing to return the Nanba to help the supervisors with the investigation?"

Samon stopped in his tracks. "That's it? Just an investigation? Nothing else?"

"I promise." Momoko vowed, "I know this is sudden and unexpected, I'll give you some time to think it over."

Momoko hung up the phone.

"Shit," Samon muttered to himself. "How am I going to tell Nuan?"

Samon and Nuan lived in a beautiful two-floored house with a backyard, Samon turned into a beautiful garden. Various flowers, all in various colors lined the garden's fencing giving it color and life, a fresh green lawn; in one of the back corners of the garden was a gazebo with a stone path that led to the back door of their home and the fence gate.

Nuan was under the gazebo that was in the back corner of the garden, wearing a paint-covered shirt and overalls as she painted chairs. When she felt and hand on her back followed by a kiss on her head.

"Hey, you," Nuan looked at her husband sitting on the gazebo floor beside her. "Where did you go?"

"I thought my honey could you use a drink." Samon pulled out a canned iced coffee from the bag.

"You're too sweet." Nuan kissed the corner of his mouth.

"Least I could do," Samon pulled out a different can from the bag, "You made this house a home."

Nuan wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. "It wouldn't be home without you."

Samon took the opportunity to close the gap between them and kissed Nuan. Nuan slowly pulled away from him before going back to painting with a smile.

"I got a call while I was out," Samon stated.

"Who was it?" Nuan hummed, half listening.

"Nanba," Samon said.

Nuan whipped her back with a look of shock and disbelief. She didn't need to say anything for Samon to know what she was thinking.

"I was just as shocked as you." Samon crossed his arms. "Still am, actually."

"What were they calling about?" Nuan put down the paintbrush.

"Building 5 has had some shady activity with a mystery attacker, and they want me to help them investigate," Samon explained the situation.

"Oh," Nuan looked away, "have you decided if you're going."

"Only on one condition," Samon took her hand, "if you go with me."

"What?" Nuan looked at him in disbelief. "Samon, you can't be serious about this, you're asking me to--"

"I know," Samon lightly squeezed her hand, "but I can't go back there, knowing you're not there with me. We went through it once, I can't a second time, even if it is for a short while."

He softly kissed her hand. "If something were to happen to you again, I would never forgive myself. That thought scares me now more than ever, now that we--"

"Hey," Nuan used her other hand to cup his cheek, "it's going to be okay. I'll go with you, but you do know what this means right?"

"I do," Samon nodded, "I'll call the warden back, and let her know we need someone arrangement made."

Samon kissed her hand before getting up and leaving to make the phone call. Nuan took a deep shaky breath, once Samon was out of her sight. The idea of going back to Nanba terrified her, the environment stressed her to the point of false visions and nightmares.

"It'll be fine." Nuan began to calm herself down. "Nothing will happen to us in danger."

As much as those words wanted to bring her ease, Nuan couldn't shake the feeling.