Hunter, Hunter (A Love and Deepspace FANFIC)

Chapter 2: Sleep Wake

"You shouldn't be here at this hour." He said while helping me pick up my thrashed-out bike. There was nothing to save. A sigh escapes from me. "This was... well, used to be my brother's bike."

"Wait..." He goes to make a phone call. He rakes his hair with his free hand. His silver hair looked like some hue of orangish yellow due to incandescent streetlights.

"Linkon City is not that far away from here. If you want..."

"No. I have come so far and fought wanderers, not just to go back." For once I thought of taking his offer but then it won't really be me or something I would do.

He curses under his breath. "Do you have any final wishes?" No matter how he tries to scare me, I stand my ground. "If I was scared of death, I won't have joined this line of work."

"Fair enough." He passes me a helmet. "But..." I pointed at my bike. "I have taken care of that." He smirked. I grabbed my bag pack and followed his lead, secretly hoping that the contents inside are safe.

"You can call me Qin Che." He said as I sat behind him. "And don't go around telling people your occupation... it's for your safety." He glanced back at me.

The heavy rain has turned into soft drizzle. We passed streets after streets. His wet skin felt warm under my fingertips. I sucked a deep breath. Focus... what if he is the guy I have been searching for?

I could hear him chuckle. "How does your Onychinus Leader look like?" "I heard he's cruel looking but no one in my department has actually seen him." I replied.

"By the way, you are from N109 Zone how come you have never seen him?" I ask him. "Ah...I don't know. From what I have heard he meets only special people."

Next few moments of the drive we were silent till we reached a two-story apartment. I gasped at its size. "Did you like it?" He raised his eyebrows. "It's..." I paused unable to find words to describe it. "You didn't have to." I added. "It's pretty late, and staying in hotels here might me risky." He looked nervous.

He led me inside the house. "You can retire in that guest room as long as you like." He opened the door and its pretty big room to be just a guest room. I looked back at him gesturing towards the state I'm in.

"Wait, I'll get you some toiletries." He disappeared into another hallway leaving me stranded in the huge guestroom. I couldn't dare to sit on the white plush armchair or the bed.

He arrived quite quickly than I anticipated. "I hope I got you all necessary things." He told while handing me a big box. Suddenly there was a knock outside his door.

He brought a parcel. "Here, I got you some clothes."

"How did you get them at this hour?"

"N109 Zone is awake when Linkon City sleeps."

(Sylus P.O.V.)

She was right, I didn't have to. But I did anyways.

I turned the shower. The cold water hitting my tense muscles. I lather my well shampooed hair still thinking about the earlier encounter. I have nothing to hide from her. Even if she knows what I do, it's not that I'd change my way of lifestyle.

I sigh. It's not my first lifetime with her but every lifetime it ends in melancholy. It's better I keep my distance from her.

I would have been better if I had dropped her off at some hotel. But she has aether core to her heart, She'd get hunted alone here. Doing that would not solve the saving purpose.

I groan in frustration. Cold shower doesn't help as my cock twitch even at the thought of her. I slap it to calm down.

I quicky dry myself and change into some comforting lounge wear. My hair is unfortunately still dripping. I gently knock on her door. No response.

I quietly open her door to take a quick peek. She is deep in slumber and softly snoring. It must be a long day for her.

I tip-toe in search of hair dryer. My eye scanned through the room in dim light. I accidently step on her notebook. Interesting.

I finally found the hair dryer. I sneak both the hair dryer and notebook back into my room.

'Accident caused by protocore' grabs my attention as I skim through her notes. I clutch my fist. This can either mean it is really an accident or something very sinister is happening they're using this accident to cover up.

I click pictures of few pages and send it to Luke and Kieran.

Being treated as lab rat by own family is despicable. But she still deeply adores her grandmother.

She suddenly jolts awake while I was placing her notebook on the bedside table.

"Good morning." I greet her. "Eh, it is morning already." She yawns while rubbing her eyes. "You can sleep for a while, till I make breakfast." I tell her. She yawns again then nods and dozes off.

I forage my fridge to find my needed ingredients. French toast with granola and orange juice seems fitting for today. Thankfully I had asked the twins to stock up the pantry here few days ago.

"Do you make breakfast for every stranger you pick up from the street?" She was leaning on the doorframe, her hair pulled into a messy bun.

Silly girl, not everyone is you.

"Well, it's rare for rookie hunter to come here. Take it as celebration for being alive after all everyone is not hospitable in N109 Zone." I said as I got the table ready.

"You're saying as if people would hunt a hunter down here."

"Trust me, they will."

It makes me wonder if she knows her heart is embedded with prized Ather Core. Her heart would get sold for millions if not billions.

I exhaled loudly. "After breakfast, I can give a tour for black market here." As I mentioned black market, her eyes lit up.

"Are you searching for anything in particular?" I asked carefully.

"Modified protocores." She replied as she took a sip of the orange juice. "Is it for any particular mission that they gave it to a rookie?"

"It's not for mission." She sighed. "I'm doing this all by myself."