Ariel - Sirius The Jaeger - 1215 Fanfiction

Episode 2

It's been about a month since I official joined Willard's squad. Philip and I never spoke of that night when he played for me and he saw me cry. In fact, after that night things got better instead of worse for me. I began to think better of myself, and I was laughing with the others on the good days - which were far more often than the bad days.
"Ariel!" Philip called out, "We got word for a mission in Xang Hi!! Apparently, they'll even be royals at the party!"
"Royals?" I mumbled in thought, "Sounds like it'll be a bit more interesting this time."
"You know it!" Philip smirked and I smiled lightly as I gazed at his eyes while he looked at my journal, a portrait of myself sketched at the bottom corner beneath a small letter, "Hey, is that-"
"Philip, can I ask a favour?"
"Huh?"
"Would you... take me out to do some sight seeing? Since we're leaving tonight and I've never been to London before, and I've been kind of cooped up. Since you're a local..."
"Well we got tons of time before tonight. It'll be great! I've already got a place in mind- you'll love it!" He grinned jumping up from his chair I quickly grabbed my jacket as I followed him out the door, slipping past Fallon and Dorothea.
"Where do you two think you're going?" Dorothea called after us.
"Sight seeing!" I called back.
"Alright! Just don't lose track of time!"

I grinned as Philip led me around all the tourist attractions, and he took me into every store that I wanted to go into no matter how much he seemed to be annoyed with the idea. I didn't want to annoy him too much so I made sure not to take up too much time, and later that day I ended up dragging him around instead of him leading me.
"Look, Philip!"
"Huh? What is it?" He turned from our walk towards a café and blinked when I pointed to an ice cream stand, "You... want ice cream?"
"Yes, but, I didn't bring any money with me." I pulled out a few coins in yen, "And I don't think they take Japanese currency."
Philip sighed, "Of course they don't take Japanese currency. Come on, put that away, I'll pay for you."
"Thank you so much!" You grinned, bowing to him out of habit, he stiffened, waving his hands in the air and yelling at me to stop because it was embarrassing or something.
I just smiled lightly and followed him over to the stand, where I told him which one I wanted and he bought two cones, handing me my mint chocolate chip, the two of us ignored how our fingers brushed together.
"I can't believe you like that." Philip commented, leaning forward on the bench we had found to sit on. He took a bite out of his vanilla.
"And I can't believe you chew your ice cream." I shrugged.
He choked, "I do not!"
I snorted, laughing at how quick he was to react. He grumbled something under his breath and turned back away from me, going back to his ice cream in an angry silence.
I sat quietly eating for a while after that, enjoying the break you had before we left for our Xang Hi expedition. For now, we seemed like normal teenagers on a date, but when the sun sets and the moon takes over we'll be jaegers once again.
I stared up at the changing colours of the sky, reminiscing in the way it was somehow so different from the sunset in Japan. I would have blood on my blades again, blood on my hands and maybe a drop on my cloths, even if I was being careful. Soon, I would go back to being who I was meant to be, with no sights on revenge. Nothing but trying to be faster, better, stronger, with a hidden hope for approval from my parents.
Except, they were only ever around when I messed up.
"Hey, Philip?" I began, licking my lips as I finished my cone.
"Yeah?" He asked, his head back and his eyes closed as he rested.
"We're running out of time."
He sighed, "Yeah, I know." Grunting, he stood and stretched before turning back to me, "Coming?"
I nodded, following him through the streets as the colour faded and the street lights began to flicker on.

-

When Yuliy sprung forward, I didn't hesitate to follow, wanting in on the action before he took it all for himself. I wanted to fight along side him, and be as agile and skilled as he was one day. I was still young, but I'd been raised in this organization kind of like Yuliy was. He's been training for the longest in close combat and blade wielding, and I hated to admit that I looked up to him more than I should.
I jumped down, my teeth clenched as my stomach flipped at the sudden drop. I twisted my body and slammed the side of my case into the closest vampires head, doing a small shoulder flip to steady my landing, I opened my case and threw up my two swords, gripping the handles as I sprinted into battle with Yuliy.
It was over quickly, but we had completely missed the royals that were supposed to be here.
"Incredible skill as always, Yuliy."
"You as well, Ariel, I was really impressed." Yuliy gave me a light smile as Philip headed over and I couldn't help but smile.
"Yuliy!" Philip growled, gripping onto the boys collar, "What is wrong with you?! Do you want to die?!"
"Well, you have to admit, I did pretty well."
Philip's eye brow twitched in annoyance and he let go of Yuliy with a scoff, "Moron!" He sighed, "And you!" He pointed at me and I stiffened, "What were you thinking running on after him! You could have gotten hurt too!"
My eyes narrowed and my guard shot up, a defense mechanism that I found I created for myself for anyone who began to treat me like my mother, "But I didn't, so back off!"
He blinked, shocked at my quick retort, before he seemed to realize something and then did as told, turning to the others with a sigh to go over our next move. I was in a daze, though, and wondered if I should apologize for snapping at Philip - he wasn't my mother and he wasn't anything like her at all, and after he took me out just yesterday and bought me ice cream, I could have at least apologized for worrying him.
He isn't my mother, he's not like her. He would never say the things she would.
"You alright, Ariel?" Yuliy asked, and I looked up to see the others heading out of the ball room.
"Yeah... I think so." I frowned, "Do you think Philip's mad at me?"
He smiled lightly, as if completely understanding my worry and where it came from, "I'm sure he's not, don't worry about it. But if it would make you feel better, a small apology never hurts anyone."
I nodded, "Thank you, Yuliy."
Thank you for being the big brother I never had, someone who notices me and encourages me instead of ignoring me and putting me down.

-

The next day, Philip blabbered on about our day in London and all the places he showed me, an obvious boast showing everyone how much I fueled his ego for relying on him and repeatedly complimenting his home land and praising him for all that he had done for me.
"Awe~" Dorothea suddenly began, "You guys are so cute. Sounds like you had a fun first date huh?"
"F-f-first date?! What- no-no-no." Philip shook his head, holding up a finger, "It was not a date."
"Sure sounds like it." Willard commented, eyes not leaving his book.
"Yeah, you mentioned Ariel's name every second word, it's like you're obsessed." Dorothea laughed at her thoughts, "Did you dream about the date too? I didn't know just one person was capable of making Philip feel happiness."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?! You don't know anything!"
"Alright, alright jeez, calm down."
"I found it quite cute as well." Yuliy put on a tiny smile, raising his hand to join in on the conversation, "It's clear you both had a lot of fun."
"You can keep your mouth shut, no one likes a dog who barks." Philip growled, a light blush on his face.
It was clear now he was getting really frustrated with the whole ordeal. He glanced back at me, and I shrugged lightly, sure there was a blush of my own. There was nothing I could do to shut them up, especially when I thought it was cute too.
Then, Philip was rendered speechless and out of insults as everyone began to tease us for being a 'cute couple', and I suppose it really did sound like he was in love with me.
"Philip and Ariel huh? How cute!" Fallon laughed boldly and I blinked in shock.
"Shut up Fallon!" Philip barked, struggling to keep the large mans hand away from his head, "And how many times do I have to tell you not to touch my hair! You big idiot!"
I blushed at the thought of it, smiling lightly as I turned away. I wouldn't mind it at all, loving you. I thought, staring out at the rising sun, a crow flew by all on it's lonesome over the beaches edge just a few yards away from the docks we all stood on.
"One crow... misfortune and death." I whispered.
"What was that, Ariel?" Yuliy asked.
I turned to smile at him, "Oh nothing, sorry, I was just talking to myself."
"Alright." He turned back to his book and I to the view outside. My smile faded and I stared hard at the brightly coloured sky.
This brings me an uneasy feeling...