Epiphany. [Guren Ichinose x Reader] ➥ Book 2. [Semi-hiatus]

Epiphany ~ Chapter 26.

-Guren's POV-
I didn't know whether I should be pleasantly surprised that I wasn't stuck in a room full of elitists or even more displeased at the fact that it was a one to one with the worst of them all.

Kureto Hiragi was apparently arriving at Shinjuku and so I waited for him in my car; it seemed that I had arrived at the right time as I heard a knock on the glass. I found him standing there with his arms crossed, so I rolled the window down,

"What is it?"

"Get out." He ordered,

"Why can't you just tell me what you want from there?"

He sneered, "Hah! Have you forgotten who you're talking to."

I rolled my eyes and got out of the car, although wasn't surprised at the hint of superiority once again being brought up, "Tsk."

He ignored me before turning to his own men, "We'll be leaving soon." He confirmed and they bowed slightly before returning to the military trucks,

"Hm, are you not staying here?"

"No, I plan to go to Shibuya to report back to father on the progress we've made." He emphasised the 'we' making me raise an eyebrow, although I chose not to question nor refute it,

"Who would've thought even in this day and age Lord Kureto still seeks daddy dearest's praise?" I sarcastically chuckled,

He chortled along, "I mean, you wouldn't understand considering yours isn't around anymore, right?"

"Hah..." I scoffed at him, I found it gutsy of him to bring up my late father considering how he was the main cause of his death,

"Besides, you should praise me too, the Seraph Of The End is finally complete." He changed the subject,

"But you killed your own men for it."

"For the advancement of humanity, they were worth the sacrifice." He turned to me, "Besides you killed your comrades too; I believe you saw it's benefits too."

I narrowed my eyes at him, and he laughed, enjoying getting onto my nerves,

"I'm sure you're dying for me to get to what I called you here for." He nodded, "Soon enough I'll be the head of the Hiragi clan."

"Why? Is your father ill?"

"No, he's as healthy as can be."

"So what you're implying is that you're going to have him killed." I leaned against the car,

"Father is no longer fit to be the head of the Hiragi clan, he is now too weak." He explained himself,

"And how do you plan on doing that with your father's power influence." I naturally folded my arms now intrigued with his plan,

"20% of the soldiers are already on my side."

"Just 20%." I gave him a skeptical look, "Regardless you're going to be killing a lot of people again."

"Not as many; humanity needs as many people for the fight against the vampires." He paused, "That's where you come in. All I ask of you is to help me."

I smirked, "And what if I'm part of the 80%."

He shot me an incredulous look before guffawing, "Are you joking?"

I cocked my head to the side, waiting for what he would say to that,

"Haven't you always wanted to kill a Hiragi and free yourself from the master-slave bond?"

"You're a Hiragi after all." I shrugged,

"Yes, even though I am your master I also view you as a very valuable comrade." He tried to appeal to me, but I just blinked at him with a blank stare, "How about now?"

"So what do you want from me?" I asked, "Don't betray me? Is that what you're asking."

He nodded, "Precisely. In that case if you agree, we should begin."

I chuckled before nodding, as he walked away,

He suddenly turned around, "Oh, by the way, Guren."

I turned to face him, "What?"

"I want you to convince Shinya, we'll need more people like him." He turned back to his driver,

I sighed, this was about to get a lot harder.

~•~

I knocked on Shinya's office door,

"Who is it?" He called, his voice somewhat cheery,

"It's me."

It was silent for a bit before I heard footsteps and the door opened,

"Hm? What is it?" He cocked his head to the side,

"I need to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"It's kinda confidential."

He nodded, widening the door and stepping aside to let me in,

"This is going to annoy you." I mumbled,

"Just say it."

"Kureto is going to kill Tenri."

His eyes widened slightly, before he gained his composure again, "Oh really, and why is this coming from you?"

"He wants me to convince you to be on his side."

"Well he couldn't have asked a worse person." Shinya chuckled, before walking up to his desk and sitting on it, "Well, how do you plan on convincing me?" he eyed me, clearly amused,

I thought for a while, "Hey, wanna help Kureto kill your father?"

Shinya laughed, a genuine laugh, "Of course, only you would convince someone like that."

"Well? Will you?" I raised an eyebrow,

"Will you tell me at least why you agreed?"

"In all honesty, I dislike Kureto a little less than I do Tenri."

"We can all agree with that, I guess." he sighed, "Say, how's the black eye?" He smirked,

"How's the busted lip?" I shot back with a sly smile,

He nodded, "Got me there." He huffed, "I thought about it."

"Thought about what?"

"Why you're always keeping secrets." His eyes became sad, "There's something you can't tell us is there?"

I was quiet, nodding slowly as a pang of guilt hit me,

He nodded, "Fine. We all have secrets right?" He shrugged,

"It's not as if I don't want to tell you-" I tried to explain myself but he cut me off,

"I get it. Sorry for giving you that ass whooping of your life." He put his hand out,

"Oh please, if anything I handed your ass to you."

"As if!" He laughed, "Did you see the state of yourself?"

Shinya now knew of the plan, and luckily it was easier to ask of him that than I thought; but most importantly I had made up with the person I considered my best friend.