Chapter 1

This is a one-shot MichiruxShirou BNA fanfic.

These characters are from the anime/manga BNA(brand new animal) and I do not own them. Trigger owns the rights to BNA.

This story takes place after Alan's defeat, sometime after the events following Season 1, Episode 12.

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Michiru leaned on the railing outside of her room, atop the roof of the Beastman Co-op building. A breeze whipped blue locks across her brown, furry forehead and ran away with a sigh that escaped the downturned mouth of the pensive tanuki girl.

Her heavy-lidded gaze swept the dark city, glittering with lights and reflections, with stars and water, as she sank her face deeper into her hands, her elbows bracing herself against the rail. She was dressed as usual, a sporty red jacket over her tank-top-shorts combo, the whites of her sneakers shining against the glow of the outside sensored lights that suddenly flashed on at a movement.

Teal eyes opened a little wider, but Michiru stood still, looking ahead.

"Hey Shirou."

"... You're so sure it's me?" Replied a gruff but friendly voice out of the glow that suddenly lit up the rooftop.

"Well... it would be pretty scary if it wasn't, at this hour," Michiru shrugged as she pushed herself off of the rail and turned to look at the too-young-looking owner of the deep voice.

Shirou walked closer to join her at the rail, his alabaster skin and pale hair bright against the dark background of Anima City. His gloved hands were buried within the pockets of his billowing tan trench coat, giving away nothing of the human physique that was hidden beneath black clothing. His odd, blue-green eyes locked with large teal ones and crinkled in a rare, small smile.

Both leaning their backs against the rail at a conversationally close distance, they looked at the sky.

Every night, since the night Michiru had silently dubbed "The Night of Alan's Defeat" - when Shirou thoroughly thrashed the former CEO, along with his plans to wipe Japan and the planet of "mix-breed" beastmen by forcibly turning them human - Japanese helicopters occupied Anima City airspace, despite the peace agreement established by both governments. 'A necessary surveillance' until Nirvasyl Sydrome was completely eradicated, according to the human Japanese government as well as their allies across the globe.

Creation of the serum obtained from Michiru and Nazuna was only the first step in establishing a vaccination protocol for beastmen worldwide. Despite Mayor Barbara Rose's best efforts to contain the spread of news concerning Nirvasyl Syndrome, the Japanese government had contacted their allies shortly after the successful administration of the serum to Anima City residents, hoping to profit from the expected demand of the antidote and secure leverage against Mayor Rose and the rights of beastman.

The Japanese prime minister was forthright with his hatred of beastmen after admitting to conspiring with Sylvasta Pharmaceuticals and continued to dangle political threats over Anima City's residents' rights, should Mayor Rose not fully cooperate.

The helicopters, though their numbers had thinned somewhat in recent weeks, irritated Michiru and kept her awake. She was already in the process of changing rooms to avoid the nightly clamor, despite her preference for the solace of the rooftop.

Gloomily, she ackowledged a passing thought, "Humans ruin everything..." before letting it get swept away in the growing wind.

She didn't really believe that, but she'd heard it enough that it began to become something of an earworm that echoed in the recesses of her mind as political tensions rose and as Shirou's identity and job became more nuanced. He was a beastman of action and hated being drawn into negotiations with humans, which was happening more and more frequently. It was actually becoming rare for Michiru to see Shirou without him rushing off somewhere or meeting with someone and she found herself missing his company and their brief, awkward conversations between assignments.

"Tomorrow finally ends their occupation," grumbled Shirou, face still turned up at the sky in an unfocused glare.

Michiru's head whipped around to look incredulously at the serious beastman, jaw slack. "No way!"

"Way," he smirked as he met her gaze, pulling a gloved hand out to offer her a small candy, a gesture she found touching. She took the candy, gratefully, opening it and popping it into her mouth as she smiled back at him.

"Thanks Shirou. For the candy... not the helicopters. Well... thanks for that too, I guess...?"

Now she didn't know what to do. She'd have to cancel the move in the morning. She could stay on the roof! The thought dawned on her like morning sunshine and, suddenly, the cloud hanging over her lifted. She'd be able to sleep soundly again!

"Well, it has nothing to do with you," he snorted but stopped when he saw bliss radiating from the tanuki girl. He blinked, reconsidering his words, "... but I'm glad that we're finally rid of their incessant noise..." he finished, uncertainly.

"Heck yes! Thanks for letting me know, Shirou! I can still keep my room!" Michiru sighed happily.