Caved

[Word Count: 2521]

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"Quite the pickle I've found myself in," Leo thought to himself.

Finding himself back at the interrogation room of the police station after being spotted using a devil contract, Leo found himself in a bad spot.

Currently, Leo was locked in a room with the cream-haired woman, she stood menacingly in front of the door making eye contact with her left eye.

If push came to shove, Leo had already marked her along with the man looking in through the one-way mirror. Knowing what he knew, it was incredibly unlikely that Leo could match either of the two in speed much less raw strength. The only one Leo could take out reliably would be the man behind the mirror.

Having his fingers at the ready. Letting the situation play out would be the best course of action.

Covering his right eye, Leo made proper eye contact with the cream-haired lady. It was better than going cross-eyed staring at her one eye with his two eyes.

Her expression never changed as Leo used his right hand to cover his right eye, all that was left was to wait and see.

Behind the one-way mirror, the man with black hair stood, occasionally taking sips from his flask as his gaze remained fixed on Leo. He contemplated silently, weighing his options on how to deal with the situation involving the kid.

Prior to their encounter, he and his partner had been on the trail of a troublesome devil wreaking havoc in a small neighborhood. Killing it had proven to be somewhat troublesome, as the devil exhibited remarkable flexibility, sacrificing body parts and employing its ropes as a shield. They found themselves chasing the rope devil through several blocks until they believed they had it cornered in an abandoned building.

In a desperate bid to escape, the rope devil coiled its ropes tightly around itself before violently slamming them onto the ground, propelling itself further into town. The two partners exchanged a glance before pursuing it relentlessly.

The rope devil crash-landed on a five-story building, fortunately, devoid of occupants. Unfortunately, their hopes were dampened when they heard the devil's cry for "Food!" indicating the presence of a civilian nearby. They swiftly made their way toward the devil, not out of concern for the civilian's safety, but rather to prevent the rope devil from consuming them, which would have nullified the progress they had made thus far.

As they threw themselves at the lunging devil, an unexpected turn of events unfolded. The devil suddenly ignited in flames, emitting a piercing scream of agony before succumbing to its injuries and finally meeting its demise.

Gazing at the fallen devil, the two devil hunters followed the trajectory from which it had lunged. Standing in that path was a ten-year-old boy with black hair, pointing at the lifeless form of the rope devil.

The woman with cream-colored hair, known as Quanxi, wasted no time drawing her firearm and taking aim at the boy. Fortunately for Leo, Quanxi's partner, Kishibe, subtly redirected her arm, causing the bullet to miss the boy by a narrow margin.

Without glancing at Kishibe or questioning his intervention, Quanxi holstered her weapon. Leo, now aware of the bullet that had narrowly missed him, turned to locate the source, spotting the two devil hunters positioned on the rooftop.

And so, their paths had converged, bringing them to the present moment, with Leo and Quanxi locked in a tense standoff within the interrogation room.

Under normal circumstances, Kishibe and Quanxi would have swiftly apprehended Leo upon discovering his devil contract and handed him over to Public Safety. However, Kishibe had a different plan in mind.

Aware of the consequences if Public Safety got hold of Leo, Kishibe didn't want to unleash another emotionless puppet upon the world, particularly

after witnessing the red-haired girl's existence. He pondered the odds of this situation, taking another swig from his flask.

Given the unique circumstances, Leo was granted one phone call, which he used to contact his mother. Kishibe saw this as an opportunity to gain insight into the person who had taken Leo under their wing. Regardless of their character, Kishibe knew he needed to keep a close watch on Leo.

"The kid's devil contract is no joke," Kishibe mused internally.

Leo appeared surprisingly unfazed after banishing a devil back to hell. Typically, devil contracts involved a give and take, yet Leo didn't exhibit any signs of loss or pain following the use of his contract. It was entirely possible that Leo had made the contract without understanding the true price he had to pay.

Investigating what exactly Leo had given up for his devil contract would be necessary for Kishibe. But at the moment, he couldn't help but acknowledge the similarities between the black boy standing before him and the red-haired girl, particularly in their nonchalant approach to killing.

"Which side are you on, Leo?" Kishibe muttered, contemplating the future and the decisions that lay ahead.

As Kishibe contemplated the future, Yuki finally arrived at the police station. Fearing an emergency involving Leo, she had chosen not to go to the office and instead wore a more casual outfit—a dark long-sleeve turtleneck, light-colored jeans, and heeled boots.

Accompanied by her trusted lawyer, Shiro, Yuki entered the interrogation viewing room. Upon seeing Leo on the other side of the mirror, she couldn't help but wonder if this would become a common occurrence. However, her relief washed over her as she realized Leo was unharmed. Observing him more closely, she noticed he was covering his right eye and gazing intently at the corner of the room.

Taking a closer look, Yuki noticed the cream-haired woman, Quanxi, staring back at Leo with her one visible eye. Yuki fought back a smile, amused by Leo's presence in such a situation. "This boy," she thought with a hint of irritation.

Shaking off her amusement, Yuki turned to Shiro and asked, "So, what are the chances?"

Shiro shook his head dejectedly. "Not good," he replied. "Devil contracts made outside of Public Safety are punishable by death. Realistically, there's no way we can get Leo out of this situation."

Yuki placed her hand on the one-way mirror, staring sadly at Leo, who continued his unwavering gaze at Quanxi.

Suddenly, Kishibe, who had been ignored since Yuki and Shiro entered the room, made his presence known.

"Which side are you on?" Kishibe asked, startling Yuki. She clutched her chest in panic, looking around the room before finally spotting Kishibe.

Calming her breathing, Yuki let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry, who are you?" she asked.

Kishibe reached into his suit jacket and pulled out his wallet, presenting his credentials. "Kishibe, Public Safety Devil Hunter," he answered.

Yuki glanced at Kishibe's credentials, unimpressed, before turning to Shiro and shrugging.

Stepping forward, Shiro adjusted his glasses and squinted as he examined the ID. After a moment, he nodded at Yuki, who reciprocated the gesture.

"Alright then, Kishibe. I'm Yuki Tsukumo. Could you repeat your earlier question?" Yuki asked politely.

Kishibe put his wallet away and repeated his question. "Humans or devils; which side are you on?"

Yuki rested her hand on her chin, pondering the question, with Leo's image lingering in her thoughts. After contemplating for a while, she came to a decisive conclusion.

"Whatever side Leo is on," Yuki answered resolutely. Contract or no contract, devil or no devil, the specifics didn't matter. Yuki had already made up her mind to take care of Leo through thick and thin. He was an Tsukumo now, and she considered him her responsibility.

Kishibe remained unfazed by Yuki's declaration, merely giving her a brief glance before shifting his attention back to Leo.

"Under normal circumstances, Leo would have been condemned for illegally making a devil contract," Kishibe stated plainly, much to Yuki's displeasure. "But these circumstances are far from normal, aren't they?"

Yuki regarded Kishibe skeptically. "What are you implying?" she asked.

Kishibe explained, "There are two possible outcomes. First, we eliminate Leo."

"And the other?" Yuki inquired.

"We legalize Leo's contract," Kishibe revealed.

"That's impossible," Shiro interjected. "Only Public Safety Devil Hunters are allowed contracts."

Kishibe turned to Shiro and simply said, "Then we make Leo a devil hunter."

"What!" Yuki exclaimed, raising her voice. "You can't make Leo a devil hunter. He's too young."

"He will undergo training, but he has the potential to become a devil

hunter," Kishibe explained.

"Everyone has the potential to become a devil hunter," Yuki protested. "He's far too young to be hunting devils."

"He can," Kishibe stated firmly, cutting Yuki off. "How do you think we found out he had a contract in the first place?"

This revelation caught Yuki off guard.

Kishibe continued, "Before we encountered him, we were already pursuing a devil attempting to escape. As it fled, it ran into Leo and tried to consume him to regain strength. But before it could, it spontaneously combusted, leaving behind nothing but a charred corpse."

Yuki was taken aback by this surprising revelation.

"If you're concerned about his safety, don't be. I won't throw Leo to the wolves without proper preparation. He will undergo thorough training before he goes hunting devils again," Kishibe assured, addressing Yuki's concerns before making his way out the door.

After Kishibe exited the room, leaving Yuki and Shiro behind, Shiro contemplated the plan that had been presented. "It could work," he said thoughtfully. "But it will have to be done discreetly. Leo would have to become a devil hunter in the future if he wants to avoid dire consequences."

Yuki let out a long sigh, realizing that Leo's summer break had taken an unexpected turn. One moment, he was happily relaxing on the couch, and the next, he found himself with a devil contract, facing the possibility of execution.

"Never a dull day," Yuki muttered, forcing a smile.

Turning her attention back to the interrogation room, Leo had stopped gazing at Quanxi since she had already left, and he now focused his gaze on the door.

As Yuki exited the viewing room, she was surprised to find only Reiji waiting outside. She scanned the area, but Kishibe and the cream-haired woman were nowhere to be seen.

Curious, she silently inquired about their whereabouts, and Reiji responded with a shrug. "The guy said you seemed sensible enough to make the right choice. He mentioned swinging by your apartment to pick up Leo," Reiji explained.

Yuki's eyebrow twitched as she clenched her teeth. Taking a deep breath, she pointed towards the interrogation room, indicating her intentions. Understanding the message, Reiji opened the door, allowing Yuki to enter.

Observing Yuki as she entered the interrogation room, Leo noticed a sense of agitation emanating from her. As she took a seat across from him, Yuki closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, her agitation hadn't subsided.

"I'm in deep shit, aren't I?" Leo asked, feeling somewhat nervous.

"Language," Yuki responded.

"Yup... I'm definitely in deep shit," Leo thought, noticing Yuki's eyebrow twitch.

An uneasy silence hung in the room, stretching on for what felt like an eternity. Yuki gazed at the ceiling above Leo as she tried to regain her composure. Placing her hands on the table, she interlocked her fingers and covered her mouth with them.

After a while, Yuki managed to calm herself, but she remained silent, lost in her thoughts as she continued staring at the ceiling.

Yuki trembled slightly, tightening her grip on her interlocked fingers before finally releasing a deep breath.

Suddenly, Yuki stood up from her chair and motioned for Leo to follow. He reached out and took her hand as usual, but he noticed her grip was tighter than usual.

Leading Leo out of the room, Yuki knocked on the door, and Reiji opened it for them.

The rest of the night proceeded as usual, but Yuki seemed slightly off, displaying an unusual quietness that caught Leo's attention.

When they finally reached Yuki's apartment, Leo barely had a chance to take a step away from the door before he felt Yuki embracing him from behind.

For a few minutes, silence enveloped them as Yuki pulled Leo down to the ground, her arms tightly wrapped around his neck.

"It's you, isn't it," Yuki mumbled into Leo's hair. "Shouzou may be crafty, but he's not this crafty."

Leo understood what she meant. Shouzou had confessed to his actions, and it seemed that tonight was enough for Yuki to connect the dots.

"Yeah..." Leo breathed out softly.

Yuki's grip tightened slightly. "Shouzou said he would keep his hands dirty, so mine could stay clean. What did he mean by that? W-Why would he need to dirty his hands, L-Leo?"

Yuki's voice trembled, and her words came out in broken fragments.

"Not everyone shares your dream," Leo replied gently.

The apartment fell into a heavy silence, interrupted only by Yuki's occasional sniffles as she quietly cried into Leo's hair.

The methods being used, the methods Shouzou, or rather Leo, was employing went completely against what Yuki desired. She had come to terms with the fact that not everything could be resolved peacefully, but Leo's approach to solving the problem involved eliminating it altogether.

"H-How l-long? H-How long h-have you had that contract?" Yuki choked out between sobs.

"Since I arrived in Tokyo," Leo answered.

Regret. That's what Leo's heart told him to feel, but he couldn't. Not everyone

deserved a second chance, including himself. Even though he had acted with the best intentions, he had indirectly disregarded Yuki's ideals.

As Yuki's tears continued to flow, a mixture of sadness and frustration welled up within Leo as she held onto him tightly.

"I'm sorry, Yuki," Leo whispered, his voice filled with genuine remorse.

Yuki's grip loosened slightly, and she looked up at her apartment, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

"I understand that you wanted to make a difference, to protect people. I get that, I truly do," Yuki said, her voice wavering. "But resorting to violence, to taking lives..."

Leo hung his head in shame, knowing he couldn't undo his actions, but the weight of his choices finally caught up with him.

Silence hung in the air as Yuki continued to hold onto Leo.

After a while, Yuki took a deep breath and gently released her embrace. She wiped away her tears, her expression a mix of sadness and determination.

"We can't change the past," Yuki said, her voice steadier now. "But we can decide what we do from here on out. Leo, I still want to believe in you."

Ruffling his hair, Yuki let out a laugh, her newfound resolve shining through.

"We're family, after all. We'll face the consequences together," Yuki declared, her voice resolute.

Leo could only nod as Yuki pulled him back into another embrace.

Changing the world during her lifetime might seem like a distant dream to most, but that wouldn't be enough to change Yuki's mind. She wasn't alone; she had the Yakuza, and she had her family.

But how long would their unity last before someone decided it was enough?