It’s always me

Two weeks later

Everything was going back to normal well at least in Gabi's life besides Yu and Geto acting distant everything else was fine. Gabi took this time to visit the Saito residence to see Kenji and Ms.Bushida. When he got there he was greeted by a hyper Kenji and a sour moody Ms.Bushida, who was upset because ever since Gabi joined the school she hardly saw him. The young boy gave the woman a big hug to show her how much he misses her very much and she reciprocated back with him. They all sat down in the kitchen area getting ready to eat the lunch that Kenji prepared for them. As they were eating Ms.Bushido and Kenji were asking Gabi questions about how his training and school going.

" How are you and Miss Makima getting along ?" Ms.Bushdia asked with a smirk plastered on her lips.

Kenji's ears perk up hearing his daughter's name and wondering how close Gabi is to her. Gabi stopped eating his meal and gave a scowl look at his mother. " You can stop with that smirk on your face. We are partners nothing more and nothing less." Gabi answers the woman's questions.

Ms. Bushida's smirk grew bigger, " Oh really? I heard Makima has been kinda talkative ever since you two started hanging out. She is slowly becoming more welcoming to others."

Kenji nodded at Ms.Bushdia's explanation, " She even said thank you to me and that's a first." Kenji added on.

Gabi stared at them in disbelief wondering why they even mentioned that girl, " Can we change the topic? I came here to enjoy the home cook meal not talk about my partner."

" But I want to know more about your friends. It's a mother's job to ask these types of questions. " Ms.Bushdia pouted at him.

(Are me and Makima even friends? The first time I ever met her she said she doesn't want to be bothered with such things but months after knowing each other we do talk and train together but that doesn't make us friends. Does it? I think out of everyone in the school I'm closer to Shoko than anyone. Anyway, Makima is always a mystery to me. I can never understand her properly. It's like me trying to observe a brick wall.)

" But I'm telling you…" Gabi's words were cut off when the door opened at the kitchen entrance.

The person who was the cause of disturbing the conversation was none other than Makima.

( Wow now that's perfect timing.)

" Oh sorry. I was about to grab an apple then leave to go back to the dorms." the red-haired girl explained herself with a plain expression as usual.

Kenji's face lit up seeing his one and only daughter. Throughout the years Makima and Kenji never had a father-and-daughter relationship; her mother took her away and excluded her from everyone so she could solely focus on her training. Kenji always tries to have that father and daughter relationship but her mother is always in the way and Makima would even ignore him but these last weeks she would slowly talk to him and give him two-word responses although it's two words it's still a start.

Kenji froze up and didn't know what to say in the presence of his daughter so Ms.Bushida stepped up, "Don't apologize miss Makima take a seat beside Gabi and eat up. You train so hard you deserve to eat some amazing food that your father made." Ms.Bushdia nudged her elbow to Kenji to have him open his mouth.

" Oh yeah, it's enough for you too." He grabbed a plate and placed it in the space that's across from him to invite Makima to sit down and eat, " I hope you will like it."

( I never once saw Kenji being nervous. This a view you will see once in a lifetime.)

Makima slightly nodded her head and sat next to Gabi grabbed some of the food and placed it on her plate.

" I heard you eat healthy so I hope it suits your taste," Kenji said.

Once Makima picked up the food with her fork and put it inside her mouth her face went flush and her eyes had brightened up. Everyone on the table was quiet and was eyeing Makima's expression to see if she would actually enjoy the food and they were surprised to see her cheeks turn red. " It's good" The woman as usual only said a few words but it was enough for Kenji to almost tear up. Makima felt someone from the side of her burning hole into her and when she turned her head to face Gabi who was staring at her she lifted one of her hands and went closer to Gabi's face while maintaining eye contact without breaking it. While her hands were coming closer to meet the boy's face, the adults at the table studied the scene that was happening right in front of their eyes. On the other hand, Gabi was baffled and couldn't move a muscle. It was like he was in a trance in Makima with swirly red and yellow eyes and he couldn't avert his eyes even if he wanted to. She slightly swipes some sauce in the corner of Gabi's mouth.

" Done." she softly said and went back to eating as if nothing happened just a second ago.

Gabi was still there stunned by her actions as well as the adults but one thing Gabi thought about her was how those eyes that used to look cold and heartless turned into a breathtaking view.

********

When they were finished with lunch Makima received a notification on her flip phone and once she viewed the message she was ordered to go investigate an abandoned market in Tokyo with Gabi.

" Gabi we have work to do." She got up from the table and walked out of the residence but before she exited the kitchen she looked back at Kenji and Ms.Bushida "Thank you. " and she left without hearing their reply. Gabi waved bye to the adults and followed Makima to the location. When they got there they saw the manager who was outside the deserted mall.

" You guys are finally here. I was told to inform you that a grade 2 curse spirit is located within the premises and is kidnapping people." The manager explained the situation to the teenagers.

" Okay, put up the veil," Makima said as she walked inside the building.

" Be safe guys." the manager said and Gabi waved to him as he entered the building.

When they entered they were welcomed by a chilling atmosphere the temperature inside the building was so cold it felt like it was 5 degrees Celsius. Gabi was rubbing his hands together to generate body heat but it wasn't working.

" It feels like a freezer in here," Gabi said out loud.

Makima couldn't keep her calm composure that she normally has because her body was shaking due to the cold weather. " le… let's get this over with." She stuttered but quickly fixed herself.

The two were walking straight ahead scanning the area to see anything out of the ordinary but from their luck they had not detected anything yet. " It's always me who's stuck with the shitty missions but not Yu. That's not unfair." Gabi complained.

Makima sighed at him. " As sorcerers, we are not supposed to whine."

" well, that's easy for you to…" All of a sudden the lights that were on in the mall started to flicker and a strong gust of wind hit both of the teenagers in their faces causing them to take a few steps back.

" Gabi.." Makima softly said as she pushed her loose strands of hair out of her face.

" yeah, I see it too."

What was right in front of them was a huge overweight grisly cursed spirit chewing on a human head that had blood dripping from its chin landing on the floor along with the brain matter. The curse dropped the head its mouth gaping wide open showing off its unpleasant mouth.

" MORE FOOOOD!" The curse roars spitting out chunks of human meat and also causing the whole mall to shake.

All of a sudden the curse stomach started to bubble up and he threw up vomit that was speed flying towards Makima and Gabimaru. " In coming !" Gabi picked up Makima in bridal style and dodged the attack that was coming at them.

"FOOOOD! " the curse roared again but this time more curses started to appear inside the mall running toward the teenagers.

" KILL THEM AND GIVE ME MEAT!" the curse orders his underlings.

( It always has to be me in these situations .)