[A few months before the invasion - Japan]
[Akira's House]
"Akira, what do you think we should do tonight?" Hikari asked, lounging on the couch as a movie played in the background.
Akira stepped in front of the television, blocking her view with a playful grin. "How about you just stay here with me for the rest of the day?" He walked over and pulled her into a hug. "Please?"
Hikari sighed, though she didn't pull away. "Akira, come on. We've talked about this a hundred times. My parents will start asking questions."
"But you're my girlfriend," Akira countered, his tone turning mock-grumpy. "Aren't they supposed to know? Can't they just give you a chance to stay over?"
Hikari pulled back, cupping his face in her hands and giving him a look that was half-amused, half-serious. She kissed him briefly before stepping away. "I promise you, I'll stay over one of these days. Just not tonight."
Akira's grin returned. "Fair enough. Well, I made lunch. We can eat, watch a few movies, and then you can head out before it gets too late."
Hikari gave him a skeptical look. "Don't tell me you've already forgotten."
"Forgotten what?" Akira asked, his mind racing.
"The family meeting I told you about!" Hikari reminded him.
"Oh... *that* family meeting." Akira's shoulders slumped. "I guess that means you have to go right now."
"Yep. I really do." Hikari started packing her things. As she stood up, she looked at him. "Are you going to walk me out?"
Akira sniffed the air and suddenly stood up straight. "The food!" He bolted for the kitchen, only to find a pan of charred remains.
"Take care, Akira!" Hikari called out from the living room, laughing. "I'll leave you to handle the smoke!"
With a sigh, Akira watched her leave.
***
**[A few hours later]**
Akira had finally settled back down, though he couldn't stop thinking about Hikari. *She loves doing that to me,* he thought with a wry smile. He stood up, ready to call it a night, when a sudden knock at the door startled him.
*Who could that be at this hour?*
"Who is it?" he called out.
There was no response. Growing cautious, Akira went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife. He approached the door and peered through the peephole, but the hallway appeared empty. "Stop playing pranks on me!" he shouted.
Then, he heard a small, soft voice. "Hello?"
Akira cautiously opened the door. Standing there was a little girl, looking ragged, dirty, and completely alone. "Where are your parents?" he asked, his heart softening instantly.
"I don't have any," the girl replied.
Akira hesitated. *Should I let her in? Is this a trap?* He looked at her small, shivering frame and made his decision. "What's your name?"
"Rin," she whispered.
Akira looked up and down the hallway one last time. Seeing no one, he stepped aside. "Come on in."
Rin walked into the apartment. As she moved toward the couch, Akira stopped her. "Wait—don't sit down just yet. Let's get you cleaned up first."
He led her to the bathroom and started filling the tub. "Alright, climb in."
Rin stepped into the tub, but she remained standing, her dirty clothes still on. Akira realized his mistake and felt a flush of embarrassment. "Oh! I'm so sorry. I'll give you some privacy."
***
**[A few minutes later]**
Akira could still hear the water gushing. When he went back in to check, he found the tub overflowing, water spilling across the floor while Rin stood motionless in the center of the flood. He quickly shut off the tap. "Shit! What's wrong, Rin?"
"I... I don't know what to do," she admitted.
Akira sighed, rubbing his face. "Okay. Just... take off your clothes and sit in the tub."
Once she was settled, Akira grabbed a bowl to bail out some of the excess water. He brought over a chair and some soap, gently beginning to scrub the dirt from her skin with a sponge. After a long silence, Rin finally spoke.
"Aren't you going to kill me?"
Akira froze, shocked by the question. "What? Why would I do that?"
"I am a demon."
Akira smiled softly. He reached out and touched her cheek. "No, you're not. You're just a girl trying to find her way in the world."
For the first time, a small, genuine smile appeared on Rin's face. "But... I have to show you something."
"You can show me later," Akira promised. "Let's get you clean, fed, and tucked into a warm bed first."
***
**[A few moments later]**
Rin finished her first real meal in a long time and beamed at him. "Thank you." She hopped off her chair and gave him a tight hug.
"Now," Akira said, sitting her down. "Tell me what happened."
Rin looked down at her lap. "My brother... he said I was an embarrassment. He told our King to banish me from our world."
Akira's eyes widened. "Wait. You're actually not from this world?"
"No." Rin looked up at him, her eyes filled with a deep, ancient sadness.
"Well," Akira said, trying to process the revelation. "I guess that explains the demon comment. So, what was it you wanted to show me?"
Rin closed her eyes. When she opened them a few seconds later, they had transformed into sharp, terrifying ovals—the eyes of a high-rank demon. Then, from thin air, she summoned a dual-blade katana, still encased in its mystical sheath.
Akira felt a jolt of pure terror. *What have I let into my house?* he wondered.
Unknown to him, Rin had the ability to read thoughts. She saw his fear and immediately lowered her gaze. The sword vanished, and her eyes returned to their normal, human state. She stood up, the oversized shirt Akira had given her hanging down to her knees.
"Don't worry," she said softly. "I can go now. Thank you for the food and the bath. I'll return your shirt once I find something else to wear."
Akira reached out and gently pulled her back down onto the chair. "You're not going anywhere. I let you in, didn't I? There's no going back now." He smiled at her. "By the way, what's your full name?"
"I don't have one," Rin replied.
Akira thought for a moment. "Well, from today on, your name is Rin Shimizu." He patted her head. "Now, let's get some sleep. Tomorrow, we'll find you some clothes that actually fit."
Rin climbed into the fluffy bed, and within minutes, she was fast asleep.
***
**[Present Day - Base 130]**
"She's waking up," a voice whispered.
Rin's eyes snapped open. She bolted upright, her heart hammering against her ribs. "Where's Akira?!"
She looked around, disoriented, realizing that the warmth of the memory had been just a dream. She was surrounded by unfamiliar faces in a ruined medical bay.
"Oh, you're finally awake," someone said, stepping forward. "You've been out for three days."
Another figure entered the room, the bright overhead lights casting his face in deep shadow. Rin squinted, her breath catching in her throat as she tried to make out the silhouette.
"A...k...i...ra?" she whispered, her voice trembling with hope.
**To be continued...**