Chapter 1
It was different, one day.
So many people; dead. Even Nitori’s own family hadn’t survived. It seemed even their heritage couldn't save them from their fate.
He wondered what could.
Maybe werewolves; their brutish power allowed them to push and shove their way through anything.
But witches?
Tch.
Why were they even shunned, Nitori thought bitterly. All they did was cast spells, and then they couldn’t even save their loved ones. Their own spells couldn’t keep someone alive.
He just tried to focus on the present.
He was on a train to Iwatobi from his university in the Miyagi prefecture, with a couple teenagers, an old lady who was dozing off in the corner, his hot professor, and-
Rin?
“Hey.. Matsuoka-sensei?”
Rin looked up from his phone, looking frazzled. “Wha- oh. Hi, Aiichirou-kun.”
“Um… did you lose anyone too?” He asked, out of random. His emotions were all out of wack, he supposed.
“Excuse me?” Rin growled out of habit. When he saw his student cowering under his glare, he softened his voice. “Sorry, it’s just-”
“Sorry for asking!” Ai burst out. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, you just looked sad, and kind of like me, and-”
The smaller one of the teenagers collapsed, the delinquent-looking one having a slight panic attack as he went down. “Noya, are you okay?!” He squeaked.
“Oh my god, are you okay?” Ai rushed over to them, the bigger one protectively curling ‘Noya’ into his chest.
A growl rumbled in his chest as he spotted Rin inching forward. “You- you stay away!”
His eyes had a fierce red gleam in them. Werewolf, Ai thought. He had to make something up, or else he would murder Rin. “It’s okay!” Ai spit out at the last moment. “He’s my- uh.. boyfriend.”
Rin looked at him, grateful, as Tough-guy backed off. His eyes faded back to a dark brown, frowing. “Oh my god, I did not just do what I thought I did.” He set Noya down gently on the bench. “I’m so, so so sorry. We’re newly-bonded you see, and you know- Ugh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to-” He hid his face in his hands in shame. He looked up. “Um.. my name’s Azumane. Azumane Asahi. I really didn’t mean to but you know, that thing that’s going around- don’t know what it is, but- oh my god, Noya!” He leaped back to where the small omega was lying.
Rin’s face was stone as he turned to Nitori and said, “Do you know where the nearest hospital is?”
“Um.. I think in Miyagi.”
Azumane looked up. “Miyagi! That’s right, we have to go there! My pack,” he gestured to the pack bond on his collarbone, “They can help! One of them’s a half-demon healer!”
“And what makes you think we’re coming?” Rin snarled.
Azumane glanced at Rin, his eyes fileld with tears. “Please… he might be pregnant.”
“Matsuoka-sense- Rin. Stop.”
Rin stared at him. Ai whispered conspiratorially, “Look at him. Wouldn’t you want help if your pregnant mate was about to die?”
Rin rolled his eyes. “Fine.”
He and Ai made his was to the conductor’s box, where they stood stock still, appalled at the sight in front of them. The conductor had shot himself.
Rin mumbled, “At least this makes it easy.” He looked toward Ai, who was crying silently. He groaned, and wrapped the witch to his chest, growling protectively. Whoa, did I just do that? Technically, you’re only supposed to do that with your mate.. oh well. Rin thought.
He steered Ai away from the cold body, and tapped out a few things on the pad on the front of the car.
The train slid to a stop, before immediately speeding off into the opposite direction.
Ai shivered.