Tension filled the chilly air. Guren squad, minus Sayuri but with the addition of Shinya, lurked in the growing shadows, waiting for their targets. None of them where sure how this was going to go, they all knew how they wanted it to go...they wanted it to be a success. They wanted to achieve their mission goal. But things didn't always go as planned. They just had to hope luck was with them. Guren was the one that spotted them approaching.

"Targets in sight. Ready Goshi?" Guren asked quietly. Goshi nodded, pipe at the ready. They waited for the targets to move in to position. "Now" Guren gave the order with relish and Goshi set his illusion magic to work. Guren allowed himself a small smirk and saw it mirrored on Goshi's face. Who knew he could be so damn protective.

"This really is very unethical" Shinya said from his left. Guren sighed. This wasn't the first time Shinya had said it. Sure, it was unethical, morally wrong, whatever you wanted to call it. But at the same time...they had it coming. Besides. It was just a training exercise. Not all of them are known about in advance. Defeats the point of training for an enemy that could appear at any time.

"Why are you still here?" he sighed. Shinya turned his gaze to the targets and his face changed. His gaze turning hard.

"I'm making sure you avenge our kid" Shinya said archly. Guren sighed even louder. Why me. Am I an idiot magnet?

As the squad watched, two familiar looking boys entered the square, surrounded by their friends. Goshi's magic started to surround them, creeping through the air and making it shimmer. Guren refused to feel bad. No-one messes with idiot Yuu on my watch.

A vampire noble started to become visible through the shadows. Then another one. And another one. The boys didn't notice them until one of them appeared right in front of the pair. The boys looked up at the person blocking their way, and it bared its fangs. This is it. This is the moment when the mission either succeeds or fails. Guren thought as he watched the boys to see what they would do. They looked up at the vampire...and screamed. They grabbed on to each other, shrieking like a pair of little girls and Guren smirked.

"Mission success sir" Shigure reported.

"Not yet" Guren said cheerfully. His team all turned to look at him, unused to the tone. He kept his gaze on the boys. A standard training exercise was playing out. Vampire nobles surrounding the boys, the group of their friends, the civilians they have to protect. But despite the boys having started training, when faced with a vampire...it all went out the window. And they think Yuu couldn't handle it. Guren snorted as the vampires started to attack and the kids started to run, not even trying to fight. He'd hoped they'd do that.

"Shigure" he said. She stepped up and used her cursed gear to knock the boys off their feet. They hit the ground shrieking. Guren could hear Shinya chuckling. Evilly. The sound made him shudder. The boys struggled to their feet, veering away from an approaching vampire and heading towards Guren's vantage point. "Mito" he said, and the red head shot forward. She was wearing a hooded cloak, the boys unable to see her uniform would no doubt assume she was a vampire. Perfect. He watched as Mito engaged the pair, whose training so far had apparently gone out of the window as they failed to block any of her hits. They kicked Yuu's ass but they can't even fight properly themselves, at least not under pressure. What makes them think they're so much better than him? Guren shook his head as Mito handed the kids their asses. She wasn't using any real force, no more than would be used in training.

"Shinya, you want a go?" he asked the silver haired man.

"Oh no. I'm just here to observe" Goshi snorted and Shinya turned to him. "What?"

"All I'm saying is I stuck up for the kid...clearly I'm the better choice" Goshi started but Guren hit him before he could continue.

"Don't start that again. Focus on the mission" he snapped. Guren flipped up his hood and joined the fray. One of the boys swung for him, but Guren easily caught it and sent the kid flying to the ground. The other came at him, and received the same treatment. He would have gone for a hit, but he didn't think he could restrain himself. Bullies just piss me off in general...he justified. Within minutes, Mito and Guren had both boys finally down on the ground, completely beaten.

"Enough Goshi" Goshi dissipated the spell to reveal the boys friends, looking bewildered.

"What…it...it wasn't real?" one of the boys asked. Flushing red.

"Nope" Goshi said, grabbing the boys attention as he came to join Guren and Mito. Guren removed his hood. "Lieutenant Colonel Icinose!" they chorused. They caught sight of Shinya as he and Shigure came to join the group. "Major General Hiragi" they stared up in to the groups furious faces.

The boys swallowed and backed up a step.

"This was a surprise training exercise, you seemed to think so much of your fighting skills the other day, that we thought we'd test you out." Guren said coldly and the boys looked down at the ground.

"We aren't impressed" Shinya chimed in. "You showed none of the skill you should have gained this far in to your training, and that you seemed to think so highly of" The boys swallowed and refused to make eye contact.

"So. What have we learned children?" Guren asked menacingly.

"Um. That he can do cool illusions?" one boy said pointing at Goshi who just stared at him impassively.

"Wrong answer" Guren growled. "Now is not the time to be joking around. Not after that damn awful performance you just gave. You seemed to think you where better than Hyakuya, but I saw no evidence of that today." Guren growled.

"You know, when Yuu was faced with a vampire killing his own family…he tried to fight it off. Unlike you two, who can't even manage a training exercise. With fake vampires." Guren glared. "It's not so funny when you're the ones facing down a vampire on a rampage. Is it?" Guren said forcefully.

"Members of the Imperial Demon Army do not run screaming from vampires" Shinya said disapprovingly. "And you think you can fight vampires better than others." Shinya snorted.

"I'd think twice before bullying the Lieutenant Colonels kid boys" Goshi said, smirking when Guren turned his glare on him briefly.

"Do it again and I'll gouge your eyes out" Shigure informed the boys, who both blanched.

"Too far Shigure" Mito chipped in, before turning her gaze to the two boys. "If we hear of it again, you'll be dealing with us." She said, flexing her hand. The boys looked back at Guren, gulping.

"From now on. You leave Yuu alone. I'm sure you understand what he's been through and are full of compassion. Right?" Guren said menacingly.

"Y-y-y-yes" They stuttered.

"Go. Do not come to my attention again." Guren snapped and the two boys ran off.

Guren heard sniffling behind him and turned to find Shinya and Goshi wiping fake tears. "Look at our Guren being so overprotective of his-"

"Don't" Guren snapped at Shinya, whacking Goshi yet again.

"Hey, how come you never hit Shinya?!" Goshi complained rubbing his arm.

"He could never hurt the Godfather of his child" Shinya proclaimed. Guren pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath before he lost it. Idiots.

Guren had been having a good nights sleep for once. The kid had slept through the night, and he'd been having a lovely dream…before it was interrupted at the crack of dawn by the pint sized pain in the ass bursting through his door, I really need to remember to lock that, and launching himself at Guren. Nearly knocking the wind out of him as he landed on his stomach.

"What the hell do you want?" Guren snarled.

"STUPID GUREN! I TOLD YOU YOU'D MAKE IT WORSE" Yuu yelled in his ear. Guren winced at the loudness and proximity of the yelling.

"What do you mean?" he said distractedly, his sleep fogged brain struggling to understand.

"Everyone's acting weird, like they have to be my friend or something" Yuu complained. "I know you did something!" he accused.

"I didn't do anything kid." Guren said irritably. That's gratitude for you.

"But…you must have" Yuu said, frowning. Guren smirked.

"Maybe they found out you moved to the big boys barracks" Guren said, expecting to get a rise out of the kid, but he wasn't paying attention, too lost in thought.

"So now I'm here….I don't have to hang out with the other kids anymore right? Don't have to make friends with them? Because I'm with you guys?" Yuu asked thoughtfully. Guren groaned, he just knew this was going to come around and bite him on the ass.

"Whatever you want kid" Guren said tiredly, closing his eyes and hoping to return to his dream. All was quiet for a few moments. He felt hoping building, sleep within reach...but it was shattered.

"GUREN WAKE UUPP" Yuu screeched in his ear and shoved his shoulder. Guren started awake, eyes snapping open.

"What now?!" He snapped.

"If I don't have to hang out with the other kids because I'm in your barracks….then that means…I can hang out with you!" Yuu cried. Guren let his head drop back to the pillow with a thunk. Because you didn't already do that before. An idea suddenly came to Guren. It was risky, he'd been determined to keep the two separated but that had been when he'd been getting enough sleep. When he was well rested and in good spirits. Not exhausted and cranky and kind of wanting someone else to suffer, like he had to. On the one hand...it could be a bad influence on Yuu…give the kid ideas. Make things worse. But on the other it might be worth it for some extra and much needed sleep. After debating with himself for a few moments, he decided to take the risk. Hey. He wanted some of the responsibility right? I should be able to pawn him off.

"Hey Yuu…you know who you should hang out with?" Yuu shook his head, looking at him curiously.

"Who?"

"Shinya. He's so lonely, poor guy. He'd love to hang out with you" Guren said with a slight smirk. Yuu blinked at him.

"But I want to hang out with you" He stated and Guren groaned internally.

"Why?" Guren said exasperatedly.

"Because you promised to teach me how to kill the vampires. And you said you'd train me, so get UPPPP!" Yuu yelled, shoving Guren. Guren would never admit to the smile that fought it's way to his face, or the warm feeling Yuu's words gave him. Ever.