The bullet wasn't astray, it never was... Shinobu's bullets were always dead-on, they always hit the target, and today was no different. The round blasted a part of the ghoul's mask off, but unfortunately wasn't strong enough to smear its brains across the asphalt of the road. Keeping a cool head, Shinobu stayed her hand on the trigger as the ghoul focused on Colla instead; it was shielded none the less.<br/>How she wished she had a better weapon on her today. If she did... She could have done more... She could have gotten rid of the Nocturne easier... She didn't want to fail this, she didn't want to let it win and...<br/><br/>Shaking those thoughts out of her head, she kept the riffle aimed at the ghoul's head at all times. It advanced towards Yumi, and Shinobu's eyes widened. Protect her superior. She had to. Protect the boss. The Nocturne was already full of holes from bullets, but she was aware that that was not even a disadvantage to a beast like this, which didn't even seek the safety of night to attack.<br/>She moved aside, behind the cover of a nearby car, as she watched the Artisan's bone and flesh mend together back in a few moments. It must have had some meat hidden in its mask, that was doubtless. But that meant...<br/>And the creature heaved a whole car above its head.<br/><br/>But Shinobu wasn't afraid. The only emotion she felt was the desire to rid this world of a monster like this, to see its head severed from its body.<br/>She bolted forth, around the car, and leaped onto the hood of another one before her, making her way towards the Artisan as fast as she just could. It exposed its back, a vulnerable point she'd never hesitate to fire a whole round into, but she couldn't risk just shooting from this distance... This was just a riffle, not a sniper gun. If she wanted to do serious damage, she had to go closer. Much closer.<br/><br/>Just a few meters from the beast's back, practically standing between the jaws of the lion, she raised her gun once more. Not even as much as she could get through in two leaps divided her from it. Her hands gripped the gun. And she pushed the trigger. One shot, two shots, both aimed at the base of the ghoul's neck and the back of its head, reload, and prepare to fire again. Whatever the creature would do, she'd be firing, she'd be firing as long as her arms and head are attached to her body.<br/><br/>----<br/><br/>"Maybe you didn't, but I've seen it. I've been with her for a few years now... And it's not everyday I get beaten so shamefully by a seventeen years old girl." he shook his head. "Maybe I should have gone to university. I want... I only need to ask one favor of you... Not for me, but for Isana."<br/>Nakahiro's hands grabbed one of Touka's softly, clenching around it, and he looked her dead in the eyes.<br/>"Keep an eye on her. I can't always be there, but I can't let her get caught by the Overwatch."<br/><br/>----<br/><br/>"Yeah, invitation... Sad, sad thing I'm a Shiki and can't enter your house without an invitation. Doesn't have to be written, tho." he smirked, eyes narrowed as he gazed at her face, pulling himself even a little closer than he already was. The heavy aroma of cigarettes, and a deeper, less traceable, more feral scent, hung around him like a thick veil of velvet, suffocating and drowning out any other stench.<br/>Oh lord, how perfect a woman this girl was when viewed from up close. He couldn't imagine any better; even despite the fact that she was covered in drying blood, and she felt so good underneath his hands, too. Like a crimson apple. He didn't need to know her; looking at a girl's personality was for pretentious morons and soft idiots. He just longed for that body, that face, to hold her in his hands and let them slide down the hourglass of her figure.<br/><br/>He slithered behind her, placing the other hand onto her waist, and his head appeared above his shoulder. "Shall we get going, then?"