When Merle went limp, Vaan nearly broke out in panic, but at Death's words his hands pulled back from their focused position and he let out a shaky sigh. He let his head drop and his hair hide his face as a few relieved tears made their way down his cheeks.<span style="font-style: italic">She'll live,</span>he thought.<span style="font-style: italic">Thank god, she'll live!</span><br/><br/>Though no longer wounded, Vaan was exhausted from the efforts he just expended. This was his first time using the Black Hellfire's degenerating skill--and for something so delicate. He had a fair-sized headache, and something inside him felt a little off, but Merle was going to live. With a tired smile on his tear-streaked face, Vaan gently stroked Merle's cheek with the back of his hand. "This time I'll keep watch over you, so everything will be fine."<br/><br/>Vaan sat up straighter then, almost stiffly. "Thank you," he said in general to both Adeline and Death. "Neither of you had to help, so I won't forget this. The Reverend is the one who wounded her, and we now have a common enemy." He stood then, and turned so he was facing Death directly, looking into his eyes without a particularly harsh expression, but with some sort of deep resolve in his eyes. "I'll protect Merle until she's completely recovered, and I'm going to train and get stronger. My new abilities allowed us to escape, but only because they caught him off guard. Once I've trained with them more, though, I won't have to rely on that. I'll be there, the day you aim to beat him, and if it costs my life I'll see that it someday happens."<br/><br/>Despite how reckless these words sounded, there was something about the boy's presence at this moment that made him seem logical, meticulous, and it could be felt that though his hatred for the Reverend was strong, he wouldn't charge in recklessly and destroy any chance he might have had of beating him. He was probably already going over battle plans in his mind, digging up what little he knew about the Reverend to find the best chance of success. He was serious.<br/><br/>------------------------------<br/><br/>Hatsu's shocked silence continued for several minutes before he worked up the nerve to ask the other question he'd had in mind.<span style="font-style: italic">Hey, Yami? I have another question.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Hm? What's that?"</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">How much stronger will I have to get to be able to help fight the Reverend?</span><br/><br/>It felt as though the demon smirked.<span style="font-style: italic">"A hell of a lot stronger than you are now."</span><br/><br/>Hatsu sighed internally.<span style="font-style: italic">Figured.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"You'll get there, though,"</span>Yami said encouragingly.<span style="font-style: italic">"If you work hard enough. I don't know if you'll ever be able to take him on alone, but you won't have to."</span><br/><br/>Hatsu looked around the room at the other Hunters gathered, then down at the adorable (but deadly) Sam, and smiled.<span style="font-style: italic">Yeah.</span>