Adopted Soldier

Rachel was confused when she heard what Alex said. At first she thought he must be joking, then she remembered that this was Alex. The guy who was basically the poster boy of seriousness. Obviously he wasn't kidding around. If he wasn't joking, then what did he mean by what he said?

'Live with him? Did the idea of losing me, scare him so much? We haven't even gone on a date yet! Now we're skipping a bunch of steps and heading near the finish line! Does he want to do ecchi things? Is that it? Is that what he wants? Is it really?'

Rachel couldn't understand what was happening, and as her thoughts was going deeper and deeper into uncharted territory, she felt a bit dizzy. Kumiko on the other hand was quick to act. She pushed her confused daughter in front of Alex.

"She's all yours Alex. I hope you treat her well." Kumiko and her three sons bowed in front of Alex presenting Rachel to him. Rachel who heard what her family members said made her face look redder than before, she practically looked like a tomato.

"What are you guys saying! Why are you giving your one and only daughter away! Even you guys! Aren't brothers suppose to be like, 'We wont hand over our sister to you. First you must beat us in a fight.' or some other cliche like that! How about that deadbeat father, I'm a hundred percent sure he wont allow this!"

Rachel spoke in such a quick manner that it was making some of her words sound weird to those who were listening. The more she spoke the more embarrassed she felt. Alex noticed how red she was getting, and was starting to get worried. He approached Rachel and now stood face to face with her.

Rachel who saw Alex suddenly approach her, tried to take some distance away from him. Yet before she could even move, Alex got a hold of her hand.

"W-w-w-what do you want?! W-w-w-why are you holding my hands?! What's happening! Why did you suddenly got more assertive after fighting?! Did you get hit on the head or something? Huh? Huh? Say something damnit!"

Rachel was getting even more confused as to what was happening. Everything was going way too fast for her. She couldn't comprehend why Alex was being so aggressive now.

Alex on the other hand wasn't listening to Rachel's questioning, he was fully focused on checking her pulse on her wrist.

'Her heart rate is on the rise. Did she get hit by some kind of poison? No that can't be it... Hmm well for now I need to check her temperature first then I'll decide what to do next.'

"Why aren't you talking Alex? Why aren't you answering my questions? Huh? Wait, Wait a minute! Why are you closing in on me? Wai- time out, time out, I'm not ready for this! Wait! Not in front of my family."

Alex's head was slowly getting closer and closer to Rachel's face. Rachel who was still under a stat of confusion was now focusing on the nearing lips of Alex. kumiko, Joseph, Roland, and Gabby were getting super excited, as they watch. It was great to see that they will be able to witness Rachel's first kiss.

As Alex's head got closer and closer, Rachel gave in and was ready to kiss, but Alex didn't head for her lips. Instead Alex placed his forehead directly against Rachel's forehead.

"It seems like you might have a slight fever. We'll head to my place tomorrow. For now you need to rest immediately. Also you don't need to worry about enemy attacks. I'll be sleeping on the floor in your room just in case something else happens." Alex carried Rachel who was still confused as to what was happening.

"Kumiko can you please guide me to Rachel's room, she needs to rest. I know I just decided this on my own, but can I sleep here for now? Just in case something else happens. Also I'll just be sleeping on the floor in Rachel's room if that's alright with you."

Kumiko was also confused as to how everything progressed to this. Alex just said what he wanted to do, and it seems like he wasn't expecting no for an answer. Still this was going to help her daughter snatch Alex's heart with with more ease. It was pretty much guaranteed that their relationship will progress after tonight.

'As long as Rachel does everything right, then this is a sure win. The mood is right, and they just survived a life and death situation. This is the perfect opportunity for Rachel. After tonight there's a chance that I might actually become a grandmother.' Kumiko was getting a bit excited as she smiled.

"It's no problem Alex, you did save our lives. Come follow me, it's this way to Rachel's room."

Rachel who was still processing what was happening suddenly had an outburst while Alex was carrying her in a princess carry.

"Alex let go of me! Who told you, you can sleep in my room! Mom why are you willingly offering up your daughter to the big bad wolf!" Rachel started screaming and kicking while Alex was carrying her. Still because of Alex's strength this wasn't enough to even shake him.

"Calm down Rachel. Alex here, is just worried about you." Kumiko spoke to her daughter trying to calm her down. Rachel was about to say something more, but Alex spoke before her.

"Rachel, I know that this might be really uncomfortable for you, but I need to do this. I want to protect you. Please allow me to protect you." Alex looked at Rachel, and for the first time in a while. Rachel saw a new expression on Alex's ever stoic face. Even though he still looked a bit expressionless, Rachel noticed some difference here and there, and it made Alex actually looked like he was distressed.

At this point even though Alex knew that making Rachel uncomfortable was going against the mission. He needed to take that risk. This time, for the first time ever he wanted to protect Rachel not because it was his mission, but because he wanted to do so.

Rachel, Evangeline, as well as the other members of the Mercenary Club have become important to him. They were his friends, they represented the fun times Alex had after he left the battlefield. At this point he wasn't sure of it, but he felt that Rachel was a bit above the rest. He didn't know why this was so, maybe it was because she was the one he was assigned to protect, or it might be something else entirely. Alex couldn't understand it yet, but slowly and surely something was changing within him.

Rachel on the other hand who saw Alex's distressed face, couldn't deny him anymore. She had no choice but to simply sigh in resignation.

"Fine you can sleep in my room, but you need to be blindfolded when you sleep on the floor." Alex wasn't really bothered by the compromise. Being blindfolded wasn't really going to affect his ability to protect Rachel.

Kumiko hearing her daughter finally agreeing to Alex's request, couldn't help but giggle. She then proceeded to show Alex the way to Rachel's room.

...

Dan who was doing recon on the enemy forces, felt a sudden ominous feeling. 'Why do I have this sudden urge, of wanting to attack Alex?'