Muraki jerked awake, eyes wide, as he awoke from his nightmare. He panted heavily as the darkness of his room once again grew familiar and the last tendrils of his dream left him. Slowly, he sat up and let his blankets slide from his bare chest to pool at his waist. He raised a knee, leaned an elbow against it, and used his hand to prop up his forehead as he took deep, shaky breaths to calm himself. His pulse still raced and his body trembled.

It was that same dream again: the dream of his death.

It had been three years since that night, yet this dream still plagued his sleep. That man he had fought... his movements, abilities, even that energy he had consumed, none of it seemed human. At first, Muraki had wanted it for himself to own and control. When he realized that he and his opponent were the same, he decided instead that they could make great partners, aiding each other. However, the man hadn't stopped his attack and instead increased it. And then-

Muraki shook his head. No, he didn't want to think about that right now. He had already been forced to relive it in his sleep. He made it a habit not to purposefully evoke those specific memories.

He sighed and got out of bed to get ready for work. For the past three years, he had been shuffled from one department to the next in the Ministry of Hades. The first year, he had been somewhat uncooperative, desiring nothing more than to use his second chance to continue his life's work. Soon, he realized that this wouldn't be possible and tried to focus instead on his duties. Still, his personality made it difficult for him to keep partners, and soon, no one would be willing to work with him and he would be shuffled off to a new department.

Although it meant a lower salary, his new job in the Summons Section seemed promising. After all, killing people had been all but a hobby in life. However, it had only been three months since he had completed his training, yet he had already gone through four partners. The section chief, Konoe, had already assigned him a new partner in a different area: Kyushu. He knew that that meant. Kyushu was in the middle of no where. Nothing happened there. They were trying to keep him out of the way and out of trouble.

He had also heard that the employee currently assigned there similarly went through partners at a rapid rate. The section chief was obviously just pairing up the two difficult employees and hoping they didn't infuriate each other too quickly, it seemed. Muraki sighed and got up to get ready for work. Once he had dressed and groomed himself, he left and walked from his apartment to the ministry.

The halls of the ministry were already packed by the time Muraki arrived. He navigated the corridors to the Summons Section, signed himself in, and then immediately reported to Chief Kanoe's office.

"Good morning," Muraki greeted his boss as he entered the room.

"Good morning." Chief Konoe had the reassignment paperwork on his desk next to a case file. Muraki eyed the file as he sat across from the section chief, wondering if this case was to be assigned to him or to whomever was scheduled to come in after his meeting was through.

Chief Konoe picked up the paperwork, tapped it against his desk to straighten it, and then handed it off to his secretary, who bowed and excused himself.

"Everything's in order," the section chief said with a nod. You'll be meeting your new partner today, whenever he decides to show up." Based on the tone used, Muraki made the conclusion that his new partner was a known slacker. "You're very good, Mr. Muraki, one of the best we've got," Chief Konoe continued. Muraki had heard it all before. It was true, but he knew others in the ministry had trouble dealing with his intense personality. "This is why we were hesitant putting you with another one of our best." Muraki snorted. He knew the truth about his own reassignment. If his new partner was supposedly "one of the best" as well yet shoved off in the middle of nowhere, then his personality was obviously shit too. He wondered how long this one would last. "I hope that the two of you get along well and are able to complete all assignments together with minimal issues."

"As do I. I look forward to meeting him." Muraki lied.

A strange expression passed over Chief Konoe's face, as though Muraki had just said some sort of joke. Muraki chose to ignore it. The Chief then picked up the case file and held it out. "In the meantime, read and familiarize yourself with this case. It'll be the first one assigned to you with your new partner, alright?"

"Yes," Muraki said, reaching out to take the file. Before he could take it, there was a knock on the door and Chief Konoe pulled the file back.

"Come in," Chief Konoe called.

"He had a mountain of cake on his desk, so it was hard to pull him away," came the voice of one of the Gushoshin twins.

Chief Konoe sighed. "All that matters is that he's here now," he said. "Muraki, I'd like you to meet your new partner, Asato Tsuzuki."

"Tsu-" Muraki's breath caught in his throat and his eyes widened in recognition. He knew that name. He turned quickly in his chair and saw a face that brought all of his past that he had tried to leave behind him rushing back. It was the face of the man whose picture rested in a file back in Muraki's old laboratory back in Kyoto, the man whose strange condition had puzzled Muraki's grandfather for years, the man whom Muraki had studied and theorized about and sought after for most of his life.

And now, this man stood before him, and they were partners.

Perfect.