Chapter 1-2: Return

"Things aren't looking so well, Moro. 2-S has over a thousand and we only have three hundred. I'm planning with every brain cell I have. I can't lose this fight. But…I still wouldn't bet on us. Especially since our trump card is on their side."

-Naoe Yamato, on the Kawakami War

Mark yawns loudly just outside the airport. "Did you get any sleep on the jet?" Devil asks him.

"For most of the ride. I had trouble though and I also woke up earlier than I wanted to." Mark checks his watch: '11:34'. "I was probably just eager to go. Plus I was trying to absorb Tim's Staff and Gem, which I obviously succeeded in."

"I just hope..."

"What are you mumbling? I didn't hear you."

"Nothing important," Devil replies quickly. "What is your plan?"

"Information, everything starts with knowledge," Mark looks off into the distance as he talks. "Our 'asset', as you said, isn't even established either. Not only are we blind, but we wouldn't even know our target if we stumbled on it."

Mark starts walking with no direction in mind and Devil follows him step for step. He listens as he walks for anything of interest. The chances of finding something useful are poor, so he is heading to the house he had the last time he was here. A chance is still a chance, however, and while simply blinking to his destination is certainly quicker, he would rather take the time to find a rumor or small fact or anything.

…

…

He has been walking through crowds for a couple of hours now and he still hasn't heard of anything worth pursuing. Still, he is undeterred. He eventually hears a word makes him stop. He follows the voices to a group of school girls. He pretends to be paying attention to something else as he listens in.

"So you are actually going to join the fight tomorrow?" one of them asks.

"Of course, everyone in the school is in the War," that was the word that piqued Mark's interest.

"But you can get hurt!" the third says. "You should just lay back and watch!"

"Relax. I'm on 2-S's side and they have over three times as many people as 2-F has."

'2-S and 2-F, huh, Yamato's class and that elitist class are finally fighting it out I guess. But what is this about a war? A class feud is hardly worth a war over.'

"You're joining 2-S?! My boyfriend is on 2-F's side!"

"Then tell him to switch sides."

"He can't, he owes their tactician a favor!"

"Huh? Is it just me or does everyone owe that Naoe a favor?"

'So they really are talking about Yamato's class…'

The one fighting in the war laughs with a cocky tone. "Not everyone, apparently. They only have three hundred troops versus a thousand! Not only that, but I hear that Kawakami Momoyo is against them as well! It's going to be a slaughter!"

Mark starts to move on. He has heard enough to confirm the facts. The Kazama Family is no doubt involved in this "war" and so if he wants the facts he can ask them. The problem with that is…

He unconsciously stares at Devil. Devil totally destroyed the relationship he had with the Kazama Family. He would be surprised if they didn't attack him on sight. He can tell that Devil knows what he is thinking and can even see some regret in his eyes.

"What are you going to do about this 'war'?" Devil asks.

"Nothing," he replies while shrugging his shoulders. "As fun as a war sounds, we do have a goal here."

"A wide-scale battle is a good place to scout people."

"In case you weren't listening, it is a battle between school classes. Isn't that a little young?"

"Potential is not shown through age."

"It isn't potential that's bothering me."

Devil sighs as if he is talking to a child. "You are too embedded in popular culture. You need to break free of those shackles and embrace your own culture if you are going to achieve your goals."

"…I thought I was the dramatic one."

"That is not a denial that I have a decent argument."

"Okay, maybe you do have a point. Still, I am reluctant about joining something while uninvited."

Devil laughs. "Uninvited? Your friends are on the losing side right now, they will welcome you with open arms."

Mark thinks about it for awhile. "Maybe," he eventually says.

"You do not have time to remain on the bench; they said that it is tomorrow."

"Let's get set up first, then we can decide."

Devil gives up on the argument with a sigh, "If you say so."

Mark decides to stop and look at Devil for another topic of interest. "How about we try splitting up? Now that we have my diamond it should be easy for us."

"Sure. Where do you want me to go?"

"To the house, I need to pick up a few things since we're here."

"Okay, where is the house?"

"…You don't know? I thought you had my memories."

"We agreed to not look at each other's memories."

"Oh yeah…the address is (blah blah blah)."

"Understood, I will see you there."

Devil blinks out of sight, several blocks away. "Hmm…my previous limitations have been removed…" he thinks aloud while still in his spiritual form so no one hears him. "The Family Tome said as much, but I still had my doubts." He creates a physical shell with energy to become visible before dissipating it. He repeats this several times without difficulty. "And I am able to communicate with others physically when separated with Survivor as well. This can be useful."

Devil blinks again, this time straight to the house to wait for Mark.

Mark uses his key to open the door, mostly to see if it still works. It fits snugly inside the slot and, when he twists, easily opens the door. 'So this is what it feels like to return home after traveling abroad.'

He enters the house and throws the five bags he was carrying onto the couch. Devil is outside, sitting cross-legged in physical form. Mark casually walks into the back yard and joins him.

"Do you really miss the outdoors this much?"

"Yes. Being able to physically interact with the world freely is something many take for granted. Why do you have five bags?"

"One has essentials, soaps, food, etc. The others contain eight sets of clothes, two per bag," Devil turns and looks at him quizzically. "The last time I was here, all of the clothes I had got shredded in fights."

"Are you expecting the same result this time?"

"Hahah, weren't you the one to tell me that an experience should only needs to occur once?"

Devil grins, "I did say that…"

Mark pulls out his phone and pulls up Yamato's contact info. He thinks through the conversation in his head before he hits the 'call' icon.

'Yamato? Yeah, it's me, Mark Silv. Listen, I heard about this 'war' and I was wondering if I can help…I know we fought and Devil came and…Devil's right here next to me…I have him under control…I do have him controlled…No, he's not going to hurt anyone else…I understand that you don't want to risk it…Alright, I understand, you don't need my help. I just thought I would offer my assistance…Alright, I'll see you later, Yamato.'

"Are you going to call him or what?" Devil asks somewhat irritably.

"Just thinking things through in my head."

"I have a feeling you expect you are going to be rejected. You will be surprised who people accept when they need help, Survivor. If anything, he should be the one calling you."

"Hah! There's no way -" At that moment, Mark's phone starts to ring. He reads the ID and is amazed to see that Yamato is the one calling him. He gives Devil a 'how did you know' look (Devil just shrugs) before answering the phone.

"Mark?" an astonished voice asks from the phone.

"Yep, Mark here."

"…I didn't actually expect you to answer."

"I didn't expect you to call. I just came back to Kawakami today."

"Really? Good, I want your help with something."

"The Kawakami War?"

"You heard about it?"

"I heard about the situation. Somewhere along the lines of three hundred versus a thousand and Momoyo?"

He can hear Yamato sigh on the other side. "Things aren't looking so good. Most of my connections have joined the other side. Our chances are practically zero."

"How can I help?"

"I was able to get one trump card, but I wasn't able to contact the other one. Kuki had a last minute change to their roster and allowed us to do the same. I have one spot open and no other good options."

"Count me in!"

"Great! We're going to be at the train station to go to Tanazawa tomorrow. Meet us there."

"Will do," Mark hangs up the phone.

"Was that so hard?" Devil asks. "Worrying is an affliction that must be overcome to be strong."

Mark sighs, "Why are you chiding me?"

"So you get stronger, of course."

"You're sounding like the 'housewife' stereotype." Mark looks to the sky and decides to switch topics. "Are you also wondering why Momoyo is on the other side?"

"She is bored."

"What do you mean?"

"She wishes for something interesting to happen and the only people in her life that she considers interesting are her friends. What's more is that there is no one willing to challenge her nor does she recognize anyone as a decent threat to her rule."

Mark doesn't want to admit it, but Devil and Momoyo are similar in many ways. So much that Mark fears that Momoyo is on a path leading to becoming lost like Devil. But her friends will keep her on her path…right? "How close is Momoyo to becoming the next you?"

"Closer than you already think. Everyone should be worried."

"But her friends keep her in line?"

"It is not long before she sees them as nuisances and rids herself of them, like I tried to get rid of you."

"There is a difference: I stood up to you."

"I attacked because you disappointed me, not because of your ideals."

Silence covers the two. "What do you suggest I do?"

"There is no good way to stop her course. You just have to be there for her."

"Or I can help the rest of the Kazamas by telling them how to help her."

Devil gets up and starts to walk inside. "There is no happy ending for me; you have to assume the same for her."

Mark simply stares at the sky as Devil disappears. He lets himself become lost in thought as the rest of the day passes.