Saving the Others

(Protagonist's POV)

"S-stay back!" A blonde-haired punk trembles on the ground before me. His wrinkled jacket is nearly half off and his shades sit on the tip of his nose. Spots of gray ash stain his face.

"S-stay back or I-I'll summon my demons!" The punk attempts to threaten me.

"Not like you could do anything." I dully respond to his threat.

With a trembling hand, the man pulls a light blue cellphone out of his jacket pocket.

"L-last warning!" His tembling hand can not hold his cellphone straight.

"How stupid are you...?" I mumble quietly.

A "beep" emanates from his cellphone and by instinct I take out my own cellphone. With a flick of my wrist, my cellphone opens and I aim it at the man. In one click I summon my demon Metatron. Three dark bolts of lightning strike around us causing our demons to appear. Two Rangdas hover before me. My own demon towers over me. I hide my eyes with the top edge of my hood.

"Metatron, take care of this."

As Metatron flaps his silver wings in preparation, I walk pass, my hood ears drooping. Soon enough, a shining orb of death hovers above the punk and his demons slowly expanding. I hear the man's shades fall to the ground. His eyes wide open as he realizes his life's end, I imagine.

"Farewell, may you continue to live in Heaven." I say under my breath while standing back to back with Metatron.

On cue, the shining orb of light above my target's head explodes. The explosion obliterates the blonde and his demons. Megidoloan's explosion releases a steam of wind. My hood ears flail in front of my face, unable to fight the sudden gust of wind. After the wind dies down, a moment of silence hangs over the scene.

Cautiously, I peek out from behind Metatron's leg. The explosion left no trace of the man and his demons. Pulling my hood down even further, I begin to walk away from the dreadful scene. Wavering candle flames stop me from advancing any further.

"Good afternoon, Bifrons. Burn everything here." I greet and order him.

"Even you Hiro?" Bifrons jokes.

"You know that wouldn't be wise." Metatron turns around to face Bifrons after my statement.

"Sheesh, I was just kidding." Bifrons' teeth click together as he cackles.

Hearing no response from me, Bifron stops and says, "You really need to lighten up." The blood thirsty Bifrons bounces away excitedly, looking for the dead bodies my demons left behind.

"We're done for now." I say out loud, making sure that Metatron can hear me. The enourmous angel simply nods and disappears in a flash of green light. I take out my phone again and put a check in a box next to the letters "T-4." Flames devour the bodies around me, turning them all into ash.

"Only T-5 is left." I glumly say to myself. After killing so many on a regular basis under Yamato's orders, I can barely feel anything when it comes to mudering other humans. My feelings for my friends; however, do not change. All I hope is that my suspicions are wrong and that Daichi isn't one of the members in this group. The satisfied fire in front of me begins to die down. Bifrons approaches me.

"I'm done here. I'll come again after you eliminate the last group." Bifrons joyfully says and leaves in a flash of green light similar to Metatron's exit. Slowly I walk away from my current location and to my next destination. Please, please, PLEASE don't be there Daichi!

After several minutes of walking, the SL Plaza's moveable locomotive landmark comes into view. The sun is about to set. Quickly and silently, I run behind the train to hide. The voices I hear shock me and drive me into despair.

"What do we do? If we stay here any longer, we'll end up like everyone else!" Daichi panicks.

"Quiet down Daichi! We'll be able to defeat Yamato's team somehow." To my despise I hear Io talking as well.

I have to save them! Carefully I step out into the open and into view. Daichi instantly notices me and backs away.

"Hiro! What are you doing here?" Daichi bares his teeth in shock and not fear. "I thought you were with Yamato!"

I can't find the words to say anything.

"H-hiro?" Io stutters and turns around. "If you're here... does that mean?"

"Yes." I say reluctantly. A shadow cast by my hood falls over my eyes, hiding them.

"Hm. Hiro?" Jungo joins in unaware of the current situation.

"Jungo... Don't come over here." I stop him before he tries to walk over to me.

Jungo stops as he notices my tone and makes a sad face.

"Hey, what's going on everyone?" Hinako walks over to Daichi, Io, and Jungo. "Hiro!" Hinako reaches for her phone.

"Stop! I didn't come to fight!" I yell at everyone.

Everyone quiets down and looks at me.

"There isn't enough time to bicker. As I said before, I don't want to kill you." I tell them all.

"Then what do you suppose we do? Since Yamato sent you here personally?" Hinako points her finger at her chin, wondering.

"There isn't enough time Bifrons will be here soon. You guys have to run away to-"

"Bifrons? You mean that same demon that tried to kill Otome?" Daichi asks shocked at the news that Bifron lives.

"Yes. Now we need to hurry." I quickly respond so as not to waste any time.

I try to tell them the plan that I hastily, but carefully compose as throughout as possible.

"So we need something to burn and a safe place to run to?" Io asks to make sure she understands.

"That's right, but Bifrons won't be fooled easily. I need to burn something that will produce enough ash to seem like an... incinerated human body." The last few words I say disgust me. Something doesn't feel right.

"Everybody hide now!" I suddenly say.

"Hm, why?" Jungo asks.

"Just do it! There is no time to explain!" I bark out.

Everyone quickly scatters and run out of my sight. I try to walk as far away as possible. Before I can completely leave the area, Bifrons appears.

"Hello again Hiro." Bifrons greets me.

"The target wasn't here." I try to say without any emotion.

"I'll help you find them then." Bifrons impatiently insists.

"No I got this." I try to stop him from following.

"Tch, fine. You're going to get Metatron to obliterate them huh?" Bifrons asks disapointed.

"I think I've had enough of the burnt human smell for today..." I try to convince Bifrons even further so he won't get suspicious.

"Bring a gas mask or something next time then." Bifrons leaves.

After making absolutely sure that Bifrons isn't hiding nearby I tell the others to come out.

"So Bifrons is alive." Daichi says to himself feeling confused.

"There still isn't any time." I stop them from feeling any relief.

"But isn't Bifrons gone?" Jungo asks.

"He is but I still have to report to Yamato. He'll get suspicious if I stay here too long." I explain to them.

"So then... Why don't we try hiding where we used to live?" Io suggests.

"That's a great idea Io, but I really have to go now. I'll talk to you all later." I end our conversation as quickly as possible.

"Ok then. See ya later Hiro." Daichi smiles.

Everyone leaves. After making sure that eveyone is gone, I turn around and begin to sprint towards the closest Terminal.

I hope they make it safely and I hope I make it back in time before Yamato gets suspicious!

As the sun continues to sink behind the buildings, the sky keeps getting darker and darker.