Blue! Everywhere! Blue! Ever since he walked through that door, all he can see is blue. Steeling himself, he continued to walk. His legs were shaking due to summoning Siegfried. His MAG pool is large that he knew, but he had fallen far from his prime. In his days, he can summon not only Siegfried but Susano-o at the same time. The incidence happened 12 years ago have been more than tiresome for him.
As he continued to walked, he didn't realize that he had reach someplace resemble an elevator ascending, very big but yet still all blue. Instinct struck him as he rolled to the left, narrowly avoid some projectile aiming for his neck. Quickly unsheathed his sword, he got into defense stance. Another whooshing sound as he moved his head to the right, only for something to graze his cheek.
"I can do this all day" he taunted hope that the attacker to reveal himself but immediately regret it as another whooshing sound rang through his ears. By instinct, he brought up his sword, sliced the projectile into two, but felt a pain course through him from his leg. There were more than one as two of what seem to be tarot cards are deeply 'attached' to his legs. Let out a light growl, he bended down and pulled the two blood-dripping cards out and stood straight again. The attacker must be very careful or he was enjoying this as he waited until Shinkai stood straight back up again before throwing a few more cards at him.
Swift as a wind, he jumped left and right, brought his sword and briefcase up and down continuously deflecting all the projectiles he couldn't dodge. Reached inside his pocket, he quickly summoned an Ukobach. As soon as the demon got out of the tube, it was immediately frozen and shattered by a card. Annoyed, he decided to end their little game. Concentrated his MAG, he started tracking down the attacker. There were two of them, and rather powerful. Still with his eyes closed, he darted forward, aiming for the one on the left. Another card grazed his left cheek as he approached the attacker. Feeling a tingling sense, he jumped back, narrowly avoided a lightning to the face. The cold started to gather around him as an ice block burst from behind him. Instead of dodging it, he jumped up, used the ice block as the stepping stone and launched himself at the attacker. Evaded a flying fireball at him by twisting his body to the left, he landed right in front of the attacker and put the sword at his throat as he felt a card as his throat as well.
In front of him stood a seemingly young man with pale skin, white hair and yellow eyes. He wore a blue suit over a black-collared and long-sleeved shirt, come with a blue tie. He was less than please judging by his expression and card to the throat. Suddenly, he felt another person behind his back. That when he finally remembered that there were two of them. Throwing his head over his shoulder, he saw a young woman with short bob cuts white hair and the same yellow eyes and pale skin as the man before him. She wore a blue dress with circles on it. She seemed to have fun as a smile visibly on her face. They both wear a hat and held some sort of books, and if not for the overwhelming killing intent and the card to the throat, he would say that they are some kind of attendants. Let out a sighed, he sheathed his sword and put both his hands in the air
"I surrender" he sat down on the ground "Do as you please with me"
"Aww! I was just having fun!" the woman pouted "It has been a long time since I have a fight, and this one was just getting interesting!" she looked at the man which made him jumped "This is all your fault, Theodore! If you hadn't been so careless, the fight would've gone on"
"I-I'm… b-but… I'm sorry, sister" he stammered while trying to defended himself but proceed by hanging his head down in defeat I'll try my best next time"
"Way to take a stand…" Shinkai made a snarky comment as he opened the suitcase "Lady! You still want more, right?" he pulled out 5 tubes from the bottom of the suitcase and showed to her as the girl filled with glee "I've some more for you" he stood up, stretching himself and sighed "There's a high possibility that I'll die but if that make you happy then I'm willing to make a shot" if they survived these demons then him wouldn't want to waste his and their time fighting anymore for it would be pointless.
He slowly walked away from them as the girl get into battle stance, if her stance is jumping in excitement. Focus his MAG, the tubes started glowing brightly "Orochi! Belial! Lilith! Kohryu! Ophanim!" at his words, each figure started to appear. First the eight-headed serpent, then the devil, then the first feminist, then the golden dragon, and finally a robotic abomination.
As soon as they were summoned, Shinkai collapsed on his knees and blood started coming out of his noses and his mouth as he coughed
"Did you want me that bad, my dear summoner?" Lilith said with a seductive voice as she teasing him by caressing her body while making very inappropriate sound.
"If you really want to go to hell, just ask! I'll give you premium ticket" Belial teased his current status as he held out a piece of paper "Just tell them old Belly send you and you'll be good to go"
"A wise man know when to stop and when to pushed himself" Kohryu looked at him with worried eyes "But I trusted that you're a wise man and I'll listen to your judgements"
"God is very busy now so don't die!" Ophenim said with a monotone and robotic voice "If you would, I'll put in the good words"
"THE SAKE IS STILL PLENTY AND GOOD! LEST YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TASTE IT WITH US IF YOU FALL HERE!" Orochi said with its celestial voice "BUT FEAR NOT! FOR I WOULD NOT LET THAT HAPPEN! MY DEAR SUMMONER!"
He pinched the bridge of his nose and stood straight. Reached out his hand, he posed as a general as he commanded "Kill them!"
As soon as he finished his cool pose, he collapsed to the ground one more, feeling the strains upon his body stronger and his eyelids heavier. The demons looked at the sibling with malice and at the same time, attack with all their might.
Like giant columns falling from the sky, 8 heads of Orochi rained down upon the sibling as its 8 tails whipped from all directions with tremendous force, but missed all as the siblings simply jumped to the side avoiding each head with ease. But as soon as the man landed, Belial charged at him with his trident, burned with hellfire, trading blow with the man books. The girl however was still dodging, not Orochi's heads, but Lilith magic and serpent. Yellow beams which made her eyes ran wild just by looking at it, blue bubbles that made her sleepy just by standing next to it, pink bolts which were so attractive she couldn't take her eyes off. Up high above them, Kohryu rained lightning upon the siblings, and soon, the rain came, mixed with Ophanim's tornado created a devastated typhoon. Water and wind, mixed with eternal hellfire and mind spells left the sibling with almost no chance to retaliate, but somehow, they were able to dodged all the attacks, and occasionally, throw a card or a spell at their opponents but mostly ineffective.
The air around them started to get cooler as Orochi stood straight like multiple giant lighthouses. Ices started forming in each head's mouths. Seeing this, Belial and Lilith quickly retreat, covering their weakness. With a roar, the air around Orochi froze, the raindrops and the cutting wind rained upon the siblings like bullet with incredible speed. Among the small raindrops-bullet, mixed a few cannonball-sized ice blocks fired by Orochi, and hell fireballs by Belial, mind-control spells by Lilith. The bullets and cannon balls rain went on for a long time until the demons realized that if they continued, their summoner would die. The rain, lighting, fire, wind and ice stopped, mind spells no longer flying around. Yet stood before them, the siblings stood, tattered a bit, but mostly unscathed. One by one, the demons dismissed themselves and returned to the tubes, spared for Belial as he approached the unconscious man. His arms reached out to the man and a soothing light started glowing
"Stick to life boy! I'll buy you a drink in hell when the time has finally come" the light disappeared and the demon dismissed himself. Slowly opened his eyes, he pushed himself up and wiped away the blood on his nose and lips.
"Well!" he called out while scratching his head like a sleepy person "Satisfied?"
"Very" the girl voice is filled with glee as she jogged toward him "I haven't had this much fun for… well… forever I guess"
"But you laugh every time you spar with me" the man walked from behind her, a hint of sadness in his voice "Was you not having fun?"
"Oh, silly Theo" she turned around and pinched his cheek "That was another level of fun. This fight just happened to be on a much higher level" she emphasized the word 'higher'. As much as he like their little drama, he had more important businesses to do before passing away in an unknown space
"Sorry to disrupt your game, but mind telling me where am I?" he raised his hand like an elementary student "It would be better if I knew it before I passed out which would not be long from now. I don't like sleeping at a nonexistent space, you know?" he can feel his eyelids heavier. Just imagining what Yomi would've do if she found out about this. Properly kill him then scold him then kill him. He sighed and looked around him, noticing something he had not noticed before. Sitting there in the middle room was a man with white hair, bald in the middle. He has an abnormally long nose with big bloodshot eyes. He wore a full black suit and has the widest grin he had ever seen on his face
"Welcome to the velvet room" his grin only get wider "This place exist between dream and reality, mind and matter. Now outsider, why have you come here?" the man gestured Shinkai to sit down on the chair in front of him
"I'm just a very curious man" he said as she sat down "This place concealed itself very well. If not for our little blue hair friend, I would've not been able to track this place down" he leaned back against the chair, making himself comfortable "If I'm not so bold, I would say you people know him too, right? That mysterious boy" he smirked.
"We're not allow to talk about our guests to outsiders" the grin on his face disappeared "But to be able to track this place down and inflict damages on its residents, it is undoubtedly that you are no ordinary man"
"Did my ability to summon demons give me up, or was it my height?" he joked and looked behind the man with curious face "Is this elevator going up?"
"Yes it is…" the young woman replied
"…But we are far from reaching our destination" the man continued
"Velvet room, huh?..." he trailed off as he remembered something "Oh! You're the people from that Velvet room! Just like he said, you people are so cryptic"
"You know about us?" the young man looked at him with surprise as he simply nodded
"A few years back when I was on a case in Sumaru City, I resided myself at the Kuzunoha Detective Agency, which basically belong to the organization I worked for so I got to stay there for free. There, I met a young but bold police officer, who seemed to have experience working with devil summoners like myself" he reminisced "That man name is Katsuya Suou. Sometime during our investigation, he happened to mention you people" he brought his hand up and started rubbing his chin "It was something like this:
[Flashback]
"That guy was way too cryptic" Shinkai sighed as he walked out of the interrogation room and sat down opposite to Katsuya "If you don't want to talk, then don't talk! What with all the puzzles and words and metaphors and…"
"These kinds of guys tend to show up from time to time" Katsuya interupted him as he took a sip at his coffee cup "They enjoy seeing the police having a headache or running around catching a ghost while practically, they did confess"
Shinkai dropped his head onto the table, energy drained "Demons even worse! They never know how to speak normally, it's like all they know are puzzles and philosophies"
Katsuya fixed his glass as he took another sip "You haven't met the people from the Velvet Room yet. Their words just sound like some alien languages. Too cryptic and mysterious, those people"
Shinkai raised his face and looked at the detective with a defeated face "Let's hope that I'll never run into them"
[End]
"Something like that" he finished his flashback with a smile "Fate sure have a sense of humor, for the ones I have been avoiding turned out the be the ones I have been running after"
"Fate itself is unpredictable" the girl said with wry smile
"I guess it really is" he laughed as he stood up "But I have found what I've come for, so it is my time to leave" he bowed and started walking away "If possible, I'd like to come again" he cocked his head over his shoulder with a smile "But maybe more tea and cake less killing each other next time, don't you agree?"
"'Till we meet again" the siblings bowed as the man simply grin.
"A blue nonexistence space?" Yomi looked at him skeptically "You've only gone for about 5 minutes, though. I only noticed that you've been missing when you approached a moment ago." So the place has its own time and do not collie with this world time he thought as he listen to Mitsuru briefing to the group of three
"So how have things been inside?" he asked "Do they have anything difficulty with demons and shadows?"
"They met a few shadows along with demons but handled themselves well enough" Yomi leaned closer and whispered to him "Especially the blue hair boy. Some demons even talked to him, not that he replied. He simply stared them away" That boy's weirdness had reached extreme. He stared the demons away? Demons usually aren't coward in front of human because they see human as lower species or vermin. He somehow scared them away, that's impressive. That boy had talent and Shinkai going to bring it out. He spent the rest of the time playing cards with Akihiko, Yomi and occasionally, demons. Black (Jack) Frost and Pixie are unexpectedly good at Blackjack
"Please! Please! Please! Lower than 5!" Akihiko prayed continuously as he about to draw. His eyes filled with sadness as he drew the King of Heart
"And… 21! Cough up!" Shinkai looked triumphantly as he revealed his cards, and started collecting money from Akihiko and Yomi while took an amount of MAG from Pixie as agreement while reluctantly gave some MAG to Black (Jack) Frost who somehow manage to have Blackjack every turn.
They played for a few more turn until the trio return, grasping for air. The Dark Hour supposed to drain people more than normal but due to the intensive training after all those years, he felt almost no draining, except for the extra MAG lost in these hours.
"So… how was the demon business?" he approached them with a smile "Not too much, I hope?"
"I met a pretty lady!" Junpei said with a bright face but immediately turned to a frown "But she wanted to kill me" Shinkai only laughed at the boy words. That must've been a Chou-Kenshin. Yukari complained about some perverted demons, and if Shinkai would've guess, that would be Preta
"What about you, scary boy?" he turned to Minato with a smile, who simply looked away "to be able to drive a demon away just by staring at them, you're really something, you know?" he started laughing out loud before stopped by Yomi with a hit in the head with a harisen
"Ignore him, you guys did an amazing job for a beginner" Yomi smiled at them warmly like a proud teacher while still holding a giant harisen in her hand "you must be tired, let's rest for a while before heading back" she shot a look at Mitsuru who simply nodded as she packing up the equipment with Akihiko help.
"I've wasted too much time" he sighed while sitting down on the couch as Akihiko looked at him curiously "The case still remain unsolved and I haven't found any clue yet" he dropped his head "Not to mention to appearance of a strange demon, things just got from bad to worse"
"The police have also been working restlessly to locate the 5 missing women" Akihiko pointed out "Is there any chance that that related to this case"
"Possibly" he suddenly remembered something, or rather someone "Say Akihiko, do you know someone named Kurosawa from the police station?"
Akihiko looked surprised by his question "You mean Officer Kurosawa? Why?"
"An old… 'friend'" he smiled mysteriously "He owed me a debt, and it's time for him to pay"
Akihiko smiled wryly at his words "You scare me sometime" only to earned a laugh from Shinkai
"You should be! After all…" he pulled out his gun "… my hands aren't exactly clean, you know? Figuratively of course" he grinned and sheathed his gun "You should go to bed now! You do have school tomorrow, don't you?" and bidded Akihiko goodbye as he stood up and returned to his room
Shinkai spent his morning looking at all the information he had collected. Kada is now a waitress in Iwatodai Restaurant, even though she went to Tokyo University. That a big step back if he may say. After speaking with some of her colleagues, he learned that she not a very sociable person as most of her colleagues know nothing of her. They did tell him that she only smile when serving a certain recurring customer, a man. Why would a graduate from such a privilege school work in a restaurant? Furthermore, why would she ever return? Her connection to the case is undeniable but what is her role? The disappearing started not so long after her returned, is she responsible for that? Who is that man? But to begin, he need information, and he know just the man.
"A dead man walking?!" Kurosawa looked at the man with a cat on his head in front of him with widen eyes before face palmed as he let out a sigh "I should've known better than hoping that you wouldn't pry your coffin open and running causing more chaos"
"I never did have a coffin, you know?" Shinkai pouted "They just left me in the sea, could you believe that?"
"Some of us made a little funeral in secret for you even without your body" he gestured Shinkai to sit down "We own you that much" he could sense gratitude in Kurosawa voice
"I could use your help now" he took out a casefile and slide it toward Kurosawa "Recognize that?"
"The case from 4 years ago" he picked up the case "The culprit still remain unidentified till this day"
"He or she have some helps from a demon… possibly" Shinkai whispered the last part but it didn't escape the officer as he simply sighed "but that's not why I'm here. I want information about the 5 missing ladies"
"Why?" Kurosawa asked as he gave the file back to "Does it related to that case?"
"Possibly" he gestured his finger to the door "but I think you have guest". Stood at the entrance was Akihiko, who the officer recognized immediately but not the other two next to him
"Sanada-san? Why are you here?" Kurosawa asked "And who are these two gentlemen?"
"This is Iori and Arisato-san, newest member of the group" Junpei looked confused while Minato still have his deadpan face "We are here for some requisition"
"You sell weapons now?" Shinkai looked at him amusingly "Old habits die hard I see"
"I guess it is, but this time I didn't smuggle them, I 'confiscated' them from criminals" Kurosawa smiled mischievously "Just some earning from the side"
"Just like the old day" he laughed and turned toward the trio "Hello kiddos"
The three of them looked at him, only noticed him then "You're that demon calling guy, right? What are you doing here?" the demon hunter laughed at the boy choice of word
"Only here to visit an old friend" he stood up and grabbed it briefcase and walked toward the entrance "I have to leave now for I have other business to attend. Can you have it ready tomorrow?"
"I'm sure I can handle that, anything else" the police officer took out his notepad and started writing down
"One more thing" he stopped at the entrance and look at him "Can you contact Touko Aoi for me?"
"The bossy lady? I met her at your funeral, she looked so unfazed, but I found her crying in the back afterward. Really a turn of events" She? Crying? Shinkai can never imagine that
"She tend to be like that. She like to act tough or calm in any situation" Shinkai sighed and walked out the door
"Nothing else?" Seeing Shinkai shaking his head, Kurosawa turned his attention to the teens.
"So you really going to confirm it?" Yomi asked as she sat on his head in cat form as they sat down on a bench after buying some Takoyaki "Why?"
"I'm a curious person" put a Takoyaki into his mouth. Even though he had no idea what is in this Takoyaki because it certainly not octopus, it so goddamn delicious "Beside I owed the old man a debt of gratitude, if this is true, then we'll be even"
"You sure that woman can do it?" she asked skeptically while opening her mouth waiting for him to drop a Takoyaki in
"She is close to the Shirogane and Naoto herself, she would be the best choice. Back in the day, I remember listening to her story all the time about how cute Naoto is and how huggable she is even though Naoto doesn't know who she is…" he sighed put one in her mouth. Suddenly, a realization struck Yomi
"W-Were you two c-c-close?" she can feel the blood running up her cheeks
"Kinda. I met her when she was still practically a coffee-girl for the office, not even an officer yet. She was about my age and pretty funny so we get along. Back in Tokyo, all the officers are old and lame, you know that? Right, you'd never accompanied me to the station" he felt nostalgic "That was 17 years ago, time sure flies"
"It sure does" they sat in silence until the sunset before went back to the dorm "Don't forget to drop by the convenience store for some Mayonaise"
"Akihiko! You! Me! Tartarus! Tonight!" Akihiko was sitting in the living room, few minutes away from midnight when Shinkai suddenly ran to him "I need some exercise"
"Of course! Let's go!" Akihiko quickly grabbed his coat and leave for the door when it suddenly turned to ice. Slowly, they turned their heads around only to find Yomi and Mitsuru standing at the top of the staircase, with a certain photo in her hand
"You're not going anywhere! Execution awaits!" Mitsuru said with an ice-cold voice, her eyes pierced through Shinkai soul.
"Don't worry, we'll make it as painful as possible" Yomi said with the same ice-cold voice full of killing intent. The killing intent was so strong, Junpei ran into the toilet and lock himself in there to avoid being killed while Minato watch amusingly from the dining table
"I'm sure we can work it out" he took out a tube discreetly "Let's not do something we all going regret"
"Akihiko!" Akihiko jumped at the mention of his name from Mitsuru "the footage from the surveillance camera showed that you acknowledge of this photo existence, do you have anything to say to defend yourself?"
"I-I-I didn't mean to…" Akihiko started backing away from Shinkai "He forcefully showed to me"
"Don't leave me" Shinkai called out to him "They'll kill me"
"Very well, your death sentence is to be carry out" Mitsuru carried out her final judgment "Let you be freeze to death" as fast as he can, he concentrated his MAG into his feet, and turned toward the door to kick it open. But as soon he lifted one of his leg, the other one had already frozen. Slowly, the ice started building up as him struggle in vain until only an ice block remained. Another ice layer built over the first one, then another, then another, then another.
"Isn't that a little too much" Yukari walked out from the kitchen "What did he do to deserve that?" Mitsuru approached her and gave her the photo. After seeing the photo, her eyes shared the similarities with the other two women "Let him rot in hell" she huffed and walked away, leaving the confused but very amused Minato as he watched the event unfolded
"Thank you for carving me out, again" Shinkai said while shaking after the boys help carved the ice away "Do you want a copy as a reward?" he took out a photo
"You never learn, do you?" they sighed simultaneously and bided him good night as they headed toward the stairs
"Wait!" they turned around and looked at him "Is your blue hair nature?" he asked a completely off-topic question
"Yes" Minato answered shortly "Why?"
"It's beautiful" he smiled warmly
"Thank you" the boy continued to walk away "Good night"
Yomi refused to talk to him the next day as she left him and went shopping. Mitsuru refused to talk him as well as Yukari. Not that matter, he had more important things to do than them. He dropped by the police station and picked up the intel Kurosawa had prepared for him. He dropped by the school to visit Victor and recalled some of his old demons.
Lunch time come and students started bursting out of classes and to the cafeteria. Among the students, he found his target. Miss Maya was sitting alone on a bench with a sandwich. It would be unwise to approach her like normal, and he know too little about her to actually turn into one of her friends. Reading her mind would be useless if he can't approach her. Which left him with only one choice. Slowly took out his gun, he moved toward the girl. Summoning Pyro Jack, he asked the demons to make some smoke inside the school. Quietly, he put the gun beside the girl temper. As the fire bell started ringing, he shot the girl. After a while, the girl opened her eyes, which has turned pink, and sat straight up and Shinkai sat on the ground opposite to her
"You will answer all my questions honestly!" he said as the girl nodded "What is your name?"
"Maya Mitsuhiba"
"How old are you?"
"17" A junior just like the other three, huh?
"Now, that was just testing. Tell me, do you know a man named Kondo Tanka?"
"Yes"
"How do you know of him?"
"Sister used to talked about him all the time"
"How would you describe your sister?"
"Social outcast, introvert, lack of emotions"
"How did she behave when Kondo Tanka died?"
"She cried for a long time and refuse to leave her room" So it is clear that she harbored feeling for him, but what about him?
"Why did your sister return to Tatsumi Port Island?"
"I don't know"
"Did she mention someone lately?"
"No" this is frustrating. He need more information than this, he already know all of this
"How did your sister describe Kondo Tanka?"
"She said he's a nice and handsome man who always help her. She also said that too many girls swarm around him" so she was jealous. Jealous is a dangerous thing, it can drive people into doing unspeakable things
"How was your sister relationship with her classmates?"
"She hated her classmates" That might be useful "She said that they are too close to her lover"
"Is her lover Kondo Tanka?"
"I don't know"
"Was your sister bullied in school?" with her appearance and lack of emotion, she could be the bully's target. And Mister Kondo could've been the knight in shining armor and rescue her
"I don't know"
"Was there any bruise on her when she returned from school?"
"Possibly" that not an answer
"Why 'possibly'?"
"She tried to hide the area above her wrist and groan when someone touched there" so there is a chance then
"One last question... Is your sister possessed by a demon?" that might be a silly question but you'd never know
"Possibly" now that interesting, how so?
"How so?"
"She talked to herself and cried in the middle of night. Sometime she yelled 'shut up' with shaking her head furiously" scary "she sometime sleepwalks while mumble something" just like the other night
"Was you scared" he noticed her hand started shaking
"Yes"
"Thank you. Now when I snap my finger, you'll forgot about this conversation and have an urge to go to the bathroom, resulting in being late for class" he stood straight up and dusted the dust of his trouser before snapping his finger and made himself invisible. Hypnosis isn't something he enjoy doing but it's a necessary evil. When people are hypnotized, they're unable to hide anything, even forgotten memories. That's why hypnosis is the most effective interrogation method. He patted Pyro Jack on the head as he walked past him in the corridor and dismissed him. He almost had all the evidences, now he need the man she has been talking to, and it ain't gonna be easy.
"Mitsuru, would you like come on a date with me?" she looked at him with widen eyes, subtly asking why "I would like to know you better, and also because I have 'business' there" he emphasized the word 'business'
"Why not Yomi?"
"She still refuses to look at me" he made a sad face "I think she still mad at me"
"And what make you think I'm not?" she closed the book she was reading "After all, the person in the photo was me"
"I would like to make amends for that. Call this…" he paused to find the word "…my redemption. It's a fancy restaurant after all. Just a friendly make-up meal between you and me"
"Why didn't you ask Akihiko?" two dudes in a fancy restaurant!? No thanks!
"I would but I have a feeling that he going to reject me" he smiled "So I went the safer route and ask you"
"Very well…" she sighed and continued reading her book "When?
"Are you available now?" it's only 6 so they have plenty of time "We departed immediately"
"I'll have to change, though" she stood up and walked toward the staircase, leaving the satisfying Shinkai
"This place is nice" he looked around Iwatodai Restaurant "Simple but at same time fancy"
"I agree. The price seems reasonable enough" Mitsuru commented as she looked at the menu before putting it down. She was wearing a gorgeous red dress match with her hair "But I would not have to worry about that now, would I?"
"Of course, tonight on me" he chuckled "after what I've done, this is the least I can do for you"
"You must know that I'm not planning to forgive you any soon" Mitsuru smirked "I'm just sympathy you"
"That I know. I can make you forget all about the incident but that's just too much effort. After all, I want you to see that photo" he smirked back "We can continue our little game if you want to, or we can order now" they stop their small 'talk' and order. Mitsuru 'accidentally' ordered a very expensive bottle of wine even she not allowed to drink it yet. In returned, he ordered them salad.
"So why are we here?" she asked as they waited for their orders "What 'business'?"
"That 'business'!" he used a fork to point at someone, and that someone happened to be their little suspect, Kada "But that just an excuse. If I want to, I can send a demon to follow her, and I already had. I want to get to know you better, Miss Mitsuru Kirijo"
"What would you gain from that?" she smiled back
"It's always better to know about the person who fight beside you. Beside I want to learn more about the heir of Kirijo and Takeharu's daughter" he smiled, more of a fatherly way "And just for tonight, I'll answer every of yours questions. I'll go first"
"Very well then…" she accepted the term "What do you want to know?"
"For a starter, how does it feel, being the student council president?"
"Lot of responsibilities and expectation are upon me, so it isn't easy. But I feel very proud about my achievement" It her turn next "How did you become a Devil Summoner?"
"That is hardly fair" he chuckled "I ask a simple question but you ask me such a hard question"
"You only have yourself to blame" she smiled triumphantly "Well, the answer?"
"It's a long story" he sighed and started reminiscing "And to answer that, let's get back to when I was young in Inaba. I was an orphan, me and my sister. Our mother dies not long after she gave birth to me and my sister took care of me ever since. Then come the Crows seeking for child with potential, and it just happened that I was the most potential one. I was only 3 then and my sister was only 7
So, there I go, taken from my sister to the Kuzunoha village. First they taught us universal knowledge such as math or mythology, just like any school would, which I'm very good at, for your information. Then they taught us the art of confining and summoning. Many died, either because of demons or because of the pit.
Yes, the pit, they put us in a cage and force us to kill or at the very least, disable our opponent. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months and months turned to years. After 7 years or education and other 'education', I was the sole survival, stepping over many corpses of those who I once called friends to earn this title" he smiled wryly while Mitsuru looked shock "Ah! The food is here, let's continued after this" and he started eating while Mitsuru stared at him, regret filled her eyes. That must have been hard for him, but why does he seem so calm? The question swirling in her head as she stared eating as well.
"I believe it is my turned… How does it feel being the sole heir of the Kirijo Group? Do you think you'd be able to replace him?" he asked after finishing his meal
"I don't really know if I can" she spoke with much dismay "I mean… father is a great man, I just fear that I would not be able to fill up the hole he'd left behind. He is too perfect, I don't even think I'm fit to lead…"
Slowly, he reached out and put his hand atop hers "Fear not my dear. No one is perfect. Even Takeharu'd have made countless mistake in his time. But you must learn from it, don't dwell in it or you will lose track of the present. It's okay to make mistakes, it's normal to be fear. Just don't let fear become your guide, take each step with pride, knowing that even if you fall, you'll stand right back up" he smiled warmly
"You've already taken your first step, right? Being a Student Council's President? Being the president will help you learn many things. Just remember one thing, you are not alone. Let other carry your burdens with you, have faith in them. And when you fall even into the abyss of hell, they will drag you out of it"
"T-Thank you" she smiled back "It almost sound like self-experience"
"Perhaps it is" he chuckled "But I think it is your turn. I did ask two questions, so it's only fair you ask back two"
"I think that all I need to know" she turned her gaze elsewhere "Maybe just one question. Do you hate them? For taking you away from your sister? For taking away your childhood? Your dream?"
"Once I did" he leaned back "Once I cursed them for putting me through that. Once I cursed them for taking me away from my sister. I cursed life for the unfairness, why do the others have choices but I don't? Why must I live like this? Why must I kill to survive when other at my age are playing? In desperate time I think of my sister. How fair is my sister? Is she fine? Is she sad? Or is she happy that I'm finally gone then? Too many question, too much hatred. It's fueled my soul but at the same time, burned it.
But that part of me are long gone. Now to me, they are nothing more than memories, a past that can never be changed" there was no hatred in his words "Why would you hate someone? What would you gain from hating someone? Nothing but misery" he smiled peacefully "Instead of hating, I learned to forgive. Not because they deserve my forgiveness, but because I deserve my peace"
"You're amazing" she said with awe "I could never forgive them if I were you"
"Time, Mitsuru! Time…" he trailed off as he darted his eyes to the left "There our prize!"
"What do you mean?" Shinkai discreetly used a knife to point at a man who wore a white suit. He has dark brown slick-back hair. He looked just like your everyday business man only hotter. Kada was giggling like a schoolgirl next to him, that's how Shinkai know he got the right guy. Summoning Poltergeist, he gave the demon a phone and sent him away
"And our job here is done" he smiled and called the waitress to check out "he will keep me update. All we have to do now is wait" He smuggle the wine bottle under his coat, planning to use it as an apology gift for Yomi. He helped her put on her coat and they leave together
After some apologies and threw his pride right out the window along with an expensive wine bottle, he somehow had Yomi forgiveness. And time went on as he kept his eyes on both Kada and the man he now known as Shinosuke, a successful business man. He owned a small business but due to his talent and charm, his business has been on the rise. Shinkai also acknowledge that he had over 5 girlfriends since January, and all of them are wealthy. All of the five women who disappeared all share the same similarities, they all had interacted with him sometime before the disappearance. Could he be the culprit? If so then may be this case have no connection with the case 4 years ago, since he has no connection what so ever with the school.
But it still too soon for him to jump to conclusion. Kada, however, still hasn't show any abnormal behavior. She went to work with a vacant expression, and left work with a vacant expression, just like a doll. The man only come to the restaurant once a week, so all Shinkai can do then is wait to see how she would interacted with the man.
The bookstore of Kondo's parents opened sometime after that, and he visited it almost immediately. Where he, coincidently, ran into Minato. He was very disappointed of what he learnt from the old couple. They told him all the things he had already known and nothing new. Apparently, Mister Kondo is loved by his students, and the tree is planted by him and one of his closest students, possibly Kada. Nonetheless, Yomi enjoy reading books there and he somewhat enjoy the time he had on observing the boy.
Time went on as Shinkai spent his time between drinking with Mutatsu or Kurosawa, and exploring Tartarus with the group. They encounter some kind of bird-like shadows and few Inugami on floor number 5 and some flowered hands accompanied by some Enku on floor number 10 which were much stronger than the regular shadows and demons, so he concluded that after every 5 floors, there would be a powerful shadow.
He bought some cake with tea and some takoyaki when he visited the Velvet Room again, which made Elizabeth, the girl, and Theodore, the boy, really happy. Yomi was also enjoy talking to Igor for some reason even when they first met, maybe because both prefer to talk in such cryptic way that no one can understand. Watching Elizabeth and Theodore, he couldn't help but to think of him and…
"Shinkai-san? Shinkai-san? Are you okay?" Shinkai heard Akihiko voice called out for him. Apparently, they were fighting some kind of colossal shadow paired with approximately 10 Angels, who continuously healing him and blow away Yukari's arrow while imbued the Shadow giant spears with wind power. In a moment of carelessness, he was hit in the stomach by the shadow with his giant spear and sent flying away.
"I'm fine, nothing broken" he put his hand up, indicated Akihiko not to worry. Junpei is trying his best to defend himself since fire and physical power does no damage against the shadow and the Angels keep firing at him. Yukari is trying her best trying to attack the shadow with wind magic but it was negated by the Angels. Akihiko tried to use Zio to attack the Angels but they were covered by the shadow. Yomi is blasting all kind of magic onto the shadow, be it wind, ice or lightning. The boy is much more impressive, while the other only have one persona, he somehow had summon over six persona now. Apsaras, Alp, Ara Mitama, Orpheus, Forneus and Omoikane. Using his sword to picked himself up, he reached into his pocket and summon Moh Shuvuu
"Onii-chan~~! Why haven't you summoned me lately" Moh Shuuvu pouted upon being summoned "I'm bored in there, you promise we're gonna play this time"
"Sorry about that!" he chuckled while scratching his head "I've been busy with detective work. I'll play with you next time. Now, however, I need you to fly me over that big shadow"
"I don't trust you" she pouted and looked away. Reached inside his briefcase, he pulled out a lollipop
"Just one more time, I'll play with you as soon as we get home, Alice too" the girl looked at him while still pouting, but took the lollipop anyway
"You promise?" he nodded quickly while stole a glance at Junpei being blew away "Alright then. I trust you" she started ascending as Shinkai quickly grab on of her leg and got pulled up. Took out his gun, he loaded fire bullets as they are right above the battlefield. Dismissing Moh Shuvuu, he used both his guns rained down fire upon the Angels, disrupted their spells and healing. Realizing the chance, Yukari quickly picked up her bow and fired at the angel, each implanted right into each of their chest. Realizing the wind has stop, Junpei dodged under the giant spears of the shadow and quickly brought his Evoker up
"Hermes! Agi!" the messenger of gods appeared above him and started shooting fire at the Angels. Akihiko quickly send a lighting down the shadow but it shrugged it off and sent him flying, hitting Yomi on his way, before hitting Junpei in the back. Still free falling, Shinkai stopped his fire and took out his sword, implanted onto an Angel head as he landed right above the demon, dispatched it. Despite her effort, Yukari was quickly blown away by a lightning summoned by the shadow, which also struck Shinkai in the back.
"They're too strong, retreat now" He can hear Mitsuru voice in his head begging them to retreat when a something stroke him, the boy was standing there, but behind him, there was two personas at the same time, Orpheus and Apsaras
"Cadenza" he whispered, and almost immediately after that, Shinkai found a new strength flourish through him. He could feel his senses being sharper and his foot lighter. The effect seemed to affect the others as well as they started getting up, confused as he is. But spared no time wondering, they returned to their attack. Shinkai quickly brought out one of his gun with left hand and started shotting at the Angels, followed by stabs in their chest with his swords. The shadow was being pushed back as well as lightning, ice and wind spells rained upon it by Minato and Yomi.
Akihiko and Junpei had joined Shinkai in his Angel slaughter, assisted by Yukari's arrows. Junpei with his fire and katana, quickly cut down any angel in his way while Akihiko finished off the one that Junpei left out. The angels were no more and they concentrate their spell upon the shadow, who still refused to fall down. Ice, then Lightning, and Wind, one after another, continuously. The shadow felt as Minato cast the final Zio spell with Forneus, and the group slumped down on the ground
"That's…*gasp*one…*gasp*…tough bastard" Junpei tried to said while catching his breath while the others nodded in agreement
"The Angels are much stronger than I remembered" Shinkai commented while checking his guns
"They've been feeding on MAG from that monstrosity, no wonder they are tough" Yomi comment, somehow, she still seemed pretty much alive compared to the other
"I…*gasp*think that…*gasp* enough training…*gasp*for today" Akihiko said as he lying on the ground, which them all stared at him. He? A person who obsessed by training? Think that tonight is enough?
Yukari chuckled at his words "If Akihiko said enough, I think we should head back for tonight" she turned to the blue hair boy "What say you, leader?"
He opted a thinking face, or so Shinkai thought, before saying "Let's head back for now" they nodded and started proceed toward the teleporter. But Shinkai felt something
"You guys go on ahead, I've to check on something" and he disappeared after those words. As quick as he can, he ran toward the stairs and proceeded going upward, ignore all the shadows and demons on his way. He reached the 16th floor, where stood a large wall. The wall is made of pure MAG as it was surrounded by lesser demons of all kinds
"Get out of my way!" he said irritatingly as he summoned Alice "Why don't we play a game, Alice? Let's see which one of us kill more"
"Of course, onii-chan~~! Prepare to lose" she said in the most innocent way as dark energy forming around her. Shinkai concentrated his MAG into his sword and muscle, his legs and arms were highly enhanced. Without waiting for a signal, they charged in. Shinkai mercilessly cut down every demon in his way, each of his sword swing cut down 5 of them. The dark energy around Alice suffocated any demons that come near her, drained them dry of the MAG. The girl smiled innocently as she ripped an Ukobach's head off, eager sucking all its MAG. Shinkai literary dancing with his sword as demons dropped left and right each time he swung his sword. And the demons were no more
"I killed more than you, onii-chan~~! I win" she cheered as she finished off a Pixie by crushing it in her hand "It was fun! Played with me again sometime! I love you!" she smiled as Shinkai dismissed her with a smile. Returned his attention to the wall, he walked past countless corpses of demons, all dried up thanks to Alice.
"Pure Magnetite" he took out his gun and shoot it, but it did no damage "Just like those damn Dragon's Jaws" he murmured "Ippon-datara! Come!" a one-legged, one-eyed wearing a blacksmith's apron appeared in front of him
"YoU CaLLeD?" he shrieked. No matter how much he tried, he can't not get used to those mad demon voice. After Shinkai pointed at the wall, the demon nodded and started bounding furiously onto the wall with its hammer
"I'll leave you to your work" he turned around and walked toward the teleporter, leaving behind the mad demons. As he was leaving, he saw a small piece of paper on the ground
"The electricity's hooked up. But, why do they need so much? There's only a school on this island"
"What is this? How can it be here? Whoever wrote this must know more about the experiment that took place here" he picked up the piece of paper and carefully put it inside his briefcase after inspecting it "Well… more mystery for me then"
Yomi was less than pleased when he returned, but he managed to get away with it. He continued his routine of drinking with old buds, playing games on Sunday since another person have joined his party, brings supply to Victor since he doesn't seem to leave the school and Shinkai don't want him to die, checking up on the pairs and visiting the velvet room or the bookstore with Yomi. However, he happened to found another familiar face in Paulownia Mall
"A Pharmacy?" he commented as he walked in "Are you even licensed?"
"We don't sell revival potion here, so please go away" the owner said as he continued to read his magazine
"You don't seem surprise to see me" Shinkai smiled and sat down on a stool in front of the man "Why kicked Victor out?"
"Have you seen the bills? He'll be the death of me!" he continued reading his magazine "Why are you here, Kuzunoha? Aren't you supposed to be sleeping with mermaids by now?"
"We broke up over a disagreement. You see, I want to leave and live, while she wanted me to settle down at the bottom of the sea with her" he opted a sad face "It was a heartbreaking moment"
"You still haven't answered my question" his voice sound more irritated
"Fret not! I'm only to visit an old friends" he smiled reassuringly "Tell me, why come here? And furthermore, why a Pharmacy? Why not an antique shop just like the old days?"
"Business in Tokyo has not been good, so I thought about taking the business to someplace else. Also, someone already use antique" he pointed his thumb behind him "Beside, Pharmacy made more money and more stable"
"I suppose that true" he started looking around the shop "Is the goods still available?"
"If you require, I'll stock some" he closed his magazine and smiled "Just like the old days"
"Appreciated" he took out a stack of money that he had acquired during his shadows and demon fighting "That's 20000¥, get me the Aurora clip, 2 of them"
He took the money discreetly and returned to his reading "Come back later" Shinkai nodded as he stood up and walked toward the door "Good to see you again, my paycheck"
"To you too, old man" he smiled and walked out of the shop
April turned to May. As the weather changing so is his luck. Apparently, our little playboy have somehow have a new girlfriends, and if it like any of his other girlfriends, she'll disappear within a week. Kada, however, still posed no changes. He sent another demon to spy the new girl. Satisfied with the result, he decided to visit the Velvet with some cake and Takoyaki
"Fine Resin?" he surprised by the sibling question "Why do you need them?"
"I suddenly have an urge to know more about the outside world, that's all" somehow, he had suspicion in her answer, but he simply shrugged
"I have some kind of synthetic resin toy I received from one of my client a long time ago" he remembered the weird request and reward "Do you want it?"
"Yes please" she smiled brightly "Do you have it here?"
"I have everything in my briefcase" he stated proudly as he reached inside the case and pulled out a model of a Mitsubishi A6M 'Zero' plane "This is the stuff you're looking for, right?"
"Is that the flying machine I have heard so much about? Thank you" she quickly took the plane and threw at Theodore's face. He felt to the ground with a bleeding nose while she looked excited "They really can fly, just like the rumor" Well… I suppose that flying alright Shinkai sighed as he summoned Pixie to healed Theodore while Elizabeth picked up and cherished the toys. They spent the rest of the time eating Takoyaki while Shinkai took that time to talk to some of his demons and drank sake with them. Suddenly, he received a photo on his phone as he was drinking with Susano-o
"Gotcha" he grinned and stood up, apologizing to Susano-o who he then dismissed back into the tube, he bided the siblings and Igor farewell and quickly returned to the dorm
"I GOT HER!" he literary kicked the door open as he arrived at the dorm, surprised the people inside with his screaming "I got her, and we have to move! Fast!"
"Who?" Akihiko asked with a confusing face as the group was having dinner with… STEAKS? We're having steak tonight? Why didn't anyone tell him? Curse you, fate! He can fell his stomach growling as he looked at Akihiko put a steak into his mouth, but they don't have time now
"The culprit. My demons sent me a picture of Kada talking to the new girl before they both vanished into thin air" he threw the phone at Yomi, who catch it with ease and checked the photo "She moved faster than I anticipated, but we have to move now or that girl will die"
"Right! Get ready, SEES! We have a murderer to catch!" Mitsuru quickly gave the order and the group quickly armed themselves, spared for Minato who still enjoying the steak
"Why are we at a club?" Yukari wondered as they stood in front of Club Escapade "Aren't we supposed to be at the school?"
"It is highly possible that she is in the Dark Realm" he opened the door and then entered "And we need help to get into the Dark Realm itself"
"There is no herald of Yataragasu here…" Yomi remarked "How are we going to go into the Dark Realm?"
"There's one right here" a voice answered her question. Sitting there at the bar was Mutatsu, smiling at them "Hello again, kitty cat"
"The Herald?" Yomi backed away with a shock expression "Have they found us?"
"Don't worry, he's no longer with the Crows" Shinkai chuckled at Yomi's reaction "I asked him to perform the Ritual of Entrance for us and he agreed to help"
"Let's go somewhere more… private" Mutatsu stood up and moved upstairs as the group followed him. Once they have all gathered upstairs, he began the ritual.
They were standing on Iwatodai's street, but it was different. The air was cold, lifeless, stench of death. Demons roam the realm, looking for unfortunate soul who had wondered too far off reality
"I-I-Is t-t-th-that o-our s-s-sc-school?" Junpei stammered as he pointed with shaking hand at what supposed to be Gekkoukan High. Demons crawling all over the school, covered it up with their disgusting appearances, leaving what supposed to be a school, a demon's nest.
"It's infested by demons!" Mitsuru commented with horror expression "What could be the cause of this?"
"I think you already know, Mitsuru" Shinkai looked at her amusingly "But we have to go now or risking that girl life!" steeling themselves, they charged into the school. Quickly dispatched any demon that popped up on their way, they arrived at the garden, where stood a figure holding what seem to be a knife, aiming for a woman lying on the ground
"Stop right there!" Shinkai shouted as soon as they arrived at the scene "Drop the knife!" Slowly, the figured turned around and looked at them. Instead of a familiar face like he expected, the person was wearing a mask. A white mask white open mouth and two sharps bull-like horns, eyes filled with hatred
"I-Is that a Hannya mask?" Yukari asked while backing away in terror. The mask-wearing person tilled her head and looked at them in a creepy and distorted way. She slowly stood up, still holding a knife in her hand and stared at them
"Represent a woman hatred and jealousy…" Shinkai smirked "…just like you are, right? Kada-san?" the group seemed to be startled by the revelation. Noticing a bottle of blood on her other hand, Shinkai finally get his answer "Is that water belong to your last victim, Kada-san!"
"W-What do you mean? Last victim?" Akihiko asked him, still wearing the terrified face
"Remember when I ask you would blood turned to water in Dark Hour? That blood belonged the 5th victim" The person looked down at the blood bottle, before opening it and started to water the tree with blood "remember when I said demon were master of deception? Instead of blood, all she sees is water" he looked to the silhouette behind the girl "she must have killed her first victim in the Dark Hour, and the demon took the advantage of that. Am I right? Amatsu Mikaboshi!" upon his words, the god of evil showed himself, clapping his hand slowly like he had anticipated this event
"Congratulation. Dare I ask, how did you find out?" he smiled excitedly. Clearing his throat, Shinkai began
"You come to her when she was jealous of her classmates getting too close to the one she loved, Mister Kondo. Her jealousy and hatred fueled you as you started whispering to her
But the girl still retained her sanity, that's why she didn't commit any crime but just hate from afar. You need something, something to use her emotion, something to drive her into killing others. And you found what you seek in Kyoto when her class was on a school trip, a Hannya mask
You whispered to her, made her buy that mask, so that when she put on that mask that you cursed, she would lose her senses. You acknowledge of the Dark Hour and use it. You manipulated her into killing her first victim, buried the body under the tree that she and Kondo planted. After one night, the blood turned to water and she watered the tree with it. You repeated the process until Kondo got killed in a car accident. She was in too much grief to hear your whisper, to look at the mask
She left for Tokyo, leaving the past and her hatred behind. But then she returned for unknown reason to me, you started using her emotion again. By using her love for the man Shinosuke, you continued your slaughter. Am I right?"
"Bravo" the demon clapped amusingly "You get it almost right"
"'Almost'?" What did he leave out?
"She does not love Shinosuke, she hated him" confused crossed through Shinkai's face "She didn't leave behind her hatred. She come to Tokyo not because to leave behind her past, but to pursue it. The man, Shinosuke, was the person who killed the man she loved. That man fleeted to Tokyo after the hit-and-run, and managed to get away by using his money and influence. Using her studying as a cover, she followed him and ready to set her plan to motion. But he returned to Iwatodai to open a new branch, so she abandoned her studying and return here, to proceed with her plan" what plan? "She wanted him to experience the pain of losing the one he loveed, just like her, and she wanted him to fall in love with her. Only then will she kill him"
The demon looked at Kada as she happily watered the tree amusingly "I am not responsible for her actions. Maybe in the past I used her jealousy to fuel me, but it was her hatred and jealousy that fueled the mask and her soul which lead her astray. This time, however, was her own doing. I'm just enjoy the show"
"B-But you made her do it in the first place?" Yukari shouted at the demon but only to made him chuckled
"Perhaps, but it was her desire. I only set it free" he started laughing "Human are such a weak race. Blinded by love and hatred, guided by feared and jealousy. They are so frail, so easily broken. Their desire made them do anything, and I'm only want to see that desire"
"T-That's just wrong" Akihiko retaliated "We're not weak! We're stronger than you are! And we'll prove it now!" the demon merely laughed at his words
"Junpei! Yukari! Grab the girl and bring her to a safe place!" they nodded and quickly ran toward the girl, but was stopped as a knife flew and landed right next to the girl. Kada had finished her watering and already turned her attention to them. She slowly picked up the knife and stood between the group and the unconscious girl
"I don't think she have any intention to give her back" the demon laughed "And so is he" the earth around them started shaking violently. Behind the demon and the girl, the tree opened its eyes. Its leaves turned into red, bones and skulls started sticking out it and replaced its barks, created an armor of bones. The tree continued to grow as the group backing away in fear. Standing between them and the girl now were a giant demon tree, a powerful god, and a serial killer.
"When I distract them, take the girl and run" he whispered to Junpei and Yukari and turned to Akihiko "You and Minato along with one of my demon will hold Amatsu Mikaboshi, the other will join you later. He's a powerful god, be careful. His weakness is ice" Shinkai turned his attention on Mitsuru "You with your glass would be able to disable the girl, don't kill her" they all nodded confirmedly as they turned their attention toward each individual target. He glanced at Yomi and nodded, and they attack.
Amatsu Mikaboshi afraid of ice, and will possibly use Jubokko as a meat shield. But if Shinkai applied fire to all weapons, Amatsu would absorb the fire. The smartest strategy is to separate the two and concentrate his fire onto the giant tree.
"Gdon! Oukuninushi! Come!" the fire tiger and the great warrior of old answered his call and appeared "Oukuninushi! Please assist the children against the evil god!" the warrior nodded firmly and charged in with Akihiko and Minato "Gdon! You and I shall take down the demon that have been harm the people of this town!" the tigress roared excitedly as they both charged at the giant tree of death
Kada charged at Mitsuru with inhuman speed with a knife on her hand. Quickly twisted her body, Mitsuru dodged the stab. Brought up her rapier, she spotted a weak point on the elbow and thrusted at it. The attack didn't connect as Kada quickly retract her hand, avoiding the thrust. Using Mitsuru's open, Kada tried to plunge a knife into her stomach. See her movement, Mitsuru using the momentum she was having and kicked the girl in the stomach, caused her to stumble and back away. Suddenly, dark energy started forming around you
"Forgot to tell you" Mikaboshi laughed as he avoided Akihiko's punched "The mask might be cursed, but her hatred born a new demon from it" the dark energy started taking form of a woman with purple skin, wearing a smirk on her face with two horns sticking out of her head. She was holding a veil over Kada "Meet Hannya, the demon born from Kada's emotions"
The demon charged at Mitsuru, but with was stopped by a little snowman wearing a black outfit and an old hat with sideburns "Fret not my lady! Raiho to the rescue!" demon cheered as Mitsuru glanced at Shinkai who had another tube on his hand as he avoided another hit from Jubokko
Shinkai didn't expect a demon coming out from the mask. Apparently Kada's hatred is much greater than he anticipated. Thankfully he was able to summon Raiho to protect her. Three high level demons at the same time put a great strain on his body as he felt his MAG being drained dramatically. Using Scorch Slash, he was able to inflict enormous damage onto the tree, but it was still not enough as Gdon and Yomi continuously shooting fire at it but it still shrugged it off like it was nothing. Jumped to the left dodging another red ice flung at him by the demon, he rained bullet upon it. With Aurora clips he recently acquired from the owner of the Pharmacy, his limitation regarding of ammunition was no more. But even so, he need better strategy
Akihiko threw another punched but the demon avoided with ease and laughed. Summoning Angel, Minato casted a wind spell onto the demon, which made him winced a bit. Realizing that wind as well as ice are his weakness, Minato concentrate on Wind spells. The Rebel God notice the caster was the blue hair boy and immediately attack him, but he was stopped by a giant sword wield by Oukuninushi, imbued with ice "Rebel god! Feel my wrath! Fall to my blade!" the leader of the Kunitsu charge at the Amatsu. Ice fired from his sword, he attacked the Amatsu relentlessly, giving no quarter.
"Demons and gods and masks… this could get any crazier!" Junpei said as he cut down another demon
"Stop complaining" while Yukari held the unconscious woman running behind him, occasionally summoned Io to help Junpei "You're not making this any easier. Let's hurry and returned to help the other"
"I know, I know…" he cut off another demon's head with his sword using his baseball style stance "Wait…! Did you feel that?"
"Feel what?" she asked but quickly received her answer as the ground started shaking. Looking forward, her face was replaced by a horrified look "Is that...?"
"Here come the fun part" Junpei grinned as a myriad of lesser demons were marching toward with insane speed. Putting the girl down, Yukari and Junpei quickly steeled themselves for the battle
"Penthesilea!" Mitsuru called out as she summoned her Persona. The Amazonian queen appeared and bashed away the fire which was coming for Mitsuru. Hannya continued to shoot fire in all direction. Raiho shoot another Glacial Blast and Cocytus at the demon while trying his best to avoid Kada's knife causing the demon to stumble back. Using the chance, Mitsuru summoned her persona to charge at the demon, pinning her down, dust all over the place. Kada was distracted by the demon and it costed her greatly as Mitsuru emerged from the dust and thrust her sword toward Kada's torso, more specifically, the Sternum. Supposedly, that attack would be fatal, but she put a cap over her rapier made it into a blunt weapon while remain it thrust power. The blow knocked Kada off her feet and rendered her unconscious. Raiho charged up a Cocytus and finished off Hannya while Penthesilea held she down
Jubokoo is riddled with holes. The bone and skull that supposed to protect it have worn off by bullets from Shinkai. Blood streaming out of its body as Yomi and Gdon continued to burn it. Signaled Gdon, Shinkai grabbed the handle of his sword, prepared for another Scorch Slash. The demon roared in pain as it threw a myriad of red razor-sharp leaves at him but Yomi burned them all to ash on the way with her Maragi. Concentrate his MAG, he amplified the attack into Flare Slash. The demon roared again and threw hundreds of spears made of bones, but they were shattered and burned by Gdon before they even reach Shinkai. Opened his eyes, he unleashed the sword from its scabbard as a flame trailed behind it. With the heat equal to magna in a volcano, he slashed furiously at the demon. And demon was no more, as the wind blew away the last of the ashes
"Unicorn!" A white horse appeared at his words. Minato avoided another fireball threw at him by the Amatsu as Unicorn charged right into the god, disrupted his attack. Ice started forming around its horn but the god quickly blasted its head away with Hellfire. Polydeuces emerged from behind the horse as he plunged his needle into the god face. Growling annoyingly, he slapped Polydeuces away, dispatched him. As soon as he stood up, Okuninushi charged at him with his ice imbued sword, slashing skillfully. The god and the leader of Kunitsu matched blows to blows, fire to ice. But in the end, even a human can't win against a god as Mikaboshi started to push back Okuninushi. As he raised his hands ready to use Hellfire, Unicorn rammed him from the left and Polydeuces punched him on the right. As he disrupted by the pain causing from two of his sides, he left an opening, and Okuninushi took the opening and plunged his ice sword into the Rebel God as he scream in agony.
"Congratulation!" he said as he backed away with Okuninushi's sword in his chest "You've besten a god! You should fell proud" he started laughing and exploded into Magnetite.
"That's the last of them" Junpei said as Hermes's Cleave cut off 5 Ukobach's heads
"I hope so…" Yukari replied as she retrieved an arrow from a Preta head "I hope the others okay"
"Let's take the girl to a safe place then comeback to help them" Junpei said as he looked down to where the girl should've be "Where is she?"
"What do you mean w….! Where is she?" Yukari started to panic as she looked around, looking for the woman, but she was nowhere to be found. Could one of the demon got through and took her back to the garden? Fearing for the worst, they quickly returned to the garden
"There you are?" Shinkai greeted them as they returned to the garden, grasping for air "What took you so long?"
"T-The…*gasp*T-the…*gasp*" Junpei tried to speak but can't seem to find his voice. Shinkai chuckled as he can guess what they are trying to said
"The girl is gone right?" the pair nodded quickly "Don't worry, she has returned to our world. I predicted that would happened after we killed the demons. Guessed I should've warn you"
"What do you mean returned to our world?" Yukari asked as he stared at the unconscious girl lying on the ground "if that person returned, should she return as well?"
"We human are an abnormality in this realm, we're not welcome here" Shinkai sat down and began his lesson "The kidnapped woman was brought here by the demon and kept here by him. That's why when he gone, she returned to our world"
"If human are an abnormalities, how can we be here?" Mitsuru voiced her curiosity with concern while Shinkai just smiled like a proud teacher
"Because we are being held here by Mutatsu out there" he pointed at the sky "He put us in here and play the role of the demon, but unlike demons, he also created a way out"
"A way out?" Akihiko looked around "Where?"
"The portal where we come in… that's our way out" Minato said behind the group "Is that right?"
"Correct" he clapped his hands excitedly and stood up "But because Kada-san still wearing that mask, she still being held here" he approached the unconscious girl and took off the mask, revealed the familiar face "this time, I'll play the role of the demon and keep her here"
"So that's her… That's the culprit of the case 4 years ago?" Junpei asked with disbelief
"And the disappearing case recently as well" Shinkai slowly unsheathed his sword " And it's time for her judgment"
"Wait! Are you going to kill her?" Yukari ask with a terrifying look on her face "You can't do that!"
"She'll have to pay for crime!" he grimaced, he doesn't like this either, but this is justice "It either she dies or she goes to the Crow's prison which is much worse! Death is merciful for her!"
"But you can't do that! That's just wrong!" Yukari yelled. Shinkai know Yukari's a good girl and doesn't want thing to turn out like this, but this is the only way
"What do you propose then?" his sword inched closer to Kada's neck "You don't honestly want to let her go, do you? After all the injustice she done? It was her own hatred that drove her into murder, the demon only let her see that."
"Handle her to the police! Let them have their culprit!" Akihiko interjected
"The police? Don't make me laugh? The police don't handle matters like this! This matter falls into the field of the devil summoners, and only a devil summoner can solve it!" his sword is only millimeters away from penetrating her neck "Say I gave her to the police, where's my evidences? Even if I use Kurosawa to throw her in prison, they'll execute her for what she had done. Even worse, the Crows can intercept and took her away, threw her into one of their prisons! That's the fate worse than death!" blood started drawing out at her neck as his sword touched her skin "I killed her here, and she'll avoid that horrible fate. It will also save us a lot of effort"
"Even so, you can't kill a girl" Junpei pledged. His naïve amused Shinkai some time
"It does not matter who she is or what is her gender! Retribution awaits!" he rose his sword, readied to cut her down but was stopped by Yomi hands on his shoulder
"We have no rights to judge her Shinkai" Yomi said as she had a sorrow look on her face "This is what cause you to falter in the first place. Don't you remember? Take a look at yourself now" she held up a mirror and what he saw terrified him. His eyes, they were filled with hatred, just like then, just like when he killed them. No, I'm better than this! He steeled himself. Slowly, he sheathed his sword and turned at the horrified, sans for Minato, group, eyes filled with regret
"I'll sent her to Kurosawa along with all the information and evidence I have, he'll make sure she stand before court for her crime" he released the MAG grip on her and she quickly disappeared. They all let out a sigh of relief and smiled back.
Kurosawa put Kada into custody as soon as Shinkai handled her to him and started to contact some of his old 'friends' and started creating evidences from Shinkai information. A few days after, her names was all over the newspaper as the kidnapper and possibly, a serial killer. He recognized the writing style, it belonged to a certain journalist that he knew. Perhaps if Kada is lucky, the Crows won't find her, and she'll have a quick death. But that's none of his concern now as he has just received a letter from an old friend
"She knows"
He sighed as he chucked down another glass of beer next to Mutatsu. It'll only be a matter of time before she found him, and he has already readied himself. Taking out the mask from his briefcase, he started to exam it. The Hannya mask represent the woman hatred and jealousy. If look from the front, it looks like an angry face, but if you looked at it from above, it's a sorrow face. This mask displayed the complexity of human emotion just right. Kada was too sorrowful, too lonely untill Kondo came along. She depended on him and want him for herself. It's just a little selfish from something we called, love, which clouded her judgement as she saw her classmate getting closer to her love. Her sorrow gave birth to her jealousy, which lead her astray as she killed all of her female classmates. Her sorrow gave birth to her hatred as she blinded by rage and ran after the man, even abandon her study just to return here with her desire to make him miserable. One may blame the demon for what happened to her, but was he? He only set her emotion free, it was her from the beginning. But that chapter is over now. He slowly opened his briefcase and put in the mask before returned to his drink
Do you like this chapter, i enjoy writing it. To make imaging thing easier for you, our main character voice shall be Tomokazu Sugita and the soundtrack should be the soundtrack from Okitegami Kyoko. in precious chapter, i said 'suitcase' instead of 'briefcase' due to my short of knowledge, i just want you to know that. With that settle, it's time for
Professor Jack Frost
Hannya mask
: Hee-ho everyone, Professor Jack Frost is here and i'll will teach you about Hannya mask. Hannya masks are mostly used in Noh play as it depict the face of a jealous woman, filled with hatred. Even hee-so, if you look from above, the mask would look like some one crying. Creepy huh? It was said to be-ho represent the complexity of human emotions. Why can't every one just be like me, hee-ho? I'm happy all the time. I should make a Jack Frost mask some time, then everyone can be happy-ho. Moving on, the mask origin remained unknown as there are many theories. One of them was from 'the story of Hikaru Genji'. It's said that lady Aoi no Ue, the primary wife of Hikaru Genji was misarable because of the ghost of Genji first love, Rokujou Miyasundokoro, jealousy. She later called many monks in to the palace to read the Hannya Shingyo. After a ferocious battle, Rokujou let hee-go of her evil and achieved Buddhahood. But even after that, she was still unable to take off her Hannya mask. Geez, women and their jealousy...
Au: You are not supposed to say that, they'll kill you
: What do you mean, hee-ho?... Hello there Hannya, what are you going to hee-do with those knives? Have i told you that you're pretty? Why are you holding the knife so high, hee-ho? Wait! WAIT! *loud growling**stabbing sound**screaming*
Au: I'm afraid that's the last we see Prof Jack. See you next time. Also, due to some testing and school business. The next chapter might be longer, so please wait
