"It's the Saint group!"
A sudden loud scream was heard throughout the school, interrupting our fight,
Glancing out of the window, I saw the familiar faces of Nene, Chiaki, Yuka, Shiroyama, Shimokawa, Aizawa, and Jinno.
They were being stopped by a group of uniformed Himekawa clones.
Apparently Aizawa got fed up and kicked the leader in the face.
He then looked up, raising his eyebrows when he noticed me.
"Our reaper is here too." He said to Jinno who followed his gaze.
"Takenaka you really are okay!" Yuka yelled getting in between them.
Stunned everyone else looked up, relief appearing in their faces for a second before returning to their delinquent mode.
"No wonder he looks like he's enjoying himself more than usual." Jinno turned to the crowd of clone Himekawa's. "Let's have one last of your beloved festivals before we graduate."
"Let's make this a good memory for our little gang." Aizawa gave a short wave my way as he soon after followed Jinno's lead.
Turning back and taking the opportunity of time, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the bag of candy Rin prepared for me. The sweet taste hit my taste buds and I was ready.
"Now then, let's get back to it."
"Don't talk to me like we're suddenly on the same level, you filthy bitch. You think that because you manage to throw him off you that you're the shit?"
He later took a deep breath and shook off his anger.
"Takamiya said to play around with you first. When I decide to get serious then things won't be as good for you."
Mastema came at me again. His attacks were not the easiest to avoid and getting close to him like I wanted to be was complicated.
He's too fast in his attacks and to retreat back…
The king's crest was making it possible for me to stay in tune with him but it wasn't enough.
It didn't help either that in between fighting Mastema, Takamiya's henchman constantly threw comments my way. He was one of the most annoying people I had ever meet.
From what I figured he was a freshman like Takamiya. Since I had never seen him before then that meant that he had recently joined. He made himself look intimidating at first but now he was just annoying. Like a little kid whose mom let him get whatever toys he wanted, eat as much candy as he wanted, and let him cuss freely with no consequences.
"Can you come up with something new to say?" I said after blocking one of Mastema's punches with my scythe.
The guy slightly opened his mouth at my question, shocked that I finally spoke up. I had been quiet the whole time.
"Calling me a bitch, telling me that I'm useless and that I will lose...it's old already." I moved my gaze back to Mastema's fake body and stared deep into its eyes. "Why are you letting him use you like that? You hate cocky brats like him. You would rather die than be bossed around by one. That alone should have made you snap out of whatever control they have over you."
This made Takamiya's henchmen crack.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" He started to tremble with anger.
A mark appeared under his right eyeas a large amount of demonic energy erupted from what felt to be the roof.
"Who do you think you are!?"
In a flash Mastema had struck me across the face, sending me back.
Luckily I caught myself in time.
He started to come at me non-stop and I managed to dodge most of his attacks but a few still got me.
Mastema punched me one more time, this was one of the times he got me.
I let out a yelp as I felt the heavy fist collide with my stomach.
Then there was another sound of bones breaking.
I tried kicking him away from me but I was struck down.
The force he had been using before was nothing compared to now. The worst part was that without Mastema, I was feeling 100% of the pain. He usually made it so the pain wouldn't be as bad.
I bit my lip hard in order not to cry out again.
Mastema loomed over me and went to grab my foot.
There was only one way, I would be able to distract myself from the broken rib.
I hit him square in the face with my scythe.
I then moved my scythe to wring him around the neck and twirled around, taking him with me until letting him go.
"T-T...Thats...A little better..."
Although it was Mastema who I just hit around, Takamiya's henchmen looked like he was the one who was about to cry.
"You don't get it?! When I say you're useless and that you will lose, I mean it. Fighting because you have hope that things will get a little better. Give me a break."
Mastema ran up to me and had wrapped his hand around my neck, pushing me back as he tightened his grip.
"Life is about despair! Everything that's happening now is because it's your fault! This demon will do anything I want and right now I want you dead!"
My body was slammed against the wall with Mastema putting more pressure to his grip. One layer of the wall behind me was crushed and the rest threaten to be destroyed.
The power of the seal was gone and I was feeling the extreme weight of Mastema's strength.
Shit...I can't get him off me...The crest is not responding. Did they separate Beelze?
I started to feel dizzy and my body was giving up on me.
"Dah!"
Turning my head slightly, there stood Beel.
"Himekawa and Udagawa did it, Takamiya is victorious. Told you, you stupid bitch!" Takamiya's henchman burst out laughing for a second but then bit his tongue when he saw me scowl at Mastema.
"N-Not….even now y-you don't snap out of it... Don't you recognize your own nephew...?"
Beel looked startled when Mastema went back to tightening his grip on me.
"Adah!"
"It's okay...I'm ganna get him back..."
My scythe that I held onto started to spazz out with its demonic energy, which was holding the form together. The blade dissolved and came together with the rest of the demonic energy to turn into a single force. It slid up my arm up to my neck, like a live entity and spread to protect me like an armor.
Beel was using his power as a filter so that I could draw out my own without breaking the seal Mastema had put.
"What the hell is going on?!" Takamiya's henchman screamed.
My demonic energy then bounced off my body and threw Mastema off.
"Thank you Beelze. I got it from here."
"Dabuh!" He nodded then his little footsteps were gone.
Tilting my head side to side, I imitated a certain red head and cracked my neck.
So much for my oath.
I bolted toward him at high speed, my demonic energy gliding throughout my body.
Mastema recovered from being thrown off and came at me at full force.
The windows shattered as our fist connected with each other.
It only lasted a second before we were both thrown back.
Landing on my feet once again, I secured my footing. Mastema did the same after looking down at his knuckles, which I had busted.
"Hey annoying brat…" I called towards Takamiya's henchman who had surprisingly gone silent as he watched. "Yes, life does suck and bad things happen. Yet just bitching about it gets you nowhere. Finding good reasons to turn things around actually makes life starts to suck a lot less. Takamiya and you are missing that and that's why he's not going to beat Oga and why you're not going to beat me."
Mastema's eyes widened seeing me come at him again, faster than before.
He instinctively followed my lead by running towards me, ready for another collision.
He pulled his arm right and brought it down to punch me again but instead of colliding with my fist again, he punched my jacket. I had taken it off at last minute and dodged his attack at high speed.
Using his shoulder as leverage, I jumped off it and came straight to Takamiya's henchman.
"So don't fuck with me! I'm taking my demon back!" I yelled punching him in the face. He easily flew across the cafeteria, crashing against the walls of the classrooms next to us, until halting a mile away.
Glancing back, Mastema moved to attack me but stopped when he realized something was wrong. A large wave of electricity went through him as he was zapped.
Landing on the floor with a loud thump, a shiny red collar was visibly seen on his neck.
"Now you know how that feels. Can't laugh now can you?" I commented walking towards him and pulling him up.
Thank god, I saved the instructions for this damn thing.
This was what I was trying to protect throughout the fight.
My secret weapon; the magical collar the Demon Lord sent us.
After I had left my apartment earlier, I went back to the river to figure out a way to get it back. Although it took a while to figure out what the instructions said, I eventually understood there was a way to summon it back.
This involved me saying 'Hey, Hey, Heeeey Bingo Gameeeeee'.
I sighed and shook my head as I focused on my demonic energy.
My mark started to glow and additional mark appeared on my forehead.
Okay, I can do this.
Once I was ready, I reached inside Mastemas fake body and felt for his soul. When I found it, I pulled it out but to my surprise I was looking at another skeleton man who looked back at me like he had just gotten in trouble.
"What the hell?"
From across the room, someone started clapping.
Turning around, I saw that Takamiya's henchman was already a few feet behind me.
"I'm glad Beelze woke me up when he did. Seeing you yell out 'I'm taking my demon back' then punching the shit out of this guy...I am really touched, girly."
My eye twitched realizing who exactly was speaking.
"I should have done this sooner. I am really proud of you."
He saw me throw a deadly glare his way and he merely shrug his shoulders.
"Just take my compliment. Besides, didn't you get my letter?"
"What letter? Also why do you always do this at the freaking wrong time?"
"Calm down. I tried telling you what happened to me but you were too busy getting cozy sleeping next to your lover when I went to check up on you so I left you a letter."
A teasing smile spread across his face as I almost choked on my saliva from hearing him.
"Anyway, I guess I should explain." He calmly said after I regained my composure. "Originally, I was in that body. The Solomon Company sent it as a prototype to test out. They wanted to see how easily it is for a human to manipulate a demon with a fake body so that they could do the same with other demons. Remove them from their original bodies, break their will, place them in fake bodies, then have the user have their way with them. Too bad for them they picked the wrong test dummy. I was easily able to break out of the hold they placed on me."
"What did you do after?"
"Convince this kid to help me by telling him if that we formed a contract then he would be able to get more power from me. He would be able to stand next to Takamiya, not behind him."
"And that's why he's here?" I hinted at the skeleton man that was still in my grasp.
"Yeah, in order to keep up appearances I created him and gave him the ability to imitate my powers. That way, Takamiya or anyone else from the Solomon Company wouldn't get suspicious."
Mastema walked up and patted the skeleton man on the head.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Next the skeleton man vanished as if he was never there.
"Even though this brat doesn't put up a fight whenever I want take over unlike you, I do miss the space I had when I was with you. It's too cramped in here. Plus there are some other things I want to tell you but not out loud."
Focusing again, I repeat my earlier actions and reached inside Takamiya's henchman until I found Mastema's soul. He latched onto my arm then moved to spread across my entire body. Before long he was back.
Ahhh it's good to be back.
Since Mastema was no longer in Takamiya's henchmans body, it dropped like a sack of potatoes into my arms. Mastema put him to sleep and he wasn't going to wake up until a couple of hours.
Now to take out the trash.
Taking control back, Mastema threw the guys body up. He crashed through the wall above us and he kept going until he crashed through the roof and ironically enough, he bursting out in the same place Udagawa was standing so they both went up in the air then fell.
"Seems like Takenaka is done." Himekawa said after he stepped aside when Takamiya's henchman came bursting out. Kanzaki looked at the newly formed hole with astonishment.
So what is it that you wanted to tell me?
The information I have on the Solomon Company is complete.
What!
I formed a contract with brat in order to get to Himekawa. He was the next step to my plan and he cooperated very nicely after I told him I knew he was a double agent. Using the little connections they have here with the Solomon Company, I was able to find all of my answers. Are you ready to hear it?
Yeah.
Let me start by explaining why they are really after us. In their eyes, we're a huge problem. We weren't supposed to happen and since we did, they can't get what they want without us blocking their way. Therefore they sent Takamiya to come after us. Their plan was to have us separate, use us to advance their goods, and finally quietly take us out.
Secretly kill us off, why?
Because if they held a public execution, it would have Iris resent them and not want to further cooperate with them.
Mastema sighed sadly after saying the last part.
She thinks they are helping her when in reality this company is manipulating her. They are using her powers to contain what are called the seven deadly sins which were former rulers of the countries my brother united. These are also the demons that these new students, or the six omens as they are called, have been using. Which brings me to my next point. Lucifer wasn't the demon to be concerned about, Satan is. He's going to come after Takamiya loses. He's going to accomplish all that the Solomon Company wanted.
To get Beelze and use him?
More like they want to awaken his true power so that there could be an all-out war and overthrow the Demon Lord...Right now though, they sent their Reaper, Johan, to take Lucifer back and check up on the prototype.
Shifting my focus, I realized what he meant because I felt the presence of the representative that we shortly fought last time.
I bent down and grabbed the fake body.
He's expecting it to be successful which means you would have killed me, taking me out and leaving you to be taken cared of after.
Correct.
These people, they use demons and humans for their game...I fucking hate them. If we we're an obstacle then we will stay an obstacle.
On the roof, Akaboshi and Evian had just made their grand appearance and Johan was standing on the fence of the roof.
"What a pain. Things aren't looking too good for me, so I'll back off now." His friendly smile faded when something came whirling his way, he barely caught it when he realized it was the fake body Mastema was using.
"You're forgetting something, that toy and the fact I'm the Reaper of this school. Back off now completely and you'll leave here without your ass handed to you."
A humongous shadow loomed over Oga, Takamiya, Akaboshi, and Evian.
Everyone's eyes widened as I stood on the shoulder of one humongous skeleton man.
Considering my fight against Takamiya's henchman proved to be educational, I summoned all the previous skeleton men he did and decided to try out the idea of joining them together. It had worked and one humongous skeleton man ripped through the building and made its way toward the roof like King Kong.
"You're still alive. What a shame…" Johan looked back down at Oga and stuck out his tongue to show a teleportation jewel. "Well, you guys can keep pounding on each other if you'd like, but Fuji will come and put everything in order."
With that he disappeared, leaving everyone shocked.
Back on the other side of the school, Toujou and Kunieda watched the whole thing from the window.
Who exactly was that? I seriously have a bad feeling about that.
Aoi thought looking at everyone's expression, her gaze traveled to the person next to her and caught him staring intently at me, a small smile on his face. He had the exact same smile when she caught him watching me dancing during the Saint-Sent X'mas event.
"Toujou…"
Toujou ripped his gaze away from me and toward Aoi.
She couldn't look at him with a straight face because what she decided to say next was going to have her overstep her boundaries.
"You should tell Takenaka how you feel about her."
"How I feel about her?"
Aoi couldn't really say no more because if she spelled it out for him, that would be really overstepping her boundaries. Besides how could she tell him when she couldn't even bring herself to tell Oga how she felt about him.
"You make it sound like a shojo manga." Toujou started to laugh at the idea. "Like I should confess to her or something."
She froze for a second, at hearing him.
He had hit the nail in the head and he just brushed it off without realizing it.
Why did I even think he would get something out of that!
Eventually since everything was done and Furuichi's soul fragments were collected, everyone headed home.
"You should have gone to your house." I said to Toujou as he walked into my apartment with me.
"I didn't want to." He answered in a nonchalant manner.
Rin had gone some time ago, leaving the place dark and empty.
Sighing, I turned on the light.
"Let me treat your wounds then." Going to the bathroom and getting the first aid kit, I instructed him to go sit in one of the dining room chairs.
"You should treat yours first." He said, refusing to sit down.
"I'm fine. You on the other hand aren't." I hinted at the large bruises on his on his face.
He didn't refuse any longer and did as I had instructed. I began to treat his wounds.
Once I had finished the ones on his face he started removed his jacket to I could treat the one on his side but stopped remembering one of the sleeves were ripped off.
"Oh shit...Etsuko, I'm sorry! I kinda got too lost on the moment."
"It's okay...because I broke several walls and windows at school during my fight…so we're even…."
"My job is never done..." Toujou sighed and dropped his head, remembering that there were also other people fighting and therefore other areas of the school that had been destroyed once again.
Moving forward, I finished the rest of the wounds.
I worked silently and carefully in order to make sure all of them got taken care of. They weren't serious, making treating them easier for the both of us. A little too easy because by the time I was done Toujou had fallen asleep.
I can't really make him leave now…
Looking over at the clock, I realized what time it was and sighed.
I was interrupted when he let out a soft snore.
Yeah, I really can't make him leave.
Placing my around his waist, I pulled him up, and lead him towards my bed. I was glad Mastema had fallen asleep before because I didn't want to hear anything about letting Toujou sleep over. It wasn't like I was going to have him sleep on the ground and my couch was too small for him to lay in.
This has been happening a lot lately though…I don't know how to feel about that...
Laying him down and gently making sure he was comfortable, I was about to step back when he caught to my hand. I almost jumped and calmed down once I saw that he was still asleep.
Once he let go, I backed up slowly and went to turn off the lights and change into my pajamas. Coming back to the bed, I carefully moved to tuck myself in.
I relaxed and started to melt into the mattress when Toujou decided to abruptly move again in his sleep and this time he pulled me back towards him. My back hit his chest and I was stuck inside his arms.
I began to panic thinking of what to do.
He made a slight noise which made me even more nervous..
"Etsuko..."
Turning my head slightly to look at him wide eyed, I saw that he was still asleep.
What's up with him?!
In response, Toujou brought me closer and nuzzled his face against the back of my head.
"…I feel the best when I'm with you...just stay here... "
He's sleeping. It's nothing.
"...You're so cute..." He whispered in my ear as he nuzzled his face even closer.
My eyes almost shot out of their sockets and my beating heart almost ripped through my chest.
Thank you for reading once again! I want to especially say thank you to all the new followers that I have.
Well there's so much to address for this chapter.
First of course is what Toujou admitted. Things are getting really serious for the two of them and with what happened with the Takamiya/Himekawa fight, there was some enlightenment for Toujou. He's not completely consciously aware of it. Not yet completely though. We're getting really close to the huge confession though. So don't feel like I've had them beat around the bush for too long!
Also how cool is Etsuko's new ability?! I don't have an official name for it but I hope I described it well enough for all of you to imagine it. It's going to come in handy in the future. As for Mastema returning and what's happening with the Solomon Company, let me just say things are going to get intense. I am excited to write it and for you all to read it. Things are taking a turn for real and Etsuko is going to go all out. She's going to be taking names and running things!
Another thing I wanted to address was that yes, Etsukos number is 5. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.
Feel free to ask me questions or just tell me what you think. I seriously do appreciate it!
I want to once again thank Devlin Dracul for always reviewing my stories because with just having that bit of feedback, I am able to shape my stories into something better by adding your thoughts into it. So in a sense I do see you as an editor/Personal critic haha
Until next chapter!