This place again?

Ren woke up in the weird place again where there was no boundary or walls. Not to mention this is the second time he came to visit this place. He can't see anything other than complete darkness around him and water under his feet.

He walked as he doubt there's even an exit in here. But also no point standing here like a fool. He took his time, walking forward with catious in case of falling into the water like the last time.

"Ren Yato…"

He heard the same voice calling him again. The tone was the same as the last time he was here. He looked at where the voice came from. A human-like object surrounded with blue light. He approached that 'thing', not forgetting to drop his guard.

The more he approached, the clearer the 'thing' he can see. It was a man faced behind him. Ren observed the people in front of him, he share the same hair color as him except the hair was long enough to reach the waist, the skin was slightly white, the height was taller than Ren himself, and blue coat.

Ren slowly reached his hand to his shoulder, wondering who he is. Just about he reached, the man spoke.

"Did you miss me?" He turned around, exposing his evil smile with sharp teeth and red horns on his forehead. The most important is, he looked exactly like Ren.

Ren widened his eyes and was shocked by the familiar yet demonic look. He leaped backwards and stared at the man who shared his face.

"What's wrong? I was hoping for a reunion hug." He spoke disappointedly while shaking his head. Ren was unable to understand what the evil man was speaking of. Reunion? Did he meet him before? Ren tried to remember, wondering where he met this man before.

Before he could conclude, the evil man pulled out a sword from his back. It was the same sword used by him. Without a warning, he swung the sword and formed a blue slash towards Ren.

The young mercenary quickly dodged the attack. He looked back to the evil man and noticed that he had disappeared right in front of him. Then, a heavy murderous aura right behind him.

The evil man appeared behind Ren and aimed for his head. Ren widened his eyes, watching the blade was getting closer to his neck. He managed to dodge the attack by lowering his head. But the blade still managed to leave a small cut on his face. An unexpected kick was hit onto his stomach and knocked him far away from the attacker.

"Ha...AHAHAHAHAHA" The evil man held his head and started from a short laugh, then turned into a burst laugh. Ren held the pain, trying to get up from the ground, facing the laughing evil man right in front of him.

"Is this the guy who put me deep down into this shithole!? I thought someone stronger, not weakling!" He continued laughing, giving Ren an uncomfortable feeling. He couldn't understand a single word right from his mouth again. The words from him did not make any sense from the start when he appeared.

What the hell is he talking about? Ren still processed dozens of things in his brain, not a slight clue to understand his words. More precisely, nothing makes sense from the beginning.

"Well, if that's the case, I just have to kill you and take this body!" Before he raised his sword again, the ground was shaking, shocking the devil man on spot.

"Tsk." He put back his sword and walked away from Ren. He stared at Ren and spoke before he left. "See you next time, Ren Yato." Before Ren could ask his name, someone grabbed his leg, dragging him deep down into the bottomless water.

Meanwhile

Nero was reading a magazine inside the medical room, sitting near to Ren who was still sleepingon the bed. The bandage was covered from his left palm to his left shoulder.

After they regroup with Shido's gang, Ren's condition was even worse than he thought. That reckless move is far beyond a young boy could handle. But he gotta admit, gonna give him credit for being heroic.

Nero was quite curious about Ren. Not only he held the ability to fight against the demon. But those skills, he must be taught well. He also heard from Reine that he currently worked as a mercenary, taking any gig related to the demon. More to a devil hunter, just like Nero himself.

Right now, his only job is to keep an eye on this young mercenary and wait for him to awake. As for the green hair girl, he heard she was already awake but was highly uncooperative. She was staying in a different room. According to Shido, she was one of the Spirit. Said they will handle her themselves.

"..." Nero stood up and walked around. He was really bored to act as a guardian. He then approached Ren's belongings - A pair of handguns and a silver samurai sword.

He observed the crafting of those. The lining, the design, the handling, the blade itself, those aren't your typical crafting master. The sheath was different from the normal sword. It has 3 different lines of transparent tube, and looks like it belongs to one of those cyborg ninjas in video games.

"Urghh…" Ren mumbled, slowly raised from the bed and looked around. Nero noticed Ren was awaked and waved at him, "Rise and shine, superhero."

The young mercenary felt the pain from his left arm. Guess the injury was worse than he saw. He looked at the devil hunter and asked, "Where am I?"

"Medical room at 'Fraxinus'." Nero replied, looking at Ren who tried to get up from the bed.

"Hey, where you going? You still haven't recovered."

"Sorry, got some business that I need to take care of." He walked towards Nero, collecting his stuff before leaving the room.

"You… uh… where you get those?" Nero asked curiously, wondering where he get those weapons.

"A coffee shop owner." Ren replied plainly, leaving Nero eyes widened. He was expecting some experts like Nico's grandma. Or someone had high experience in those weapon crafting. But a coffee shop owner, that's the first he heard about.

"Well, gotta go." Before Ren left the room, he looked at Nero again and bowing. "Thanks for the help today, Nero." Nero looked at the young one and left with a surprisingly polite thanks.

Somewhere in Fraxinus

"Told you to be careful"

"Ouch…" Shido answered while holding his nose. The scratch on his face was totally red. Looked like a cat scratched him, or people with sharp nails.

Itsuka brother and sister are currently outside a cube-shape room with transparent glass at each side. Inside the room, there was a little girl with green messy hair. She wore a brownish hoodie and short jeans. She walked around, angry at something. After a while, she finally clear his mind, picking up the object she threw on the floor.

"About her stats…"

"Minor change, but no good."

"Is that so…" Shido sighed.

"She does not show confidence in her appearance. If we kept things like this, don't talk about sealing, we don't even get a chance to gain her trust." Kotori analysis and explained.

Shido was disappointed, wondering the reason why Natsumi hated herself and was negative. She might not have beauty look like she turned into big sister mode. But she ain't bad either.

"I guess we tried to convince her time by time?" Shido proposed an idea but was quickly rejected by Kotori action. She shook her head, "Afraid that won't work. We don't have much time. She only stayed because of injury. If Natsumi fully recovered, she will use her Angel and escape this facility. Teo days, Reine said."

"Two days…" That is not a good sign. Two days, they have to convince Natsumi, accepting her current look and make her fall in love, sealing the power. But to think of doing these in short days. Before Shido came out a plan, Ren appeared behind them with greetings.

"Yo." Shido and Kotori, shocked that Ren showed up. Beside Ren still had bandages wrapped on his left arm, the young mercenary looked better after the rest.

"Yato!? You're already awake!?"

"What? Wishing me never to open my eyes?."

"Nah, just messing with you." Ren chuckled after taunting. But he was punched by the red twintail girl.

"Wish you stay that WAY, DUMBASS!" Kotori striked a punch, sending Ren smashed onto the wall. Natsumi could feel the shaking and hear the loud noise but she saw nothing but white solid walls. Shido widened his eyes and looked at his sister.

"Ko...Kotori! What are you doing?" Shido shouted.

"Hmph. Trying to give him a warm welcome."

"That is not how you treat…" Shido was interrupted by the young boy who just smashed onto the wall. He walked towards, acting like nothing happened.

"You sure knew how to treat a patient." Ren spoke while holding his left arm.

"Then act like one! Stay in the medical room!" Kotori shouted at Ren, angry at him running around instead of staying at the bed. She wondered where the hell Shido get this kind of classmate.

"Let me guess, our guest didn't like your welcome party?" Ren pointed at Natsumi while looking at scars on their faces.

"Yeah, we tried to talk to her. But whenever I pick a topic, she always thinks the other way and shows negative thoughts."

"Hasn't changed a bit, isn't she." Ren mumbled, looking at Natsumi who was laying on the bed. Shido noticed his face was showing complexity emotion.

"What?"

"Nevermine. So, any suggestion?" Ren asked.

"We may convince her to seal off and open her heart to us. But, we don't have much time left."

"Hmm…" Ren put his hand on glass, thinking inside his head. Shido noticed that his classmate who was showing interest in Natsumi inside the room. His usual cocky attitude was dropped and showing the expression he showed on another day - sadness.

"Alright, let me try to do the talking." Ren sighed and spoke out his mind. Shido widened his eyes while listening to his request.

"Excuse me?" Shido double-confirmed to make sure he heard it correctly.

"I said I'll try to talk her out. Maybe she had a different thought on me." Ren smiled while walking towards the entrance of the transparent room.

"But…" Shido tried to stop his classmate from doing so. Not only his left arm was injured, but to let him get closer to Natsumi, that is not a good idea at all.

"Alright then." Kotori replied unexpectedly, shocking Shido to look at her. Rather than surprising, Kotori was showing a careless attitude.

"But don't say I didn't warn you, Natsumi was in an extremely unstable mood. Who knows what might happen when she sees you."

"Roger that, Miss commander." Ren replied with a salute. Kotori rolled her eyes and grabbed a lollipop.

"Yato, be careful." Shido spoke before Ren's going inside.

"Who do you think you're talking to?" Ren thumbed up. Before the young boy went in, he took a deep breath, exercised his neck and right hand. To be honest, he was a little nervous. Will she remember him? After all these years. If she does, what will she do after seeing him like this?

"Alright." He was prepared, opened the door and walked into the room. A pillow flew towards him and knocked into his face.

"I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE! YOU JUST LIKE THE REST OF THEM, PRETENDING TO BE KIND FIRST THEN SHOWING YOUR TRUE NATURE WHEN THE TIME COMES!" The young girl screamed, throwing everything she can towards.

"Ouch...ouch…stop! It's me!" Ren spoke and tried to stop Natsumi from throwing things. Natsumi recognised the voice and stopped. She looked at the boy who saved him back then she was surrounded by wizards.

"You!? Why are you here?" Natsumi was surprised that he showed up. She scanned his whole body, noticed that from his left shoulder till hand were wrapped by bandages. A samurai-looking sword placed at his back.

"Is that how you repay your saviour? Talk about rudeness" Ren shook his head and approached the nearest chair, sitting and crossing feet on the table.

Natsumi remembered before she totally passed out. He blocked the attack from that golden hair wizard, and also took the attack from the unknown creature.

"Alright, thank you very much. Now get lost." Natsumi thanked him in speedy tone and looked away.

"That was harsh. I was thinking of an appropriate thank you. Maybe a kiss or fine dining." Ren spoke lightly, trying to get her attention. Natsumi didn't spoke or looked back. She kept facing the other side and remained silent. She intended to keep this way until Ren completely lost interest and left the room.

He must be sent by Shido's gang, wanting to convince me to give up my power. At the end, they just like the rest of the humans. Only cared about themselves. Natsumi thought inside.

After a while, not a single person in the room showed the first move. Ren looked at the ceiling while shaking his chair. Natsumi remained herself, but her limit was almost reached. She was getting tired of this, wanting to get rid of him as soon as possible.

"How long are you gonna stay here! I said already, I won't listen to any of you!" Natsumi spoke while staring at Ren. But she quickly noticed the careless boy was eyes closed, slightly saliva came out from his mouth.

From the outside, Shido was unable to understand his classmate's motive. He was sitting there, barely speaking anything to Natsumi, and now he was falling asleep.

"What is he doing?" Shido mumbled in confusion. Kotori also showed the same expression like her elder brother, with a facepalm. "We are hiring an idiot…"

"Hey! Are you seriously sleeping right now!?" Natsumi shouted, finally waking up the sleeping boy and almost falling. He adjusted his seat and leaned towards the table. He spoke lightly, "Glad I got your attention, Miss Negative."

"What!?" A tick marked showing at her side of forehead. She was annoyed by the young boy's motive in front of her. "Like I said! I have no interested of…" Natsumi was quickly cut by Ren.

"If you said I was one of Shido's gang, you are mistaken." Natsumi widened her eyes after hearing his word. Not part of Shido's gang? What kind of practical joke is that. Ren sighed after noticing the young girl in front of him did not take his word.

"Listen, I have no interest in helping them sealing your power or caring about those bunch of wizard groups either. In the end, I'm not really care much."

"Then why are you here?" Natsumi questioned.

"Questioning, of course." Ren spoke casually while shaking his chair.

"Well…" Ren cleared his throat, siting front and staring at her in serious.

"Have you ever recalled a name called Kyouno?" Ren asked his first question.

"Huh? What is that supposed to be? If you are looking for people, go looking for the yellow page." Natsumi threw a sarcasm.

"Hmm…" Ren touched his chin, preparing the next question.

"Next question, when and how are you getting this power?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"Just curious. You know, your power could really boost up the business in a magical show. In fact, I knew someone wanted the talent of yours. Business is booming, girl."

"Enough!" Natsumi shouted, holding her injured belly after the fierce shouting, almost left her wound open.

"I have no recollection. Even if I do, I have no interest in sharing with you."

"..." Ren went silent for a moment, then asking his final question and also, the most important question for him.

"Now, for the final question. Then, I'll leave."

"Talk, and fast." Natsumi spoke impatiently.

"Do you remember the promise? The promise I'll bring you to the amusement park." He said chillingly.

"Hah? What would I have a promise with you?" Natsumi almost dropped herself. A promise with this guy? He better not misunderstand her with others or flirting. Otherwise, he definitely become her first victim after getting out.

"Is that so?" Ren looked down with disappointment on his face. He put down his leg from the table, standing and walked towards the door.

"Alright, I think I heard enough." He left the room without speaking any word nor saying goodbye. It made Natsumi confused about what he was up to.

What wrong with this guy! Natsumi complained inside, asking weird questions. She should really heal her wound and escape this place as soon as possible. But, there's something he said that gave Natsumi a little headache.

"Kyouno…" This name echoed through her mind. She tried to understand the meaning behind it but probably not important. She laid on the bed and decided to take a short rest.

Ren walked out from the room, noticing Shido already waiting for him. He looked worried but her sister was confused rather than worrying.

"Yato, about those questions…" Shido asked.

"Sorry, gotta go to rest. Otherwise your lovely sis gonna punch me again." Ren passed through, refused to listen to Shido.

"But…" Shido insisted to ask. Ren then showed him his left arm and spoke annoyingly, "Look, I was covered in bandages. And I need rest, okay?"

"That's right, Shido. Let him rest." Kotori cut in their conversation. She stared at Ren, containing high interest and curiosity onto him.

"Thanks, Miss Commander." He did a salute, preparing to head to his room. Before he left, Ren turned towards Shido.

"Tomorrow. I will answer most of your questions tomorrow. I knew you had tons of questions in your mind but today, let's just say I'm not in a very good mood."

The door opened and the young boy waved, "See you tomorrow." Shido returned to Kotori with sigh.

"What a pain in the neck." Kotori spoke while shaking her head with sigh.

"..." Shido stared at Ren's who just left the room, having full of thought inside him.

"What is it?" Kotori asked curiously.

"I can feel it. The lonely, he refused to talk to anyone."

"Is that so?" Kotori continued. "Whatever. Right now, we have much important things to do in out hand."

"About Yato question, is he…" Before Shido could finished his sentence. Kotori guessed and spoke the rest of it.

"Knowing Natsumi?"

Shido nodded and agreed with his sister. Those questions his classmate was asking, clearly Ren knew a thing or two about her. It's the only thing they could conclude. Perhaps Natsumi was just like Miku, formerly a human but turned into Spirit for some reason. Hopefully they could get the answer by tomorrow.

Evening

Nero stood in front of a cafe shop. It looked like an ordinary cafe that could be seen in any street. But you know what they said, never judge a book by its cover. After all, this is where the mercenary hangout place, and the place where Ren got his gigs. "Here goes nothing." Nero took a breath, walking into the shop. He saw three men with tough looking are cleaning the shop. They quickly noticed Nero's existence and approached him. They gave him a passionate welcome with an unexpected tone.

"Welcome, dearly customer!" They bowed and greeted loudly. Nero widened his eyes, unable to describe his thoughts and mood right now. Not because of the sudden warm welcoming, but the outfit they are wearing. They all wore a female black and white maid outfit that can be seen in any maid cafe.

"I wish I could go home……" Nero sighed.

In the upcoming chapters, it will focus on Nero, the reason why demons exist in Tengu City, and also some actions from DEM. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.