Shinobu climbed up the altar in the former catholic church. As the number of recruits increased exponentially, all benches were occupied and even the spaces near the walls and doors were filled with thieves, rapists, murderers, the worst of what Sagakin's prisons and streets had to offer. She found it ironic how her own loyal nerds and jocks managed to mix so well with those criminals, but it did not matter, for in the end they all worshiped Shishima in their own ways. Toppled statues, paintings desecrated with mocking graffiti, stained glass windows broken to allow the sky's red light entrance in the building, the alluring stench of death in the air, it was all perfect. She was decked in full black robes, a long hood covering the upper side of her face, only her nose, mouth and chin sticking out. A pile of rotting corpses lay on her right – past victims of previous rituals. Keiichi sat on her left, recording the ceremony and providing atmospheric music from his laptop. In front of them were a teenage boy and his young sister, both tied up and gagged, surrounded each by twelve red candles. Taking out her ritual knife, the cult leader spoke to the large gathering in front of her:

"Brothers and sisters in the faith, we are gathered here today to pay tribute to Shishima, our Lord who has come to liberate us from the shackles of humanity's failing society. These two children that I've brought before you have rejected his message of a new glorious era. Therefore, they have chosen to remain part of the ever-growing ignorant majority. What should we do to such people?"

"Gut them! Gut them! Gut them!" a large chorus echoed in the building, terrifying the bound victims.

Shinobu walked to the young girl, pulled her so they could have eye contact and tore her shirt to expose her belly. The older brother struggled to break the tight ropes which held him bound, but to no avail. As she placed the knife's tip above the child's belly button, Shinobu uttered a prayer which she had learned while entranced on the first official ceremony. She could hear Shishima's hissed voice calmly whisper each unholy word in her mind, and each time she spoke it herself, she felt an otherworldly thrill that could not be easily described in mere words.

"Flesh is of earth and soul is of air, one world around and another beyond, I bring thee my offering under thine stare, through this sacrifice I strengthen our bond. I hereby renounce the weakness of kindness, care's limitations, the illusions of love, and accept only thy blessing of madness, for only through thee we shall arise above. Bring power to the few who deserve, cloak this rotting world in eternal night, from hereon only thy darkness I serve, my only Lord Shishima, bringer of blight!"

Her blade sank into the young girl's belly, fresh blood staining it. Her screams of pain were blocked by the gag and covered by the cheering crowd. Like a rabid beast, Shinobu pulled out the knife and stabbed the helpless victim again and again until her belly was left open, entrails spilled out on the floor. At this gruesome sight, the other cultists erupted in a frenzy, three of them rushing to the teenage boy and beating him up, but making sure not to disturb the circle of candles. All of a sudden, the flames turned black and the church shook, startling everyone.

As soon as it happened, the earthquake went away. And then Demon Subaru appeared above the circle with the freshly butchered corpse. In awe at the visit of their supreme deity, everyone took off their hoods, fell on their knees and began chanting his youkai name.

"Master, to what honor do we owe your visit?" asked Shinobu.

"I merely wished to assist this ceremony. My conclusion is that you are feeding me very well, I am pleased," Demon Subaru informed them, the crowd erupting in loud cheers once again. "Shinobu, I have also come to discuss important matters with you... in private."

"Yes, Lord Shishima! Keiichi over there can take over for me."

In a matter of moments, the two found themselves outside the church. Oddly enough, the streets seemed more silent than usual, akin to the calm after a great catastrophe.

"I must congratulate you, Shinobu. Together with my own demonized minions, the Spawns of Shishima have managed to drastically decrease the population of Sagakin. I believe that in a few more days we will have managed to bring it down to half."

"Of course, master! Not only did we have access to the police's confiscated weapons, but we have also pillaged all supermarkets and looted the food supplies for our temple! Now people will have to join us, lest they starve to death. And I have seen that at first they only become members out of interest or fear, but those soon fade after the first ceremony. Your blessings have managed to change everyone's views on life! I am honored to be the harbinger of your new era!"

"While that is true, keep in mind that those provisions will end sooner or later. Not only that, but in at most a week there will be no more living victim for you to hunt down, meaning that I will not be fed for long either."

"What are you suggesting then, Lord Shishima?"

"I believe it is time we begin our expansion. I have been making preparations over the past few days to perform a ritual which will help me finally shed this worthless human skin and regain my true form. I will still require a few more sessions of meditation, but soon enough I will need your aid in said ritual."

"Of course, I would do anything for you! What will happen after we expand?"

"You will be tasked with resuming the hunt for sacrificial flesh and converting more believers. Once the entire population of this world has been dealt with, I shall pass my judgment upon all Spawns of Shishima, and those most worthy will be granted my most precious gift yet – a new life in my image, with eternal youth and power greater than your minds could possibly imagine!"

A smile of utter delight grew on the raven haired girl's face. "I eagerly await that day! I can only pray I will be among your first chosen!"

"Worry not, after everything you have done to secure my ascension, you will definitely be favored on that day, Shinobu Matsuda!"

With those words said, Demon Subaru parted with her, vanishing in a cloud of dark purple smoke. He reappeared back in the ruined mayor's office and took a deep breath. He had surveilled the city twice and had checked upon each servant. There was nothing else for him to do besides meditate more to synchronize with All Over The World's cards or do that which he kept postponing.

"Are you done running away?" asked the Shishima reflection.

"I'm not running from anything," Demon Subaru coldly replied and turned to face the mirror.

"Then do you have the courage to finish remembering your past life?"

"Of course I do, but I would rather not get into details regarding... her."

"Yet you still remembered her while you were knocked out by the sacred salt. Nekohana was it? That name brings back memories..."

"Stop mocking me! The mere thought of her is stirring something unpleasant inside of me which I don't want to feel!"

"That something is what you must acknowledge aloud! I know it's unpleasant, but the only way to overcome your fears is by accepting them and facing them headfirst!"

"I don't want to! This is too much for me!"

"Do you wish to remain weak for the rest of eternity?!" the reflection raised its voice.

"Don't you dare call me weak! I am power incarnate, unlike anything this world has ever seen!" Demon Subaru shouted back at the mirror.

"You can lie to yourself all you want, but these coping mechanisms will not help you on the long run! If you truly wish to be freed of the chains which hold you back, you have to make the great effort and finish the story!"

"Fine... Then shut up and listen."

"Finally! Go on, I'm all ears."

Sitting on the desk, Demon Subaru pulled off his hood and resumed the tale.


The year-long break marked yet another change in Shishima's life. For once, he felt no conflict within his life, no struggle to survive from day to day, no constant torture at the behest of others, and finally, no violence brought about by a sense of duty and honor. He could finally have peace and partake in leisurely delights. Said activities helped contribute to his psyche's well-being. Daily routines of savoring breakfast and reading in the comfort of his room, later in the afternoon he joined his mother during senate meetings, sometimes even attending public ceremonies to greet the commoners, and as evening hit he would retreat to his private quarters for an orgy alongside his concubines. Finally, when night fell, he would head into the gardens to spend some time with his 'personal servant' before they both went upstairs into his room.

As for Nekohana, she had moved all of her personal belongings into her new home, most of them being her precious plants, musical instruments and poems. Now that she was finally free of her abusive father, she could shift her daily routine accordingly to the prince's whims. At the crack of dawn she would serve him breakfast and dabble into his current studies, and once he left to attend to his public duties, she would sneak downstairs to fulfill her own gardening duties until nightfall, when both she and her 'master' would share some quality time together, admiring the nature around them while she either recited her poems or played relaxing tunes on her flute and lyre.

Although she technically lived with him, they did not sleep together. Shishima had brought her a mattress and a pelt, while he kept the bed for himself. But she did not seem to mind. As long as she was under his protection, she was confident that nothing bad would ever happen to her again. But it was strange. She lived with someone who had orgies on a daily basis, yet when it came down to her, their relationship seemed no different than that of a servant and master. If that were so, why was he so interested in her music and poetry? Did he also find solace in that which she loved?

One day, Shishima awoke to the pleasant scent of dragon stew seasoned in blood. The bowl lay on a chair in front of him, small emerald-colored gills floating above the dark orange liquid.

"Good morning," Nekohana greeted from the balcony, a gentle breeze rustling her fur and flowery mane.

"You're up earlier than usual," Shishima remarked as he stretched his body.

"I heard through the grape vine that some soldiers had hunted down a dragon and brought its flesh as their trophy. The poor thing had been butchered in so many pieces, every vendor from the middle levels had its meat for sale."

"So you went and bought some just so you could surprise me with this meal?"

"It is the least I can do to show my gratitude."

"Gratitude? Only because I dealt with your fool of a father?" The prince scoffed. "I merely acted on the whim of the laws that bind us. Besides, I said it once and I will repeat it again: Your kindness is wasted on me."

Silence filled the room as Shishima began savoring the soup while Nekohana regarded him with a smile. He may have been acting cold out of need to preserve his image, but his actions always spoke louder than his words.

"My prince, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?"

"Hm? Sure, whatever," he replied with his mouth full.

"How do you see me?" He stopped eating and turned his attention to her. "Am I just another royal subject? Or maybe I am more than that since you went out of your way to rescue me?"

"Nekohana, I…" he was unsure of what to say, prompting her to continue.

"I have heard about the terrifying things the queen put you through in the Coliseum. Word had spread around after your father rescued you, thanks to Fukurokuju. Did my tragedy somehow remind you of your own? Is that why you listened to my plea back then?"

"If you think this makes me as emotionally weak as the common folk, you're sadly mistaken!" Shishima spat back, obviously on the defensive.

"It does not!" she countered, after which she walked up to the bed and joined him. "When I lived with my father at the lowest level, I always had to keep my guard up and not show any weakness. No matter how many times my heart begged to cry out the pain I've been feeling since my mother's death, I had to be strong, for the other youkai were always watching, waiting to prey upon any realness I could give them. That is why I resorted to art, it was the only way to let out all the turmoil boiling up inside of me."

"Why are you revealing all of this? Do you not fear that I could use it to my advantage and exploit you?"

"I know you won't, my prince. Because deep down, I can clearly tell we are two of a kind."

Two of a kind, that was a very interesting way of putting it. Was she right? Did they really connect through their past trauma? Ridiculous, Shishima was no longer a victim, he was a royal heir with a bright future ahead! But that did not stop him from showing compassion towards someone in need. The more he thought about it, he realized that he was starting to like Nekohana's presence. Around her, he could relax and for once truly be himself. Now that she began to open up, maybe soon he would do the same. Why would he? He was already comfortable enough with opening up to Akushishi and Fukurokuju, who were both understanding and tried to be helpful as much as they could. Though unlike them, Nekohana was closer to his age, she could relate to his struggles much better than they ever could.

The two remained in silence until he finished breakfast. Then the prince went to one of his shelves and searched through the documents. The young lioness thought nothing of it and washed the dishes in the sink. When she was done, she turned to see Shishima with a parchment in his hands, its red seal shaped like a poppy flower. He spoke with a little smirk on his face, "Here, I think you might enjoy this read."

"Oh, what is it?" she asked and unfolded the document just enough to read the title. "Botanical Encyclopedia of the Twilight Kingdom…?" That left her dumbfounded.

"Yes, having in mind your passion for plants, I figured this would be useful one day."

Nekohana giggled. "It's funny, a few minutes ago you were at a loss for words. Now I am in the same position."

Shishima folded his wings and looked away. "I must take my leave earlier today," he changed the subject as he saw the morning light grow brighter through the clouds.

"My prince, are you sure I can keep this?" she asked in her usual shy demeanor.

"Consider it a little gift," the lion quickly replied and went out the door.

She was all alone. Nekohana gently caressed the paper as she sat at the table. She could not believe it – an actual gift from the prince himself! But it was more than that, it was also a token of his trust. She knew that he valued everything on his shelves for having once belonged to Fukurokuju. Now one of those precious items rested in her hands, and it was all hers. That settled it, she was not just a servant in Shishima's eyes.

On that day, Nekohana did not attend to her gardening duties. Instead, she stood all alone in the prince's room and read as much as she could from the parchment. Its information was overwhelming, easily surpassing everything she knew from her centuries of working with plants. One particularly caught her attention, and that was the Dusk Rose, a shy little flower which bloomed only in the short periods of dusk and dawn. Compared to other roses, this one was smaller and barely had any thorns. Its petals were of a paler red, due to its short exposure to light. The plant was mostly used to make jams for deserts, perfume spells for enticing and a liquid potion for enhancing facial beauty.

Not wasting any time, she checked her mane and found one of said flowers, pulling it out with ease. She followed the recipe written on the document, and in a matter of minutes she held a vial glowing with a pinkish red light. Its contents soon ended up on her hands, then on her face. Looking into the mirror hung on the wall, she saw that her facial fur had gotten lighter, her cheekbones seemed rounder, and overall her face was losing its sharp demonic features. She tried to be beautiful for the first time in her life, not for Rufu or her father's whims, but because she wanted to impress someone who actually cared for her well-being. If only her mother could see her, she would have been so proud. As Nekohana admired herself in the mirror, she was unable to hold back her bitter tears.

The senate meeting had been convoked in the morning and lasted until the late hours of afternoon. As he sat in his father's place, Shishima tried to avoid the encroaching boredom. He enjoyed the constant arguing which the senators tended to do, and some of the legislations they discussed were interesting, but it was the prolonged explanations and the overabundance of political terms which bored him to no end. Unlike him, Koushishi paid utmost attention to each discussion, occasionally interrupting them to ask for clarifications or weigh in her own opinion. It was clear that she was used to playing politics. The queen and prince rarely interacted, even at those public meetings. At most, one would have asked the other's opinion on the current topic of debate. After everything that she did to her offspring, the chances of reconciliation were close to none.

Once the session concluded, Shishima was among the first to leave. He was grateful for the leisure time, but if it came at the cost of having to endure those dull gatherings, he would rather have kept risking his eternal life in war. Thankfully, there would be no other event he had to attend on that day. As he climbed down the stairs towards the complex of bedrooms where the harem eagerly awaited his visit, he attempted clearing his mind. Surprisingly, a familiar military figure greeted him at the bottom of the stairs.

"Good day, Your Highness! I trust your royal holiday is going well?" saluted Rufu, his polite smile and honeyed tone betraying hidden intentions.

"Attending senate meetings and public ceremonies does not a holiday make. Perhaps if your mind were as sharp as your tongue, you would know better." Shishima walked past him without giving him any further regard.

"That is true. But the same can be said for sticking one's nose where it doesn't belong."

The lion stopped. His back turned, he replied coolly, "And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Last I checked, someone used my men to arrest one of my most trustworthy soldiers while I was out there on the frontlines, fighting side by side with the king for the glory of our great kingdom," the wolf spoke in a dramatic fashion, wallowing in his self-importance. "Am I wrong with this remark?"

"Not in the slightest. Though if you truly cared about this, you would have known that said soldier was violating our laws by engaging in human practices. I merely did what any of your underlings would have done – I enforced the law. Is this unjust, merely because I am not king?"

"I have no reason to doubt your good intentions. However, how are you any better for deciding Nekohana's fate without her approval?"

Shishima finally turned back to face him, his eyes shooting ice daggers. "Trust me, she is way better off being under my wing. Besides, who are you to question my authority? I can turn anyone into my personal servant!"

Rufu nodded in approval. "My apologies, but I wonder if there is more to it."

"What do you mean?"

"You do know that the royal family's daiyoukai genes are considered pure, right? That is why they have been preserved since the founding of our kingdom, either through inbreeding or copulation with another daiyoukai. It would be unfit if you were to choose a lowly filthy gardener as your-" He did not have time to finish, in the span of a second he found both of the prince's hands around his neck, lifting him in the air, sharp claws pressed against his skin.

"Listen well, Rufu, because I am not patient like my father or subtle like my mother," the lion growled, his thirst for spilling blood ever so obvious. "I will only say this once: You stay out of my business. Nekohana is off limits from your perverted desires, you sleazy wolf. Is that clear?"

"D-does she not have the right to choose?" the general choked out a response.

"Is. That. Clear?" Shishima repeated, claws slowly piercing the youkai's throat.

"Y-yes, Your Highness. Your word is law…" was the answer which got Rufu's life spared, the prince dropping him on the floor.

"Good. The next time you try to cross me, I assure you it will be the last thing you do."

The military kneeled in shame as the royal heir took his leave, disappearing in the corridor's shadows. Akushishi's words of caution echoed in Shishima's head: Sometimes your greatest foe is that whom you believed to be your closest ally. Having in mind how corrupt their politicians were, how their generals hungered for war and how two-faced most of the upper class youkai tended to be, the saying had more weight than he initially thought. How could he ever dream of leading such a vast kingdom when the majority of its elites was rotten to the core?

As expected, a pair of succubi greeted him once he set foot in their lair. One rubbed herself against his body while the other brought a plate with drinks.

"Master, we all longed for your touch!"

"How may we please you today?"

"Less talking," he ordered and motioned for them to go into the closest open bedroom.

No matter how much pleasure he experienced, how much stress he relieved, he could not get his mind off of her. As long as others knew of her status as his personal servant, anyone could get to him through her. To make matters worse, although she was under his protection, Rufu still seemed to desire her. Shishima's warning was concise and clear, but was it really enough to stop the general from hatching some kind of scheme to kidnap her?

During the late hours of night, when most of the palace's inhabitants were resting after their daily schedules, the prince went into the gardens, heading towards the little hideout he shared with his roommate. Sometimes he felt as if even the plant life seemed to bow down in awe when he passed by. The peace which inhabited that corner of nature was such a sharp contrast to the chaos he experienced both on the battlefield and in the senate.

Once the lake's image appeared ahead, he found her by the cherry tree. Her back resting against the millennia old trunk, a piece of paper in one hand and a quill in another, she was most likely working on a poem. The pleasant scent of flowers filled his nostrils, easing his worries, if only for those moments they shared together. But something was different about her, he saw that her face seemed much smoother, her smile emanating a joy that made him uncomfortably warm inside. He wanted Nekohana to be beautiful, he wanted to see her happy, but why did he feel like this? Shishima inspired fear and respect from those whom he encountered, he should have been above experiencing such emotions, and yet there he was, being entranced by the mere image of a lioness youkai.

"I see the garden is in order," he spoke while walking towards the tree, sitting down next to her.

"My prince, you look tired, your day must have been difficult," she remarked, putting down her quill and paper. "Shall I give you a massage?"

"That won't be necessary."

"Then is there anything I can do to help you feel better?" the lioness asked and got up to fetch her small bag with herbs which she left a few feet away.

"Stay here," he calmly demanded. She complied, joining him back on the grass. "Oh, and please, stop addressing me as 'your prince'." That was unexpected, she looked back at him with confusion. "It's too formal… and distant. I do have a name, you know."

Nekohana had never seen such a friendly expression on the lion's face before, and rarely did she hear him speak in a carefree manner. It seemed that the suspicions she had earlier in the morning were correct. She just needed one final confirmation.

"Why would you forbid a servant from addressing you properly?"

Shishima said nothing. He merely stared at her, admiring her very being as pink petals fell from the blossoming cherry tree. She was unlike the female demons he had slept with, for she did not emanate any feelings of ambition or depravity. Maybe she was like him, maybe she also sought something more than what their world had to offer. Two of a kind.

"You are not a servant," he finally broke the silence between them. "I am not yet sure what you are, but I can tell that… you are very special." He reached his hand and grabbed hers, squeezing it tight.

Nekohana gulped and turned away, trying to hide her blush. She squeezed back his hand, realizing that she had been right all along – he felt the same way. Looking down at her paper, she tried to regain her composure.

"If that is the case, shall I read you tonight's poem," she paused for a moment, "Shishima?"

"I would certainly like to hear it," the lion replied, letting go of her hand.

With the barrier between them broken, their relationship was free to grow further and blossom, like the multitude of flowers that surrounded them. And yet, despite the strong feelings of happiness that they both experienced in those moments, they could not shake the sensation of dread that loomed above, like the shadows of the trees which were cast upon the fields.


A series of knocks awoke Demon Subaru from his recollection. Angered that he was once again interrupted from his tale, he waved his hand and opened the door. Much to his surprise, Demon Edo was the one who walked in, an oddly desperate look on his face.

"Master, I've done my job for today, just as you asked. Please, can I see Suby again? It feels like ages since I last spoke to him!"

"You dare disturb me for something this inconsequential? Go away, I have more important things to deal with at the moment!"

The winged one fell on his knees and clasped his hands. "I beg of you, these past few days I've murdered so many in your name, I performed every task you asked of me, surely I must be worthy of at least spending a couple of minutes with my best friend!"

Demon Subaru rolled his eyes and groaned. It was obvious that the only way he could make his minion leave was to grant his wish. Not wasting any time, he looked at him with bright red glowing pupils.

Edo awoke once more in the peaceful meadow, a pleasant lavender smell in the air, the sun's rays gently touching his skin as a mountain breeze blew against his brown hair. He was just a normal man once more. In those short precious moments he could forget about the heinous acts he committed to innocents, the power which corrupted him and Sora, and just rejoice his lost humanity. In front of him stood Subaru, happily smiling back at him. As long as he was there, Edo knew that nothing else mattered. That small corner was the only Heaven he needed.