"You want us to work for you?" I asked, facing none other than the pompadour king himself, Himekawa.

I had just left school when a limo pulled out beside me. The next thing I knew the door opened and someone pulled me in. It was one of Himekawa's servants.

"Do I have to explain myself?" Himekawa asked annoyed. "I thought you were the smart one between you two."

"Watch it." Toujou said, sitting beside me. "You're the one that came looking for us."

Himekawa ignored Toujou and continued to speak.

"After our little run in with the Solomon Company, my dad now has me dealing with anything demon related. I have had my men keep tabs on anything demon related and report it back to me. Unfortunately, some of my men have gone missing and a demon is behind it. Which is why I need the both of you to work for me."

"What exactly do you need us to do?"

"Nothing too complicated."

"I want you to capture this demon for me." He had been facing me but then turned his attention to Toujou. "I want you to cook for me."

"Wait what..." I asked, lost at his sudden request. "You don't want him to fight this demon?"

"I plan to be away for sometime so I need someone to cook for me."

Toujou and I exchanged confused glances.

"I pay 15 dollars an hour and we're going to be out in the ocean."

"Ok, I'll take the job." Both Toujou and I said in unison.

Himekawa didn't say much after that other than to let us know that he planned to have us start these jobs on the first day of summer vacation.

The day had come and Himekawa had his servant pick us up at my place.
Which was fine until his servant tried to blindfold the both of us.

For some reason Himekawa had instructed his servants to do it because he didn't want us to know where exactly we were going.
At first we resisted but then one of the maids started crying then we both felt bad.

"This feels more like he is kidnapping us." I commented next to Toujou. "Stupid pompadour ass."

"That's it."

Toujou turned to where he thought I was and tried to undo his restraints. Unfortunately just as he did that, the limo drove over a huge bump that made him lose his balance. The next thing that happened was that I felt his body push mine down and we both ended up on the ground together.
Except he was on top of me.

"E-Etsuko! Are you okay?!"

Toujou's face was next to my neck so when he called my name he was literally breathing on to it. Thus making me squirm under him.

"I'm fine!" I answered back loudly. "Please don't try to move or talk!"

I knew that Toujou (being Toujou) didn't realize exactly in what position we were in so I had to figure out a way to get us back up.

"Why? I think I can get up and I'll help you after."

I again squirmed right under him due to feeling his breath against my neck.

"Wait why are you shaking like that?"

I can't take this! I need to throw him off me!

As I was freaking out, he took the time to undo the ropes that held his hands behind his back and he with little effort lifted his upper body off me while still pinning me down with his legs.

Once freed he took off his blindfold and saw exactly where I was.
Still on top of me.

"OOOI!"

By the time he calmed down, he was caught by surprise again because the car stopped abruptly. Whoever was driving slammed on the breaks thus making him lose his balance again. Yet this time he ended up not crashing onto me because he managed to place each one of his hands by the side of my head.

"Wel-" Whoever was driving opened the door for Himekawa who started to speak but paused for a second. "I thought you both would be professional on your first day but I guess I was wrong."

"It's not like that!"

We both yelled at him together.

After Toujou got off me and my blindfold/restraints were taken off, we were both led through some forest area until we reached a beach.

The sound of the waves crashing filled my ears as my eyes focused on the body of water that awaited us ahead. I caught sight of a boat that also laid ahead and gasped. It was much bigger than I expected.

As much as I was excited about being at the beach with the sand between my toes, I started to question why out of all places this demon could have been, why did it choose to be out here?

We all eventually boarded the boat and I couldn't help but to look down at the water.

What if the demon is deep in there? Will it come out like Godzilla?

"What's wrong?"

My thoughts were interrupted when Toujou noticed I tensed up.

"Something is off..." My eyes moved past Toujou's concerned face to focus on Himekawa who demonstrated nothing but a calm demeanor. "What exactly is going on with this demon?"

Himekawa didn't respond right away but pushed up his glasses, thinking what would be the best way to respond to my sudden question.

"It's because there is something off about this demon. This demon has been kidnapping a lot of the local people and not just for fun...it seems like there is a darker reason."

"How come?"

"Not so long ago 5 fishermen set out to sea suddenly go missing, many thought that they might have been caught in some storm and something happened but soon their ship washed ashore with no one on board. The only thing found on that ship was a message written in blood. It read: 'No One Will Be Able To Sleep'."

"That's really fucking creepy." Toujou cut int.

Himekawa ignored him and continued.

"After that was discovered, more people started going missing around here. This case eventually ended up on our radar. So I sent out some of my men to investigate and they suddenly went missing. The boat that they were using washed ashore-"

"With the same thing written in blood?"

"Yeah." After answering me, Himekawa put his hand in his pocket and looked up at me. "Which is why I reached out to you to handle this on my behalf."

I nodded because I understood his reasoning but also couldn't shake off some anxiety that had started to build.

I hate to say this but I wish I had Mastema with me because this demon sounds a little intense.

"Don't tell me you're scared?"

"What?" I was surprised by Himekawa's question. "I'm not!"

"If you are then tell me because I'll have you pack your bags." He slowly lowered his eyebrows in disappointment. "I am paying good money for you-"

Toujou cut in again.

"Weren't you the one that went looking for us? Then I'm guessing you have no one else you can just ask." Toujou moved so that he was next to me with his arm around my waist. "Besides, if you have Etsuko pack her bags then I'll also be leaving but I'll make sure to kick your ass before I go. You've kind of pissed me off by thinking you can speak to Etsuko like that."

"Settle down...This is what I get for going with the married couple."

He pushed his glasses up again.

"I specifically asked you to do this because you're the reaper right? The reaper is supposed to hunt down those who are on borrowed time. This demon's time is up so now you're called in. Did I make a mistake in seeking you out?"

Instead of answering his question directly, I gave him an answer that Himekawa didn't expect and even threw him off.

"Wow you really think so highly of me?"

"Why shouldn't he? You are a badass." Toujou smirked as he felt his fighting spirit burn inside of him. "This demon is fucking creepy but you're going to smash it's face in."

Himekawa stood there getting annoyed at our little chatter, thinking that we were stupid, and rolled his eyes.

"As the reaper then I should do my job." I said smiling at him. "I guess I should get started on tracking it down then."

Toujou let go of me, took both my bag and his before walking away.

"I'll start making some food for us then."

I had instructed Himekawa that if I was really going to start then I would need him to get me a map of the surrounding area and I was going to need the person driving the boat to stop for a bit.

"You got a little bit of time until we need to move again." Instructed Himekawa.

"I just need to focus so that should be fine."

I closed my eyes and tried to drown out the presence of everyone around me. I needed to focus solely on this demon's energy and I couldn't do it before because as we were moving, I kept getting distracted by the fact that this demon's power was felt everywhere.

It was kinda eerie.

This demon doesn't care about concealing any of its demonic energy. But why? It feels like it wants us to know it is here.

"Do you feel anything?" I asked Himkawa without turning to him.

"Yeah."

"What does it feel like to you?"

"Strong."

"Just that?"

Himekawa stopped to think about it and looked up at the sky, closing his eyes for a second and trying to see what I was hinting at.

"It's definitely not friendly whatever it is."

"Yeah that's what I am getting too."

I opened my eyes and stared out to the ocean.

"This demon wants to let everyone it's here by letting this much power flow out. It wants us to know it's angry because we have stepped into its territory."

Himekawa said nothing but nodded.

"This is why it specifically went after people that are in boats because they ventured into its territory."

"So this means the land is safe?"

"I'm not sure…"

We were interrupted when one of his servants appeared with a laptop. They opened it and showed a map of where we were currently at. He glanced at the screen and nodded. The servant closed the screen before walking away.

"Time to move again."

With that he left me standing there trying to figure out what happened between them two. A second later the boat moved again, this time changing its original direction so that we were headed back to the beach we arrived at.

It wasn't until we got closer that I felt a lot of familiar demonic energy.

I can feel Oga nearby...and Aoi's...wait, is this the place she was going to take the Red Tails for their camp thing?

Before summer vacation started, Aoi had approached me asking me if I wanted to join her and the rest of the Red Tails at some summer camp trip. She said I was invited considering we were now on good terms and she was taking others from Ishiyama with her.

I told her no since I had already said yes to working for Himekawa during the summer but I didn't exactly tell her all the details.
I was too embarrassed to tell her Himekawa hired me and I just said I was going to be starting a part time job.

Maybe I should have told her the truth. I might have been exaggerating to think that Himekawa is embarrassing.

I decided to give him some credit and decided that before we got back to land that I should at least change to my swimsuit.

I was unaware that I had made the mistake of giving Himekawa credit because I was unaware that he already knew that the Red Tails were going to take their summer camp trip to this island and that he had planned to make a grand entrance.

I watched as he quietly made his way to where a small crowd had gathered. He positioned himself next to a boat that had drifted in and put his leg up on it with his hands in his pockets.

"Spirited Away." Was all he said that got everyone's attention.

Previously before getting off the boat, he had said nothing other than for me to follow him and for Toujou to stay on the boat to finish cooking.

My eyes twitched seeing his smug face as everyone's eyes widened in surprise because they didn't expect him to show up.

"'Sup, Oga? How've you been?"

This is why I didn't tell Aoi!

The attention on him didn't last long when I felt a very intense gaze on me.
All of a sudden I felt creeped out.

"IF I KNEW TAKENAKA WOULD BE HERE TOO I WOULDN'T HAVE SMASHED MY CAMERA!" Furuichi yelled at the top of his lungs crying. "THIS IS NOT FAIR!"

Everyone followed his gaze and suddenly everyone was looking at me.

"Takenaka! Wait, why are you here too?" Asked Aoi. "I thought you said you'd be working?"

"I kinda am."

"She's my hired muscle." Himekawa cut in. "Now enough chit-chat get on."

Although everyone else was confused as to what was going on, they did as he said once they saw his giant ship not so far away. They also could apparently smell Toujou's cooking so they also did as he said for free food.

Once we got back in the boat, everyone noticed plates of food served and ready to be eaten.

I was going to go see if Toujou needed any help but somehow Izuma made it so I sat next to him and Shizuka. He said something about catching up but he didn't even talk to me. He just started eating and asking for more food.

To which Shizuka answered by telling him to show restraint.

"Are you planning to finish 3 days worth of food right now? Himekawa asked loudly as he watched everyone else dig in.

No one answered him and instead changed the topic.

"This really is a nice coincidence though. For all of us to be gathered together like this." Aoi mentioned as she ate her bit of food.

"Yeah! You're right." Furuichi agreed. "If only Toujou were here, we'd have the whole gang back together again."

"By the way where is Tora?" Shizuka asked, turning to me.

"Aren't you two attached at the hip or something?" Kanzaki commented after.

"We're not like that." I told him. "But Hidetora is here."

"You called for me?" Toujou yelled coming out of where he previously was at, holding plates of hot food in each hand and on his head. "I started to sneeze and almost dropped the food."

"Didn't you all know? Toujou is my cook." Himekawa calmly stated, pointing to Toujou.

"YOU MADE ALL THIS!?" Both Kanzaki and Shizuka yelled.

Everyone else seemed shocked at the realization that Toujou could cook this good.

"Toujou… you're under Himekawa now?" Oga asked wearing matching sunglasses with Baby Beel.

"He's paying me 15 dollar an hour."

"Toujou, you're a damn good cook, you know?" Furuichi commented in disbelief.

"Seriously, this is so good it's making me mad." Nene commented after him.

"You're so lucky Takenaka!" Yelled Yuka. "If you don't marry him then I will!"

"Calm down." Kanzaki said to her but she ignored him.

After the commotion around Toujou's cooking, Furuichi changed the subject back to what was going on with the townspeople.

"But are you all alright? I know you have both Takenaka and Toujou but from what I heard, this area is pretty dangerous."

"That's why I'm out here. Some of my men have gone missing" Himekawa explained. "After our little run with the Solomon Company, my dad now has me dealing with anything demon related and whatever is going on here is a demons doing. Hence why Takenaka is here as my muscle."

"So then your work is to capture that demon?" Izuma asked between bites. "That seems hard even for you."

"It might be hard. This demon is making sure that no one feels safe on land or out on water."

Aoi got up from her seat and smiled brightly. She locked eyes with both Shizuka and Izuma who nodded.

"If that's the case, we're here for the same thing. Let's work together! Right guys?!"

Both Himekawa and I looked at her confused.

"We're also looking for that demon." She explained not losing her cheerful attitude. "It would make more sense to work together then!"

Aoi glanced at everyone and saw that no one objected. They even seemed interested.

She then turned to Oga.

"You guys too?!"

Oga crossed his arms and stood there in silence for a second.

"Well, he is paying me 15 dollars an hour."

I had decided at that time to take a sip of water and almost spit it out.

"You too!?"

I turned to Himekawa with a raised eyebrow.

"Tsk, I sensed that you needed back up so I found you some." He pushed up his glasses and turned to Aoi. "I'm not going to stop you."

At that time, it didn't cross anyone's mind that very soon the ship we were all on would also be spirited away.

It felt like a second later everything went black and we all woke up on the shore of an island.

"..Nnn.." I slowly opened my eyes. "Huh?"

I turned to see Toujou also waking up and not knowing what was going on.

"What the hell happened?"

"I'm not sure…" I sat up, noticing that we were all here and that we were all lying down. "We were just on the boat…"

Slowly we all got up and saw that we were on some island with what seemed like no other people around.

"Where the hell are we?"

Thanks for reading everyone!

Writing this chapter took a lot longer than expected. I really took the time to think what would be the best way to fit Etsuko into this part of the story and I thought this was the best way to make this chapter slightly different from the manga and also funny. I hope you all enjoyed it!

I'll be starting the second part of this soon :)

I am thinking of writing more side stories before diving deep into the main story line of what happened to Etsuko and everyone after Toujou graduated. This will eventually connect with the ending of Beelzebub with the time skip. So if there is anything you all would like to be included in The Reaper of Ishiyama let me know! I would love to brainstorm with ya'll.