Cradled in the vast chamber of space, sat a small and humble planet. The rich green and blue of the new and empty world sprang out from the dark twinkling backdrop of the universe. A great holy light soon descended upon it, admiring its finalized work, but from its shine, a darkness loomed, casting a mighty shadow on the Earth. The unintentional creation grew large across the planet's surface and took on its own loose shape. Its creator looked to it with fear and disgust. With an assault of a blinding glow, the unaware infant being was terminated into fragments and cast into the moon. Its darkened silhouette engraved to the moon's surface and an anguish cry sealed its fate.

Miki in her restlessness couldn't help but take notice to her boyfriend's troubled squirming. It had become a regular occurrence for Akira to have nightmares and thus shift about in his sleep, Miki could only assume now was yet another of those instances. She normally would try not to wake him unless he began to change into his demon form and his thrashing got a bit more intense than she was comfortable being near. But for now, he still seemed relatively calm, and she knew he needed as much rest as he could get with all the demons he had to face. She couldn't help but wonder though, what it was he dreamt so fiercely about.

The feeling of crashing into the ground overtook the sleeping Devilman, he felt no pain, but the sensation was akin to the first time he had ever transformed. Here it was just as exciting, he sprinted on all fours feeling the pure wonder that was being wild and free.

The world he ran through was off but somehow familiar, everything was huge, overgrown and primitive looking. There were demons there, a new thrill, he could feel his face split with a toothy smile as he slashed through each and every one that lay in his path. He twitched his wings and felt the need to fly as he flailed them open taking off.

In the sky he could see the unusual beauty of this much older Earth, he flew faster wanting to keep this exhilaration going. He soared just under the aurora borealis that guided him and where it led was too a mighty mountain face. He landed at the summit and waiting there for him was a demoness with her back turned. He was curious, she looked somewhat human in shape, but she had many black feathers including on her wings that had a mark of a pentagram imprinted into them. It couldn't be Sirene, it looked nothing like her, it felt nothing like her. Something about her drew him to her still. He wanted to see her and be near her.

Why did she compel him so?

The closer he came the more she seemed to notice him too. She had two feathered ear-like tufts atop her head of unkempt hair that flicked upon hearing him. Her body shifted some as if to turn and face him. Just as their eyes were about to meet something pulled him back. He didn't understand it, he tried to move forward but it seemed the more he did the further back he was drug. He swung his head around to see what it was but the world around him had suddenly all been consumed by an extensive darkness and he was being sucked in along with it.

"No, No let me go!" he hollered. He placed his sights back to the demoness, her face on the cusp of being visible, something about her profile made him think of Miki. But there was hardly any time for thinking, he latched his claws into the ground desperately grappling his way closer to her, but to no avail. The blackness consumed and bound him, there was no way out, he was trapped, a prisoner to a being he could not fight. A panic set over him, all he could do was let out a long and grueling roar of distress.

"Akira, Akira! Wake up!" the young girl's voice snapped him back to reality. He convulsed and went tumbling to the floor in a shriek as the wad of sheets tied around him. He was wrestling with the blankets still in his demon form trying to grasp his bearings. Miki came down and helped him to untangle himself as he shrunk back to his human self, calming down a bit.

"Akira, what's the matter? Are you okay?" she asked as she hugged him tenderly. He was still panting in the aftermath, but it was clear the worst was over. "That must have been a pretty bad one huh?"

"Oh, no, it was just a bad dream, I'm sorry. I didn't wake you, did I?" he questioned rubbing his face.

"Nah, I couldn't fall asleep anyway. I was afraid you might wake the whole house up with the fuss you were making, I was really worried."

Akira settled himself into her hold. His gaze was fixed to the floor, as if he were deep in thought. Miki tipped her head some noticing his disconnect.

"Do you want to talk about it? You know you can tell me anything," her voice was soft and consoling, something Akira greatly appreciated.

He sighed before finally working himself up to speak, "It wouldn't matter, it was just a dream anyway. It's nothing I want you getting too worried over."

"Well, I know, I guess it just seems to be bothering you," she said repositioning herself to face him better. He looked up at her with that almond seen in his troubled eyes. He never could resist that little smile she would give him in times like this.

"Hmm, I guess what really got me about it was how good it started out. I can't really explain it but at first everything was great but then I felt the weight of the world pressing against me. Suddenly I couldn't even move, I couldn't do anything. I was trapped like a prisoner in a dark void."

"I don't blame you."

Akira seemed intrigued by her response, he perked some awaiting an elaboration. She read his body and continued without a hitch.

"I would be scared too if I dreamt something like that. What do you think it was supposed to be about?"

Akira shrugged, "I have no idea, it probably didn't mean anything, but there was one more thing…"

Miki raised in interest as he finally looked her straight in the eye.

"I think I dreamt of you, but you were a demon, or maybe a Devilman, I'm not really sure, but it stuck out to me."

"A Devilman?" she sounded fascinated.

"Yeah, I know, crazy huh?" he said livelier. "It was all just a dream though, there's nothing to worry about dear. Well except maybe your parents finding you here, look at the time."

Miki in a burst of shock fumbled for her phone on the shelf, the brightness of the screen straining her vision until she could peak a view at the display. It was nearly five in the morning and Miki's displeasure was clear on her face as she dropped back on his bed with a groan.

"Time really flies when you don't want it to," she grumbled. He met her back on the bed, laying on his side next to her. He brushed the bangs out of her eyes before leaving a kiss on her forehead and snuggling up to her. She beamed from the inside out as he brought her into his arms where her face nestled pleasantly against his chest. They remained in that moment, in that embrace for what felt like several blissful hours until Miki finally began to sit up again.

"Okay…" she sighed attempting to pump herself up. "I guess you should take me back to my own room now."

There was a sudden dissonance between her words and his actions as he immediately brought her to lay back down. The heat was spiking in his body as he felt the demonic lust begin to shoot through his blood. She could hear a deep purring sound resonating from his throat, as he looked at her with hungry eyes.

"Akira, were you not the one just now saying how close we're cutting it?" she chaffed him lightheartedly. Perhaps a few weeks ago this kind of behavior from him would have startled her, but as of late it had become pretty regular. In a way she had come to welcome it at appropriate times and in moderation. There had been a few occasions he wanted to get a little rougher than she could handle or change form in the midst of their intimacy. But they had always been able to manage those instances and have an enjoyable time. Even now a part of her didn't want to protest as she felt his kisses send a tingling pulse throughout her slim figure.

"I changed my mind," he mumbled playfully.

"I can tell. Those devil urges of yours never let off, do they?"

"Huh uh," even his responses were becoming less focused.

He was taking increasing interest to her sweet innocent scent, he wanted to indulge in it and feel the shape of her body against him. He began to press himself over her and nibble at her neck, taking in more of her rousing scent and thus mask her in his own.

She had to stifle a moan, for she knew that would only excite him more and they wouldn't be getting out of bed anytime soon. Miki finally found the voice to intervene knowing now was not the time despite how willing she may have been.

"Akira, we can't right now, Mom and Dad are gonna be up any minute now, and I don't want to see you thrown out," she was kind yet stern. He groaned disapprovingly as he embraced her tighter.

She sighed, sending one of her hands up to gently clutch and stroke through his hair while the other kneaded his back. A technique she had figured out to help soothe him out of trances like these.

"Come on Akira, we gotta get up now. We have school today you know."

She could tell she was beginning to reach him after a minute when his figure loosened in compliance to her pettings.

"Ugh, demons don't go to school…" he said, flopping off her and to his side.

"And that's why you're a devilman," she giggled looking into his tamer eyes. "Now come on," she sprung up. "Days young, we have a lot ahead of us still!" Miki said, beginning to stretch herself as if she were already on the track field. She was definitely more of a morning person then he was.

"Okay, okay you win," he sighed with a smile coming to his feet and taking her hand. The pale light of the moon haloed her face and sparkled her beautiful green eyes. He cupped her cheek and in response she leaned into it with no hesitation.

"I love you Miki," he punctuated the statement with a kiss. A spurt of bubbling glee swept through her as he dipped her, she closed her eyes and coiled her arms around his neck. Standing there together everything felt right, the world for a split second was perfect, but then a warmness began welling through the Devilman's lids.

"I love you too," she replied when they separated from each other, but there was something wrong. Miki's heart sank when she felt wet drops spill onto her cheek, her eyes popped open and what greeted her was exactly what she was afraid of.

"Akira? What's wrong?" she peered up to him, he displayed the same perplexed and anxious look she had.

"I don't know, are you okay Miki?" he asked with concern apparent in his voice.

"I'm fine, more than fine," she rose back up keeping a worried gaze on him.

He faced the floor, his puzzlement was at its peak, "That's weird…"

Miki knew better. She knew how Akira's tears only ever flowed for others, but she just couldn't help herself.

"Are you okay, Akira?"

His stare locked with hers. Initially he didn't seem to know how to answer and more than anything his appearance screamed with unease.

"I was fine, more than fine even, I'm the happiest I've been, especially just now. But I'm confused, I don't understand why I'm crying? There's nobody else here?" he sopped his tears up with his sleeve.

"Hmm," Miki hummed as she pondered. "Well, whatever it is, I'll always be here for you, we'll figure it out together."

He relaxed listening to her kind gesture of support. He allowed himself a deep breath and lightened up his rugged features with a tiny smile.

"Thank you, Miki, but it was probably nothing, just a weird coincidence, I'm not gonna worry too much," he shrugged. "Anyway, let's get you out of here, I think I'm starting to hear your dad get up," Akira chuckled as he lifted her around the waist.

"That's a good call," she laughed with him. He darted out his window and down to her balcony so her parents wouldn't notice their movement within the house. He placed her down and they shared one last peck on the lips before he had to return to his bedroom. Once back he sat on his bed, the incident from before still nipped at his conscious despite his dismissal of it. He noticed the clock and decided he would get his mind off things by getting one last good hour of sleep in before he'd be forced to wake up for real. He buried himself in the warm sheets that still retained Miki's comforting scent as he allowed himself to just drift.

The sensation of weightlessness engrossed him, as he slowly coasted down a blacked null space. It was like being in water and just allowing gravity to inch him down further to the bottom, but there was no bottom, there was almost nothing. It was similar to the darkness from before only this time, it did not intimidate or confine him.

The only point of reference in his environment was a red radiance that sheltered a darkened husk. Akira could feel himself being heaved towards it; he wasn't sure what it was, but he was oddly tranquil as he came to meet it. He noticed it looked as though it was balled up and swaddled in a pair of large wings. Around those wings was the glistening gleam of what looked like a metal chain laced around its battered body.

It seemed to be sleeping but not soundly. It twitched frequently, and its face was twisted up. Akira felt strangely driven to reach his hand out to it, as he began to extend his arm, the being's eyes steadily opened. Its eyes were yellow and absent of any pupils but there was a deepness to them. Akira didn't feel afraid of the being, for it did not pose any threat. The only thing Akira could focus on was its unblinking stare, that conveyed above all else utter and absolute exhaustion.

"Who are you?" Akira could hear himself think out loud.

There was no response.

"Where are we, and why are you here?" this time he asked the giant being closed its eyes once again with a solemn sigh. They began to pull further apart. Akira didn't understand he tried to swim back to it but to no success.

"Please…" finally another voice, a naturally low and menacing voice that spoke jarringly frail. Akira waited to hear anymore but it took so long he worried a follow up would never come. He tried again to reach the disappearing figure, and again he heard it whisper.

"Please…leave me…"