Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo~
"W-what?" Asagi asked in confusion and shock as she looked wide-eyed at the red themed demon in front of her.
"Well the question was quite simple! I asked if you were hungry." Alastor replied to her, his ever present smile unnerving her to no end as Alastor started to tap against the microphone top of his staff.
"Hello~? Is this thing on? Testing, testing!" Alastor spoke towards his microphone staff.
Just then, the eye on the microphone staff opened up and started to speak—something that furthered Asagi's confusion. "Well I heard you loud and clear!" Alastor's mic replied to him before the eye closed once more.
Alastor then looked back at Asagi. "See? Now how about I take you with me, and we can talk with each other while eating some wonderful jambalaya." He said, more so as a statement rather than a question.
Despite all the warning signs in her head, Asagi grit her teeth and scowled at the Radio Demon.
"Why should I go anywhere with you, let alone eat anything you try and serve me." Asagi glared at Alastor, albeit with fear hidden in her voice. "You can't exactly expect me to trust someone that I've just met, let alone a demon. A demon—mind you—that killed my Kyousuke right before my eyes!"
"You're what?" Alastor asked while tilting his head in confusion, his smile still ever present.
"Kyousuke wasn't a "what". He was a person! A kind and loving person." Asagi said as tears started to form within her eyes, though she tried to hold them back.
"...Do you mean the man who turned into a monster and tried to force himself upon you along with those other debaucherous demons?" Alastor asked Asagi.
"He-he wasn't always a monster." Asagi said as she looked off to the side, a said look on her face. "He was the kindest person there was. It wasn't his fault he ended up a monster."
"Ah, yet he turned into one!" Alastor stated. "Why mourn over a man that died a mindless monster in the end?"
While Alastor meant no malice with his cold hard words of truth, Asagi still scowled at him.
"Go to hell." Asagi said to him with venom in her voice.
"Been there, done that." Alastor brushed off the comment.
Asagi really wanted to punch Alastor in the face, but due to the effects of the ring that was on her hand, she couldn't move. But besides that though, she was still sad over the loss of her boyfriend, gritting her teeth and closing her eyes as she tried to hold back her tears.
From within his own head, Elijah looked at Asagi with sympathy before he spoke to Alastor. "Could you try to be a little nicer?" He asked the Radio Demon.
"Who said I wasn't?" Alastor thought back to his host before looking back at Asagi.
"Okay, then can you try to be nicer than that?" Elijah asked him.
Alastor rolled his eyes as he looked at Asagi. He could truly care less on how she felt about him killing Kyousuke. He did what he needed—and wanted—to do. Nothing was going to change that.
However, he also knew that he would need answers about his surroundings and who is leading the demons in Tokyo—and considering that one of those demons targeted her personally—Alastor considered that Asagi would have the answers he seeked.
Kneeling down next to her, Alastor widened his smile a bit more. Asagi saw this and flinched, wondering if Alastor would kill her now.
"Now, Asagi, was it?" Alastor asked, though he didn't let her answer because he started to talk soon after. "I'm what you might consider a businessman down under. An entrepreneur in entertainment!" He said while spreading his arms out in pride.
"However, I'm not one who isn't cautious." Alastor said as he looked back at Asagi. "All I ask is that you come with me, and we can make a trade. A business venture, if you will. You give me information I require, and I'll help you get what you want most in this world."
"And why would I work with a demon?" Asagi asked as she narrowed her eyes at Alastor.
"Who turned your friend into a monster? Who sent those demons after you?" Alastor asked her. "Whether you like it or not, I believe we have a common enemy. All I ask is knowledge of this enemy—we won't even have to make an official deal upon it."
Asagi thought over what Alastor said, and while she didn't truly trust him, he had a point. From what she could feel from just being near him, Alastor was very powerful. He may be a force strong enough to eradicate the demon host within Tokyo.
She knew that while the Taimanin were skilled, the demons would always exploit their weaknesses, and they would always be too late to stop it.
They needed an advantage over the demons, and if this past hour told her anything, they needed that change now.
Asagi looked Alastor dead in the eye, a slight scowl upon her face, yet not completely filled with mistrust.
"Let's say I do help you." Asagi started. "How far will you go to help me?"
At this, Alastor's grin widened. "I'll help get rid of all your problems. Your enemies wouldn't even know what hit them! Hahahaha! And it would be most entertaining for me." Alastor said with a jovial look.
Asagi looked off to the side for a moment before looking back up to Alastor's face.
"Fine." She said. "You have a deal."
At this, Alastor jumped to his feet.
"Wonderful!" He shouted with glee. "This is the beginning of an interesting friendship, I can guarantee you that."
Alastor soon twirled his staff in his hand before aiming it near some trees. Harnessing his power, he sent a beam of light out through his microphone staff and towards the trees.
The beam was sent, but it stopped right in front of the trees, condensing into a sphere before it spiraled outward, becoming a mix of red and black.
Alastor started walking towards the portal before pausing and looking behind at Asagi—who was still on the ground.
"You gonna get up?" Alastor asked her.
Asagi just nudged her head at the ring upon her finger. "This ring is constricting my movement."
"Oh! I see." Alastor said before he made a gun appearance with his thumb and finger tip.
Alastor fired a stream of red colored magic towards Asagi, hitting the ring. Soon enough, the ring started to crack before it shattered all together.
Asagi flexed her fingers before rotating her hands. She soon started to stand up from her spot on the ground, covering her hands over her nipples and vagina as she blushed off to the side.
Alastor just rolled his eyes before snapping his fingers, causing Asagi's clothes to be fixed immediately.
Asagi looked at her clothes, marveling that they were practically good as new.
"Eh-hem." Alastor cleared his throat as he motioned to the portal with his staff.
Asagi looked at the portal, and after releasing a sigh, she steeled herself and made her way to the portal.
She soon walked through the portal, Alastor standing off to the side as he let her go first, before he too walked through the portal—closing it soon after.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Tokyo, N.O.M.A.D headquarters~
Oboro had escaped with her life. That was the only thing that she could call a victory after her miraculously failed attempt to capture Asagi. Her plan was perfect in her mind. She would capture Asagi with the aid of the monstrous Kyousuke, and watch with glee as the cheeky bitch would be raped endlessly into submission. And if her little sister Sakura started to look for Asagi? Oboro would capture her as well and subjugate her to the same torment.
Oboro practically creamed herself at how her plan would go. But then, then came that... demon. Alastor. An annoying smile, and an even more cheekier attitude than Asagi. But his power. It was raw and pure, and he dispatched herself so easily. It terrified Oboro to no end, and she despised it because it made her look and feel weak.
But what Oboro had other pressing matters to worry about now. She had to report back in to inform her master about her failure. And knowing how he didn't tolerate failure all too well, all Oboro could do was worry about what might happen to herself. She could only hope that her master would be merciful to her.
As Oboro walked through the N.O.M.A.D building, she continued to cover up the socket where her arm once was to the best of her ability with her hand—blood still spilled out onto the floors she walked upon—as monsters, demons, and humans alike eyes her throughout the building, wondering what had happened to her.
Seeing this, Oboro scowled at anyone looking at her, growling at them as well as she made her way up the building towards the personal office of her lord and master.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Within a private office room near the top of the N.O.M.A.D building sat a man at his desk. His skin was pale with his eyes and hair being silver in color. He wore black dress pants, a white button up shirt with a blue tie—underneath a large black overcoat that was red on the inside—and to top it all off, he also wore a large red scarf. This was Oboro's master, the leader of Tokyo's demon faction, and the vampire lord that sought to rule the world. This was the immortal vampire, Edwin Black.
Edwin Black considered himself superior to most other species on Earth, regarding himself higher than human, demon, and monster. He was very skillful, very powerful, and had a level head upon his shoulders—even if he was egotistical.
He sought to rule the world, and had a perfect plan as well. Slowly he would gain the trust and partnerships of businessmen and various militaries around the world. Promising them a place under his sun, so long as they held up to their tasks. And while the vampire lord would reward achievement, he was cruel when it came to failure, and was not above sacrificing pawns in order to get ten steps ahead of those he considered a threat.
Edwin was a man who was always busy. Though he was not without love. Despite being a creature of evil, there were those he harbored feelings and attractions for. One such being he felt a strong attraction to was one Asagi Igawa, Taimanin ninja, and one of two women he considered as his soul mates. The most attractive thing he found from Asagi was her willpower—though that same aspect of Asagi could be said as to what attracted Edwin to the second woman.
He had sent Oboro out on a mission to retrieve Asagi for him. Oboro's original plan was to capture Asagi and Kyousuke at the same time and have Asagi tormented while she watched as Oboro raped Kyousuke and turned him into a monster before her eyes. However, that was the first Oboro's plan—before she somehow disappeared and a second clone was required to take her place.
The second Oboro has a plan similar to the original's plan, though inside she had captured Kyousuke first and turned him into her own personal monster. From there, she would use Kyousuke to lure Asagi out into the open and use a paralysis ring on her. Oboro would then be tasked with bringing Asagi to Edwin per his instruction.
Black had no doubt that Oboro would try and torment Asagi on her way over to him, and if Oboro went too far, Edwin would be sure to punish her severely.
All he did now was wait for Oboro's return. Edwin had hopes that Oboro would succeed, though if she should fail him, she herself would know the outcome.
Here the vampire lord sat in silence as he awaited the return of Oboro. However, he senses started to kick in as he smelt fresh and dripping blood coming from just outside his office. The blood he smelt was all too familiar to him, for it was the blood of Oboro.
Edwin furrowed his eyes a little, knowing something evidently went wrong with her plan. No matter. He would allow her to grovel out an explanation before he decided her fate.
Oboro soon made her way into Edwin's office, leaving the door handle covered in blood due to her other hand—the same hand she was using to cover up the still bleeding stump that was her arm—having to let go of her shoulder to open the door.
A look of failure and slight fear was written on her face as she looked down from Edwin's gaze.
"Oboro..." Edwin spoke to his agent with furrowed eyes. "I take it that from your injury—and the smell of fear coming from you—that your mission was far from a success." He state's more so as a fact.
"I-I can explain, Lord Black." Oboro said with a fearful look. "It wasn't my fault!"
Just then, another voice—a feminine voice—entered into the conversation.
"How typical. The glorified sex fiend couldn't even complete a retrieval mission without returning in a bloody mess." Spoke a woman that had been standing in the corner of Edwin's office the entire time, adjacent to the vampire lord. "I'm certain that it was your ego and rivalry with the elder Igawa that was your undoing."
Oboro turned to see the woman with her own eyes. The woman in question wore a black, formal office business suit, accompanied by a black pencil skirt. She didn't wear anything underneath her suit, given the top view of her H-cup sized breasts. Her skin was a smooth, milk chocolate color. Her eyes were a fiery amber color, her lips coated with purple lipstick as she had a mole on the right side of her face near her lower lip. To top it all off, she had very long pink curtained hair. The stance she held told her that she was all work with little play, and was slightly haughty.
This was the Hell Knight Ingrid, right hand woman of Edwin Black, and his most loyal servant.
Oboro scowled with an angered look when she spotted Ingrid. The two of them didn't exactly get along with each other, though the same could be said to Ingrid with everyone else in Black's organization. Though one couldn't really blame her when everyone else had an agenda of sorts against Black.
"I don't have time to deal with your haughty bullshit, Ingrid." Oboro growled. "Not with what I just went through!"
"And what exactly happened, Oboro?" Edwin asked as he put his elbows on his desk, entwining his fingers together. "You come back to this building—dragging blood throughout it, and you enter into my office a failure. I have half a mind to leave you with a group of sex-deprived orcs, but I'm not unreasonable. Your explanation better be a good one, or else." He told her with a calmed scowl.
Oboro gulped in fear for her life. She didn't want to end up as an orc gang's cocksleave, or worse.
Meanwhile, Ingrid crossed her arms and looked at Oboro, a small smirk forming on her lips as she took a small bit of satisfaction in seeing Oboro grovel before Edwin. Ingrid was far from a sadist—despite her demonic origins—but that didn't change the fact that Oboro aggravated her to no end. Though Ingrid herself wouldn't place any of her enemies in a position to be raped—even if it was Oboro. She found it to be more honorable by giving out a more difficult task, or at the very least, punish them with death by blade.
"Everything was going according to plan." Oboro spoke carefully, doing her best not to incite Edwin's wrath. "I had Asagi right where I wanted, but some... demon came out of nowhere and ruined it all!" She defended herself as memories of the Radio Demon were still present in his head.
"And this 'demon' was the cause for your loss of limb?" Edwin asked as he looked at the bleeding stump that Oboro still tried to prevent from leaking out.
"Yes!" Oboro couldn't stress it enough.
Ingrid rolled her eyes at Oboro. "I didn't think you were lacking in that much skill to be bested in a fight with another demon."
"He wasn't a regular demon!" Oboro told Ingrid with anger in her eyes. "He was dressed red with grey skin, red eyes, red hair, and smiling sharp teeth! He killed all of my backup, including Kyousuke. And he nearly killed me." She growled out.
Ingrid narrowed her eyes at Oboro—but in the back of her own head, Ingrid was thinking of the description of the demon Oboro spoke of. The more she thought about it, the more the description was familiar to her, way too familiar—almost on a more personal level.
Edwin shared similar thoughts to his right hand woman, but not on the same level as her. "Did this demon give you his name?" He asked Oboro.
Oboro scowled in both fear and anger when she spoke the demon's name. "Alastor. He said his name was Alastor."
At that moment, Edwin and Ingrid lightly widened their eyes—Ingrid a little more so.
Within the mind of the Hell Knight, she was brought back to a time when she was much younger. A child around the age of 10, abandoned, dirty, and alone. She remembered the streets of Pentagram City, looking up in worry at a red deer demon that smiled at her with red eyes and an ever present sharp-toothed grin. The demon then—to the young Ingrid's surprise—held his hand out towards her in a calm and gentle manner. Ingrid soon stole herself from her thoughts as she comforted her face into a serious look.
Edwin on the other hand was thinking of a different situation—without any personal connection whatsoever.
"I know that name." Edwin spoke as he remembered tales from other demons. "The name Alastor belongs to an Overlord of Hell. A demon that is feared by many."
"That demon came from the depths of Hell?" Oboro asked with a confused look. "More than that, what's an Overlord of Hell?"
"Hmm." Edwin cast Oboro a glance. "I know I never told you about the denizens of Hell—mainly because I never suspected they could ever be an issue, but at least assumed that you have tried to study these things."
Oboro just glanced off to the side in slight embarrassment. Ingrid quietly laughed at her, prompting Oboro to glance at her with a scowl.
"The denizens of Hell can be placed into two categories." Edwin started his explanation. "Hell-borns, and Sinners. Hell-born demons are—as their name suggests—demons born in Hell. Meanwhile, Sinners were humans who lived a life of sin, died, and fell into Hell, becoming demons."
At this, Ingrid decided to pitch in. "Most demons of Hell are moderate in their abilities, but there are a rare few that rise in power, becoming Overlords of Hell. Demons of a more dangerous power."
Edwin nodded at Ingrid before he continued. "Besides Alastor, other Overlords consist of Bethesa Von Eldritch, Frederick Von Eldritch, Rosie, Velvet, Valentino, and Vox. Ruling above all of them is Lucifer and Lilith Magne, the King and Queen of Hell."
"Ok, so what's so special about Alastor?" Oboro asked.
"While I've never met him in person, I've heard the rumors from when I visited Pentagram City." Edwin explained to her. "He was an American radio star in the 1920s—Louisiana to be exact. However, he eventually became a renowned serial killer—though he was never found out. One day, he was killed—but was sent down to Hell with powers that could rival Hell's most powerful and destructive entities. And over time, Sinners started to refer to Alastor as the Radio Demon."
Ingrid still held a stern look upon her face, but deep down she had a feeling of dread she could not get rid of.
"Well then, what's he doing back on Earth?" Oboro asked with a slightly angry expression.
At this, Edwin Black hummed in thought. "Demons from Hell cannot leave without the use of very specific spells. There is one group I've heard of that moves through Hell and Earth with the use of such spells..." Edwin trailed off in thought, trying to not think of that accursed jingle. "But for an Overlord to leave Hell—especially without catching the eye of Exterminator angels?"
Ingrid scowled at the thought of the Exterminators. Remembering their L.E.D masks, horned heads, and wide wings as their figures were covered in blood.
"For Alastor to leave Hell, he would need the assistance of Lucifer himself." Edwin said as he placed a hand to his chin in thought. "Though I suspect that Alastor would need a willing host body in order to traver Earth without earning Heaven's notice."
"If he's as dangerous as you say, then we should go out there and kill him now!" Oboro said as she much so wanted to get back at the Radio Demon.
"That would be a death wish." Ingrid said as she rolled her eyes at Oboro.
"Ingrid is right." Edwin spoke in agreement with his loyal subordinate. "Demons from Hell cannot be killed so easily, let alone by anything from Hell—or on Earth."
"T-then... couldn't we get him to work with us? Pleasure? Women? Isn't that what most demons want?" Oboro asked, scowling at the fact that she couldn't kill Alastor.
"I've spoken with Lucifer himself once." Edwin told Oboro. "What I heard from him is that Alastor only does something if it's entertaining to him. Besides... he also said that Alastor was—in his own words—areoace."
"That means aromantic and asexual." Ingrid told Oboro with a haughty tone.
"I know what areoace means." Oboro grit her teeth as she growled at Ingrid.
"Just making sure." Ingrid said with a smug smirk.
Oh, how Oboro hated the haughty tone Ingrid always used to belittle her. Oboro wished she could have Ingrid raped over and over again and see what face she made then.
"The only means of getting rid of Alastor is to find an Exterminator spear, specifically one crafted for an arch-Exterminator." Edwin said, breaking up any and all fighting between Ingrid and Oboro.
"So... what did we do?" Oboro asked Black.
"You will go and see Kiryuu and patch yourself up." Edwin said as he motioned towards the stump that was Oboro's arm. "I'll see to the issue of the Radio Demon."
Oboro grit her teeth a bit, knowing that she might not get her revenge against Alastor—but she soon put on her best poker face and smiled.
"Right away, Lord Black." Oboro said with a bow and a sultry smirk.
Oboro then turned around and started to make her way to the door. Stopping a few feet away from it, she looked at Ingrid.
"Do you mind opening the door for me?" Oboro asked the Hell Knight with a mock-sweet voice. "Unless you want my blood soaked hand to get on this handle as well."
Ingrid had a stern look on her face as she looked at Oboro, but she relented and opened the door for her.
Oboro made her way through the door, but not without one snide remark towards the Hell Knight.
"Good girl." Oboro snidely spoke to Ingrid as she started to walk through the halls of the building once more.
Ingrid scowled at Oboro, but soon closed the door—now facing Edwin once again.
"I still don't see why we need her." Ingrid said to Edwin as she walked over to him, standing in front of his desk.
"She has her uses." Edwin simply replies to Ingrid. "Besides, Asagi needs a distraction for the time being—so that I can move along with my plans, without any needless distractions." He said as he rested his arms on his desk. "Something Alastor represents."
Ingrid glanced to the side before focusing on Black when he spoke to her.
"I know that you have a history within Pentagram City." Edwin started. "And while I've never questioned you much about the topic—I must know if you might have heard anything about Alastor during your time there that could prove useful in this predicament."
Ingrid closed her eyes for a moment, the image of Alastor's wide smile and radio dial eyes flashing in her mind before it disappeared the next moment.
"No... I'm afraid not, Lord Black." Ingrid said with a shake of her head.
"Hmm. Very well. I still thank you, nonetheless." Edwin said to his right hand woman. "However, with Alastor within Tokyo City, I require you to try and find as much as you can on him. I have much faith that you can succeed at this."
At this, Ingrid blushed at the compliment—though she did try to hold it back. "I'll see to it that it's done, Lord Black."
"You are dismissed." Edwin told her.
Ingrid Bowes her head before she made her way to the door.
"And Ingrid?" Edwin said, getting her attention as she grabbed the door handle. "See to it that you can get a janitorial detail. I don't want Oboro's blood to stain the floors."
Ingrid nodded to him as she opened the door to his office and exited—closing the door behind her.
Ingrid started to walk off, placing a hand to her chest—blushing—as she started to think back to the compliment Edwin Black gave her, smiling at the thought of the vampire she fell in love with. Though those thoughts, that smile, and her blush started to fade away as she remembered the issue of Alastor. For Ingrid feared that this might be the one task that she might not be able accomplish for Edwin. Though her reasons were not what one would usually expect—especially when it came to Alastor.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Tokyo, Toyama Park~
Alastor's portal opened up deep within the darkened woods of Toyama Park.
Asagi stepped out of the portal, Alastor following her as he closed the portal behind him.
"Where-where are we?" Asagi said as she looked around at the dark forest.
"Hmm." Alastor put his hand to his chin. "If I correctly remember, I transported us to Toyama Park."
At this, Asagi's eyes widened.
"What?!" She screamed at the Radio Demon. "You took us to Toyama Park, at night?! Do you know what happens around these woods at this time of day?"
"Of course I do! Why else would teleport here?" Alastor rhetorically asked her.
Just then, a series of howling with a few unsettling moans filled through the area, causing Asagi to look around her while Alastor paid no mind.
"I find the neighborhood to be quite lovely." The Radio Demon simply said as he started to walk past Asagi.
Asagi grumbled to herself as she watched Alastor walk past her, seeing him stop about two feet away from herself.
"Is this really the place where you wanted to talk with me?" Asagi asked him.
Alastor just glanced back at her with his bright smile before replying. "Of course not! We can't have a proper conversation out here in the wilderness. I wish for us to conjugate inside."
"Wait, what do you mean insi—?" Asagi tried to ask him with a confused expression before her eyes widened in shock.
Alastor snapped his fingers, causing the earth below them to shake. The trees started to move—spread apart just as if some force pushed them aside. A large clearing was made—and from the clearing, something arose from the ground.
Arising from the earth was large, worn down manor. Each floor had been topped off with a layer of an angled roof, all the way until it was tipped off with the small tower at the top-center of the building. Hanging from the sides of the manor other sections of the building—where other corridors and rooms were most likely located—being held up from the ground with support pillars, each side of the extended Mando being ended off with small towers. A stone stairwell led to the main doors.
The manor arose with a groaning and creaking sound as the earth shook. But the moment the worn down manor rose up completely, the groaning and creaking ceased—the earth soon settling down once more.
Alastor started to walk up the step to his manor, opening the front door—holding it open for Asagi as he motioned his hand to the inside.
"Shall we?" He asked her. "I assure you, the cover is not the book.~" Alastor said in a sing-song voice.
Asagi continued to look at the manor with wide eyes she steeled her nerves and marched right over.
Making her way up the stone steps, Asagi made her way through the door, casting a glance at Alastor as she went through—Alastor still smiling.
The moment she passed through the door, Alastor swiftly moved inside behind her, snapping his fingers and causing the door to close behind him.
Asagi widened her eyes as she looked all around her—eyes widened as they met the style and clean look of the inside of the manor. It was an overall Victorian-esc style combined with what seemed like a 1920's appearance—red patterned walls outlined in beige, ornate wooden furniture, eerie yet calm yellow lights, green ceilings with an off glow.
"Come along." Alastor said, passing by her with his hands and microphone staff behind her back.
Asagi followed the Radio Demon, her eyes still wondering around the manor. However, she was so distracted that she didn't notice that Alastor had stopped in his tracks—and Asagi promptly bumped into Alastor's back, falling backwards into her bum.
Alastor looked back at the downed Asagi, rolling his eyes a bit. "Do try and maintain your focus."
Alastor then walked into a large room—from what Asagi saw, it was the dining room. Situated in the middle of the room was a large, oval table. Ornate and wooden in design with golden rims, there were a total of ten chairs surrounding the table. Each chair was ornate with red cushions on the seats and the backrests.
Alastor pulled up a seat on the end of the table facing the entrance to the dining room, motioning towards Asagi for her to take her seat.
Asagi slowly rose up from her spot on the floor and cautiously made her way to the table, taking the seat that Alastor offered to her.
The Radio Demon pushed her seat in before he spoke to Asagi. "If you give me a few minutes, I shall be right back." And with that, Alastor walked over to a door at the end of the room.
He opened the door, and from what Asagi could see from her seat, the door led to the kitchen.
Asagi waited on the Radio Demon, placing her arms on the table and twiddling her fingers as she mulled over recent events. Her thoughts still lingered on the sweet smile of Kyousuke, before what Oboro did to him, before Alastor annihilated him into ash.
She was soon pulled away from her thoughts when she heard the door to the kitchen open up. She watched as Alastor came out carrying a large, metallic bowl that had steam rising from it. Behind the Radio Demon, two bowls—along with some fancy silverware—floating behind him with a radio glow.
"Bon appetit, Mademoiselle." Alastor said in French as he set the bowl down in the center of the table.
Alastor, using a pair of tongs, filled both of the bowls with the food that was in the larger bowl.
Once he was done, one of the two bowls floated over to Asagi, along with a silver fork. From what Asagi saw, it was in fact Jambalaya. She had never had something like this before—though it did smell amazing.
A tantalizing combination of chicken, rice, sausage, andouille, crawfish, tomato, bell pepper, onions, garlic, celery, cayenne pepper, salt, dried thyme, and what smelt like a slight overdose of Cajun seasoning. It definitely made Asagi's mouth water.
She looked at Alastor—who now took the seat at the opposite end of the table—as he started to partake in his dish.
While the food smelled great, Asagi's instincts caused her to be hesitant with the bowl of jambalaya in front of her.
Sensing this, Alastor showed her a toothy smile. "Don't worry. It's not as if I poisoned it!" Alastor said with a hearty laugh. "Believe me, I would never tarnish my mother's very own recipe. If I did that, what kind of loving son would I be?"
With that, Alastor started to dig into his bowl of jambalaya.
Asagi still seemed hesitant, but after a moment of watching Alastor eat, she decided to pick up her fork and take a bite out of the dish.
The moment the jambalaya entered into her mouth, Asagi widened her eyes as she was trampled over with a wave of flavor and spices.
"Mmm.~" Asagi moaned with her bite of food, closing her eyes in pleasure—feeling as if she was in a sauna getting a deep tissue massage.
She soon took several more bites of her food. She smiled in satisfaction, but on her most recent bite of her food, she noticed that Alastor was looking at her with a raised brow and a wide smirk plastered on his face.
Widening her eyes, and gulping down her bite of food, Asagi cleared her throat and postured herself. "I-I suppose it's time we start talking." She said as she looked at Alastor with a stern look. "You first. You said that you would help me. That much I understand. I want to know why."
"Well, to explain that, I would have to regale in the tale of how I arrived back on Earth." Alastor said in an almost whimsical tone.
"Do you have to?" Asagi asked with a deadpan look.
"Shush you." Alastor quickly said. "To start off, I'm a sinner. A human who did ill in life, and punished to an eternity in Hell."
"I've heard about those types of demons." Asagi said as she placed a hand to her chin. "But... I thought you weren't able to leave Hell."
"That's correct—though we can leave the confines of Hell so long as we have the right spells." Alastor informed as he continued to explain. "Any-who. Being an overlord of Hell, Lucifer himself offered me—."
"Wait, overlord?! Lucifer?!" Asagi asked with wide eyes.
"Let me finish!" Alastor said with a strained smile. "Eherm. He offered me a chance for some proper entertainment. I could walk the Earth again so long as I quell the earthborn demons up above."
"And why would the King of Hell want to have other demons killed?" Asagi asked with a raised brow.
"Not all demons are the same." Alastor waved off. "Earthborns are easier to kill. Hellborns and sinners? Not so much. Besides that, Hell has a bit of an overpopulation issue—and these earthborns are getting more people to sin. The more sinners down in Hell, the more Heaven is gunning for our posteriors."
Asagi nodded at the information given to her as Alastor continued.
"Naturally, I took his offer. Though while I was able to get back to Earth, I still needed a body since it—shall we say, expired." Alastor said as he looked at Asagi. "And that my dear, is where my host comes in!" He said in a jovial tone as he snapped his fingers at her.
Just then, Alastor was covered in a fog of red smoke. Asagi tried to look through the smoke—to see if Alastor was still there. The smoke had soon cleared, and someone was indeed still starting in Alastor's seat. It just wasn't Alastor himself.
The man in question had dark skin with dark brown hair, his eyes an amber color. He wore white plain front wingtip collar dress shirt with cufflinks, underneath a formal red vest with a black collar. Above that was a black tail coat. His pants were satin striped flat front pants. To finish it off, he wore black and white Kings Oxford Wingtip Dress Golf shoes, white gloves on his hands, and a red bow tie on his dress shirt—along with oval-shaped glasses tinted in red.
The man looked around in confusion, looking over his clothing with a raised brow. "How'd he get me in this?" He asked himself.
His eyes looked up to see Asagi looking at him with a confused look.
"Oh! H-hi there!" He said with a bright smile—a smile without any sharp teeth—as he waved at Asagi.
In Asagi's personal opinion, while the man before her did have a similar body structure to Alastor—there was the absence of the Radio Demon's eerie nature that caused Asagi to view the dark skinned man as a quote the looker. That and his smile reminded her of Kyuosuke, yet somehow... sweeter.
"Uh, h-hi?" Asagi waves back at him with an unsure look.
"So... I'm Elijah, Elijah Acteaon. And, uh, I'm Alastor's host." Elijah introduces himself to Asagi. "From what I heard your name is Asagi. Right?"
"Asagi Igawa." She introduced herself with a stern look.
"Well. Hello, Miss Igawa." Elijah said with a respectful nod.
Asagi just gave a raised brow at Elijah.
"So, should I start with my explanation, or should you start on why those demons attacked you?" Elijah asked as he pointed his hand at himself before pointing it at Asagi.
"...Strange." Asagi said.
"What's strange?" Elijah asked with a raised brow.
"Well... I would have assumed that the host of a demon would be a bit more..." Asagi tried to find the right word without trying to sound too insulting.
"Twisted? Evil? A jackass?" Elijah asked with a small smile. "I wouldn't blame anyone for thinking like that... especially since part of my deal with Alastor was to help me become a demon." He said as he looked off to the side.
Asagi's eyes went wide at this bit of information. "W-why would you want to become a demon?" Asagi asked with now furrowed eyes. "And he seemed so nice." She thought to herself.
Elijah sighed with a sad smile. "Well, ain't that the tale?"
Elijah looked up to the green ceiling as he started to reminisce about his past. "It was only four years ago. I'm an only child. Fatherless, and raised by a single mother. One day, my mother got sick—and that sickness only grew worse. I worked my ass off day and night to pay for anything that could help my mother get better... but nothing worked." He said with a shake of his head.
"Then one day, this blonde man in white gives me this old radio. I bring it inside and go to sleep, but the next day I find my mother slowly becoming better. As if the whole sickness was just one deep dream." Elijah explained. "At first I thought that it might have actually been some form of divine intervention. Heheheh. Boy was I wrong. The next thing I know—this demon, Alastor, pops out of the radio going on about he was a distant relative of mine and that I could strike a deal with him to kill some demons. Because for all his power, he needed a willing host to move around in—something he couldn't do with a stationary radio."
"And you took the deal?" Asagi asked.
"Hell no!" Elijah said with a laugh. "My mother raised me better than that." He soon calmed down a bit before continuing. "But despite the fact that I refused at the time, he didn't seem angry or let down. He just shrugged it off and retreated back into the radio. Saying he'd be there for me if I needed it."
"... I take it that that soon became the case?" Asagi asked as her expression started to soften.
Elijah's expression seemed to sour, yet his face was stone. "One night, these three guys ran into me on my way home. At first it seemed like they just wanted to talk, but then one of them tried to jump me. I moved out of the way in time, but the next moment the three of them turned into these... monstrosities. These demons." He said as he looked right at Asagi. "Much like the ones that were about to rape you."
Asagi's eyes widened some at this information.
"They used their strength to hold me down. Said their boss wanted my mother. Though one of them said that they would try and have their way with her before they brought me and my mother back to whoever sent them." Elijah continued on as a face of sadness soon formed upon him. "All I could think about was making sure none of that happened. But I was just a regular human like everyone else. I didn't have the strength to stop them. But then... lo and behold, Alastor came to save the day. He killed the monsters, and he did it with a smile."
Elijah looked Asagi dead in the eye. "That's when I made the deal with him. I would let him use my body to do his job, but only on the condition that he would come out when I allowed him to, and that he would teach on how to become a powerful demon like him. That way, I could protect those closest to me."
Just then, Elijah started to scowl, a blue aura surrounding him as voodoo symbols filled the air. It caused Asagi to worry. "Alastor's here to kill demons, and that's basically it for him. But me? I came to Tokyo cause I found out that the boss of those demons lives here. And I won't stop until I kill them. It's one thing to try and hurt me, but it's another thing to try and hurt my mother."
There was a dark anger within Elijah's eyes, but soon enough it subsided. His aura dispersed and the symbols disappeared as his mood softened. "I don't care if I'm going to Hell for working with a demon. I don't care if I end up dead in the process. So long as my mother is safe, I'll do what I must. Even if it means I gotta become an evil to kill other evils."
Asagi seemed almost sympathetic with Elijah. She too knew what it was like to want and protect her loved ones. It's part of why she became a Taimanin in the first place. But she retired from that life. Though with Oboro's return, it seemed that life didn't want to retire from her.
Asagi glanced at Elijah, wondering if she should reveal to him about herself and the organization she worked for—and soon to work for again. Her mind told her that as rousing as his declaration was, it could still all be a trap. He was trying to become a demon—working with an Overlord of Hell.
But her instincts told her something else.
"...Edwin Black." She spoke.
At this, Elijah's eyes widened a bit and looked at Asagi. "What?"
And at the same time—from within Elijah's head, Alastor's eyes widened at the name as well. The only difference was he knew of Edwin Black, and he smiled maliciously.
"He's someone who likes to stay in the shadows. Never making an appearance as his minions do the work for him." Asagi explained while crossing her arms. "He's said to be powerful and dangerous, letting his servants do as they please so much as his goals are achieved. The vampire lord, Edwin Black. If no one else, he's the boss of the demons that we're sent after your mother."
Elijah's eyes were still wide, though something within his soul smiled devilishly as he finally had a name to put to the person that tried to kidnap his mother. Edwin Black.
"How do you know this?" Elijah asked Asagi.
Asagi—with her arms still crossed—sighed and spoke. "I worked for a group called the Taimanin. A ninja clan with the sacred task of protecting the world by hunting down demons and monsters."
Asagi started to reminisce about her days as a taimanin ninja. "I was one of the best Taimanin on in the clan. Even when a mission seemed like it would end in failure, I found a way to win." Her eyes started to soften. "But I grew tired of that life, and wanted one of peace. I retired from being a Taimanin, and lived with my sister and my boyfriend. Kyousuke."
Elijah frowned a bit when he saw the sad expression on Asagi's face, knowing where this explanation was going. Meanwhile, Alastor heard it as well, though was more annoyed at the fact that Elijah was frowning.
Tears started to form on her face as she tried to hold them back. "I... I guess you can see where that got me." Asagi said as she lowered her head
Elijah silently sighed and got up from his seat, pulling out a red handkerchief from the breast pocket on his tail coat.
He walked over to Asagi, prompting her to look up at him. Before she could question what he was doing, Elijah started to use his handkerchief to wipe away Asagi's tears.
"Ain't no way a beautiful woman like yourself should be seen crying." Elijah said as he gave her a soft smile.
Asagi's eyes widened a bit, but she returned a smile to Elijah. "Thank you." She said in a soft voice, a faint blush starting to form on her cheeks.
"I think we've spoken enough here. You said you live with your sister?" Elijah asked.
"Yes. My younger sister, Sakura. We don't live too far from... Shinjuku Gyoen." The name of the park caused Asagi's mood to sour some.
"While I may not yet be as versed in magic as Alastor, I can teleport just the entrance of Shinjuku." Elijah offered.
He summoned Alastor's microphone staff in hand, twirling it around and firing a beam at the wall—another red portal opening up.
Elijah held his hand for Asagi to take hold of, giving her a smile as she did so.
Asagi was a little hesitant, but took it anyway—getting up from her seat and following Elijah through the portal.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Later~
Elijah and Asagi were walking down a street, towards the Igawa residence. Asagi held her hands together in front of her, while Elijah had his hands held together behind his back. The two were in the middle of a conversation.
"So you're saying that she's a ditz?" Elijah asked with a raised brow.
"Sakura's not an idiot." Asagi said as she talked about her sister. "She's just a little... childish. She's always wanted to be Taimanin, though I don't think she truly knows the risks." She said as she held onto her arm.
Elijah looked at Asagi with a questioning glance.
"It's like I said about the missions that seemed impossible. If you're skilled enough, you can make it through, but if that's not the case... who knows what will happen." Asagi explained.
Elijah nodded solemnly at this, getting the picture. They continued to walk in silence for a moment before he spoke.
"What Alastor meant about helping you against your enemies. The thing about him, is that he goes by the code of the deal makers. They'll go by the word of a deal, but if there are loopholes left open, they will exploit it." Elijah explained. "I can see that you want to protect people—like me, but Alastor has no obligation to do the same. We have a common enemy, and while I'll help if I'm able to, Alastor will only go for his targets. He won't help anyone he has no relation towards."
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Alastor said to Elijah.
"So what do you suggest?" Asagi asked Elijah.
The man sighed as he looked ahead of him. "The only way to get Alastor to do something for you, is to make a deal with him. That's the only way I know of."
Asagi didn't nod, nor did she scowl. She merely thought on the subject of making a deal with Alastor. On the one hand, he was a very dangerous demon from the sounds of things. But on the other hand, he could be a boon to the Taimanin. The only issue would be what the cost for such a deal would be.
She was pulled from her thoughts when glanced at an all too familiar house.
"We're here." Asagi said as she looked at the house she shared with her sister.
"I'll wait here." Elijah said as he stood by Asagi's mailbox. "Though if you ever wish to meet again, you know where to find me and Alastor."
Asagi nodded before she went over to the front door. Slowly, she knocked on it, knowing that it was quite late.
From outside of her house, Asagi could hear footsteps from inside. Soon enough, the door opened.
The door opened to reveal a young woman, just an inch shorter than Asagi.
The girl's skin was Caucasian in color. Her hair an orangish-blonde, her eyes blue. She was currently in a white collared shirt with a blue skirt and a blue necktie as well a pink band on her left arm—by her hand. She also had black shorts under her skirt. She was currently barefoot.
This was Sakura Igawa. She had a tired look to her face, but mood brightened when she spotted Asagi.
"Big sis!" Sakura beamed with joy, giving Asagi a hug.
Asagi smiled at her sister and gratefully returned the hug.
Sakura soon receded as her smile remained. "What took you so long? I waited all night for you and Kyousuke to come home. Where is Kyousuke anyway?"
Asagi felt a twinge in her heart. Not just at the mention of her now dead boyfriend, but at the fact that she would have to explain things to Sakura. "I-I'll tell you tomorrow."
Sakura didn't pay too much mind to what her sister said and nodded. Soon looking past Asagi and spotting Elijah standing by their mailbox, taking note of his looks.
"Who's Mr. Handsome?" Sakura quietly asked Asagi.
Asagi looked back at Elijah before replying. "Uh... a new friend I met in the park."
Asagi waved at Elijah, giving him the go ahead that everything was fine.
Elijah smiles and nodded as he started to walk off, whistling the song "Tomorrow".
"What's he like?" Sakura said as she watched him walk off.
"He's... unique. That much is certain." Asagi said as she watched him walk off before sighing. "Come on. Let's go inside."
Sakura nodded as she made way for her older sister to walk into their house. As Asagi made her way inside, Sakura took one last look at the retreating form of Elijah before closing the door.
End chapter
Author's notes:
So here's the second chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. For those wondering why it is that Ingrid knew Alastor in the past... well, for that you'll have to wait for the next chapter to release. Or you go ahead and read it on Wattpad.
With all that said, I will see you all in the next chapter.
Stay tuned folks~