On the outside, the old FizzJizz factory on the city's northern edge seemed deader than a corpse. But inside, it was livier than it had ever been. Thanks to the actions of a certain demon in disguise, most, if not all, of the gangsters were completely shitfaced, dancing to the music that played loudly on the speakers, wrestling, and partaking in activities that only a drunken mind could conjure while the rest sang a song to match the music:

"Well, I was a young lad who had wild dreams
Both when I was awake and when I was asleep

Each and every one as strange as can be
But they showed a life that seemed just for me

In one I was a knight, sturdy and strong
With a sword that was over 50 feet long

I beat and cut monsters, they weren't so tough

But instead of blood, all they had was fluff

In another I was an eagle, pretty and fair

With a ponytail made of ladies' underwear

I'd swoop and sweep, scratch and shriek
Whenever I saw a piece of juicy meat

In a third I was a dog, wrinkly and wise
I had a hundred and thirty seven fine wives

Voices like angels, the sex was great

But I couldn't help but think that their tits were fake"

As they continued their intoxicated musical note, Ruka grabbed his fourth bottle from one of the crates he had brought in. BellBub Belly Fire Rum. Best rum in Hell. Little did he and the humans know, it was distilled from hellhound piss. As he popped off the cork and took a sip, Studs staggeredly approached the demon as he, like the others, was as drunk as can be. "Red Maaaaaan." Studs greeted with a hiccup, "Lemme just say. Great idea, man. You...y-y-you really know...h-ho-how to throw a party."

"I didn't do shit." Ruka responded, "I just brought some actual good alcohol. You lot did the rest."

"Well regardless...you...you the man, Red Man. I can see why Bans hangs out with you."

Ruka took note of the bottle in Stud's hand. "That your second bottle?" He asked.

"Nah, man. I'm still working on this one." Studs answered, "Shit's strong, man. Not even five sips in and I'm already gone."

"Okay good. If you value your liver and your life, don't drink anymore than a bottle."

"But you's on your what? Third? Fourth bottle?"

"I'm a demon. I could drink rubbing alcohol and the worst I'd get is a mild stomach ache."

"And you ain't like...tipsy at all o-or anything?"

"Not yet. Metabolism for demons is rather fucky since we're more spiritual beings than material ones. Same goes with most biological functions."

"So...y'all have a hard time shittin'?"

Ruka opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. "...In my case, yes. But that's beside th-" A dizzy feeling suddenly flooded Ruka's head and he began to stumble about.

"I'm guessin' it finally hit?" Studs asked, to which Ruka simply nodded. He then looked over to a crowd surrounding four jolly drunkards engaging in a chicken fight before looking back at Ruka. "Betcha we could school those fools."

Ruka looked over to the four participants, one of which was wearing tinted glasses and bowler hat, and a drunken grin appeared on his face. "I'll top."

"Fuck yea! Let's do it!" Studs exclaimed as he and Ruka made their way over, with Ruka tripping on an empty bottle.

"Seems they're havin' a fun time." Chain said as he listened to the muffled music and cheers coming from outside, "I imagine it's part of a little distraction by Studs and your little friend while ya snuck in here. And you might as well take off that mask, Bandana. It'll do ya no good now."

Bandana slowly stood up and removed his mask, placing it on the desk. "How did you know?" He asked.

"Managed to get that security camera system fixed while you were gone." Chain answered, "The moment I saw y'all walkin' up to the main doors, I knew right then and there because I know damn well I didn't initiate some masked weirdo and a scarred-up freak into the Crossers. The fact ya thought it could trick me is insultin'. Now step away from my desk, slowly. With ya hands up."

Bandana complied, raising his arms and moving away from the desk.

"Five steps back now." Chain demanded and Bandana once more complied as his mind raced on how he was gonna get out of this, "Before I paint the walls with your brains, I wanna know. Why now? Did your ex-lady and baby die? Nothing left to live for so you decided 'fuck it' and try to take me down?"

"No." Bandana replied, "I'm here because I know you workin' with demons."

Chain scoffed. "Me? Shakin' hands with those silmey fucks? When I have the ear of that crazy-ass stick swinger who'd clap all their asses in two minutes? I like power, Bandana, but I'll prefer my gains in it to be risk-free and with demons it's as hazardous as it gets."

"You've always had a way of makin' bullshit look like gold, but I can always catch the smell." Bandana retorted.

"Then tell me, Sir Shit Sniffer. How do ya know? Who told ya about my supposed dealings with demons, eh? Was it that shorty ya came in with cause I've never seen his face before."

"Don't really matter much now, does it?"

"Oh, it matters a great, great deal, Banny. Now spill! Who is he?"

Bandana remained silent.

"A pain in my ass to the end." Chain sighed, "Say hi to Wristband for me, will ya?"

"Fuck you, ya piece of sh-" A loud bang then suddenly filled Bandana's ears and he could feel the bullet going in into his chest, which was followed by another bang and then another. Three bullets entered Bandana's body but only one came out the other end. He fell to his knees as he held his chest with both hands then fell on his side. A pool of blood began to form around him as Chain loomed over him with a smile on his face. "By the way, once I'm done with Studs and the shorty, I'll be paying ya lady and boy a visit. Can't have some vengeful bastard child causin' trouble for me down the line." He said with a laugh.

The statement made Bandana as enraged as he was in pain. He didn't care if he died but there was no way in high hell he was going to let that fat, manipulative, megalomanical fuck anywhere near his kid. Mustering all the strength and willpower he could, he slowly picked himself up and before Bandana could exit the office, he let out a shout and rushed at him with renewed energy, delivering a swift punch to the kingpin's jaw and knocking the gun out of his hand.

"I'll fucking kill you!" Bandana shouted as he grabbed Chain by his shirt and threw him over the desk, knocking over the computer and chair. Chain quickly stood back up and could only try to keep his distance from Bandana, as he was now terrified. There was no way he should be alive, let alone walking and tossing him around like a ragdoll. He then noticed the two bullets in Bandana's body slowly being pushed out and the wounds sealing themselves, which frightened him even more. Was this really Bandana or some kind of monster?

"H-Hey wait just a minute Banny." Chain pleaded, " Just-just calm down for a sec here, aight? Look, I-I-I didn't really mean that stuff about your boy. It was just a heat of the moment thing, ya know?" He eventually took one too many steps backwards and ended up with his back against a wall, "Look, I know even without that colorful statement, you'd still wanna kill me. You hate my guts. I-I-I-I get that. B-But if ya let me live, I'll let ya back in the Crossers. Make ya my second. H-H-How does that sound?"

Unfortunately, Chain's words fell upon deaf ears as Bandana delivered another punch to the face and began mercilessly beating the fat man until he couldn't walk and as Chain tried to crawl away, Bandana grabbed the keyboard on the floor and positioned himself over the crippled kingpin. With a rage-induced yell, he slammed the keyboard on Chain's head, breaking it in half and continued smashing Chain's head with the keyboard until he stopped moving. With a final thwack, Bandana ceased and a wave of calm overcame him.

As he stared at Chain's broken and gashed skull, the realization of what happened dawned on him. He felt his chest for the bullet holes and found they had completely healed. In his confusion, he remembered the contract he signed with Ruka. It said he'd protect him from death, but nothing about giving him superpowers.

"Monster…" a voice said. Bandana looked up and saw the guard that was sleeping by the door, his face pale with fear. The gunshots no doubt woke him up and he had watched Bandana's murderous act. Bandana then slowly stood up, which prompted the guard to draw his gun.

"St-Stay back or I'll shoot!" He exclaimed, but Bandana just walked towards him until the barrel was directly on his forehead.

"Well?" He asked. In response, the guard dropped his gun and ran off. Now alone, Bandana looked at Chain's corpse once more then at his own bloodied hands. Just what exactly did Ruka do to him and why did he now have this strange craving? This desire to commit that same level of violence again and again. He had some explaining to do.

Water was splashed on a passed-out Studs and Ruka, waking the two with Studs shouting how cold it was and Ruka just shouting curses.

"Rise and shine, dickheads." Bandana said with a blank face, holding a now empty bucket.

"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Ruka shouted, "WHO THE FUCK GAVE YOU THE FUCKING RIGHT TO FUCKING DO THAT?!"

"First of all: Lower your voice." Bandana began, "Second of all: I did when you idiots decided to get wasted."

"Was it really necessary, though?" Studs asked as he wiped his face, "Also where the hell are we?"

"To answer your first question: Yes. As for the second: We're at the park. Now Ruka," Bandana turned to the demon as he was ingesting some pills, "You have some explaining to do."

"Oh really now, motherfucker?" Ruka inquired, now calmer thanks to the medication. Bandana placed the bucket down and held the jacket he wore as part of his disguise, pointing to the three bullet holes.

"Chain shot me three damn times. One of them I felt go through my heart. By all accounts, I should be dead. But I survived that shit. I know this has to do with the contract. Explain."

Ruka shrugged. "What's there to explain? I said I'd protect you from death so I gave some of my powers."

"You didn't say anything about that!"

Ruka stood up. "So fucking what?" He asked, "Why are you complaining? You should be fucking thanking me! You'd be rotting in Hell right now if I didn't give you my regenerative abilities!"

"I thought you'd just watch over me or some shit!"

"What, you think I have fucking telepathic powers to pinpoint where you're at all times?! Get real, you fucking retard!"

"Umm, question." Studs interrupted, "If Chain shot you and you survived, then what happened after? Cause I know he didn't just let you walk outta the factory with us."

"I fuckin' killed him!" Bandana snapped, "And I won't lie, it felt real fuckin' good bashing his skull and by God, I'd do it again!"

Studs was shocked at this answer and the tone it was spoken in. He had never seen his childhood friend this angry and bloodthirsty before, even during the war. But the shock was soon replaced by worry as the fact that Chain was dead sank in. Shit was gonna hit the fan hard once the news gets out, if it hasn't already.

"And that's the other problem." Bandana continued, "After I killed him, I suddenly got this craving...this hunger to do it again and I feel it getting stronger little by little. Like I need to do it again. Ruka...What exactly did you do to me?"

Ruka hesitated to answer at first, looking up at the sky and taking a deep breath. He had a strong feeling fists were going to fly in a moment. Looking back at Bandana and lifting his arms in the air, he spoke. "I stuck a piece of my essence as a demon of Wrath inside you. When you got shot, you technically did die, but it caused the essence to...activate, in a sense, latching onto your soul and giving you a portion of my powers, resurrecting you essentially."

"So what you're sayin' is, Bandana is like half-demon and shit now?" Studs asked.

"More like one-fifth of a demon." Ruka answered.

"Hold up!" Bandana exclaimed, "If I'm some fuckin' weird ass human-demon mix now, what happens if I die a second time?"

Once more Ruka hesitated but spoke again after Bandana demanded an answer. "...You won't go to Heaven." On the outside, Bandana still looked calm and composed. But on the inside, a flurry of emotions was swirling around inside him like a hurricane. At first shock, then regret, then grief, then sadness, and finally anger. Lots and lots of anger.

"Take it out…" He said, clenching his fists.

Ruka just shook his head. "Can't. Not unless you want your soul to go with it."

"Liar. Take it out. Now!"

"I just told you. I. Can't."

Bandana gritted his teeth. "Liar!" He yelled as he threw a punch at the demon, but Ruka easily caught it and countered with an uppercut, knocking Bandana off his feet.

"You wanted me to be your guardian devil, shit-for-brains! You signed the contract!"

"After you talked me into it!" Bandana retorted as he picked himself up, "You said you'd protect me as I tried to make shit right!"

"I did and I am! I never said I'd help you get into Heaven!"

"MOTHERFUCKER THAT WAS THE WHOLE REASON WHY I WAS TRYIN' TO ATONE MYSELF IN THE FUCKIN' FIRST PLACE!" A dark fire appeared in Bandana's eyes, "I OUGHTA KILL YOU!"

"Feel free to fucking try!" Ruka laughed. As Bandana prepared to unleash all his newfound fury on the demon, Studs placed himself between the two.

"That's enough!" He exclaimed, "Last night was a shitshow for all of us, but we ca-"

"All of us?!" Bandanna interrupted, "I lost my fuckin' humanity last night while you dumbasses were partyin' it up! Fuck both of y'all! Fuck this city! FUCK EVERYTHIN'! I'M DONE!" With that, Bandana stormed off, his every step leaving small, smoking tracks. Studs was left in awe. It was like he was a completely different person.

"Why, man?" He asked Ruka, "Just...fuckin' why?"

"Why?" Ruka replied, "Same reason any other demon would even bother acknowledging his existence! That foul, disgusting, dirty soul inside his shitty heart! Black as fucking tar! Just the kind to make nice, big, juicy ghosts out of! The only thing a piece of gutter trash like him would ever be good for!" He had raised his voice loud enough for Bandana to hear and he had as he stopped dead in his tracks.

"Yeah, that's right, motherfucker!" Ruka continued, "I lied to you! I never really gave a single shit about you! I stuck my essence inside you so that no matter how much you repented, your soul would still be tainted! Giving me plenty of time to make you my gift t-" The loud bang of a gunshot suddenly filled the air, followed by a shout of pain by Ruka as he held the side of his head. Studs watched as the demon removed his hand to reveal his bleeding ear, part of it completely missing. He turned and saw the smoking gun in Bandana's hand, his expression as grim as could be. Ruka looked at the blood on his hand as a distinct burning sensation spread all around his ear. Only time he ever felt this was when his skin contacted holy relics, be it crosses, bibles, or in this case, holy water. Holy water that the bullet and all the others in the gun were no doubt dipped in.

Bandana could feel the desire to pull the trigger again growing stronger. To kill the demon. A voice telling him again and again to do it. He wouldn't be wrong in it either. The demon lied and deceived him and thanks to him, Heaven's gates were now forever denied to him. It was right. It was just. And yet, something felt wrong. That this anger, this rage, this...hate, while justified, wasn't him. He had never hated someone this strongly before. Not even Chain. Was this rage really his? Or was it the demonic essence inside him feeding his darker emotions? Would killing Ruka really solve anything? No, it wouldn't. But it'd feel really fucking good. Then again, so did all the other sins he committed and look where that got him.

In the end, Bandana calmed himself then lowered his gun. "Never come near me again. Ever! Understand?"

"This...isn't fucking over!" Ruka said to which Bandana responded by firing near Ruka's foot, prompting the demon to flee. With Ruka gone, Bandanna holstered his gun and sat himself next to a nearby tree, bringing his knees towards his chest and hid his face. If there was a most gullible moron of the year award, he'd be the winner. He should've known better. He should've rejected Ruka on the spot. But instead, like all weak men, he let himself be manipulated by the demon and now he was given his just punishment by God. His final mistake. His biggest regret. His worst sin.

Studs ran a hand through his hair. Shit went got heated real damn fast. "Bans…" He spoke, placing a hand on his shoulder. Bandana looked up, tears running down his face, at his childhood friend. The man who, despite all his faults, he had been with through the thick and thin. "We'll fix this, man. We'll find a way." "I fuckin' hope so..." Bandana muttered.

Ruka. Was. Livid. Outraged at Bandana for being the one human with a brain in this cesspit of degenerate jackasses, angered at the fact he didn't get the information he needed on Chain, and furious at the fact he was going to lose his job and have to move back to Hell, an even worse cesspit of degenerate jackasses. Despite just taking his medicine, he could feel the urge to cause violence rising quickly to its boiling point. He needed to hit something, punch it, kick it, claw it, tear it, anything to sate the hunger. Knowing he couldn't do it in the mortal world, he pulled out a small piece of dark glass engraved with demonic runes and threw it to the ground, shattering it. The pieces scattered to create a perfect circle and opened to Hell in the ground. Ruka then jumped in, the portal closing behind him.

Landing atop a building, Ruka was greeted with the sights and sounds of an ongoing riot in the streets. A common occurrence in Wrathion-majority areas. Gazing down at the ensuing chaos, he let out a blood-curdling roar before leaping off the building, landing on his feet and joining the murderous mayhem with his fellow wrathions when he wasn't tearing off their limbs.