Mitsuko and her forces marched through the forest and followed the directions from Lu Zheng. The spirits of the soldiers started to fall as they traversed the mountainous terrain as their supplies dwindled more than they would've liked. However near the end of the day as the sun starts to set they all manage to finally catch a glimpse of the city. Their spirits managed to get lifted as a result however they couldn't traverse as the sun started to set and the mountainous terrain fatigued the soldiers more than usual. That night Dodomeki started to scout around to make sure no one is following them however though as he sprinted he hears very loud thuds behind him as he sprints out of the camp.

'If you're going to follow me you will need to be quieter than that Gyuki.' He glanced behind him to see Gyuki rubbing his head.

'Hehe, you know I was never good at being quiet.'

'Obviously…what do you want? You should rest, we'll reach the city tomorrow.'

'What about you?'

'What about me?'

'C'mon Dodomeki you're pushing yourself too hard. Don't think I haven't noticed you pushing yourself more and more.' Gyuki stated as he pointed at him as he averted his gaze to the ground.

'So what? Is there something wrong with giving it your all for lady Mitsuko?' Dodomeki questioned.

'There is if you push yourself to the point of exhaustion without any point.'

'Without any point!? How dare you say that!' Dodomeki shouted at Gyuki.

'But it's true, you also need rest more than anyone else. There's no point in exhausting yourself needlessly, I'm sure lady Mitsuko wouldn't want that for you.'

'Are you really sure that's the case? Somehow I doubt it.' Dodomeki sighed.

'What are you talking about? Of course that's the case why wouldn't it be?' Gyuki responded with confusion.

'You…really don't remember do you?' Dodomeki realised.

'Remember what!? You're not making sense here Dodomeki.'

'We went to Mitsuko's time! We never waited here for her here.'

'What?' Gyuki was stunned to know this. He thought they just laid in wait for her arrival, that's what he remembers.

'Yeah, it's hard to imagine but it was true. We were sent to watch her after the demise of lord Orochi under his instructions.'

'I remember that clearly though my memory is blurry after that incident. All I remember is us arriving here, waiting for lady Mitsuko to arrive.' Gyuki responded.

'Well…I better tell you what happened before. Its only right for you to know.'

As Dodomeki and Gyuki stepped through the portal they arrived at the rooftop of a large building. They quickly scour their surroundings and walk around. They walk to the edge of the rooftop and find the streets busy with pedestrians and cars.

'How are we supposed to find Lord Orochi's reincarnation amongst these people? They seem to have more and more people walking the streets as time moves forward.' Gyuki asks as he scratches in head.

'That's technology for you. We'll find him eventually. Let's just keep out of sight for now.' Dodomeki stated as they leaped from one rooftop to the next with ease. They were looking all around, trying to find some sort of signal their demonic eyes can spot. Orochi's serpentine demonic aura could only be seen by mystics and demons, though because the vessel is only an infant it is only noticeable if you are very close to it. Some time has passed since they first set foot in this world as their search began to get more desperate, knowing each second they waste is one more second that a mystic can have to slay him. If they slay the reincarnation in infancy, then Orochi's soul would be obliterated and would be lost forever. Eventually, the streets turned silent. They quickly move until Gyuki hears a woman cry out in terror. He runs back shortly after leaping to another building. Dodomeki stopped as he leapt to the next building after not hearing Gyuki's loud thuds behind him. He glanced back to find him peering to the ground on the other building. He quickly sprinted towards him.

'What are you doing!? We have to keep moving.' Dodomeki stated.

'Wait, I think I found him look.' Gyuki stated as he pointed down at the alley below them. As they both peer down they spot a woman screaming in hysterics in an ally holding what seems to be a baby by two tealed warriors holding two swords with one being bloodied. Behind them seems to be a corpse of a well-dressed man bleeding next to an empty pram.

'Ahh why are you doing this? Do you want money!? I'll give you whatever you want! Just leave us alone!' She pleaded with her attackers, just wanted to live to see another day.

'Give us the child and you will be spared.' One of them asks as they extend their hand out to them, the mother quickly brought the baby closer to her.

'No! You can't! Not my daughter! She hasn't been born for long.'

'Perfect, all the more reason why she must die. Please do not die for that thing.' The other mystic responded.

'No!' As she shouted the baby started crying loudly. The mother despite the situation tries to calm her child down.

'Shh shh, its ok sweetie, it'll be ok. It'll be ok.' The mother started to cry as she couldn't find a way to escape this situation for her and her newborn child. The two mystics look at each other with regret as the one with the clean sword try to go in for the kill.

'My apologies, this is for the good of everyone.' He lunges in for the kill as she screamed and turned away, shielding her daughter from harm as the corpse crashed to the ground. The baby covered in a few layers of cloth kept crying loudly on the ground next to her. The mystic kicks the mothers arm away from the baby, as he was about to kill her, Gyuki landed on the other one behind him. The loud thud stopped him in his tracks, as one of his hooves flattens his comrade. He glanced behind to see the behemoth looking furious at him. Immediately however he felt his head get grabbed as it gets slammed to the ground. Unable to see Dodomeki's hateful eye as he slammed his head to the ground numerous times as yellow blood splattered out numerous times before eventually Dodomeki stopped. Dodomeki drops the corpse in its own puddle of blood and quickly went to the crying baby. He unwraps a layer of cloth in which he was able to see and feel the demonic aura of lord Orochi.

'Its him…her…its Orochi.' Dodomeki stated as Gyuki walked towards them.

'It looks like they got to her parents before we could.' Gyuki stated as he stared at both corpses.

'Damnit! We were too slow.' Dodomeki disappointedly remarked as he tries to calm her down by rocking her while he glances at a rather shiny orb near the mystic he killed. He knelt down and grabbed it with one hand with the baby in the other.

'Who's going to take care of her now? Should we do it?'

'Of course not! If we do there's more of a chance we'd get spotted and they'd gather around to slay her in too large of a number. Numbers we wouldn't be able to repel. No…there must be some sort of establishment that will provide her with what she needs. At least if they find us, they don't automatically find Orochi.' Dodomeki explained as he looked around frantically for something. They eventually returned to the rooftops as they now look for a new place for them. The baby kept crying as Dodomeki ignored the sounds and kept running. He doesn't know how to take care of children, the previous cycles had the reincarnation with parents and it was simple to watch them, waiting for Orochi to reveal himself however now…what are they going to do now? The last thing he knew what to do is take care of a crying human baby but even he knew he can't just punch it to make it to stop.

'Hey what about that place over there.' Gyuki spotted quite a large detached building with various stories with a sign above that said "Mary's orphanage" at the top of the building.

'Good enough let's go.' They quickly made their way to the building's entranceway. Due to the silent streets they didn't have to worry about pedestrians or cars around spotting them. They stop at the doorway as Dodomeki realised that the baby stopped crying. Dodomeki held out the baby to find it sleeping though it started to wake up. She extends her arms towards Dodomeki as it tries to touch its triangular helmet with its tiny arms.

'Aww, I think she likes you.' Gyuki cooed over the baby. Dodomeki looks at her in the eyes and sees something that was very different to the usual reincarnation. Innocence. It was the first time Dodomeki saw innocence in anyone, no hatred, no pain. Just…curiosity. It took him back a bit as he wasn't sure what to do. He placed her on the doorway, as he was standing up, his metallic gauntlet was briefly touched by the baby.

'What's wrong?' Gyuki asks.

'I…I don't know. It's just…this is the first time I saw Orochi like this up close. I just don't know how to take this you know?'

'Yeah, I know what you mean. We never had to get this close to a reincarnation before at this stage.'

'Yeah…I don't want to leave her here…I know I have to, to be on the same side but yet…why do I hesitate?' Suddenly the baby started crying again. They both panicked as Dodomeki hit the doorbell as they both started to flee. Gyuki glanced back and quickly ran towards her and hovers his finger over his body. The baby try to grab it as Gyuki tries to calm her down.

'I'm sorry little one, we have to leave now. However we will always look out for you…lady Orochi.' Gyuki stated as he followed Dodomeki, the baby cried again loudly as the door opened to reveal a middle-aged woman in her early 40s with black pyjamas. The child cried loudly as she picked her up.

'Oh my, who left you here?' She asked as she picked up the crying baby as she tries to find a note and then looked around the streets to see if there was anyone who dropped it off. She couldn't find anyone

'No note…you poor thing. Come on, lets head inside.' She stated motherly as she entered the building. Unaware of the two demons watching from the rooftop opposite. From then on, the two demons have been watching the child that they found out was named Mitsuko. This would be standard, they were used to it however this time…this time felt different. Not only because of her slain parents but this is the first time that it felt that she was alone. As she was growing up, they noticed that as a child as she goes to school she doesn't really have friends. They wonder why.

'Shouldn't she have some friends by now? The other reincarnations had some friends.' Gyuki asked.

'I don't know, maybe times are changing. Does it matter? Orochi doesn't need friends anyway once he awakens.' Dodomeki responded.

'I know…but still…it must be lonely.' Gyuki wondered as Dodomeki stayed silent.

'Even so, Orochi will awaken soon enough it doesn't matter in the long run.' He replied though he was also trying to convince himself of the same thing. His mind drifts back to that night where he held Mitsuko in his arms. He wonders why he care so much, he shouldn't. It's just Orochi's vessel. Nothing more, nothing less. He shook his head quickly as he realises it wasn't worth it to wonder about pointless things like that. However he had to admit, Mitsuko was different than the other reincarnations. As she was growing up, she kind of stayed the same lonely girl. She didn't seem to mind from what they witnessed. One night they saw Mitsuko look sad as she exited the school.

'Hmm, that's odd. I wonder what happened?' Dodomeki responded.'

'Aww I knew you cared.' Gyuki teased however instantly regretted it as Dodomeki punched him in the gut.

'Gyah.' He clutches his stomach as crashes to the ground.

'Shut up.' Dodomeki responded annoyedly. He scoured the area and found a student quite a way behind her with a birthday badge.

'Hey, look over there, you see that child, the one with the badge?' He questioned.

'Hold on let me stand up.' Gyuki whined as he stood up. Though when he saw the badge he immediately realised what Dodomeki was going for.

'Ahh, I see where you're getting at. Must be tough to see other children celebrating with their friends and family with gifts, I suppose she can't help but feel lonely right?' Gyuki replied sadly. Dodomeki felt uncharacteristically glum as a result, watching her grow up all alone unsettled him a bit he hated to admit. Given that a couple of mystics have been hunting her down every now and again, he feels that they would start coming up with more numbers soon enough. Still he can't help but feel for her somewhat, despite her being just a vessel for Lord Orochi.

'Hey Gyuki, isn't today the day when we saved her from those mystic scum?'

'It is yeah…why?'

'I have to see to something, be right back. Keep an eye on her.' Dodomeki announced as he sprinted away.

'Wait where are you going?' Gyuki calls out as he stands up to turn behind him however Dodomeki has already vanished out of sight. Gyuki sighs as he shook his head.

'Honestly, at least tell your blood brother what you're doing.'

That afternoon, Mitsuko came home and went to her room as normal. Though she was pleasantly surprised to find a small tv setup with a games console with a few games on there. She wondered if this was left here by mistake. She noticed a card on top of the TV along with a plate of chocolate cake cut up in slices with a spoon. She grabbed it and opened it up.

"To Mitsuko…happy birthday." No signature however on the card. She never felt so…validated before. The experience was overwhelming as she started to cry.

'Oh did I get her something she didn't want, did she prefer strawberry flavour?' Dodomeki asked out loud.

'No I think those are tears of joy.' Gyuki replied as they both stood on top of the opposite rooftop.

'Tears…of joy? What a strange thing.' Dodomeki didn't understand this concept, normally you cry when you're upset right? His previous victims did that as they realised there was no hope for survival.

'It is…but we can see she's happy. That should be enough.' Gyuki responded. Dodomeki glanced at her, it felt…rewarding to see her happy. He didn't know why but…maybe he doesn't need to.

'It was a nice thing you did.'

'Tch, I assume she's bored. The last thing we want is her going insane due to boredom. Who knows how that would impact lord Orochi.'

'You know you can just admit your feelings its – GUARH!' Dodomeki silenced Gyuki with a quick elbow to the gut again.

'One of these days you're going to kill me when you do that you know.'

'Hopefully I'll get some silence and not just background noise littered with your nonsense.' Dodomeki stated as he chuckled. They watched Mitsuko quickly lunge for the cake and started to devour it greedily. For some reason, seeing her like that…made them both feel calmer.

'By the way, how did you get these things?' Gyuki questioned when all of a sudden police cars zoomed past with their windows open.

'10-4 we received an emergency call downtown. Couple of cases of murder and thievery. On our way to investigate.' They overhead the police officer state in their walkie talkie. Gyuki looked at Dodomeki with a suspicious look as he noticed his gauntlets are bloodied.

'Have you tried purchasing anything without this worlds currency? They scream and shout at you…while they made fun of my helmet.

'Did you have to kill them though?'

'Do you have to eat everyone you kill?' Dodomeki retorted.

'…Maybe.'

As she grew older the two demons would get her gift on an annual basis, it became a sort of tradition for them all. Mitsuko thought it may have been the orphanage carer Mary or perhaps someone who knew she was. She didn't know, all she really knew is that she appreciated the gifts…whoever they were from. They would give her a couple of more games. Eventually a few years later as she exits school, they find that she has someone unusual hanging out with her.

'Who's that one?'

'No idea, must be someone new.'

'She seems…close to her.'

'Quite, isn't it good to know she has an actual friend now her own age?' Gyuki asked clearly happy for Mitsuko however Dodomeki was unsatisfied and distrusted her. Mitsuko was alone all this time and all of a sudden, this girl wanted to be friends with her despite everything? No…something feels off for him.

'I'm not so sure. She managed this far without any mere human companions…what makes her so special?' He sceptically questions.

'I don't know but it looks to me that they like each other, even if Mitsuko is unable to express it.' Gyuki gleefully replied, though for some reason Dodomeki couldn't share his blood brother's enthusiasm, even the two had their share of differences this one bothered him the most deep down. From then on, he viewed the other girl with suspicion. Even as Mitsuko grew closer to her and grew more fonder of her. Before they knew it they were overlooking what seemed to be a day out for them. Dodomeki thought Mitsuko and this other girl were getting too close. While Gyuki didn't mind this and was just glad to see Mitsuko enjoying herself. Dodomeki's mind couldn't help but think of this girl as a burden to Mitsuko. Once lord Orochi awoken to Mitsuko then what? What if these feelings of friendship eventually passed to lord Orochi? Then what? Would that be good? And what would happen if this was all a ploy? A trick to try and hurt Mitsuko? After all this girl just came out of nowhere. It was likely to be a trap considering no other humans even bothered to socialise with her. He didn't like the thought of her being used…or being in pain because of her.

'Oh hey, I wonder what they're doing now? Must be a human thing.' Gyuki wondered as the two of them stood in front of each other in silence. Suddenly the other girl pulled Mitsuko in for a quick kiss. Both demons were speechless as they witnessed this.

'Wait…is that normal? Should that be the standard. Shouldn't humans do that with a loved one?' Dodomeki enquired. This was something he never expected to see. Would this be felt lord Orochi aswell he wondered.

'I don't know…I think so? But there can be transactions for actions like that, though right?' Gyuki replied unsure of the situation or how to take it.

'transactions? Did she pay for that to happen? Is…is that a good thing?'

'I don't know…she seems happy about it so I suppose so?'

'Maybe…but that girl…I don't trust her.' Dodomeki snarled as the idea of Orochi…no Mitsuko at this moment to have someone close to her doesn't sit well with him.

'Why's that? She seems friendly enough.' Gyuki questioned.

'Too friendly, if lord Orochi is to be fully reincarnated he may still have feelings for her…and that can lead to some troublesome situations. Especially if she's a spy.' Dodomeki explained

'A spy?'

'Yes, think about it, she just appeared out of nowhere and befriended her when no one else will…why would that be?'

'Maybe that's who she is. We don't know for certain.'

'I know…she doesn't feel right is all. If Orochi gets too attached to her, I fear the worst act of betrayal.' Dodomeki admitted as he kept his eye on her as both Mitsuko and the other girl held hands secretly as they walked away.

A couple of months later as they were watching Mitsuko on her way to school they travel a bit further down to make sure no would intercept her further down while keeping an eye on her. They saw Mitsuko's girlfriend stand up on top of the school rooftop.

'Hey…what's she doing?' Dodomeki asked, unsure of what's going on.

'I don't know...its pretty early isn't it? May be wanting to get a good view of the area.' Gyuki answered.

'But why? What is she trying to accomplish? Wait…she isn't scouting for us is she?' Dodomeki snarled as he believes what he was thinking was true.

'I don't know, she wouldn't do this in broad daylight would she?'

'Unless she was planning on exposing us and direct others to our location. Grr, I should've killed her when I had the chance.' Dodomeki growled as he crouched low while Gyuki lied down on his stomach as he feared the same.

'Did she spot us?'

'No... she's just standing there looking down at the ground. People spotted her and gathered around the entrance watching her. What is she doing? Is she doing some sort of ritual? She has her arms stretched outwards on either side. If this is a ritual I haven't seen anything like this.' Dodomeki described as he watched the events unfold, he notices that a few people in the crowd hold their hands up high towards her though her eyes were closed. She wore a sad smile on her face and stood there for a couple of minutes. Dodomeki didn't understand what happening until she plummeted herself to the ground. Dodomeki gasped in shock, that wasn't what he expected at all. She just…jumped off. Why would she do that?

'Whats happening now?' Gyuki asked as he stood up.

'She just…jumped off.'

'What?' Someone caught her right?'

'I…I don't think they did. Otherwise the crowd would've dispersed by now surely…right?' Dodomeki didn't know what to make of the situation. Is this some kind of Mitsukai tactic, he couldn't say. He quickly leapt to the other building to get closer to them to be certain. He eventually reached a building where he laid his eye on the newly formed corpse, not golden mystic blood as he thought it would've been. No red like humans. He spotted Mitsuko in the crowd, he saw her pained expression in her eyes as she stood there motionless. That sight haunted him. He didn't wish to cause pain or suffering to Mitsuko, he would die before he let that happen yet…here she was. Crying over her girlfriend's corpse.

He didn't mean for her to suffer like that, this was what he was afraid of. But he never thought it would be this way. He felt guilty though he justified it with thoughts of the previous Orochi reincarnations. He thought Mitsuko would forget all about her eventually, that this would be good for her. Better to lose them now than to lose her in the future right? He attempted to convince himself with thought processes like that. It was better to be safe than sorry, she was suspicious anyway. Who knows what her intentions were…not that it matters, Mitsuko is better off without her. Dodomeki thought to himself though that he just as easily questioned himself as he saw Mitsuko running away crying. No he shouldn't care right? This is better for everyone, he has to think this. He eventually returned to Gyuki who quickly ran up to him.

'Hey I just saw lady Mitsuko crying, what happened?'

'Her friends dead.' Dodomeki stated simply.

'Oh…I suppose that's explains why she was running away. Why did she have to jump off? They seemed to enjoy others company and I haven't really seen lady Mitsuko so happy.' Gyuki wondered as he frowned.

'Tch, doesn't matter why it happened, just the fact that it did. Besides. Its better Mitsuko learns the lesson of loss now rather than later on. When Orochi absorbs Mitsuko's soul just like the other reincarnations he'll have a little bit of her personality. Who's to say that he wouldn't be affected by her strong feelings. At least this way she'll know she can't grow close to people. Lest she wants more heartbreak.' Dodomeki explained.

'Do you really believe that?' Gyuki asked.

'Of course I do, why wouldn't I?'

'Because she's not lord Orochi, not yet. She's still a fledgling. A lonely fledgling. We only kept our distance because of the Mystics but…even then…there's only so much a fledgling can take.'

'Do not worry, she'll understand eventually. She'll get through it.'

'How do you know?'

'Because its…its lord Orochi, he always finds a way to press on. As a result of being her vessel Mitsuko is strong, she won't let something like this keep cloud her judgement. There's no way. Orochi would've wanted it this way anyway. She was unnecessary to her, she'll understand that in due course.' Dodomeki stated though Gyuki sensed the uncertainty in his voice, almost like he was convincing himself more than Gyuki.

A couple of weeks later they stood at their usual spot overlooking Mitsuko though she hasn't come out of her home which is unusual for 3 days and 2 nights. The third night they kept watch though they were concerned.

'Its been 3 whole nights and she hasn't left her room again. She didn't go to school since then, I wonder if she's ok.' Gyuki hoped. Dodomeki stayed silent, it was concerning to him, the first time she was mourning, he figured that made sense. But it has been a few weeks, did she relapse back into mourning? No surely not. Right? The overwhelming amount of guilt and concern ate Dodomeki up from the inside until he leapt towards the building.

'What are you doing?'

'I need to find out what she's doing in there.' He replied as he grabbed onto Mitsuko's window ledge. He climbs up partway as he digs his gauntlet fingertips underneath the closed window and pulled as hard as he can which sends it flying open and crashed into the wall, cracking the glass as it made impact. Dodomeki didn't care though as he climbed through the window. He examined the rather messy room littered with game cases, food wrappers, scrunched up pieces of paper and the like. Though he didn't see Mitsuko anywhere. He carefully navigated his way through the messy room, he went to the bed and lifted the sheets though the bed was empty. He wondered where she was, was she further in the building? As they overlooked the building over the years they found she just spent her time in her room, she almost never left her room unless she had to. Dodomeki looked under the bed only to find nothing there. His concern for her safety only grew, did a mystic somehow get to her? Did someone else hurt her? Thoughts like that were running through his mind, he went through the to the ensuite bathroom door only for himself to experience something he didn't experience before…fear.

He saw Mitsuko lying on the ground near the sink, in her hand was a bloodied knife as she gasped for air with her eyes closed. Blood trickling from her mouth while it pours from the open wound, staining her white blouse she was wearing and the floorboards. Dodomeki froze up, he didn't expect this. He didn't expect this at all. He never saw Orochi…no Mitsuko like this, just lying there bleeding, ready to accept death. He hyperventilated as he didn't know what to do, what was he supposed to do? He didn't know how to heal, he was just a weapon…a tool to cause death to Orochi enemies. How could he help her? No he…he had to do something, he has to save her. Its his responsibility. He shook away his fear and hesitation to the best of his ability and held Mitsuko in her arms. Dodomeki's glanced down as he ran towards Gyuki, her blood was the last thing he wanted his gauntlets to get stained by. As he leapt to the other building, he placed Mitsuko on the ceiling with Gyuki clambered around her.

'Lady Mitsuko, what happened!?' Gyuki questioned, he expressed his disbelief at what he's looking at.

'I-I don't know, I found her just lying on the ground with a knife in her hand. The blood looks fresh, it looks to be a very recent wound…but I think it was self-inflicted.' He responded ashamedly as Gyuki examined her.

'Oh no she's injured! She's bleeding a lot, what do we do!?' Gyuki questioned panic, evident in his voice as he stood up.

'I don't know…we need to get her to a hospital and fast.' Mitsuko struggled to open her eyes, Dodomeki quickly knelt beside her and grabbed her hand.

'Don't worry my lady, you'll be ok. Gyuki, do you know where the nearest medical facility is?' Dodomeki asked as his voice quivered with fear.

'Yeah, I found it when I was scouting before. C'mon, carry her and climb on my back, we need to get there as fast as we can.' Dodomeki obliged as he picked up Mitsuko and climbed on Gyuki's back as he rushed to the hospital as fast as he could. Dodomeki could only watch Mitsuko struggle to breathe while her blood trickles down Gyuki's back, first staining his jacket before eventually reaching his fur as she faced him. This forced Dodomeki to look at Mitsuko and by extension himself as he put pressure on the wound with his hand. He had to come to terms that…this was all his fault. He could've saved her girlfriend, he could've gotten more gifts to show someone cared for her, he could've been there for her more. He should've realised what was happening to her. Even if they stayed away due to fear of the Mystics finding them in high numbers, every now and again just appearing to her should've crossed his mind. Gyuki was right before, she was just a fledgling. Even if she was a vessel of Orochi, the other reincarnations were normal children who eventually led decently happy lives before lord Orochi emerged from them. He shouldn't have justified hurting her like this. Mitsuko was different though he still didn't know but right now, it didn't matter. What mattered is that she gets better.

'Alright we're here.' Gyuki finally announced as he stopped across the hospital, out of plain sight. Dodomeki quickly grabbed Mitsuko and ran inside the building. Gyuki didn't notice until he was near the entrance. It was too late to call to him anyway. Dodomeki sprinted inside to the reception where luckily the only one around was a security guard and the receptionist, it was outside of visiting hours so no one was waiting in the reception area. Dodomeki placed Mitsuko on the receptionist desk and announced with panic she needed help, he was desperate for to her to get help immediately.

'I'm sorry sir, the patient wings are pretty much full, it will take time before she is able to receive treatment.' The receptionist apologised however he immediately regretted giving him the news as Dodomeki grabbed him over the desk with his hands and brought him millimetres from his sole golden eye, filled with hatred combined with desperation.

'Listen here, you do not get a say in this at all! She is dying and she needs help and you are going to help her!'

'Sir you need to let go of him right now.' The security guard announced as tries to pull a gun on Dodomeki, however Dodomeki as he seethed in rage rushes to the guard to tackle him to the ground. The guard dropped his gun as Dodomeki on top and proceeded to unleash all his anger, all his rage and desperation into his punches to the security guards face for what felt like an eternity, when in reality it was no longer than 15 seconds. Each punch made him spit more blood, when Dodomeki finally stopped the guards head was a bloody mess. More akin to dog food now rather than a human head. The receptionist screamed in terror as Dodomeki grabbed him again with his bloodstained gauntlet.

'I am not in the mood to tolerate you. You will get someone to help her or I will personally rip you apart. Limb, from limb. You will feel every second of unimaginable pain, every tear from your body, every single ounce of agony you will suffer through unless you get someone to help her right now! She does not need to stay for long but let her rest and you can let her roam free. I will dispose of the body, you will not breathe a word of this or me to anyone, including the girl. Do you understand?' Dodomeki threatened. He stared at the receptionist eyes, full of terror as he hyperventilated. Dodomeki didn't like his silence.

'I said do you understand!?' He roared this time with frustration. The receptionist quickly nodded their head.

'Yes sir, I do sir. I'll get someone to help right away. She will be saved don't you worry.' He tried to reassure him. Dodomeki brought him closer, the receptionist could practically feel his hate filled breath on his face. He closed his eyes, fearing the worst before Dodomeki pushed him away.

'Good, if you lie and I will know if you do, you will regret it!' Dodomeki threatened again as he walked over to the corpse and put it over his shoulder.

'Of course sir. I'll get on the phone right now.' The receptionist responded as he got on the phone to get a nurse to come down immediately to help this girl with the neck wound immediately. Dodomeki made his way out of the hospital to Gyuki's location.

'It was risky going in there you know, so is she ok? What happened? And why is there a corpse on your back?' Gyuki immediately bombarded Dodomeki with questions as he dropped the body.

'Just…shut up and eat it already.' Dodomeki sighed as he sat down next to it. He glanced down to the ground to his side.

'Hey…what's wrong? This isn't like you.' Gyuki noticed before he snacked on his meal thinking it wasn't anything too serious,

'I…I hurt her. I couldn't help her so she felt the need to…try to take her life. I had no idea she was suffering so much. And the lack of mystic involvement as well…meant we could've taken care of her ourselves until Orochi awoken…now. Why didn't they come looking for? After that initial meeting with them and Mitsuko I expected to see lots more mystics, but none! Why!? Why didn't they come for her, they did all the previous times!' Dodomeki vented his frustration as he slammed his fist into the ground, creating a small crater in the concrete. Gyuki ripped off the corpses legs and swallowed the torso before answering.

'Maybe they thought Orochi was vanquished and there was no need, or maybe they couldn't find her. This is the furthest point in time that Orochi's soul has been vassalized after all.' Dodomeki wasn't convinced by his answer.

'No…that's not it, it can't be. There's no way they would be so careless! Damn them all! Though I suppose it is a blessing they haven't come for her…still. I-I didn't think she'd do that. I could've helped her, I could've done something to prevent this. I could've saved her only friend who I viewed only with suspicion because of my own fears. I justified her suffering and loneliness by saying she'll get used to it or that it was fine when Orochi is awoken. I justified letting her only visible friend die and now…Mitsuko's blood is on my hands.' Dodomeki glanced at his left gauntlet that was stained with Mitsuko's blood, aswell as the guards but he didn't care about him. Dodomeki yelled as he repeatedly slammed his fists into the ground in frustration. Gyuki didn't know what to say, he never saw his blood brother act so upset with himself, normally he'd be angry at other demons or enemies but never himself.

'Damnit, I don't even know why I'm thinking this. She is just a vessel and I'm just a demon of death. I shouldn't bother bringing these feelings into account for a vessel for Orochi…but here I am acting and feeling irrational.'

'She's going to be alive though, that's the most important thing. I'm sure if you explain the situation should you want to admit it to her she'd understand. And if Orochi is resurrected then it all worked out in the end doesn't it?' Gyuki attempted to comfort Dodomeki the best way he could while offering one of the legs as a snack. Dodomeki pushes the leg away as he stood up.

'Even so…it was my duty to protect her from harm, yet i'm the reason she's in there right now. If anything I should be the one in there now.'

'Hey don't' talk like that, you know she or Orochi wouldn't want that to happen.' Gyuki interjected.

'Maybe not…that doesn't change anything. It doesn't change what I've done.'

'It wasn't done with malice so-'

'That's not the point!' Dodomeki shouted back silencing Gyuki, he never saw him this angry at him before. Dodomeki quickly calmed down though as he glanced at the floor again.

'The ends doesn't justify the means this time, just because I didn't mean for it to happen doesn't help matters.'

'Shortly after that, lady Mitsuko managed to open the portal to this time and place and we followed her closely after that. And now here we are. More than likely she manifested it through her own strength, how she did it I don't know. But she did however...history repeated itself.' Dodomeki concluded.

'I suppose that's why you're overexerting yourself then?'

'I don't believe I am…but I am doing all I can to regain her trust. I don't deserve to be in her presence or have time to rest until that's possible.' Dodomeki stated.

'I don't think you need to, lady Mitsuko has proven herself to be different from lord Orochi. I don't think you need to, her relationship with lady LingQi has been repaired. Its not like you did everlasting damage.' Gyuki once again attempted to console Dodomeki.

'But I did…her scar. She may have inflicted that on herself but that was because of me. That is a reminder of how I failed her…and how I need to earn her forgiveness.' Dodomeki sighed as he looked up to the bright moon above.

'I don't think you need to in the slightest, but tell me this. How do you remember all of this and I don't?' Gyuki questioned, he couldn't remember any of this yet Dodomeki did.

'I didn't remember straight away, though after Lady Mitsuko and…LingQi had their argument, lady Mitsuko summoned me. She explained to me what had happened, after feeling responsible I admitted to her what I had accidently blurted out, and that I was the reason for her departure. She laughed, like what Orochi did and told me she was grateful for me to exposing her. Though when I looked at her eyes, behind her newfound determination and bloodlust…I recognised the pain behind them that she tried to hide. That was the trigger that helped me remember…and regret.' Dodomeki explained as he closed his eye and sighed loudly.

'Dodomeki.'

'Don't bother. Nothing you can say, nothing I can say can change what happened. I'll make sure to earn my place at her side again. Until then, I can't allow myself to rest on my laurels while she's building her forces. I have to assist her any and all ways I can, it's the very least I can do.' Dodomeki sprinted straight after stating that. Gyuki called out to him however he ignored him. Gyuki became even more concerned for his blood brother as he left him stranded. He knew how stubborn he was and he wondered if he should tell Mitsuko about this. Though I don't think his blood brother would appreciate that all that much. He didn't know his blood brother would take things to heart like that, he wished he wouldn't blame everything on himself though he knew he couldn't really get through to him. The only thing he knew how to help was just to be there for him.