Chapter 7: A New Ally

Three days have passed since the events at the dancing club. Akira was back at his ramen shop, serving food at several customers. This night, in particular he had been very busy with more than two dozen clients coming in the span of three hours. Finally after 22:30 no more clients came and he took his time to think back at the events that had transpired in the last three days.

Akira and Takeshi decided to set fire to the club in order to cover up the slaughter that unfolded that night. They were afraid of how the media would have reacted. In a few minutes the entire building became surrounded by flames and eventually collapsed, burning up and disfiguring all the corpses. With this, the truth of what happened that night would forever remain unknown.

"It was for the best. God only knows how many public outcries would have broken out." thought Akira. Such an accident would have rekindled the tensions between humans and Beasts and it would have threatened the peace that had been achieved with so many sacrifices. It was not a risk Akira, Takeshi and the girls were going to take. Akira however was still troubled by the events of that night: it proved once and for all that not just him, but the demons had somehow been reborn in this world as well. And they were still plotting to exterminate mankind in order to reclaim the Earth. Not even Beasts were being spared by them. Nothing had changed.

Putting aside that matter, Akira thought back at the day after the events at the club, when Misaki and Kyoko were told the truth.

(Two days earlier, at Takae and Takeshi's house)

"WHAAAAATTTTTT! YOUR SURNAME IS FUDO?!" shouted both Misaki and Kyoko at the same time, sure to have misheard.

So sudden and unexpected was this outburst that Akira literally fell off his chair earning a laugh from Takae and Takeshi. He didn't expect the two girls to have such a reaction. Explaining to them that he came from a different world wasn't all that hard, on the contrary. The two had actually taken in all the events that had happened back on Akira's world, heck even humanity's rampage and the final battle well. Akira revealing his surname to them? Not so much.

"Wait, does that mean…. That you're miss Fudo's brother?!" spoke Kyoko in a half confused, hald shocked tone once again, apparently not yet understanding that Akira came from another world.

"Ehmmm, Kyoko? Haven't you listened to what Akira said?" chimed in Takae with an awkward tone. But then again Kyoko was always like that: when too much information was being told, Kyoko would lose the trail of thought and only listen to the most important details.

"He's not from our world. He came from another one or even another universe." added Takeshi, hoping to clear Kyoko's mind.

After a few seconds of silence, Kyoko replied "Oh! I understand now! Somehow he ended up in our world after his own ended!" after finally putting two and two together, causing the others to let out a relieved sigh.

"You could say that i am miss Fudo's counterpart from another universe or world. Don't know which is which though." added Akira with a casual tone.

Then Misaki chimed in "That being said, it's still hard to believe it. To think that humans would massacre each other simply by the reveal that the demons

existed. It actually send chills down my spine just thinking about it." she spoke with an uneasy tone.

"That's not even the worst of it." added Akira with a serious tone "Those creatures from yesterday were not Beasts. They were demons. The very same demons that, back on my world, slaughtered countless people and eventually fought against us Devilmen in that final battle, after which nobody remained." he spoke, chilling the two girls to the core.

"I don't understand. Why would they even go after Beasts like us? Aren't we supposed to be like them?" replied Misaki in a confused and frightened tone.

"That's because we are not like them. A demon possesses a person, erasing the soul of said person, before taking over its body. It's different from us beasts, who become what we are following the activation of a genetic factor." replied Takeshi, with a serious tone. The reveal utterly terrified Misaki and Kyoko. To be outcasted from the rest of society due to being different was one thing. Having a sinister entity possess you, erasing your sentience, before taking control of your body, reshaping it and using it to commit all sorts of atrocities? It was something else, something else entirely.

"T-that's horrible….." spoke Kyoko with an appalled and terrified tone. She and her friends had been through a lot, but this was simply on another level.

"H-how could they still do this? After all the pain, misery and suffering they have caused, how could they do such things again?" spoke Misaki, outraged by what she had heard.

"Because they hate humankind. They think that they stole the Earth from them. When in reality it was them who hibernated themselves for milions of years, allowing the humans to evolve and prosper." replied Akira.

"But how can they blame them for that?! Humans didn't ask to exist!" exclaimed Misaki, even more outraged.

"It's the truth, Misaki. I've been told by Takae and Takeshi that when humans became aware of your existence they mistreated your kind right?" asked Akira earning a nod from the fly girl. "Well the demons are just like those humans, Misaki. No matter the species, no matter how many good people like you there are, there will always be those who refuse to accept change, those who will do everything to keep things the way they are. It's unfair, it's horrible, but it is the truth." he finished with a melancholic and sorrowful tone.

Said tone made Misaki and Kyoko finally realize that Akira had suffered just as much as they have if not more. The sadness in his eyes made them realize that, like them, he had to watch as people close to him, lost their lives. And there was nothing he could do.

After a few moments of silence, Misaki spoke "I'm sorry, Akira. I did not know that you had to go through so much." with a saddened tone. Akira in response put a hand on Misaki's hand on the table and spoke "Don't worry Misaki. I promise that i will not let what happened to my world happen to yours. Not until i breathe my last." while giving her a smile, warming the two girls's hearts.

Then Take decided to tell her two friends one more thing "Oh, yeah, one more thing. Girls, remember when i told you that a toad-like creature attacked us several weeks ago?" earning a nod from the them. "Had it not been for Akira, we would have lost our lives that night." she concluded, causing Misaki and Kyoko's eyes to widen.

"IT WAS YOU!" Shouted the two girls once again, completely bewildered.

"Yep." replied the half-devil with a happy and casual tone "Afterwards they took me in their house and the rest is history."

What happened next, caught Akira completely by surprise. The two girls ran towards Akira and hugged him deeply, causing Takae and Takeshi to smile softly.

"Akira…. Thank you." began Kyoko, her voice filled with nothing but joy and gratefulness.

"You have no idea how much she means to us. We will never thank you enough for saving her." added Misaki, just as overjoyed as Kyoko.

Akira, overcome by the two girls's gratitude, returned the hug "No one should experience what you went through. But know this: as long as i'll breathe, i won't let anything happen to you, or to your friends. Never again." he spoke first looking at the two girls, then at the couple on his left. Said couple gave him a soft, reassuring smile, warming his heart even more.

(End Flashback)

Akira coudn't be happier: for the first time in 20 years he had found a home, a place to return to, a family. And this time, he swore, he will do anything to protect it. Even if one day that will require him to give his life to do it.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by the arrival of a new customer. It was 11 P.M. though, the time when Akira would usually close his shop.

"Sorry but we're closed. Come tom-" he began, only to stop in shock as soon as his eyes made contact with the supposed customer. Brown eyes, hair and goatee, red tie, light brown suit and pants. It was the bouncer of the club, three days ago.

"Y-you….." began Akira, in a still disbelieved tone. The older man, however was calm and seemed to bore no ill-will towards Akira, even though his face had a very serious look.

"I have finally found you….. Devilman." replied coldly the man, chilling Akira to the core. As if his smell didn't already give it away, three days ago, this confirmed that the man in front of Akira was a demon. One that seemed to have unfinished business with him.

In response Akira jumped out of the cart, took a defensive stance and asked "What do you want? Here to settle things?" in a cold, spiteful tone. He was expecting the demon to assume its true form and charge at him. Instead the demon spoke in a calm tone "At ease, young one. I am not here to fight. I only wish to speak to you." completely taking Akira aback. That was a first. Not once did a demon try to reach out to him.

After pondering for a few moments, Akira relaxed and replied simply "Fine, but not here. Meet me at the woods outside the city. And come in your disguised form. I don't want anyone to raise their eyebrows in suspicion. And don't even think about bringing some of your friends. I will tear them to shreds before taking my time torturing you to death." earning a nod from the demon. Then they left.

(One half hour later)

After venturing outside the city enough, Akira assumed his true form, and soon started to walk in the woods, before coming out in a clearing with a lake. He then crossed his arms, closed his eyes and waited. Luckily his wait didn't last for too long. After hearing a few footsteps behind him, he spoke "Hmph. Took you long enough." his arms still crossed.

The disguided demon a dozen meters behind him was astonished. If he didn't know any better he'd think that before him stood not a human with a demon's power but the mighty Amon himself. "Mmm…. You truly are the spitting image of Amon. To be able to overtake one of demonkind's most powerful warriors just of out sheer willpower is a feat almost unheard of." spoke the demon, while taking off his clothes.

Akira however was not impressed. He began in an annoyed tone, while turning around "Spare me your half-assed praises and get to the p-" only to stop immediately, and for his eyes to widen in shock as, after a flash of purple light, a familiar shape appeared. One resembling a pachyderm with gigantic shoulder horns. The demon's true form.

"Y-you… i remember you….." was all Akira could manage in shock, as memories of that fateful battle flashed in his mind.

"That is correct, Devilman. Or should i say, Akira Fudo?" began the pachyderm-like demon in a calm voice "You may remember having fought my body when it was merged with Sirene. And you may recall having met me three days ago." it continued, shocking Akira even more, with the mention of a very familiar name "But i believe we have never been acquainted before. My name is Kaim." concluded the demon, introducing himself.

Akira was so shocked, he coudn't even speak. Even though 20 years had passed, he still remembered that battle perfectly. Of how suddenly the Demon Bird known as Sirene after having been pierced by her own claws and having one of her wings ripped off by him, suddenly reappeared, mortally injured but stronger than ever, now sporting a pachyderm like lower body with two gigantic horns coming from her sides. Akira still remembered perfectly the sharp pain he felt when he was struck by a powerful bolt of lighting before being impaled by one of those massive horns. This after having his left arm ripped off and his side slashed open by Sirene. For the first time he had truly been defeated in battle and it was only due to his former best friend Ryo's intervention that he didn't lose his life that day.

After regaining his composure he spoke "What do you mean, your body merged with Sirene's?" wondering just what Kaim meant.

(OST: "Behelit" = Berserk 1997 soundtrack)

After a few moments of silence Kaim spoke, "Perhaps, i should start from the beginning." this time with a melancholic, sorrofwul tone "I have known Sirene ever since her birth, millions of years ago." taking Akira completely by surprise.

"She was the last of her kind, the Sirene tribe, a race of prideful but honorable demon warriors. I, myself was a long-time friend of them." he continued, while Akira listened with interest. He had never stopped to hypothesize on what kind of past the demons he fought would have, not once.

"However, one fateful day, her entire tribe was slaughtered by those creatures you humans today know as dinosaurs. Except one, the mother of the tribe. With the last of her strenght, she gave birth to one final child to continue their legacy." he continued gaining Akira's interest even more. "But that's not all: seventeen years before all of this happened, the tribe took in a demon child and raised him as if he were one of them. That child was Amon, the demon you have conquered with your willpower."

That revelation left Akira speechless. Never would he have imagined just how much intertwined Amon's past was with the beautiful Demon Bird.

"As you may guess, these two children were ultimately raised with the purpose to preserve the lineage of the Sirene Tribe. It was throught their union…." paused briefly Kaim, sadness evident in his eyes "That Sirene was born." he concluded.

Akira coudn't believe it. The demon who had tried to possess him, but failed and got overtaken was Sirene's father? That explained everything. "Are you telling me…." he began, still not believing what he had just heard "That Amon was Sirene's father?!"

"Yes. But she never found out about it. Her mother died birthing her. In her last moments, she begged me to take care of her daughter so that no harm would befall her. It is throught that promise that i've always been with her. And before i knew it, throught the eons, my affection towards her turned into love." he finished with a single tear coming out of his left eye.

For the first time in his life Akira felt pity towards a demon. Ever since his battle with Sirene, he realized that demons, no matter how brutal they could be, were still sentient beings, fully capable of expressing emotions like humans. But never in his life would he have imagined that some of them could be this altruistic.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by Kaim speaking "But she never returned the feelings i had for her. She always saw me as nothing more than a friend. It's true, she never knew the truth of her origin, but even still. No matter how much i tried, Amon was always the only one she had feelings for even though he never returned said feelings." then he paused before looking Akira coldly in the eyes. "Do you understand now, Devilman? Do you understand now why she coudn't forgive you? You stole her beloved one from her. Rage and pride blinded her. And that led to her battle with you."

Akira's heart sank. Kaim had been through almost the same amount of pain and suffering that Akira had, only for much, MUCH more time. Akira could clearly see it from Kaim's eyes, that look of pure sadness, sorrow and grief. It made him realize that Kaim was almost exactly like him. He had lost many friends in the past. He had always been with Sirene but she never returned the love he felt towards her. And then Kaim had to watch as Akira was slowly tearing her apart.

Then he realized it.

"You…. You gave your body to Sirene out of love?" asked Akira, taken completely aback.

Kaim at first was so overcome by grief that he coudn't respond. But after a few minutes of silence, he finally found the strength to reply "Yes, Devilman. You had mortally wounded her. I hoped that by giving my body to her, she would have gained the strength to defeat you, to feel the glory of victory one last time….." he paused, tears flowing out of his eyes "But it was all for nothing. She still died. In the end it was her lust for Amon, the one you have possessed that brought upon her fate." he finished while giving Akira a cold look.

(Soundtrack ends)

Said cold look startled Akira and in an instant the pity that he felt towards Kaim vanished completely, replaced by malice and disdain. "So that's what this is about, eh? Revenge? You almost made me feel sorry for you." he mocked before taking a stance and continuing "But in the end a demon is still a demon, ISN'T IT?" with a snarl.

"Normally i would indeed seek revenge against you." spoke Kaim, once again in his calm, collected voice. But instead of bracing himself he still remained still and spoke "But i will not." once again taking Akira by surprise.

"W-what do you mean?!" shouted Akira, surprised at Kaim's unwillingness to fight. The pachyderm demon replied "Don't play dumb with me, Devilman. We both died. And yet, somehow we have been reborn in this new world." causing Akira's anger to vanish, a look of surprise once again forming on his face.

"You too?" he replied, earning a nod from Kaim. "After i died, i found myself in Hell, a place God created to imprison the souls of his enemies. Needless to say, it is a place of unending bloodshed, suffering, and torment." spoke Kaim with a serious tone.

Akira was surprised at the fact that apparently, the hell that religions spoke of actually existed. But then again how different would it have been from the hell caused by humanity's rampage on each other?

"It felt like an eternity passed, before one day, reality itself distorted. All i remember was a gigantic well of darkness that enveloped me and countless other demons and humans. When i woke up i found myself here in this new world." continued Kaim, pulling Akira out of his thoughts.

Akira in response crossed his arms and spoke "Then my theory was correct. We have indeed been reborn in a new world." earning a nod from Kaim.

"For the first couple of weeks i coudn't find any other member of my kind. I thought i was the only one left. In the meantime i had integrated myself in human society, but i had lost all hope." replied Kaim in a somewhat melancholic tone, continuing "But then i met you. And that gave me hope once again." oddly enough in a relieved tone.

"For what?" asked Akira in an inquisitive tone, his patience growing tin.

"To see her again." replied Kaim in a content tone, once again taking Akira aback.

The half-devil was still not convinced though. "Hmph. And why should i believe you? For all i know everything you said up until now could be lies."

Kaim, a little upset by Akira's still antagonistic behaviour replied "Then why do you think i saved your friends three days ago, turning against my own kind?"

"Don't know. Maybe to lure me into a false sense of security. After all, what kind of demon would do what you did three days ago simply out of altruism?" replied Akira his voice and his face still full of distrust.

In response Kaim, slowly took a few steps towards Akira before stopping again, causing the half-devil to stir a little. Then he spoke "You think i am just like the rest of my kind, don't you?" causing Akira to raise an eyebrow "I am not. Throught the eons of my existence not once have i taken a life out of pleasure or bloodlust. I have always only fought to defend myself or to protect those i care about." he concluded, hoping to clear himself of any suspicions.

Instead, Akira let out a dark chuckle before resuming his spiteful look "Hmph. Do you really expect me to believe you after all the atrocities your kind committed against us?! After all the crap i've been through?!" with a tone full with a mix of outrage and hatred.

Kaim however remained unmoved by Akira's threat. "Believe what you want, but it's the truth." he replied simply. However it did nothing to remove Akira's scowl on his face.

Then what happened next changed everything.

"And if you still don't believe me….." began Kaim while hunching his body downwards, getting on his forward knees and lowering his head towards the ground, exposing his neck "Take my head." he finished.

(OST: " Kanashimi No Jikai Yokoku" = Yu Yu Hakusho unreleased soundtrack watch?v=zsb3IoNoDO0)

At the sight of this gesture, all of Akira's anger, suspicion and disdain dissappeared completely. He was so shocked, so taken aback that he coudn't speak. "W-what are you….." was all Akira could manage, completely astounded by what was happening.

"What we did to humanity was wrong. My time in hell made me realize it. They didn't ask to exist. Yet they still moved on, no matter the odds. And i saw the good in mankind in what little time i've spent in this new world. We were wrong all along." replied Kaim, visibly afflicted by what his kind had done in the past.

All Akira could do was gasp in shock. For the first time in his life he had just seen a demon expressing remorse and shame at what his kind did. A demon, a creature that should be monstrous by nature, as far from human as possible, offering to give away its life not for love, but simply out of regret. At that moment it dawned on him. Good natured demons existed. No matter the species, no matter how many evil people existed, even among creatures as fierce as the demons, noble souls existed.

"I cannot take back what my kind did to you and the rest of your people. But i hope that my death will bring you peace." Spoke Kaim in a sorrowful tone.

All of Akira's doubts vanished at that moment. He walked towards Kaim, stopping just a few inches away from him. Kaim closed his eyes, awaiting for the blow that would once again end his life…..

(soundtrack ends)

But it never came.

Instead, Akira's hand touched the left side of Kaim's face, causing the demon's eyes to open and widen along with his mouth. Akira's face was no longer contorted in anger and disdain. He was know smiling reassuringly at the pachyderm demon.

(OST: "Guts" = Berserk 1997 soundtrack)

"Forgive me, Kaim. I was wrong to judge you, simply on the assumption that you were like the rest of your kind." he spoke, his voice now soft, devoid of any negative emotions. "I just coudn't believe that even among demons, kind souls like you existed. I hope that one day, you'll find the strength to forgive me, as i have forgiven you now." he finished, restoring Kaim's spirit.

Kaim, touched by Akira's compassion and forgiveness, got up and replied "I already have, Devilman. Don't you understand? Fate has given us a second chance: a chance to make up for our mistakes and find our place in this new world." with a jubilant tone.

Akira's heart warmed up and he spoke in a cheerful tone "That's right." before he turned his gaze away from Kaim in thought. After a thought popped in his mind, he asked "Kaim, do you think that, someday, you will be reunited with Sirene?" earning a nod from the demon.

"I do." replied the demon before his voice took a serious tone "But i am afraid that she will not be happy to see you Devilman. She is defined by her pride. She will, most likely, seek vengeance for the humiliation you brought upon her." he continued, causing Akira's face to frown a little.

"In that case…." replied Akira, before turning again towards Kaim and asking "Will you stand with me against her and others who will come after us?" with a serious voice. He knew full well that, after what Kaim did three days ago, there would be some demons who will seek retribution for his betrayal.

In response Kaim, after pondering for a while, replied "I shall assist you as best as i can, in the battles to come, but you have to promise me one thing." earning a nod from Akira "That whatever happens, you will not kill her. When the time will come, i shall speak to her. Hopefully i will be able to dissuade her from coming after your life or the life of the people you care about." he concluded with a solemn tone.

"You have my word, Kaim." replied Akira, while putting a hand on Kaim's right shoulder, his voice absolute and devoid of any hesitation.

The two remained like that for a few moments before Kaim spoke "Look. The sun is rising." while diverting his gaze towards the sun rising up behind the mountains. Morning had come "The beauty of this world still astounds me." he continued with a radiant tone to which Akira replied with an equally joyful tone "Yeah. And the sun will continue to rise, now and forever."

After gazing at the sun for a couple of minutes, Kaim realized one thing "I have to go." he spoke in a concerned tone, causing an inquisitive look to appear on Akira's face "Where?" he asked.

"I'll be late for work." replied Kaim with a casual tone. Akira face-faulted in response to how unexpected this answer was, causing Kaim to chuckle a bit. "Hehe, i guess even demons have to go to work." he Akira with a joking tone.

"Indeed. I must say that i have taken a liking to you humans. You always seem to find happiness in everything you do, no matter the odds." replied Kaim with a half casual and half joyful tone. Then after, turning around he spoke "I'll be seeing you then, Devilman." bidding farewell for now.

"Take care." replied Akira happily, before starting to walk away. But before he could do so, he stopped and spoke one last time "Kaim." getting the pachyderm demon's attention one last time "Thanks for saving the girls three days ago. They mean a lot to me." he finished, his voice full of gratitude.

"No, Devilman." replied Kaim, raising up Akira's eyebrows. "Thank you. You have given me hope again. " with an equally grateful tone, warming the half-devil's heart.

And with that they left.

(soundtrack ends)