Time: Unknown Place: Osaka Backstreets

"W-what?" The three stood out in the street, the world around had been changed just like in the mountain and lab..

No..nonononononono.

"Dude you ok?"

Nononononononononononononono

"Dude!?"

Rapid breaths, in and out in and out… this is not happening, not happening…

"Dude!?" everything repeated for Kentaro as the world grew black, he was stuck, in a never ending nightmare as he knew he was thrown back into the world where "Death" roamed. Where he would surely die, along with his only friend…

"It will be alright Kentaro." ?!

"I am here, and I will protect the both of you from any threats we may face.."

He looked at the robotic girl, her eyes held hope, resolve..

"I swear, upon my own body...that I would die for you...both of you.."

"Whoa, let's not get crazy.." Right Itsuka…

"What's going on? Who are you? What Happened to the sky?" The questions would have continued if not for Kentaro's interference.

"Look we'll explain everything later.. I can only answer one question, then we have to find somewhere to hide, and fast too..so what do you want to know?"

"Just one? Well I gotta think this through right? Hmm lets see I know, what's THAT!"

They looked over to where he pointed and saw a man covered head to toe in a weird black substance..

"It looks like a person...Hey!"

Shira's eyes glowed a bit as she looked at the man closely. Her sensors roared as she confirmed what that was.

"Correction, that is a shadow."

"Shadow-?" a blast formed behind him, destroying the building behind..

"Engaging target. It is recommended to seek cover as I deal with this threat.." Her arms returned to the gun formation that Kentaro saw a way to close for his preference.

"dude…"Itsuka could only gape and awe as the girl he had just met turned into a weapon..

"I only said one question. But to answer whatever you are thinking, she is an android.."

"I was thinking, if she ain't your girlfriend...you think I have a shot?"

All Kentaro could do was give an unamused look as the fight began…

"Weapons system active, firing starter shot" with a click, her guns were armed and shot at the shadow.

"Aughh rahh!" The shadow reeled back at that and exploded, revealing several pumpkin wearing children holding lanterns.

"Whoa.." Itsuka looked amazed at what appeared before them..

"What are thoses!?" while Kentaro only freaked out,

"When a shadow is provoked, they have a high chance of turning into demons.." Shira only explained while readying herself.

"What happens if they don't?"

"Then they fight as a shadow."

"It matters not! You will die either way ho!" A pumpkin kid barked.

"They can speak?!" Itsuka shouted over the loud noise.

"Affirmative, now engaging targets!" with that, Shira rushed forth.

"You only rush to your death ho!" another yelled out. A flame burning bright rolled into a ball came from the lanterns, and was shot head on towards Shira.

"Hey! Watch out!" Kentaro screamed, fearing for the worst. Fortunately, his worries were not needed as Shira flawlessly doged the flaming ball...well almost flawlessly..

"This is why cloth articles are not needed for combat.." She said while ripping off the flaming piece. Then she continued her rush as more fireballs were thrown around.

"Whoa…" all Kentaro could say or do as he watched the spectacle. The android was dodging and running in a fluent movement that one couldn't even keep up. It felt as if he was just watching the wind blow.

Soon the barrage stopped, and it was Shira's turn to retaliate. Her cannons revved up, she planted her feet onto the broken asphalt, and fired. "Draco shot!" A fully charged blast rang out, annihilating a couple of the pumpkin kids.

The remnants took up guard and looked at the robot with fury.

"Grrr.. you'll pay for that ho!" The fury in their child-carved eyes rose violently as did their lanterns. A kindle turn flame rose and the pumpkin kids stood together releasing the pent up energy in a united attack.

"PYRO STRIFE!" The fire ball grew twice its original size, and was hurled at the trio at a lighting like speed.

"Holy-" "Shit.." The two boys could only sit and watch the flaming mass rocket out towards them.

Are you content with letting fate do as it please?

.

"Activating countermeasures, come to me CIRCE!" In a shout, blue light shone as the fireball made its target and an earth shattering explosion followed.

No...after all this...Despair held Kentaro as he saw Shira being consumed and as tears fell forth he felt only sadness as the fire roared on.. "SHIRA!"

"There is no need for worry Abihara-san, I am built for this type of combat." ...w-what!?

The fires roared higher but with a wave, immediately died out as the robotic girl stood forth with a bit of a smirk forming on the edges of her lips.

"I however, do appreciate the sediment as I haven't heard worry for something as mundane as this.. Nonetheless, it is time for this farce to end!" The same blue light surrounded Shira again as a blackish brown haired woman in Greek garments hovered above.

"Circe Garu" gusts of wind blew by as it consumed the remaining pumpkin kids leaving nothing but coins on the floor.

"Yen?" Itsuka spoke out as the absurdity and chaos died down enough to deem safety to come out of hiding.

"Monsters and another world, where defeating them gives us cash.. What the actual hell..". Kentaro mutters to himself as questioning their predicament is anything but ordinary.

"Well… I believe... I get an explanation now, … sorry I forgot, it was?" Itsuka started.

"Shira" She tilted her head a bit as she answered. "That is the name given to me by Kentaro."

"Right… Shira" Itsuka turned, his eyes demanding more answers from the carbon haired teen.

"Err...One thing at a time, what is going on.."

"We are in an alternate space compared to the normal city. A subspace created from human desires and wishes" She gazed at the sky. The moon pulsed a bit at the unwanted attention. "And that is a recreation of the phenomenon known as the dark hour. Only by looks however. It is more appropriate to say that this subspace took the form of the dark hour due to the cognition of the doctor, who studied the effects in a Kirjo facility."

"Hold on.. Kirijo!" Itsuka gaped at the revelation. "Like the richest company in the world?! Beautiful empress who only looks younger with age!? 4th top beauty in "Beaute' Pulpeuse" magazine?"

He was only given blank stares as the two silently ignored his rambling and continued the discussion.

"Right now is not a place for discussion so it would be wise to find a way out of here, otherwise more shadows may attack and I do not have the energy to take them all on."

As if a bit of comedic timing, the world vibrated once more and the sky returned to its normal color as they stood back in Kentaro's apartment.

"Well.. I think now is a good time." Kentaro took a breath before speaking again. "So, what is all of this.."