A great force yanked the Devilman through an inky vortex. He could tell he was moving fast, and that speed was only increasing. The pressure alone made his body feel both stretched and compressed at the same time. He instinctively wanted to draw breath and scream, but oxygen did not exist here, the only thing here was himself, the darkness, and a pinpoint of light.

The light, it was like a single tiny star in space, yet he was heading right for it, he was coming closer and he feared he would collide with it at any second. He squirmed but his actions made no difference, he was almost upon it. He wanted to wince, but something suddenly made itself known. It felt like déjà vu, he peeked his eyes open. The glowing white of eyes stared back at him. He was not afraid of it, as a matter of fact he felt drawn to it. Before he knew it there were many pairs of eyes, all looking to him with the same longing. He was intrigued, but there was no time left for questions because all in that moment he slammed to a harsh surface.

There was a ringing in his ears and a dizziness that spun his thoughts. He began to regain the feeling of his form, he slowly tried to move. In the act of propping himself up he squinted his eyes open. There was a dazed smear to his vision, but it steadily started to clear and when it did, he realized he was setting in a vacant rocky landscape.

His heart jumped, "W-where am I?"

The environment he was sitting in was oddly bowl shaped and above it looked like the jeweled night sky. He gasped as he flung himself back to his feet, experiencing only a momentary spurt of imbalance, before taking off upward.

Panic set in as he flew higher. Was he too early he wondered? Or worse was he too late and the Earth had already been destroyed. There was no way to know for sure, not until he could see for himself, and when he did the euphoria of the sight nearly made him faint.

Laying before his eyes was the bright and thriving city, he once called home, the city of Tokyo. The view was breathtaking. He had forgotten the look of something so beautiful, so personal, it revived ghosts of his past. He remembered growing up here, exploring here, living here, this was home, he was home.

He realized the place he had crawled from was the mouth of Mt. Fuji, he was delighted to know he was brought back only a short flight from his native city. He eagerly began to fly towards the metropolis smiling hugely the whole trip. When he was over the bustling city, he made sure to fly discreetly, to ensure he wouldn't be seen in his demon form. Watching people go about their days below him was surreal but wonderful. It was like a miracle was taking place before his very eyes.

He was giddy as he rushed through the open air. He enjoyed the thrill of the flight and the relaxed atmosphere he had once been so accustomed too. The longer he was here, the more excited he became and the more his memories came surging back to him.

Devilman was gaining altitude and as he climbed, he began to recall the life he once had. The details were filling out and the colors returned to the dulled images in his mind. He felt as though he could remember another shape to his body, his figure slowly began to shift. As he came to his peak his eyes flew open seeing his now human hands. Suddenly it all hit him at once.

"Akira Fudo! That's my name, my human name! I'm Devilman!" he cried out in ecstatic joy. Akira was weightless amongst the clouds. He felt as though he could leap over the moon, he laughed hysterically hugging his own body. Gravity returned to him and started to pull him back to the ground. He didn't care though he dove back into it relishing in the thrill. Right until he would meet the ground, he shifted back into his demon body with the biggest and wildest grin of pure felicity.

"I did it! I'm back, I'm-" a new recollection jolted his form. Akira nearly gasped, he knew where he needed to go. Without a second thought he changed direction and dashed as quickly as he could.

He didn't even think of the direction he was going, he just went, trusting himself to know the way by muscle memory alone. It proved to be a reliable means of travel. Before he knew it, the house he had once lived in, the one where the people he was closest to once lived, stared back at him. It was untouched, as if flames had never licked it's walls and ash had never before taken its place.

He turned to his human body and his hands drew down his face in awe. He felt scared to even look away, fearing somehow it might disappear again, but more than that he was scared to go in. He hoped for the best but the worst had always greeted him before. Being so close, he was terrified to possibly find them all gone again. Luckily the answer came to him, and it was just the kind he was hoping for. The door flew open and the figure of a young boy came into view. He called to a small black cat not even seeming to mind the stunned man just across the yard.

Akira took in a shaky breath until all his excitement erupted out of him. He rushed towards the entrance way without a smidge of doubt.

"Taro! Taro, you're okay! And Tako too!" he spoke fumbling over himself. Taro, his name, he recalled it and he looked just as fine as ever, he didn't even seem to be a devilman yet. Akira in his exhilaration happily blew past the unphased child, only leaving the cat to jump in shock upon his arrival.

He had to see it, he had to see them all, and make sure everyone was accounted for. He remembered the inside of the house, it felt like a sanctuary. He made his way through the home searching hectically. When he came to the kitchen his face beamed. It was Mr. and Mrs. Makimura, they were here, perfectly intact, and happy as ever. Akira's joy came out in the form of sputtered laughs.

"I can't believe it; you guys are okay! I missed you both so much!" he spoke quickly. He spun his head back and forth, knowing there was one left, one he yearned to see most of all. He didn't waste another second to even hear if they replied as he ran to the stairway, and there is where he nearly collapsed to his knees.

Descending the stairwell was the most beautiful person he had ever known, the person who had been there for him since childhood. It was the person he loved, and she was as bright and alive as he always wanted to remember her.

"Miki…" he could only whisper. The wonder it was to know her name, to say it. He never really forgot her, and how could he?

The absolute feeling of bliss rooted in his chest and spread to every fiber of his being; he couldn't restrain his joy. When feeling returned to his body he dashed up the stairs to meet her in a climatic embrace. What he was instead met with was not what he expected.

He never felt her, he didn't even feel as though he had missed and run past her. When his mind caught back up with him, he realized that he had somehow gotten behind Miki. His thoughts tumbled, and he felt a prick in his chest, knowing something was horribly wrong. He shook his head with wide bewildered eyes. She was walking away from him, it was as if she didn't even know he was there.

"Miki?" he called out to her and tried reaching his hand out to her. "Miki, it's me Akira, I'm back! I remember I made a promise to you, I promised I would-" he cut himself short. The look of stunned terror made his expression. His hand had passed right through her.

"Oh, that smells really good, what is it?" she asked her parents as she entered the dining room, completely unaware of him. Akira was lost in disbelief; his idealistic world was crumbling around him. He panted heavily and tensed his muscles.

"No... No, I came so far. This can't be?!" he hurried into the dining room. Everyone was there now sitting at the table chatting away, while he stood in the doorframe.

"Guys? Hey! I'm here, I'm back!" he said loudly.

There was no response. Akira felt sick to his stomach, he leaned against the doorframe just to keep himself upright.

"Please, please hear me…" he hung his head. Sadness was initial but his anger soon replaced it. All his fighting and all his turmoil, for this? Only to spectate his life and never live. He felt cheated, his demon body boiling over, shifting in rage. It's not like they'd see it anyway as he growled and seethed before them.

"Akira you better hurry and get over here, your food's going to get cold," Miki spoke cheerfully.

Suddenly Akira's attention snapped up. The heat evacuated from his face and his expression was a mixture of shock, embarrassment, and a tiny ray of hope.

Miki seemed to be looking over at him. Could it really be true he questioned, and like this? He hated the thought of her having to see him first as a demon, but if that's what it took.

He prepared to speak, but a much meeker version of his own voice spoke instead, and not from his mouth.

"Yeah, I'm coming."

Akira felt the fur on the back of his neck stand. He whipped around to see the voice's source. When he looked back, he was forced to view the face he had so long forgotten that was once his own. It was bizarre to think, but the two versions of himself stood face to face, and one was completely oblivious to it.

Akira could only stare on as his living human self passed right through him and took his seat at the dinner table. The encounter was enough to subdue Akira to regain his human form. All he could do was stay there and watch the family with an emptiness consuming him.

"Well, if it means anything, I'm happy to see you."

The high-pitched voice broke Akira out of his dispirited trance. He immediately searched for its origin but didn't see anyone else around him. The devilman's features turned confused, he thought maybe he truly was going crazy.

"I'm down here," it spoke again. Akira leapt in surprise as his eyes drew downwards now finally witnessing the speaker. At his feet were two large green eyes staring up to him sweetly amongst a black fuzzy body. At first Akira was frozen wrapping his mind around the prospect of the house cat talking to him, but it's not like he hadn't before, as he soon recalled. Akira's body noticeably relaxed some, as he kneeled down to the cat.

"Y-you see me?" he asked cautiously optimistic.

"Yeah, of course, we're both devils after all," Tako explained. "I know it's all coming back to you slowly, it's okay."

Akira's head swayed softly with a simple comfort brimming his features. He wanted to pet him, but his hands wouldn't make contact. A disappointed scowl soured his pleasantness once again. Tako tilted his hand in understanding.

"I'm sorry you can't interact with any of the living, not like this anyway. See you need a body," the cat confirmed sympathetically.

His brow furrowed, "No one mentioned that, how am I supposed to get a body?"

The cat's ear flicked thoughtfully, "Hmm, well how does a demon get a body?"

It was then the awareness dawned on him. He flipped his head to see his own self eating at the table blissfully unaware of what was upon him. Akira's face became determined as he tried to hop back into himself. He didn't seem to stick and only went straight through the small teen. Akira groaned in annoyance. He tried it again, and then a third time with no luck until he finally threw up his hands.

"This isn't working, how am I supposed to get back into my body?" he asked at a loss.

"You have the possession part down, but I think you're forgetting a crucial step," Tako suggested.

Akira inhaled sharply in realization, "The Sabbath…"

"There you go," the cat praised.

"Tako, what day is it?" Akira asked critically.

The cat's figure lurched up as he hurried off into the other room. Akira followed after him till they made it to the living room computer. Tako jumped up and nudged the mouse with his paw bringing the monitor screen back to life and displaying the day's date.

Akira's eyes spread attentively, and his mouth parted as he witnessed the computer's display.

"It's tomorrow. The day Ryo took me to the Sabbath. Tomorrow night is when I became Devilman!" Akira concluded.

"That means tomorrow you can go with yourself to the Sabbath and get your body back!" Tako added merrily.

Akira's face slowly began to turn to one of devilish glee, "Yeah, and if I'm at the Sabbath, then that means he'll be there too!" Akira grinned through tiny fangs, "I'll kill him! I'll kill him then and there! This is perfect! He won't even see it coming! Or will he?" he suddenly recoiled some. "Tako, do you know? Do you know if Satan is awake in this timeline or not?"

The cat's face became pensive, "I'm not really sure, but the timeline has never changed as far as I know."

Akira let himself ease a little and smirked, "Well it will by this time tomorrow, you just wait and see!" He turned himself about and searched aimlessly around the room. Meanwhile Tako's expression became softer.

"I hope it does change for you this time…" he spoke quiet and earnestly.

Akira didn't seem to notice as he carried on with himself, "So what should I do till then? Have you seen any demons around Tako? I don't sense any nearby, but I wonder if any of them know I'm here now? Their relentless, I wouldn't put it past them to be planning an attack as we speak," he paced the living room.

"Well, there never has been an attack on this night before. I think we should be alright, maybe you can try to relax, get in touch with your human half again, you know before you come back. I know it's probably been a long time since you have, being trapped in Hell and all," Tako proposed.

The Devilman looked back at him with a tilt to his head and a charmed smile, "Thanks Tako, but I don't trust any of them. I'm going to keep a watch out and make sure the house is secure."

The cat succumbed to a yawn and stared at him contently, "Suit yourself." His chin rested on his paws.

The evening went by rather quickly, Akira was still making his rounds around the house when everyone was starting to settle in for the night. During his time observing he couldn't help but notice how absent his old self was. The few times he had checked up on himself, he was cooped up in his room, all alone, reading Mazinger Z manga. Was this really what he used to do with his time? Akira couldn't stand to think of all the precious hours he had wasted by himself. He rolled his eyes and kept to his self-assigned duties, searching the house over and over for any sign of danger into the late hours of the night.

It had been a pretty clear night; it wasn't until everyone had long gone to bed did he pick up on any suspicious movement. Something was shuffling through the house, its footsteps sounded as if it was trying to be muffled. Akira's guard was instantly up, he skulked after the intruder, looking to find out any more of its clues. It sounded like it stopped in the family room. Akira waited behind the corner before he would make his move, but there was something off. Something didn't smell right, and by that it smelled too familiar, it was his own scent as a matter of fact. Dumbfounded Akira peeped around the edge only to see his human self booting up the computer. It was then it clicked with him what was going on. A relieved sigh drooped his posture and a humored smirk tugged at his lip.

He tossed his head with a scoff. Akira only stuck around long enough to confirm his old self's taste in explicit content. He had nearly forgotten how tame he used to be, but it's not like it would be an issue after tomorrow anyway. He moved on, as he walked through the house, he finally allowed himself to just enjoy the sleepy ambiance. He soon stopped himself however, when he came upon a certain door. He wanted to visit in but was conflicted to do so. Tako on the other hand brushed right past him and tapped the door open for himself without a hitch.

"Tako! Wait, you're going to wake her up!" Akira whispered, only to acknowledge the pointlessness of it afterwards. He peeked in watching the black ball of fluff hunker down at the foot of the girl's bed.

"I don't think she minds," the cat turned over to see Miki still fast asleep. "Were you wanting to talk to her? She might be able to hear you now in her sleep."

Akira was intrigued by the possibility, he hoped she wouldn't mind as he carefully made his way inside. His hands clasped together, and he kept his head down politely. When he approached her, he couldn't help but admire her beauty. Somehow even the cool dim lighting of the room couldn't mask her radiance. He gulped as he nervously looked away from her. Tako silently encouraged him with a nod of his head. Akira regained some of his baring and knelt down next to her bed, but kept his stare between the floor and Tako, trying to be respectful.

"Hey, Miki…" his voice was shaking. "It's me, Akira, I-uh, I'm, well you know I've never been great with words. I wish I would have talked to you more, I guess I was always just scared to, even now I don't know what to say. Well, I do, I just don't know how to…"

His face became downcast, believing she couldn't actually hear him, but she then seemed to mumble something in her sleep. Akira rose slightly listening to her, he wasn't sure if she could sense him or if she was just dreaming. Either way it compelled him to try again.

"I know I failed you before but I swear to you now, I won't let it happen again. No matter what it takes, I'll protect you and defend the world you deserve, Miki. I'll do anything."

She shifted in her sleep. Akira only glanced over to her, but in doing so he strangely noticed there was now what seemed like a deliberate smile on her face. He kept her in his eyeline this time, shaking his head to her, he could have cried.

"...I'd do anything, to even hold your hand right now…" he faintly admitted. It was then like magic, did her hand slowly inch out from her blankets.

"Akira," it was muffled and slurred with sleep, but Akira felt his heart melt hearing her say his name. He put his ghostly hand in hers. They couldn't touch physically, but the invitation to hold her hand satisfied him for the time being. Words escaped him, he put his elbow up on the bed and rested his head in the crook. He just wanted to be near her. He remained there for the rest of the night, staying in her company and keeping watch over her.

On the other side of the world an equally eventful night was taking place. A young blond-haired boy went racing through the jungle with the heat of a raging fire blazing at his back. The force of the explosion made him stubble, but he couldn't stop. He had made a grave discovery and he couldn't stop now, but he couldn't do this on his own either.

Little to his knowledge he was not alone there. The figure of what appeared like a large woman's head overlooked every move he made. She followed him close with knowing eyes.

Ryo had made it back to the camp still shaking but wasted no time gathering together all his things to leave and head home. He knew the exact person he needed and every second counted. Once in his car he sped away.

"Akira, I need you right now!"