Scooched up under the shade of the bleachers, Miki felt the hot muggy summer's air envelop her. She sat with her knees up and a textbook in her hands, at least that's what it would look like to a passerby. Hidden under that schoolbook was the text she was actually reading, the book of witchcraft she had been so ferociously studying. She was so fixated to the words and the skills it described she didn't even hear her track mates calling.

"Miki! Hey Miki!" another girl hollered, finally snapping Miki back to the present.

She quickly shut her book up tight and started to stuff it in her bag, "Y-yeah, what's up!?"

"You're up next! Come on!" she replied in an irritable voice. "We've already lost Akira, one of our best runners, and Miko hasn't been seen in days. We don't need you slacking off too!"

"Oh, right," Miki responded a little downcast as she hopped down from the bleachers. She felt guilty as her attention to track had been cut in favor of the new practice she had taken on. She still loved running and the feeling of motion and change it brought about with it, but she had to focus on her new craft as well. Frankly, she had taken to it almost as easy as track itself, she never realized how much she would actually respond to it, but she was glad she did. Now all she needed to do was learn how to balance them out.

She jogged her way over to the starting line with a few ugly eyes being cast her way, but she didn't care.

"So where is Akira now? Rumor going around is he was going to be chosen to be the anchor for the super high schooler track event, but no one's seen him or Miko," one of the track boys asked.

Miki was a little put on the spot as she searched for the right words, "Well, I'm not sure, Akira hasn't been to the house in a while, he's moving."

That answer only seemed to rile the rest of the track team more.

"Moving, moving where?"

"Wait, is he moving out?"

"Where's he going?"

All their questions were coming to her at once bringing an overwhelming feeling to the girl as she backed away from them.

"No, no he's moving back with his parents, they've come back and are living here. I just don't know where he is right now. He's been coming and going a lot. I haven't seen Miko in a while either," she confessed.

That seemed to satisfy their ravenous curiosity for the time being as the rest of the track kids began to murmur amongst themselves. Miki wanted to separate herself from them but could still pick up on their suspicions and accusations.

"I bet she's just covering for him, he probably fled the city cause he was on drugs."

"I wouldn't put it past Miko to have done the same, she would do anything to get better at running."

"Do you think they're both on the run now?"

"I wouldn't doubt it!"

Miki lined up to run with a sour look on her face. The other kid's words buzzed around in her head, but her mouth stayed silent. She wanted to run, she needed to run, to do something to let this frustration out. She heard the bang of the gun and ran harder and faster than she had before, letting the anger from their lies fuel her.

Watching on from afar a lone man in a wheelchair kept score of the teens times. He particularly held his attention to the young Makimura girl. She knew something and he'd quietly and politely keep attentive to find out what.

The ambiance of bird squawks, bug wings, and other animals was the first thing that came to his ears. The sticky heat clung to his damp body as he felt the moist dirt under his fingers. He squirmed a little, noticing he was laying on something smooth and flat. Ryo's blue eyes began to flutter open, his vision being a tad murky at first, however objects began to fill out in shape and colors became much more vivid.

Immediately his body balled up in shock, his gaze falling all over the place trying to catch his mind up to what was happening, but what was happening couldn't be possible. Somehow, he was back in what looked like the Peruvian jungles where he had been studying the ancient tribes. Ryo's heart was racketing, and his breath could only come in spurts. He felt around his clothes to see if he had any kind of weaponry on him but alas his pockets were completely empty.

He tried to look around to see if maybe he could find some kind of clue, or at the very least something to defend himself. His attention was caught for a second by a curious detail. He was laying down on some large leaves as if someone had made him a place to lay down. He found that peculiar but didn't wait on it. He attempted to stand up on his own feet but the anxiety he felt caused his legs to stumble. He tried grabbing a hold of a nearby tree to help stabilize himself.

"Oh, I'm sorry, do you need a hand?" a voice spoke to him. The hair on Ryo's neck stood straight up, hearing such an unnervingly familiar voice behind him. The fear that consumed the blonde teen soon turned to anger. His brow came down as his teeth clamped together. He spun around to confront whoever this was but the moment he laid eyes on him his breath was stolen. His face fell into terror and confusion as his knees gave out on him. He flopped to the ground as if he had no bones at all. He desperately scraped at the ground to push himself back and away.

The figure before him held a compassionate look and smiled as if he were a little charmed. He had a thin pale body with bright blue striking eyes, and golden curly hair. He was wearing what looked like Ryo's old clothes, which he must have stolen. Most disturbingly, in face and body this person was identical to Ryo himself.

"Ha, my apologies, I never intended to startle you. You're very skittish, I'm not used to it, but I suppose I can't blame you," he said, approaching Ryo slowly with exposed palms. The opposite male was in such shock and horror he still could not find the voice to speak, he shook his head and stared on with bulging eyes.

"Oh, it's sad but almost cute, seeing how mortal you've become," he giggled. The words only seemed to decompose the teen even more and the other noticed.

The doppelganger's expression seemed to mild out some as he stopped his advancing. He could feel the genuine fear in Ryo and a look of slight curiosity came over him.

"I bet you're wondering what's going on here, aren't you?" the new being tilted his head.

"W-who, are you!?" Ryo's voice rattled from his throat.

"That's a reasonable question," he looked down in reply before shyly glancing back up to him. "Here tell you what, I'll tell you what's going on, but you have to calm down a little, alright. I can help you up off the ground too if you like," he extended his hand out to him. Ryo inceptively sneered down at his offer. The other male didn't much like his cross attitude as a frown came to his lips.

"If I tell you everything that's going on you have to trust me," he softened his face and tried reaching Ryo once more.

"Why should I, I don't know you!" Ryo shot back. A stall of silence came between them until a laugh bounded from the opposing being's lungs. Ryo's bewilderment and frustration was not aided by the reaction, with a huff he finally came to his own feet and brushed the dirt from his white coat.

"You find that amusing!?"

The other man calmed himself and choked back his snickers as he at last faced Ryo once more, "Oh, this is so strange. You really don't remember anything."

Something about the look he gave and the mystery in his voice didn't sit well on Ryo's mind. He backed away from him slightly, but didn't dare take his eyes from him. An even stronger feeling of woe came to the teen as he swallowed hard and found his words once more.

"What do you mean?"

His counterpart sighed slightly and allowed his head to tilt to the side, "Surely you've taken notice of all these peculiar occurrences taking place around you. Things just aren't adding up, are they? You feel like you're constantly on the run, that something's after you, hmm?"

Ryo didn't like how he was starting to walk nearer to him again.

"Stay back! Who are you!?" the professor scolded.

"That's just it, I know you know, somewhere in there, deep down, you know exactly what's going on. Remember, you must remember who you actually are," he persisted.

Ryo shook his head more with paranoia screaming through his eyes, "You're insane, I don't know! You're supposed to be telling me what's going on! Why am I here!? Why is any of this happening!? Who are you!?"

"Why do you think? I must know what you think, first. Who do you think I am!" he asserted.

Suddenly the once heavy air felt tight and constricting. The heat went from warm to sweltering as his blood rocketed through his body. His brain pounded inside his skull as he tried to grasp his head and relieve the stress he was undergoing. Then far off and faint, Ryo thought he could hear something unnatural to the jungle setting. He wanted to ignore it and disregard it as just his imagination playing tricks on him, but it seemed the more he tried to push it away only the more vocal it got. The sound of a beautiful, familiar song tormented him. He couldn't get it out of his head, as a matter of fact it felt like it was coming from his head. He dug his fingers into his hair and his palms fixed themselves to his ears as he tried to curl in on himself.

"What do you hear? Tell me what's coming to you?" the identical man asked more, seeing the effects on Ryo.

"Stop it, stop it!" he pleaded away from him through clenched teeth. He had his eyes squeezed shut. He wanted nothing more than to separate himself from this world, and yet it was inescapable.

"Please, you're almost there! You'll be alright I promise, I'm here for you, but you must let it come!" he softly begged.

Ryo growled as everything inside him finally snapped. He jolted his head up and made direct eye contact with the opposite being.

"Stop it Gab! Stop it! I can't think anymore, I can't take this any…" he trailed off as his wrath quickly dissolved, filling his body with weightlessness. Gab slowly began to smile, looking at him with a relieved face. He was so happy through his grin he started to softly laugh.

"I knew you couldn't forget me…brother."

Ryo had stammered back with his mouth a gap, as his eyes flicked with recollections. He was overwhelmed by a flood of memories, memories of pain, hurt and injustice all came at him at once and torn his spirit apart. His time with God, how diligent and obedient he had been, that soon changed to bitterness and betrayal. The time spent with his brothers and how fulfilled they had made him, only to turn to loneliness and abandonment. He couldn't handle it all at once his face fell into his hands as he emitted a whimper.

"Brother, brother it's okay, I know it's a lot to take in," his brother steadily approached him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. It was the first time in millions of years that he had made contact with his elder brother, and it was surreal in the best way possible.

Ryo was trembling and could hardly speak words, "G-Ga-Gabriel, Gabriel…" he finally looked back at him.

"That's right, yes, it's me, do you remember anyone else?" Gabriel beamed.

"Y-yes, Michael, Zadkiel, Raphael, Urial…" Ryo trailed off as he listed his brothers seeming completely devastated.

"Yes, that's right, that's them, and there's so many more!"

"You're here, you've come back, you found me?" Ryo sounded weak.

"That's right, that's right I did! Just be happy I found you before, Michael did," he laughed lightly. "They were all right on your tail too, why did you think going back to your apartment would be a good idea? I was lucky I got you out of there without being seen, and your little demon lacky didn't help. I had to hide us all the way out here!" the angel rambled on. Ryo could hardly keep up with him as he went on.

"Wait, they were all looking for me too?" he asked timidly.

Gabriel had to stop and reevaluate his explanation. He placed his hand to his forehead sheepishly before continuing.

"Oh please forgive me, I know it's a lot. But yes, a lot of our brothers are also scouting the Earth right now, mostly looking for you and investigating the change that's been occurring so far."

"Change? What change?" Ryo sounded lost.

"I'll explain that too, don't worry, but right now I need to tell you it's very important we lay low, I'm actually not supposed to have you out here," Gabriel admitted.

Ryo's brow creased, "Why?"

"There's a lot that's been going on lately, I'm sure you've noticed at least a portion of it. Our brothers are still looking for you because the time loop that you've been entrapped in for some time now, has finally been broken!" Gabriel sounded elated.

It was like with each thing Gabriel said Ryo was rushed by yet another storm of memories. His thoughts moved on from his life in the past and now recalled his more recent predicaments. The same events playing out over and over again, the fear and suffering he had endured countless times. The emotions swallowed him up as he finally was drawn back to the last moment. The feeling of pain and sorrow that choked him up, the feeling of tears rolling from his eyes, having to face his wrongdoing and all its consequences. He felt those same tears pool in his eyes being reset to that time, that one horrible shattering moment.

Gabriel could see the trauma come through his brother's face as a flow of tears streamed down his cheeks. He was perplexed by the sudden change in him, and yet he was still drawn to him, he never did enjoy watching his brother's suffering.

"Akira, Akira what have I done…" Ryo quivered. His eyes locked to his brother hysterically, "Gab, Gabriel we have to find him! Where's Akira? I have to see he's alright!"

Gabriel's expression turned to concern as he tried to grab hold of Ryo, "Brother, brother you need to calm down. That was the next thing I needed to warn you of. You can't go near Akira at this time."

"No! I have to see him! With or without your help!" Ryo spoke back.

Gabriel's grip only became that much tighter, "Brother know I wish to help you, but you have to understand, no good will come from seeing that devilman at his time."

"Why!?" Ryo tried to pull away.

"You won't like the answer," Gabriel said in a calm but assertive tone.

"I don't care!" Ryo only cried louder.

"He hates you, that's why!" Gabriel declared. It seemed hearing that had hurt Ryo slightly as a shutter could be felt even in his movements. He pushed it back and brought himself to fight back further.

"It doesn't matter, he hated me before. Surely if I could just speak sense into him, I could make him understand it was all just a big misunderstanding," Ryo desperately suggested. Even Gabriel could have laughed at such a proposal, but he kept composed and shook his head.

"No, there was no misunderstanding, you hurt him and his loved ones."

"Yes, but I didn't mean to, I never even considered their lives as valuable," Ryo tried to excuse. Somehow hidden amongst his features it was clear deep down even he knew what he was saying was delirious.

"Exactly brother, and that's why he's upset with you!"

"Well, I'll tell him I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have done it now," Ryo was beginning to succumb to the argument.

"Right brother, and perhaps eventually we can see him when things calm down and try that, but there are more urgent matters. Like I was saying, our other brothers are after you, Father instructed us to find you, and I regretfully don't know what he intends with you."

Ryo's face became like stone as all his expression's dropped from him. He was stern with the shadow of all his hurt, fury, and betrayal casting over his eyes.

"So wait, you're all wanting to take me back to him then? The one who has thrown me into all this turmoil and humiliation? Haven't I been through enough!? After all I had ever done for you all! You leave me here to rot and take joy in my distress!?"

Gabriel's face looked alert and apologetic, "Well brother it was our orders. You know how that is, you started a whole uprising with these disgusting little-"

"Did any of you ever care what became of me!?" he cut in. His tone dripped with outrage and yet never sounded so heartbreaking.

Gabriel paused at first, he was still but his face melted solemnly. For once the look he was giving seemed almost mortal.

"Yes, brother…" he confirmed softly. Ryo was taken back by his answer, creating a silence that broke as soon as Gabriel opened his mouth once more. "None of us wanted to fight you in that first war, or any after, but Father felt threatened and sent us to fight you in response."

Gabriel stopped himself for a moment as he approached him, "I couldn't describe the emotion I felt all that time ago when you were cast out, and I have felt it ever since. I can't keep on with this, and watching your eternal punishment, it feels like my own. The others may not say so, but they feel the same, I know I'm not the only one, I know Michael misses you greatly as much as he denies it…"

That statement struck an old chord within the fallen angel. He felt it's pang from deep inside him, buried underneath centuries of resentment, he felt touched.

"I have come this far to come get you, I'm risking my status to even be here with you, telling you all this, but I must. I can't stand idly by any longer and hear the cries of the mortals and your own, over, and over and over again. I just can't…" Gabriel lowered his head, before making his eyeline level with his brother's once more. "It's time for this to end. It's time for you to come home Lucifer…"

The second that name hit his ears Ryo felt as though a knife had twisted through his guts. His pupils had shrunk to pinheads and his body expanded with a sharp inhale.

"Do not call me that, that is no longer my name," he flipped around and started to walk away.

Gabriel appeared confused, "Not your name? What do you mean?"

"Why should I be called by a name given to me by the one who disowned me?" Ryo shot back.

"Because it is your true name, and there's no way I'm calling you by that demon name you gave yourself," Gabriel held a repulsed expression.

"Then just call me Ryo," he shrugged.

"Ryo? Why that's a mortal name, it couldn't suit you."

"Suits me just fine," he replied still with his back turned as he was rummaging through his coat. "And what was that about going home?"

Gabriel's face lit up again, "Oh, yes see that's part of my plan. I know you're still sullen and that's understandable, but I was thinking there might be a way to fix all of this for everybody!"

"Oh really, what's that?" Ryo turned his attention back to him.

Gabriel looked as though he could burst at the seams from his own excitement, "All we have to do is take you back home to Heaven and we'll have you just apologize. Father will be so happy and then let you live with us again and the mortals will get to live too-"

"Woah, woah hold on!" His older brother stopped him. "What makes you think I'd ever apologize to that merciless ego maniac!"

Gabriel seemed startled and taken back by the vehement reply, but even more upset over his brother's words, "That's not true. Father is a strong and wondrous God; he'd do anything for us. He would forgive you too."

"No, I did everything for him, and he threw me away like I was nothing! And then he proceeds to keep me trapped forever in this endless loop of cruel punishment just for his viewing pleasure! No, I will never, ever apologize! He owes me an apology, but I know he'd never do so!" Ryo spat.

Gabriel could feel the intense rage not only from his face and tone but could actually feel it radiating in the air around him. It was enough to make Gabriel reevaluate his course of action as he sighed.

"I'm sorry brother, perhaps I should have considered your aversion to the suggestion. I just worry, I don't know how else to help you, but I want to," Gabriel confessed.

As outraged as Ryo was, he just couldn't stay mad at Gabriel, he never could. Seeing his earnest regret and compassion towards him was enough to somewhat lift away Ryo's rigidness.

He huffed, "There's plenty of my own wrong I need to correct. All the mortals and Devilmen alike I have tormented and left to brutally die. I have to make things right. If you truly want to help me, you'll let me do what I must."

Gabriel glanced up to him with a considering look, "Perhaps I could assist you better? I could come with you and accompany you in your selfless quest, maybe doing so will improve your status in the eyes of God as well?"

"I won't concern myself with what he thinks, but I'd appreciate your company," Ryo stated flatly.

Gabriel felt his conscious nip at him. He knew this was a huge risk he was taking, but it wasn't like he wasn't already being dangerous. He took a breath and saw his long-lost brother before him. How unspeakable tried and beaten down he was, Gabriel was reminded of why he was here in the first place. At that moment he knew what he would choose. He remained quiet for a second simply watching Ryo with a small smile seeing him shuffle through his pockets in a tiff. He almost couldn't help but chuckle as he came to his side again.

"What are you looking for?" he asked.

"What did you do with all my stuff?" Ryo spoke back, being mildly miffed.

"Oh, you mean those Earthly weapons? I got rid of them, it's not like you'll need them," Gabriel responded with blissful ignorance.

Ryo groaned, "Of course you did." He didn't even have the energy to be that upset over it anymore.

"Well yes, after all there's two of us, what would we need those guns for?" the younger one chimed.

Ryo was exasperated but distracted by his brother's wording. He lowered his brow and tipped his head.

"The two of us?" Ryo questioned.

Gabriel smirked again, "Yes, you've been needing me for far too long, I suppose it's about time I be here for you."

A warm comfort consumed the empty feeling within Ryo's chest. His face softened and appeared unconvinced at first but slowly came around to the possibility. He couldn't speak, just nodded his head appreciatively. Gabriel knew without him having to say, he beamed back at him welcomingly.

"Now, where was I? Oh right, we need to make sure we're staying unnoticed, especially if we're going to be doing your running around. If the other brothers catch us, we could be in a load of trouble," Gabriel advised.

Ryo nodded to him, "I see, I'll keep that in mind." His voice was hushed and thoughtful.

"Good, so where will we be off to first? I have to say I'm fairly eager to see what's become of this planet. I haven't actually been down here in so long!" he gushed.

"We need to get back to Japan, once we're there it'll be easier for me to deduce approximately where we are currently standing in this altered timeline," Ryo laid out their plans.

"Oh boy! I can't wait, we'll be there in no time!" Gabriel said, unconsciously opening a portal of light and then coming out right in front of Ryo's face in the blink of an eye. Ryo was only a little ruffled seeing the actions of his brother, but his giddiness also soothed him ever so slightly.

"Alright Gabby, you know you can't be doing that kind of stuff around people, right," Ryo reminded diligently.

Gabriel's whole body rose, "Oh, you always used to call me Gabby!" he giggled but soon reined himself back in. "Yes, yes I know. I may have never been around people, but I know that much, I mean I knew to wear clothes, see! I look so mortal isn't that neat!"

Ryo's head drooped to him but in an amusing manner. He could see the white suit he was wearing, and the professor had immediately recognized it as his own.

"Yeah, I noticed, I haven't seen that suit in years, I think I wore it for a job interview," Ryo informed in a dry voice.

"Oh that's right, you've been working down here. That's so interesting, what has it been like? You'll have to tell me on the way, I'm sure your life down here has been very educational hmm?" the younger of the two enthused.

"I suppose," Ryo returned to his deadpan means of talking. He had already begun walking away and preparing to leave with Gabriel right by his side as they conversed. There was something nice to this feeling. Even as Gabriel went on about all kinds of subjects Ryo felt an innate solace in having him there at all. As simple as it was for the first time in a long, long, time within the grand scheme of the universe itself, Ryo didn't feel so alone anymore, he felt remembered. A bright ring formed between them both as they discreetly stepped through and returned to the metropolis of Tokyo.