The faint illumination of the full moon casted down onto an open balcony where the deflated figure of a woman sat. She rested on an outdoor lounge chair staring back up at the moon with a blank and desolate expression. Her eyes seemed flat externally but if one were to look closely an ocean of silenced sadness lay just past them. Her hand rested at her forehead and the other stayed gripped around the neck of a liquor bottle. Every now and again she'd bring it to her lips to temporarily numb the invasive and depressing feelings that crawled just beneath her skin. It didn't help much but still it was better than facing the cold reality that had been brought to her attention.

Kaim could see Sirene laying out there on the balcony by herself. She hadn't moved for the past few hours aside from nursing on that bottle. Kaim frowned, he knew what this was about, but still even with everything that had happened, he hated to see her like this.

"Sirene? Do you think we should start our preparations for killing Devilman once and for all? It's been a few days. I'm sure the council will want to know of our activity," Kaim suggested lightly.

The demoness didn't seem all too interested in what he had to say at first. She just continued to lay there looking vacantly up to the sky. Kaim didn't want to push her, but he couldn't bring himself to leave her either.

He sighed and started slowly, "Sirene, I know with all that's happened it can be hard, but I guess I just want you to know that despite everything, I'll still always be here for you. I don't think any less of you…"

It was the first time Sirene seemed to stir in what felt like forever. She heard what he said but purposefully avoided his eyes. Her features scrunched up as she lifted herself up off the chair in a less than stable manner. She took one last big swing from her bottle of booze finishing the drink and making her way to the edge of the balcony.

"You're very right Kaim. I can't just keep sitting here," she said abruptly with a slur to her voice. "And you've always been good to me…" she seemed to pause and muse on that last statement. It caught Kaim's attention as he attempted to gently come to her side. Though it wouldn't seem he would be allotted enough time to do so as she spoke up again. "But he hasn't, and we will make him pay, if it's the last thing I do!"

Her statement was punctuated by a loud crash as the empty bottle she had been clinging to crashed into the ground. Her form had changed suddenly as she broke up with cackles. Kaim watched with stone-like features as she changed completely and took off into the night's starry skies. He didn't move immediately, only stared on with a sunken and solemn expression before he exhaled and started off after her.

"...Whatever makes you happy."

The crickets sang outside the young athlete's balcony door as she sat on her floor with a book nestled in her legs and the small flame of a candle brightening her dark room. Tako observed her from her bedside keeping a diligent watch on every move she made. Miki read the words over in her head several times making sure she knew exactly what it was trying to convey before she glanced down at the candle in front of her.

"You think you're ready?" Tako questioned merrily. Miki had an unsure expression as she inhaled sharply.

"Well, I suppose it won't hurt to try," she shrugged and tried to buck herself up.

"That's the spirit, I know you can do it. Just focus your will on the candle and make its energy serve you. Try moving it over to the side a little as a starter."

Miki tipped her head to him and did as she was told. She held her hand out to the orange flame and narrowed her attention to just its energy and movement. It was still succumbing to the will of the breeze around it as she continuously went ignored. She scrunched her face more frustrated this time and tried harder, slipping her hand ever so slightly closer to the fire.

"Don't try to overdo it Miki, let it come naturally," Tako instructed.

"I know," she said, gritting her teeth and sticking to her methods. She wanted to make that flame move, to influence it in any way possible but for whatever reason it wasn't listening to her. Finally she couldn't help herself anymore, she released her tension and threw her hands up.

"It's not working! I'm doing everything the book says I don't understand," she vented.

Tako's head dipped to her sympathetically and came to nestle down next to her," Miki it'll be alright. Sometimes trying to be just like the book is what falters a witch, you have to have your own spark for it to work. I've already seen you got one, a powerful one too. Don't beat yourself up too much, you have to know how to let your own energy flow so that you can manipulate all kinds of other energies."

Miki sighed and allowed herself to calm, "I know, but how do I get it to come back? What if it never does? How can I make sure when I need it it'll work at all?"

"Miki, your spark will always be there when you truly need it. It's just not working now because you're stressing over it. Is there something bothering you?" the cat asked, rubbing up against her compassionately.

Miki was looking down but not at anything particularly as she pet through the feline's soft black fur. She seemed like there was an overall gloom to her before she found the means to speak.

"I guess you could say that…" she admitted.

"What is it?" Tako asked curiously.

Miki's hand came to cradle her cheek and her elbow rested on her knee, "I don't know, I feel like everything's changing so suddenly, and no matter how hard I try to catch up something else comes up."

Tako seemed to smile a little wider on his black muzzle, "You don't know the half of it."

Miki chuckled lightly to herself, "I know. I've even been reading ahead in that book, things I don't even completely understand, just to try and have an advantage. Honestly there's some spells in there that are kinda haunting to think about."

"Like what?" Tako questioned.

Miki didn't seem to fly up in response. Slowly and musingly she tried to speak once more, "Well, like I was reading ahead to see if I could understand how to summon devils. And there were many different means and tactics it mentioned, but some of them were pretty frightening. One said that if you say the right incantation, it's possible to override a human soul to awaken a demon's instead. It started to make me worry about devilmen, if that's possible then they could be in a lot of danger. What if that information fell into the wrong hands?"

Tako understood her concerns and glanced his eyeline downward for a moment. When at last he paid attention to her again he sent her a pleasing look.

"Devilmen exist in a constant balance between the soul of the demon and the soul of the human, in a way they practically become their own being. When they merge, the sum of their strongest parts are combined, they evolve," Tako emphasized. "For example Akira's heart is strong and he has the body and fighting skills of Amon. Sometimes the soul of one will overpower the other, but a devilman is at its strongest and most at peace when the two souls are completely aligned. Which is not an easy state to be in, but it can be learned. The spell you read about is designed to overthrow that balance, making one soul completely dominant over the other will cause that regardless of whichever one it is," Tako explained.

"So it is pretty bad then," Miki drooped.

"Yes, it can be but if the spell can be put on, then it stands to reason a good witch can undo it, right?" Tako suggested. Miki considered his proposition. There was no way of knowing what he said would be true or not, but there wasn't any evidence against it either.

"I suppose, but I don't know the incantation for that," she shrugged.

"Not all spells have incantations yet, you can make them up yourself when the time's right," Tako purred as she scratched his chin. That comment seemed to comfort her well enough for her to begin smiling as she sighed.

"Yeah, you're probably right, I think mainly my mind has just been all over the place too lately. I guess I miss how it was, everything changed too soon…" her tone changed to one of longing.

Tako's ear fell to the side as did his head as he read through her meaning, "Are you meaning Akira?"

She seemed mildly shocked at his suggestion as her head rose, but she couldn't bring herself to deny him either. She reserved herself and opened her mouth again.

"Yeah, I know it's only been a few days, but I've just been really missing him I guess," she confessed with a tiny smile forming on her lips.

"Aww, don't worry, he'll come back to you, he always does. As a matter of fact I'd say he isn't far off now," Tako's body lifted and flipped around to the window. Miki's interest pinpointed to the balcony as well as she stood on her feet. She began to move closer to it as she looked out the window. She didn't see anything out there, but she knew Akira was stealthy. She looked at Tako for some moral support as she unlocked the door and pulled it open. She walked out onto the balcony feeling the crisp and cool air of the night touch her skin. Her eyes scanned all over but didn't see anything in particular that stuck out to her.

Tako leapt up on the railing and stayed close by. Miki stood out there for a moment enjoying the ambiance of the city's nightlife. She couldn't help but feel as she remained there that she was being watched. The hairs on the back of her neck erected as she began to back away. Her eyes scanned the nearby areas but couldn't pick up on anything out of the ordinary. She sighed and chalked it up to her imagination as she was about to call back for Tako. However, he seemed to be watching something else, that was right above her. Without question Miki spun around to see what it was her, her heart jumped but whether it was from fear or joy was determined by the source.

Laying her eyes on the subject she could have squealed. Akira had been hanging upside down from the roof top staring down at her with a pleased look on his face.

"Miki!" his voice was rough but no less delighted.

"Akira! You're here!" she cheered up to him.

"Yeah, sorry if I startled you," he said, tumbling down from the roof and landing skillfully on his feet. "And I'm sorry I haven't come to visit you in a while. It's been crazy with the move, but don't worry I've made sure to keep an eye on you the whole time."

Miki didn't give herself the chance to pass even two thoughts through her head before she enveloped her arms around the lean male. His eyes popped open in surprise before realizing what was happening, but when he did, he couldn't have been more grateful. He put his arms around her in return, first timidly but soon his grip became firmer and more excitable.

She giggled, feeling his returning gesture, "I'm sorry, it just feels so long since I've seen you."

"No it's okay, I like it," Akira confirmed. She breathed pleasantly as she pulled away from him slightly, enough to see his face.

"Alright, you have to tell me everything, what's it like living with your parents again? Do you like the apartment?" she asked. Akira enjoyed watching her and all the wondrous glimmers in her eyes. He continued to hold her there with a smile, unaware of his own actions being too lost in his own satisfaction.

"Yeah, it's great, it's just like when I was a kid again, and the apartment really is something, but it does get quiet and lonely sometimes. They still work a lot, but really, it's probably a good thing, I can come and go and patrol pretty much whenever I need to without being questioned. That's why I'm here tonight. Honestly, I've been missing everybody, I wanted to see you…" he looked directly into her gaze when he said that. Miki didn't point it out, but she felt a sparkling stir rise in her gut as she broke from his stare.

"Well, I'm glad you came, it's been different without you here, we've all been missing you. I think Taro's been trying to make up for your absence," Miki laughed a little. "He goes around patrolling the whole house several times a day, he does a pretty good job." Both Akira and Miki chuckled at the thought.

"I can't really blame him, he is learning from the best," Akira joked. Miki went along with his fooling for a moment before she spoke again.

"You know, you can come inside if you like," she offered, opening her door to him. At first Akira seemed a little stunned by her suggestion but with some thought and eagerness he made his way inside with her following close by. Miki made eye contact with Tako out on the balcony, she gestured for him to come along but he only sent her a knowing look. He jumped off the railing and down to the ground, Miki wasn't sure where he was going but she knew their lesson was done for the night. She smiled lightly before turning around and meeting Akira inside.

Akira was overlooking all her papers and books she had strewn about the floor as she sheepishly came around to pluck them up.

"Sorry it's kind of a mess in here," she excused.

"That's okay," he knelt down to help her. "You were doing some practice before I got here, huh?"

"Yeah, if you want to call it that, I wasn't doing it too well."

Akira tipped his head to her gently, "Aww I'm sure it wasn't that bad, you can't be too hard on yourself."

She appreciated his support as her cheeks rose, "Yeah, I know, it's just I'm trying to do everything I can. Especially with summoning back all the devilmen, I've been reading ahead just for that alone."

"Aww Miki, you don't have to push yourself. I could never thank you enough for all that you're doing for me and the rest of my kind. We'll bring them back soon, I know it. I can even help you if you want," he said, scanning through her papers. Miki just shook her head as she politely took the documents back from him.

"That's alright Akira, I'm pretty tired now as it is," she wiped the side of her face as she fumbled to put away her stuff.

Akira felt for her, he knew how much she did for him and even still she was ever so kind. He kept up that same uplifting look he had as his eyes became that much more adoring. He didn't immediately speak, just watching her as she fussed about herself. Her hair was in a bit of a mess, and she was dressed in her nightwear. He heard her apologize for that too, but he couldn't understand why, she was so beautiful no matter what, she didn't have to try.

The devilman was beginning to feel an old familiar burn inside of him. He tried to stay aware of it, but that devilish itch was in the back of his mind. The moment his eyes involuntarily displayed her naked body before him he instantly shut them closed feeling immense guilt. It was just like before, despite her clothing he could see through them, he didn't mean too and tried to push it back as well as his intrusive thoughts.

"Akira? What's the matter?" her voice was like a bed of petals as it touched his ears. He slowly peaked one eye open making sure the coast was clear. He no longer could see through her wardrobe and thus sighed a quick breath of relief opening his eyes fully again.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," he nodded. He could feel her sitting on the floor next to him. They weren't touching but she was close enough that he could feel the heat of her body. He could pick up her wonderfully intoxicating scent much clearer now. He didn't like how much attention he was paying to it; he didn't like the thoughts he was having about her without knowing her true feelings, but he just couldn't help himself. He swallowed and tried to keep his eyes off her and his hands respectfully in his lap. Miki could tell there was something off about his body language, he seemed extremely uncomfortable all the sudden and she couldn't understand why.

"Are you sure? It's not me, is it?" she asked worriedly. Akira instantly shot up at that suggestion, he shook his head fervently and stared right into her eyes.

"No, no it's not you Miki, it's just…" he breathed. He wasn't sure how to admit it to her without making himself seem like some creepy monster.

"It's just what? You can tell me anything, remember?" she bumped him lightly trying to liven the mood. It helped moderately as he could at least throw on a small smile, but still his apprehension loomed. He had told himself he didn't ever want to keep anything from her ever again, and now he couldn't help but feel he was cheating himself as well as her. He wanted to tell her to be fully honest with her once and for all about his feelings, but for whatever reason vocalizing it seemed to be the hardest part. His face was finally forced to relax some, but behind it was a raging world of strain. He took a deep breath, and with every ounce of courage he opened his mouth.

"Miki, I have something I've been wanting to tell you…" he trailed off trying to stall and let his emotions settle.

"What is it?" she leaned in close to him, seeming to pick up on the seriousness of his tone. Akira remained silent for a time trying to think of how he would say it. He had always imagined this scenario and how it would go but now it was all too real. He glanced out her window as he breathed. He could see the beautiful brightness of the full moon glowing into her room. It was an image that brought about great discomfort to him, why, he couldn't quite put his fingers on. There was something about it that didn't sit well with him, and the memories it carried with it were even worse. It was the last thing he had ever caught a glimpse of before he had perished. In an effort to find his bearings and solace he found himself hypnotized and lost in an even more troubling state of mind.

Miki's head tilted to the side, catching on to his sudden dissonance. She followed his eyeline and took in what he was seeing. She admired the milky shade of the moon outside her balcony but couldn't understand why Akira looked so perturbed. She wanted to know what he had to say and how he was feeling but she could tell something was stirring inside him. She paused in thought as an idea came to mind.

Her body bobbed up as she turned to face him with a smile, "The moon's really beautiful tonight."

Akira didn't hardly budge; she could tell there was a lot on his mind. She slumped a little but tried to keep up her high spirits.

"You know, I remember when I was little, I used to look up at the moon and see all the shadows on it and think it looked like a rabbit," she giggled. It was at that moment Akira's whole perception changed. His features became weak as he unfroze himself to look at her. She was still smiling up to the moonlight, her face was gorgeous.

"I know it's silly, most people won't see anything there at all. Maybe they're right, but I can still see it. You can kinda see it too, if you look close enough, right?" she said sweetly as she turned to face him. It was then she noticed the desperate, harrowing and yet absolutely relieved face of Akira as he slowly came closer to her. She had to admit she wasn't exactly expecting him to react this way. She was completely entranced by his gaze as she sat very still. Gently and ever so slowly Akira brought his hand up to cup her cheek. She could have pulled away in surprise, but she didn't, she stayed right where she was as their eye contact never once broke in the process. His hand felt hot on her cool skin but at the same time his hand was secure and protective. She felt nothing but safe with him as he came closer. He was nearly a whisper away from her now, their foreheads could have practically touched and his eyes, those deep aching almond orbs, starred right into her soul.

"Miki, of all the things I came back to save and protect, you're the one I want to protect more than all else. You're the reason I'm here now at all, the reason I can be here as I am. I can remain a human because you exist…"

The world around them dissipated as they had become each other's sole focus. Their hearts could almost be heard racking externally from their chests and their breath bated.

"When I lost you, my soul went with you. I felt myself become the monster I had feared for so long, but at that point it didn't matter, there was nothing left for me to be. There was nothing else I wanted to be, I was so caught up in the pain of all the humans and my own suffering I turned to that monster myself. But now, I have you again, and I can't tell what I am anymore. I still feel like that monster, like that beast fighting for what little I can. But Miki when I'm with you, I feel that boy, that boy that I was. You awaken that side of myself, the side that reminds me why I fight for any of this in the first place. And it's only now that I know what you truly are to me…"

Her eyes diligently darted back and forth between his. She felt like her stomach was in her throat waiting in anticipation. She could feel the energy radiating off him, it was incredibly strong, perhaps one of the strongest sensations she had ever encountered. She couldn't help but wonder if this is that balance Tako had been speaking of, if this was just a small taste of his true potential, and how she had triggered it. Either way she stared back at him wide-eyed and captivated as he whispered.

"…You are my heart Miki…"

"Akira…" was all she could squeak out, feeling her body go limp in his hold. There was nothing else she could say. Her mind was buzzing but her own heart felt as though it was ready to flutter out of her chest. She could feel the heat of his face over hers, slowly she succumbed to his energy closing her eyes, feeling nothing but joy and bliss awaiting his next move. She waited to feel his face meet hers, she waited for some time with nothing, enough to make her curious. Her lids batted open again and was a little stunned to see the void whites of Akira's eyes there instead of his normal color. She turned her head to the side slightly and tried to see what was the matter.

"Akira? Is something wrong?" she asked in a murmur. She knew his demonic instincts could be intense, maybe even especially in a situation like this. Miki couldn't help but consider the possibility that he wanted more from her. Inside she was conflicted, she couldn't deny she felt strongly for him, but the thought of becoming so physical so suddenly was a bit much for her.

"Akira, maybe we should slow down a bit, huh?" she suggested through a smile. Though his stance didn't change, if anything his face only became that much sterner. Miki didn't know what tipped her off, but she started to consider that his odd behavior had nothing to do with lustful intentions. His head rose up a little as if sensing something near, he wasn't even looking at her anymore as he picked up on something coming near.

"What is it?" she questioned quietly. In a split second he got up from the floor and began to slink his way towards the balcony remaining ever vigilant. Miki waited back and watched him with her breath held. She could hear a growl rumbling from him. The first time he acknowledged her again he motioned for her to stay down as he slowly pulled open the door. Ever so cautiously he stepped out and looked around the area. Miki wasn't sure what this was about, but she did as he instructed. It didn't seem much was happening, but it was then as she sat there, she started to sense something again. She didn't even have a chance to wonder about it as the next thing she knew she heard something fast and hard fly by. It moved like the crack of a whip and with it Akira was taken away.

"Akira!" she gasped.

Miki almost couldn't believe what she had seen, something bright and yellow like a missile came by and swept him away. She could hear in the distance his struggling, but it became dimmer and fainter the further he got. Her first instinct was to get up and go after him, but she knew he didn't want her to. She felt at war with herself. She knew Akira would be upset with her, but she couldn't leave him in a time of need.

Against all her better judgement she got up from her spot and tried to sneakily approach the balcony herself. She backed against the wall beside the door to try to get a view outside before she stepped out. She wanted to catch some kind of sign, sound, or view of what might be out there, but it seemed she wouldn't have to wait any longer. The harsh and hefty body of a man wearing a brown suit leapt up from his covering and landed on the balcony.

Miki wasn't even granted the opportunity to scream as his beefy hand came around to clasp over her mouth. He pulled her to the outside and grabbed her up as she kicked and fought the whole way.

"You stay still and be quiet, understand!?" he ordered as he jumped from the balcony taking her into his car and locking her inside. He drove in the same direction Akira had been carried off in. Miki felt her heart racing for both her and Akira as she was sped off and didn't know where she'd end up.