For much of the time in that small and cozy bedroom, all was as tranquil as it ever had been. However, whatever it was, something set Taro and Tako on edge. Miki noticed as Taro and Tako had perked themselves and seemed to be focusing intently on something that just wasn't present. She became more vigilant herself, and in doing so did in fact notice an odd shift in energy. They all sat like that some moment before at last the tension was broken for a mere second by the cat's voice.
"Taro, go down and guard your parents. Don't change but stay ready. Miki, stay here, I need to help you cast a very important spell," Tako spoke militantly.
At first, the siblings seemed at a loss but without further instruction, Taro made eye contact with his sister and made his way down to the downstairs. Miki was now noticeably nervous as she turned to view Tako again as he was flipping through her spellbook.
"Tako what is it? What's going on?" she asked worriedly.
"An attack is in progress. It'll only be a matter of time till it reaches here. I need to show you how to do this, it'll protect us," the cat informed. He sat back again when the page he desired was now on display.
Miki knew her full attention was integral, so she leaned in, watching the cat before her closely.
"You need to put a shield around this house. You must direct your energy and push it externally from yourself so that it guards the perimeter," Tako instructed.
With a stout and determined nod, Miki did as she was asked. It wasn't an easy task, stretching her own force so far around herself was straining but after a few tries, she managed. Slowly she got further and further out until she could feel it, as if it were on the tips of her fingers, the edge of the home. She knew now she had them all covered, only the next question was for how long.
"Good job Miki, now just hold it there till this all blows over," Tako said encouragingly.
The young girl was starting to feel the pressure, it was like having a growing migraine that only got worse the longer she held on.
"How long do you think it'll take?"
The cat's features became sympathetic, "I'm not sure. If it goes on too long, I'll assist you and grant you my strength."
"That's okay, I should be alright," Miki tried to dismiss, no matter how tempting the offer was. The cat eyed her with immense sympathy, he wasn't sure how long this would go on, he could only hope that it would end soon.
Rushing through, Akira swerved his motorbike in and out of the commotion. He and Miko could only watch as the chaos spewed around them. Car crashes, along with mangled human-demonic crossed bodies littered the area, and people ran about in a panic. Both Miko and Akira had to refrain from both their moral and instinctual urges to fight back, no matter what they did at this moment, they couldn't save all these people. Akira was forced to limit his targets to a select few, he knew he needed to find his parents and make it to the Makiumra's. If he could just get them all in one location, it would make it much simpler for him to protect them all.
Little did Akira know similar thoughts were racking Miko's brain as well. She clung to the bike, but her sights lay elsewhere. The devillady knew when they were speeding past her apartment complex, she couldn't stay any longer. With a heavy sigh she tucked and rolled off the back of the motorcycle, catching Akira's attention. With a harsh screech and the thick scent of burning rubber filling his nose, the devilman was able to stop the bike sideways to better see her. He could see she was alright, not that he expected less from a devilman.
"Miko! What are you doing!?" he questioned.
She looked up at him, still in her crouched position and a look of seriousness draped her features.
"I need to save the gang! I'll meet you at the Makiumra's!''
She didn't wait for his reply as she shot off the highway and up the hill to the apartments. Akira wouldn't bother to stop her; he could with her heightened speed she was already further gone than he was going to bother with. He knew it was best for her to save them and he knew she could handle it. With that, he revved the vehicle once more and with full engine power drove down the highway to the hospital.
It took only a few minutes to get there, but just as he had guessed the hospital was running wild, with ambulances going in and out. He swerved his motorbike through all the people and was able to park it just outside the building. Not holding a second longer, he rushed right inside only to find a new wave of ruckus. It appeared like something out of a horror film; medical personnel were fleeing frantically and hurrying to evacuate patients. There were some doctors that stayed and continued to treat people, but the bodies that were coming in were far beyond help, far too dangerous.
Akira pushed himself through anyway, feeling the massive push back from the other people around him. He could sense all the other demons around; his blood was spiking, and his heart was pulsing. He knew his parents would still be there, and he knew he had to find them.
He was coming to the stairwell; with his heightened agility he was able to scale the stories in merely seconds. On the next floor, he came to a sight that was nearly identical to the first. The people were in a mob state, doing anything to survive as they fell over themselves to the stairs. With great effort not to stand out, Akira was able to use his dexterity to practically climb over the hoard of people.
He could sense the demon's presence growing stronger, growing closer. He could feel the sweat bead at his brow, he had to find his parents, there was almost no time. Finally, broken away from the group of frantic people he could move more freely but not without more trials. Ahead of him, he could see what looked like a doctor. He wasn't one Akira recognized, but he could see him gripping his head as if it were about to split open. He was doubling over and screaming at the top of his lungs. The hairs on the back of the devilman's neck stood up as he swallowed hard. The demon's attack was now reaching here, the man was changing.
The rest of the doctor's colleague's yelled out his name in both fright and confusion. Some of them ran while others foolishly stuck close by. Akira knew he needed to save his parents, but he also knew these people would be right in the way of danger. In a split-second Akira thoughtlessly threw himself between the people and this forming demon.
He heard the gasps on the people behind him, and before him, he could see the man's body had already split apart into something awful. Akira knew the man was long gone, and that he and the demon would most likely die soon, but not immediately. He held the monstrosity back by it's neck, keeping extra vigilant to make sure he himself did not change in the open.
The demonic mix put up a fight. Nothing Akira couldn't handle, but it would have been much simpler if he too was in his devil form. It cut at his clothes and arms but the devilman could not be budged. He didn't turn around and through grit teeth and heavy breaths, he instructed those behind him.
"Go, all of you go now!" he grunted.
There was no resistance, the remaining people behind him had fled away like all the rest. It was a breath of fresh air as he glared into the creature's eyes with all the strength he had been forced to hide, he threw the being back. It went crashing into the wall with a scream and stayed there. It didn't have anything left in it; it had died much like the other victims of this demonic fate. Akira felt as though there was an anchor plunged into his gut. Despite knowing better he stalled there, his gaze locked to the deformed corpse. He couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt. Here he was living as a hybrid, but he had managed to survive. His feelings didn't make sense to him, there was nothing he could do about it, and yet this is where he found himself.
The devilman shook his head squeezing his eyes shut. He made himself keep going, there was no point sitting there and lingering on something he could not change, he had to save his parents. Now, much deeper into the hospital with fewer people it was easier for Akira to move as fast as he could. Dipping in and out of hallways and rooms trying to find a trace of either his parents. Even a scent was hard to catch in the building with how sterilized it was.
"Mom! Dad!" he yelled. "Mom! Dad! Where are you!" the halls echoed. The few people still running around lifted his hopes only to drop them once again upon further inspection.
He was beginning to worry he'd never find his parents, that was until one person, in particular, came hurrying around the corner. Finally a familiar face, Akira knew it, there was no mistaking it, it was his father, and he wasn't alone. He was accompanying a patient who appeared in much worse condition, hobbling and pale. It was in his father's nature to be so helpful to others even in times like this.
Akira's feet moved like lighting meeting at his dad's side. Both men jumped at his quickness, but it didn't take long for the father to recognize his son.
His voice was startled but relieved, "Akira? What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here! Something's wrong!"
"I know, I know, I came to find you and mom. Where's mom?" he desperately questioned.
"Last I knew she was working in just the next wing over. She was making sure all the patients had been properly evacuated. You shouldn't be here son it's dangerous, here help him out, he's under heavy sedatives, and I'll go get your mother-"
"No, I need to find her. Take him out, I'll meet you once you reach the front!" the teen's mind was flooring. He was so set in his tasks that when he felt a hand pulling him back, he was genuinely surprised. His head whirled around to see his father's face. It was the first time he really assessed every wrinkle and every muscle he displayed. Every one of them screamed with fear.
"Son, no, this isn't safe…" his father's voice was strangely gentle. Akira was silenced by the moment, by the interaction and the weight of his words. When the devilman did regain his voice, it was just as serious and calm.
"I'll be okay dad, I promise… I'll make sure we're all okay."
The devilman didn't stay, he couldn't stay, he ran the other way, leaving behind his father. He had to get back to his task, his mission, if he didn't, they surely would all be doomed. Even still, doing so hurt him, somewhere deep in his heart, the love and worry of his father had touched him.
Every harsh and impactful stride he took he heard ring in his ears and off the empty hospital walls. His eyes read every sign he had passed under until he knew he had to be in the wing his father had been talking about. Luckily for him, she stuck out like a sore thumb in the practically vacant premises.
"Mom!" Akira called out thankfully.
Her head popped upwards to view him and rightfully looked puzzled to see him.
"Akira? Akira what are you doing here!?" she began to run towards him.
They met in the middle together, her first instinct was to grab ahold of her son and bring him into a tight hug. Akira appreciated it and would have allowed it to continue for longer, but he didn't want to leave his father exposed any longer either.
Separating from her embrace, Akira took her by her arm, "Mom we need to go, we need to meet with dad, he's waiting for us!"
He guided his mother along, upping their speed with every step he took. She still seemed confused about the predicament they were in but didn't try to stop them.
"Akira, I've been so worried about you and your father. All these people started coming in and they were turning into monsters. In my whole medical career, I've never seen anything like it!" she sputtered in an anxious voice.
The devilman nodded to her, half-listening but understanding her concerns. They made it down the stairs, but still had to pass through the lower level to the exit. He had told his dad to meet them there but once they arrived, he saw no trace of him or the man he had been assisting. What really began to worry the devilman though, was in the distance he could hear some sort of disturbance. He dragged his mom along behind him with every harrowing thought racking his brain. When at last they came around the last corner his mother gasped, clutching her hand over her mouth, and Akira's heart sank.
The devillady was blasting by, practically on all fours, tearing through every nook and cranny of her apartment complex. It was like being in a war zone with how many fallen bodies she passed by and the screams assaulting her ears. The scent of death was thick in the air, all of it together brought back terrible memories. Recollections she choked back just to keep going. Much to her relief, Miko caught something in her line of sight that extinguished these apprehensions and brought a glow to her face.
Like specs in the distance, she could see Kukun and the rest of the gang running for their lives in the direction of his apartment. Miko knew they were rushing to shelter, but that one wouldn't be good enough. She hurried to reach them in time, but just as she imagined in her worst nightmares a demon had gotten to them. She could see one of the group had fallen and was now convulsing on the ground. It wasn't her's, as much as she hated to think of it that way. Kukun was still safe, it appeared the tallest of the members had gotten caught by a demon, and he would perish from it soon enough.
As she got closer to them, she could tell they were freaking out seeing their friend in such a state. His body was practically ripping apart, his flesh practically turning to goo from the acidity of this particular devil. Miko couldn't deny it, it was a gruesome death, and his screams said it all.
The worst part of it, he himself was a threat until he died. He could easily hurt the others in his panic, and thus Miko knew what she had to do.
"Yo man, what's going on!" Wamu yelled as he did all he could to put the rest of his gang behind him. Kukun stood by close to him, all the boys watched in horror.
"I don't know! I don't know! Quick my house is just up the stairs!" Kukun called over as he began to pull Wamu with him by the collar. Unfortunately, their just turned friend wasn't about to be left alone, he was scared and couldn't control himself. He lunged after them grabbing ahold of Gabi's leg. The young man screamed out and kicked at the hoard of hellish flesh, practically begging him to save it.
Wamu was right by his side trying to bash it away with his fists and Kukun joined in. Hie lingered behind as if he were looking for some kind of weapon or new solution. All the gang was thrown into a state of mayhem as they desperately tried to stay alive, but that goal seemed to be fleeting. The demonic amalgamation in its final emotions could not think and only swiped at its own friends. Both Kukun and Wamu suffered cuts to their arms, and Gabi's leg was becoming more and more purple by the second. It seemed all of them were doomed until suddenly, for whatever reason, the demonic merger had been forced back.
All the members of the gang had paused for a moment, their brains struggling to process what they were witnessing ahead of them. The monstrous being roared as it was being hauled back by the leg by a young girl, and one they recognized.
"Miki!" Kukun yelled out. On instinct, he jumped up seeing her. She couldn't say much, her teeth were held firmly in place as she utilized every muscle in her body to yank the offender off the others.
Kukun ran around the side of the beast to meet Miko from behind.
"No, Kukun stay back!" she instructed. He ignored her plea and jumped in to try and help her as best he could.
"What are you doing here? How are you doing this!?" he begged for answers. She didn't want to respond to him, she could feel the mixed creature starting to give out, she knew it was only a matter of time before it would die. However, it seemed it wouldn't go out without one more good lick. Its long neck flipped around and Miko could see the last-minute decision it made, how its eyes locked to Kukun. It snapped down like a viper, it was so quick Kukun didn't even see it, but the devillady did. Just as its head came down so did Miko's elbow. With all the weight in her body, she slammed her arm down right on the bones of its neck, snapping it in half. It's already limited lifespan had ended there.
Kukun's jaw had practically become unhinged and while his eyes were covered by his golden shades it was evident his eyes were like saucers.
"W-wh, h-how, I-I," he stuttered. His brain felt as though it had been chucked down a flight of stairs and it wasn't stopping anytime soon. Miko didn't have time to answer his questions then, she took his wrist and started to hurry him along with her. She waved her arm for the rest of the gang to follow. The rest were greatly stirred but nothing as bad as Kukun who had first witnessed the anomaly.
"I'll explain later I promise. There's crazier things than that, but right now we have to go!" was the only solace she had time to give. Miko shot off knowing the others were right on her tail. She felt comforted in the fact she was there for them all. She knew the Makiumra's house wouldn't be much further, and there she knew they would be safe.
Akira's soul was caught knotted up in his chest as he felt a beastly rage ignite around it. His eyes were full of nothing but fear and hate as his teeth clenched into fangs. His mother squeezed his arm tightly and gasped as she cupped her mouth. The sight they beheld was sickening. A demon held Akira's father in its claws. The man couldn't even scream he was in such a state of shock. This demon was huge and unlike the rest. It had clicked with Akira then; this demon had merged with the patient his father was helping, that patient had been heavily sedated, it was the perfect conditions for a true demonic possession.
"Reijiro!" his mother at last yelped. Akira held her back protectively. The father was nearly like stone with how frightened and pale he was, being caught in the clutches of a hulking devilish saber tooth cat. It stood on its hind legs and was endowed with what looked like a thousand tails. Even still with how reasonably worried he was Reijiro called out to his family.
"R-run! Run, go away, s-save yourselves!" the shaking in his voice was clear.
Suddenly the demon began to cackle, staring down at Akira as if he were a meager grub.
"Oh, Devilman, at last I am granted the opportunity to fight you," he hummed humorously. "You may not know me anymore, but I surely know you, and I knew you before too. Oh, what a great devil you were Amon, but what is it they say? Oh yeah, every hero falls someday…"
Akira's head tilted down further, his brow shadowing his already angered face. He didn't want to play this game, he had half a mind to fly up and cut that devil to shreds in that very moment, but with his mother clinging to him, he refrained.
The demon grumbled with a large smirk pulling on his lip, "Come on Amon, why don't you and I have one more go at it. One more honorable fight? You know I looked up to you, I was ecstatic to take your place as the beastia commander after you had been promoted. Too bad that didn't work out too well for you huh? Always trying to save everybody, and no matter what name you go by, it just never works hmm?" the devil gestured to his father cowering in his grasp.
This enticed Akira to step forward, that particular statement practically made his body change out of fury alone. It took an enormous amount of self-control not to take the easy route, the satisfying shift to his demonic side. He could see in his mother and father's eyes though, that absolute petrified panic that came off them was overwhelming.
"You put him down right now or I swear I'll-"
"You'll what? Make another fool of yourself. Yes, go ahead fight me, all I could ever want is to battle the great devil himself. Go on, make my century, show your loved ones the monster that lives inside you boy, show them the monster you really are!" he barked.
Akira's muscles were convulsions under his skin. How badly he wanted to tear this familiar stranger apart limb from limb, but oh how he dreaded his parent's disappointment.
"Akira, we have to do something!" his mother began to cry in her hysteria.
"Go! I love you both, save yourselves!" his father continued to wail as his organs were slowly crushed in the beast's clutches.
"Come now, boy! Make your decision. You of all beings now we don't have forever," his voice hissed.
The devilman could feel his claws beginning to form and puncture the inside of his straining palms. When the giant demon started to squeeze harder on the man in his hand, on Akira's father, and he could hear his father's breath begin to draw and whimper, he snapped.
Like a bullet train, Akira lunged at the creature, his body growing and changing as he did so. Quicker than a blink he forced the devil back, now being fully changed and wrathful. He heard his father drop to the floor but knew he was still alive thankfully, and his mother had come to his side right after.
There was a frenzy tearing through Akira's mind. Everything he had fought to conceal was now on full display, but he no longer had the patients to care, at least not then.
It felt so rewarding, so freeing, as he felt this vile demon's blood run down his large predatory claws. He heard him roar out in pain and felt him retaliate, but it wouldn't stop him, nothing would.
The large cat laughed, "Yes! Finally, the battle I have always dreamed of! Tell me, Amon, what is it like, stooping down to this level? Masquerading as some human child? You'd do anything to hide the shame of your greatest failure. And now you will fail one last time, to me, General Atrocious!"
Akira growled, "I'm no demon! And I will never die to a demon like you!"
His enemy simpered, "And you're in denial too..."
The general suddenly brought up his elbow to break away from the devilman. Utilizing the new gap of space, he opened his jaws and bit down with his huge fangs into his rival's shoulder, just missing his neck. Akira howled in pain but the adrenaline shooting through his body dismissed any hindrance. He grabbed the demon by the back of the neck and yanked him away. Still being locked into his hold the devilman plunged his fist into the demon's torso. The general screamed and yelped, as Devilman ripping him apart from the inside.
Nothing could withstand such a brutalizing and the general couldn't either. Akira watched as life slowly left him. Strangely a single tail of his, amongst many, detached itself from him and fell to the floor. Akira didn't pay mind to it though, instead, he could have scoffed at how pathetic such a general was as he flopped his limp corpse to the ground.
His brain was still whirling and when he looked over his shoulder an unignorable icy feeling collected in his veins. All that he had forgotten and all he fretted over now faced him, the faces of his terrified parents. They clung to one another in their fright. Akira's head slowly shook and steadily he tried to reach out to them, to comfort them. However, their expressions changed once more and somehow became even more fearful.
Confused, the appendages on Akira's head lifted and he sensed something rising. Without a hitch, he spun around to view what it was, and what he saw was worse than what he could have imagined.
The dead general stood once again, alive as day. His arms were crossed over his chest and a smug expression claimed his features.
"This isn't over Amon. You forget me. Cats have nine lives, and I have many more than that to spare…"