Humming like a low rumble across the entirety of the planet, Jenny picked up on a disturbing frequency. Her eyes flashed open as a look of fright overcame her expression. Gabriel noticed almost instantly.
"Jenny what is it?" he asked hurriedly.
Her motionless face held tightly for a few solid seconds. She seemed to still be mulling over the information herself as if she could barely believe it.
"Zennon is dead…" she said flatly.
"Zennon…?" He pondered. "You mean the demon king?"
"Yes, the devils are scared now. They're going to be tracking down Lord Satan, same as us," she informed.
Gabriel understood but a part of him wished he was not aware of such gruesome news. Everything was moving far too fast now, he feared he'd never be able to complete the task he had set himself. With a slight gulp, he masks those concerns and faced forward.
"Well then, we shall be sure to meet up with him before they do, I can sense he isn't far now."
That statement proved to be truer than Gabriel had originally intended. It seemed the moment he finished his sentence his brother's force had become extremely noticeable. The wing's adorning his head pivoted slightly as he searched for his exact location. Jenny was aware of it too as they both waited with bated breath, knowing he would be arriving soon.
Just as they had guessed a bright flicker of light appeared and disappeared in the blink of an eye, and in its place was the somber figure of Ryo.
"Brother!" Gabriel popped up eagerly. "You're back, I'm so glad, things have been escalating faster than you could imagine. Where have you been? What have you been doing?"
Ryo had barely budged from his initial position as he watched his brother speak distantly. He seemed more interested in evaluating his movements rather than what he was actually saying.
"Gabriel, you're halo…" the elder brother at last spoke. "You're fallen…"
His voice was monotone but hiding just beneath the surface a genuine tone of despair existed.
Gabriel appeared shaken being reminded of such a fresh wound. A twinge of shame slithered through his chest, even if he believed he should feel no shame at all.
"W-well, yes, but that's one of our least concerns at the moment. Michael's returned, and he isn't too happy with either of us. We have to do something, and quickly before he finds us and makes us face up to Father," Gabriel began speaking faster as his mind rushed for any possible solutions.
Ryo on the other hand only seemed to become even more lethargic.
"This is all my fault…"
Gabriel's head snapped up listening to his brother's murmurings.
"Luc- I mean, brother, you didn't intend for any of this to happen. It'll-It'll be alright," The light-hearted angel didn't sound too convinced in his own assurances.
"It's still all my fault," Ryo slowly began to turn away. "You don't deserve the same fate as I do Gabriel, not you. I promise I'll set this all right, I have to, for everyone I've ever wronged."
The angel appeared beaten over just relaying his plans. Something was very much off about him, leaving Gabriel with an uneasiness that rooted itself to his core.
"Ryo? Are you alright? What were you out doing for so long?" the brother asked worriedly.
The being in question only turned his face halfway, seeming to smirk amusingly.
"It's nothing Gabriel, I just know I have to face up to everyone now, I can no longer run from it. It's all finally caught up to me. I'm simply just dreading my first stop," he shook his head with a self-deprecating grin.
"What is it you have to do?" the younger angel asked.
Ryo kept the mildly bemused look on his face as his relaxed eyes stayed set on his brother, "Don't worry yourself about it. I have something much more important for you both to help me with."
At last, the infamous angel moved his sights to his assistant. He looked at her with a delicate gentleness, as if even the sight of her brought out a strange sense of nostalgia and comfort to him.
"Jenny, I need you and Gabriel to round up the demons. They're scared and searching for guidance; I don't want them hurting anymore people or getting themselves killed while I'm gone. It'll be a while before I'm finished with what I need to do, but in that time, I'm hoping you both can keep them at bay for the time being," Ryo explained.
His brother's brow floated up as his jaw only sunk lower, "You want me to handle the demons? B-but brother, they hate me, I've been slaughtering their kind for centuries they won't listen to a thing I say!"
"You must recall Gabriel, I once hunted demons myself. As a matter of fact, I was praised by our own Father that I was the best hunter in his arsenal, and yet with some convincing, those same devils obeyed me just fine. They came to worship me in fact."
Gabriel stared down, his face showed a mix of deep thought and a child-like pout, "Yeah, but do they anymore?"
"They'll listen when their desperate, and right now I'd say they'll be all ears," Ryo calmly reassured. "Just tell them you come with my blessing and Jenny will help you too. She knows how the demons like to do their business."
A look of comradery was created between the both of them proceeded by a respectful nod.
"I will see to it, master," the demoness bowed.
Ryo paused for a moment to quietly admire the psychic for all her efforts. It brought a glow to his face that had not been noticeable for some time.
"I know you will, you always do. I couldn't be more grateful for you Jenny," he stopped and glanced up. "I couldn't be more grateful to both of you. I only hope I can ever make it up to either of you."
A weighty silence came over them, allowing the touching sentiment to encapsulate the trio. The demoness's features were much softer, unusual for her more militant ways around her master. Gabriel appeared moved yet somehow horrified. It was so strange, all these new feelings he had. He had no idea what to think of them or even how to handle such intense emotions. Only weeks before he rarely felt anything at all, now it seemed he might burst at any moment with all that scrambled through his chest.
He gulped, feeling a strange warmth well at the back of his eyes. He wasn't sure what it was, but either way, he never allowed the feeling to climax as he choked it back down, feeling the warmth slowly dissipate.
After several seconds, Gabriel tipped his head to his brother, without ever leaving eye contact.
"I'll do my best, brother."
Ryo gestured his head to them, before beginning to fly in the opposite direction.
"I promise I'll be back soon, farewell," was the last he said before opening a portal and flying through it. The wind seemed to follow him for a time dragging Gabriel's golden locks along with it. He stared at the open sky space where Ryo had left for a time before finally, he sighed, knowing he could not put off his duty any longer.
He and Jenny met one another's eyes and silently affirmed their intentions.
"Follow me," was all Jenny needed to say as she darted off with the anxious angel at her back.
Dashing over the Earth's skies Ryo scanned vast territories in search of a singular individual. He knew where this person normally stayed but the cities were now almost completely evacuated. It would be much more difficult especially now knowing the devilmen, and any humans left would be much more reclusive. However, Ryo had his ways, and his senses were heightened to the most acute degree. He would find her, her would find her as his very existence depended on it.
In the dim lighting, a pair of young green eyes glanced around anxiously. The smell in the air was stale and thick enough she could practically feel it on her skin. Miki clutched tightly to the bull devilman she had flown in on, and he in turn listened closely to her familiar's instructions.
"Come this way, the rest of the humans are hidden within the catacombs," Tako spoke with an upbeat cheer.
Miki dismounted her demonic companion allowing him to take on his human appearance as they all three descended further into the darkness. If not for the light of Tako's tail the witch wouldn't have been able to even see the hand in front of her face. In the blackness, the minutes tended to feel like hours, she could only hope that soon they would reach the others, granting her at least partial relief.
After what felt like far too long, the mumbling of voices rose to her ears, they were getting close. She could feel a faint giddiness reignite within her spirit, as her feet began to move that much quicker.
The hushed voices only became ever more present in the trio's ears, encouraging them to hurry. When at last Miki found the light of something that was not Tako's tail she rushed to it, knowing it was the room where the voices of her family emitted.
She turned the corner with a large and hopeful smile on her face, and the scene she found, for the most part, was worthy of it. The room they had accompanied was huge. It reminded the girl of some kind of huge ballroom that had been emptied out, just from its size alone. For how old it was she could tell this hidden passage was once meant to house the wealthy. Beneath layers of dust and cobwebs was a delicacy only known to those with the privilege of untold riches. It was a sort of ancient temple and within it, countless devilmen settled, as did a few selected humans. Miki particularly took to those occupants, shuffling through them hoping to find her family. It seemed Koda had the same idea, skimming the human clusters for his beloved.
It wasn't long before they found their group, they sprinted towards them, colliding in a relieving embrace. Koda held tightly to Junichi who had made it out unscathed, much to his thankfulness. Miki as well was simply glad her family was alight, at least for the most part. Noel had a bad encounter leaving him with a broken arm, but nothing major besides that.
"Oh, Miki thank goodness you're alright," the father hugged his daughter.
"Thanks, but I wish you were better too," she meekly confessed as she gestured to his hurt arm. He simply waved it off allowing her to see only his appreciation.
"It's okay dear, it's really not that bad. I'd break it again if it meant you all would still come out alright," he smiled.
"Yes, dear we were all so worried," her mother added. She leaned in with Taro in her arms as she squeezed her family lovingly. Miki succumbed to her family's warms, never being so grateful to have something so simple yet so important that many others had sadly lost.
"Well, I wasn't worried. I knew Akira and her would make it out!" Taro piped up wearing a grandiose smirk. "So where is Akira, was he right behind you guys?"
After the question was asked it seemed all the devilmen's eyes fell on the girl for her answer. It was a heavy experience, especially that of his parents, whose hearts still yearned for the assurance of their son.
"Yeah, Miki how's Akira?" Miko questioned as she and Kukun approached hand in hand with curious expressions.
The witch's head drooped as she caught sight with Tako. He gifted her the little bit of courage she needed to speak, but not enough to hide her own concerns.
"Well, I can't say I know. Last I saw him he was rushing off to fight the demon king himself. We haven't heard from him since…"
Her hand covered her mouth as she muffled any unwanted sniffles that might leak through. The newfound knowledge brought a unanimous hush to the crowd as a sense of unease crept through everyone. Miki could feel it, she didn't want to make others feel the same way she had, it wasn't right, it wasn't what Akira would have wanted. With a gulp and a breath, she removed her hand from her face to unveil a small smile.
"But I'm sure he'll be just fine. Akira's strong, there's no way he'd let any of us down without a good fight. We just need to believe in him and believe in each other."
She finished to a silent audience. A burning tingle engulfed her from the inside as she sat back and fought for it not to show through. Luckily for her, a familiar-looking person tucked away in the crowd, redirected the attention to himself.
The middle-aged wheelchair-bound man soon stood up from his seat much to Miki's initial surprise, and more shocking than that his body morphed along with him. He had a devilish hide beneath his skin that he now wore without shame.
"She's right, we can't just sit here and mope! We're devilmen, we'll never let those demons get away with whatever they want!" he hollered triumphantly.
His energy created a domino effect throughout the army and even to the civilians. It brought all their spirits up, Wamu and his gang even started to cheer amongst the devilmen's roars.
The rise of their voices in turn rose the girl's woes as she became just as invigorated as them. She put on a determined face and lowered her brow. Standing up she gestured for Tako to follow and as she passed by Miko she made eye contact with her.
"Miko, I need to locate Akira's whereabouts, will you keep an eye on everyone for me?" Miki whispered.
The devil lady paused as she considered the preposition, "Yeah I can do that, but where are you going to go, and how are you going to get there?"
A simper curled up the witch's lip, "I'm not physically going anywhere."
Miko looked at her with a puzzled expression. Miki only grinned back as she continued to walk on.
"Thanks again Miko, I won't be long," were her parting words.
Stepping into a side room, Miki found the place she had been looking for. It may have been damp and smelled like mildew, but it would suit her needs. The area was quieter and away from others allowing the witch a place to focus her energy. She sat on a toppled stone pillar and invited Tako to sit on her lap.
"What is it you wish to do?" the familiar asked diligently.
"I'm going to seek out Akira. I have to make sure he's okay, he could need our help," she informed.
Tako nodded in agreement as he joined her in meditation. The flow of energy almost immediately made itself present. It was like being caught in a burst of gales, it took a moment to find her standing in it, but once she did, she took control of it, and directed it to her will.
She let her spirit ride the energy's course, it was a wild experience perhaps even more so than flying with a devilman. Her body stayed still but her consciousness ascended above her and moved as free as the wind. She followed the disorienting feeling; she followed it allowing her heart to guide her. Doing this she could sense Akira and in almost no time she could see him clearly within her mind's eye. He was unconscious but luckily, he didn't seem too beat up beyond that.
Miki so badly wanted to reach out and touch him, to let him know she was there, but in truth, she was not there, not there completely. Her phantom attempted to caress him and lowered her face close to his. Leaving a sweet kiss on his forehead, she whispered to him.
"Akira, wake up, we need you, Akira…"
The devilman's eyes popped open, his slumber had been put to a stop as he reassessed his surroundings. He was still on that rocky coast, and not too far away was the dead body of the demon king. Relief washed over him like a wave but simultaneously the fact that he did not know exactly what took place bothered him. He tried searching back in his memories, it was all very foggy and from this, he assumed that Amon must have been involved.
Suddenly Akira recalled the events that transpired just before he had slipped into unconsciousness. He could hear Zennon's taunts ring in his ears. The words themselves did him no harm, but with the circumstances, he couldn't help but be disturbed.
He could not control Amon, not this time, and Zennon had predicted it. Could it possibly be true, was he not who he believed himself to be for this whole time? The commander stared down at his hands, eyeing them heedfully. The longer he looked the more it felt they were not actually his, they existed and acted separately from himself. He swiftly balled them into fists wanting to throw away the inclination.
No, he wouldn't accept this possibility, it was ridiculous he would ever entertain such a thought. Akira came to his feet with a fire at his core. He needed to get home, back to his army, back to the ones he loved, the ones he protected. In a quick whoosh, his wings opened, and his body took on its demonic shape.
Lifting into the air he left those uneasy feelings behind. Regardless of who was truly in control or not, he knew he would do whatever it takes to defend his own. He didn't care what Amon had in mind or what he might be concealing from him, all he knew was that he would never be silenced when it came to the ones he cared most deeply about. Even if that meant battling the fiercest demon of them all himself.