"So testosterone boys and harlequin girls,
Will you dance to this beat,
And hold a lover close?"

-Panic! at the Disco

Foreword

There will be adult themes towards the middle of this chapter—it's a fairly short excerpt, but somewhat graphic, so please be aware and only proceed at your own discretion.
. . .

Davina entered her apartment in a daze, feeling almost short of breath. Her entire body tingled, and she felt hot and cold all at once. She exhaled loudly, pressing her back against the solid wood of the door's surface as she attempted to collect herself.

"H-holy shit," she said out loud, hardly recognizing the sound of her own voice. "Did that…really just happen?"

As intensive as her imagination could be at times, there was no denying that what had just occurred had taken place in stark reality. She could still hear the blood pumping at a quickened pace in her ears, feel the heat that scalded her cheeks, experience the deep ache that throbbed within her core. Davina almost felt as if she were under the influence in a sense, despite her utter lack of experience in such a thing. The elation she felt was exceptionally intense—she could easily recall the thrill she had experienced when similar things had occurred during her previous relationships, but this was undeniably far more potent.

Davina hadn't wanted it to stop, even though she knew it was ultimately in her best interest to do so. She was not one to rush into these kinds of things—she wanted to prolong the journey, to enjoy every minute. Shuichi seemed to share this desire, as evidenced by his display of restraint. Mostly, she was grateful for his sensibility and self control, but there was a tiny part of her, that minute bit driven solely by physical lust, that was disappointed by his discipline. Not that she would ever admit such a thing—if she allowed their connection to build and exercised patience, the end result would prove much more pleasurable. She only hoped she had the mental fortitude to hold back and not give into her baser urges.

Riding the high of their encounter, Davina was far too wired to even consider sleep. Instead, she took a long, hot shower, feeling far calmer and refreshed once she was done. After getting dressed, she unpacked the panda figure Shuichi had won for her at the festival and found it a suitable home on her desk. A smile crept across her lips as she eyed the vinyl toy, replaying that moment in her head. The thought to text her best friend and fill her in on all the sordid details of her evening suddenly popped into her head, so she did just that, walking over to settle on the couch. Much to her surprise, within less than a minute of sending the message, her phone began to ring, Selina's name flashing across the call screen. She quickly answered the call, placing the phone against her ear quickly.

"Soooooo, gimme the deets," Selina said immediately, excitement clear in her voice. Davina couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. Of course, Selina was aware of Shuichi's existence, but in truth, Davina had kept things vague, having been unsure of what to expect and not wanting to get her hopes up too high.

"We kissed," she offered, trying to keep the smile from forming on her face and failing miserably. "Well, maybe vigorously made out is a bit more accurate…"

"Vigorously making out, huh? Just how vigorous are we talking here?" Her tone was thick with curiosity and amused all in the same instance.

"Like, back-pressed-against-the-door-pinned-in-place kind of vigorous."

A low whistle of appreciation echoed on the other side of the line. "Sounds hot."

"Scalding. He's taking me on our first date this Tuesday."

"Making out before the first date? I think you might have gotten something out of order there."

Davina chuckled, shaking her head.

"It wasn't exactly planned, Sel. More like a…heat of the moment kind of thing."

"Where you able to grab a pic of this dude yet? I need a visual of this magical unicorn who managed to side-step your I'm-not-dealing-with-men plan until after graduation."

"Not yet, but I'll send one when I do. He's not like any guy I've ever met before."

"Yeah, yeah. You're still riding your vigorous-make-out high," she retorted dryly, but her words were cheeky rather than condescending. "He's gotta be something special for you to be willing to just dive in like that."

"It's not like I was looking for someone."

"Shit happens—at least its good shit. I'm happy for you, Davi. I hope this works out."

"Fingers crossed. He's a damn good kisser."

Selina's laughter rang out through the receiver, and Davina could picture her shaking her head at this comment. When it came to dating, Selina was a pro—she was very upfront and took no bullshit. In their younger years, she had been far more promiscuous of the pair, and her salacious activities had made for many a good sleep-over story. Davina had always quietly envied her confidence, all the while admiring her for living life the way she wanted to. Despite their differences in this department, Selina never pushed her to branch out of her comfort zone or made fun of her for her more decidedly prudish approach to the opposite sex. She had cheered her on when she taken the plunge into relationships, and had comforted her when they had failed. She was family without sharing blood, and talking to her in a manner reminiscent of times past made Davina miss her all the more.

"Glad to hear you're enjoying yourself over there. I miss the hell out of you, Davi," she offered, sudden sadness creeping into her voice in light of that statement. "Things have pretty much sucked over here since you moved."

"I miss you too, Sel. I'm hoping to come back to visit over winter break, just got to get the approval from the parental units first."

"You better come back, and if you do, I'm gonna live at your house while you're home. You won't be able to shake me."

Davina laughed at this comment, feeling her heart swell with affection.

"You know that won't be a problem. I wouldn't want it any other way."

"Damn right. Well, I gotta go. Dad's in town, and he's taking me out for lunch."

"Tell him hi for me, and have fun."

"I will. Gonna grab some sushi at our favorite place, so I'll be thinking of you. Love ya, Dav."

"Love you, too. Talk to you later."

The phone beeped as the line fell silent, and Davina placed her phone down upon the coffee table after catching a glimpse of the time. It was just after ten, and still she wasn't the slightest bit tired. After some mental consideration, she decided to kill time by adding a new entry to her sketchbook, feeling a sudden creative urge. Making a quick cup of chai tea, she perched at her desk and freed her needed supplies from their homes before diving right in. She began to sketch, shaping the image into one that mirrored the one that existed in her mind's eye. As the image begin to form, she couldn't help but smile as she began to add further details, pleased at the result. It was Shuichi she drew, smiling up at her and holding the panda figure he had gifted her in his hands.

Davina exchanged her pencil for charcoal to add in proper shading, her eyes starting to grow tired as she worked. She took a moment to sip the last of her tea, which had gone cold, accidentally leaving a long black smudge across the length of her mint green mug. After a few minutes more, she knew it was time to call it a night. She left her desk as it was, planning to return to her work and complete it the next day. After washing her hands and brushing her teeth, Davina slipped into bed, sighing contently as she snuggled down beneath her blanket. Sleep came to claim her quickly, whisking her off into the arms of sweet oblivion.

. . .

Although the venture to his destination was a considerably short one, Shuichi managed to collect himself during the walk home. The lingering ache of want calmed to a dull throb, but it was far more manageable than it had been at its inception. His thoughts were engulfed in a literal whirlwind of varying emotions, with everything from excitement to concern clinging to his mind as his feet carried him onward.

It came as a surprise when he was greeted almost immediately by his mother upon entering, the tiredness of his body leading him to believe that it was far later than it actually was. Shiori was settled in her favorite rocking chair in the living room, reading a novel and enjoying a cup of tea. A wide smile lit up her entire face as Shuichi breached the door, as if she had been looking forward to seeing him.

"I was hoping you'd get home early," she offered, gesturing for him to join her by waving him into the room. "Did you have a good time with your friends?"

Shuichi accepted her invitation, making his way into the room and slowly lowering himself onto the couch. He fought back a wince at the discomfort that had settled between his legs, although he was relieved at how much it had dissipated.

"It was wonderful—went by far too quickly," he replied thoughtfully, recalling the mental image of Davina when they had been sitting in the square, the evening sun painting her like some sort of strange, ethereal figure. He caught himself before he smiled, focusing his attention onto his mother. "Did you enjoy your day, mother?"

"It was peaceful," she admitted with a small chuckle. "Kazuya closed down shop around five, so we had an early dinner—he went to bed about an hour ago. I hope he can find some more help to hire soon, he was absolutely exhausted. Kokoda is spending the night at a friend's house, so I've just been enjoying the quiet." She paused to place her book down upon the end table and take a small sip of her beverage. "I actually had a question for you about our weekly brunch tomorrow…"

"Which is?"

"I had a client request a short meeting tomorrow morning, so I was hoping you'd be willing to accompany me over to my office. We can go eat right after I'm done. Is that okay?"

"Of course, mother," he replied agreeably, despite being quietly disappointed with the realization that he wouldn't have the opportunity to sleep in a bit. But he couldn't refuse her request, knowing just how much she looked forward to their little outing each Sunday. If it meant making her happy, losing an extra hour or so of sleep was well worth the effort. "It's no problem at all."

His positive affirmation to her request obviously pleased her, and she fixed him with a contented smile.

"Wonderful. I'll wake you up in the morning and we can go from there."

Shuichi nodded, then turned to free the concealed parcel that contained the gift he had purchased for her from the festival from its confines. He handed it to her with a smile, amused by her curious stare. Shiori accepted the package, unwrapping it carefully, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of the porcelain rendition of the goddess Uzume.

"Oh, Shuichi, its lovely!" she gushed, a sudden break of emotion in her tone. He knew how much the holy icon symbolized to her, and was pleased at her heartfelt reaction to his present.

"I came across it at the fall festival in Hoshi Square and thought you might like it," he offered quietly, smiling warmly over at her.

"I love it, it's beautiful," she replied, rising to her feet while carefully holding the figure. "I have the perfect place for it. Just give me a second…" Shiori headed towards the anterior of the house, presumably to the bedroom she shared with her husband, leaving Shuichi to his own devices. He sighed deeply, the weight of the day weighing heavily on his eyelids.

His mother returned less than a minute later, smiling happily.

"I was just telling your stepfather how I wanted something to fill the empty space next to my azalea plant on the window shelf," she said as she slipped back into her chair. "Your present was just what I needed. Thank you, dear. That was so sweet of you to think of me."

"Always. I love you, mother, but I'm afraid I'm starting to fade. I'm going to take a quick shower and head to bed. I'll see you in the morning," he responded, slowly rising to his feet.

"I love you too, Shuichi. Sleep well."

Shuichi nodded, then took his leave of the living room, heading towards his bedroom. With Kokoda absent for the night, the hallway was almost dead quiet, devoid of the usual noises of his younger sibling playing videogames from within his room. As much as he loved his stepbrother, the silence was a delightful reprieve. He slipped into his room, withdrawing the pink rabbit Davina had gifted him from his bag, smirking with amusement as he eyed the vinyl toy. After a brief moment of consideration, he placed it in a vacant space upon his bookshelf, right beside a framed photo of him with his friends. The picture had been taken several years prior, not long after Yusuke's return from the Demon Realm following the completion of his ancestor's training. Hiei was absent from the photo, due to his desire to not return to the Mortal World, but the remainder of the group had all been more than eager to pose for the shot, sharing happy smiles in the frozen moment in time. It was a precious memory, one that he held dear, and it only seemed appropriate that Davina's present live alongside it. He hoped that there would be a new picture to frame in the near future, one that had her smiling face to grace its film. That would certainly be one worthy of the bookcase that sat just adjacent of his bed.

After grabbing some clean clothes, Shuichi ventured into the bathroom, jumping into the shower with vigor. The warm water came as a delightful reprieve, and while he finished bathing himself fairly quickly, he lingered, enjoying the comfortable solitude. Try as he did, Shuichi couldn't shake the lustful interlude with Davina from his mind—as spontaneous as such action had been, it had solidified a great deal of the tension steadily growing between them. He only hoped that there wouldn't be any awkwardness between them during their next encounter, in the event that Davina came to regret such impulsivity and allowed insecurity to overwhelm her mind. He could sense the potential for such a proclivity, but hoped he had provided her enough reassurance to avoid such a turn.

For a brief moment, Shuichi considered taking care of his more base urges while a resident of the shower, but decided against it—he had calmed down enough to make the desire to do so far less pressing, and fatigue was swiftly kicking in. With a sigh, he shut off the water and finished up in the bathroom, returning to the solitude of his bedroom and slipping into bed. The cool sheets greeted him, and he happily sunk into the mattress, tugging the comfort carefully over the length of his body. Within minutes, Shuichi was asleep, a willing captive of his exhaustion.

. . .

[WARNING: ADULT THEMES AHEAD. PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.]

A hard shudder raced down the length of his spine as he finally slipped inside of her, a deep growl escaping his lips at the resistant warmth as it invitingly enveloped all of him in one firm thrust. Davina cried out beneath him, her fingers digging hard into the curves of his shoulders as he lingered, giving her the chance to adjust to this new sensation. He leaned in to stifle her with a kiss, her lips eagerly locking with his own as her legs trembled against his waist. She began to wiggle her hips, silently asking for more, and he willingly obliged, moving slowly, with purpose. Sinking into her was pure heaven, and with each little push, he felt himself growing closer and closer to the edge. She returned his attention with vigor, arching her back and moving herself against him, her mouth still entangled with his own as they navigated their way through this new junction of carnal bliss.

His lips left hers, trailing down the curve of her throat, which she happily exposed for his purpose, nibbling and kissing the soft flesh before coming to the subtle arch where neck melded with shoulder. Without hesitation, he sunk his teeth firmly into the tender skin, his apparition instincts unable to be suppressed in light of their physical joining. This action was a display of dominance, one that even he, with his great mastery of the mortal affect, could not restrain. But rather than cause her pain, his hold on her only seemed to inspire pleasure, the heady moan that tore forth from her throat prompting him to quicken his pace. She willfully accepted the submission he was reaching for, surrendering herself fully to him in that very moment, and he could feel his inner self howl with satisfaction at this realization. Carefully, he relocated one of his hands, sliding it down the length of her belly, the pad of his thumb reaching the crown of her sex. Slowly, he began to rub, winding his appendage in tight, gentle circles, knowing full well that this minute extra endeavor would only serve to heighten her pleasure.

His efforts were soon rewarded, evidenced by a sudden gasping cry, her entire form shuddering as she grew even tighter around him. He kept the momentum, now thrusting into her like a man insane, her quivering legs squeezing him firmly as he felt the first waves of his incoming climax hit him with overwhelming force. A heated tingle bit into his groin, and he knew he was dancing at the edge, ready to fall into the bliss of completion…

[END OF ADULT CONTENT]

A heavy knock on his bedroom door shattered the delightful vision of the delectable dream Shuichi had been entertaining, his eyes slamming open at the uninvited interruption. His entire body internally groaned with protest, and he knew at once that he was in an extremely compromising state. In his dream-driven state, he had kicked aside the blanket, and there was no denying his state of potent arousal. He reached for the comforter in haste, managing to tug it over that obvious protrusion inspired by his vivid reverie, and only moments prior to his mother pushing open his bedroom door and sticking her head in through the small opening.

"Good morning, Shuichi," Shiori announced with a smile. He managed to school his face into one that looked as if he had only just come to rather than jolted awake.

"Morning, mother," he offered quietly, pushing himself up on his elbows in bed, and silently hoping that she wouldn't linger long.

"Go ahead and get dressed. We can leave shortly," she replied, then withdrew from his room, closing the door in her wake. A loud sigh escaped him, the relief at being alone once more washing over him in an instant. Of course, said respite was immediately followed by irritation, as that harsh ache from the night prior was back in full force, and he simply did not have the time to attend to it. Knowing there was little else to be done, Shuichi left his bed, venturing quickly into the bathroom. After washing his face and brushing his teeth, he had managed to calm himself down enough to get a handle on his body, although the effects still loitered somewhat. He swiftly dressed for the day ahead, slipping on a pair of loose fitting grey jeans and a long sleeved red sweater, knowing that the denim would hide the worst of the aftermath. Once he had finished the remainder of his preparations, he headed into the living room to meet his mother. Not five minutes later, they left home, climbing into her car and heading off to the city.

It was a short drive, and they arrived to Shiori's office nearly fifteen minutes prior to her meeting's commencement. Shuichi helped her carry a small box heavy with presentation materials into her office, placing it carefully upon her desk as an idea blossomed within his mind. Shiori's building wasn't far from the university, and centered almost immediately between the two destinations was a location that Shuichi had heard of in passing, but had yet to explore. It was called Art House, a clever combination of store, gallery, and refreshment, fairly well known throughout Osaka—he had an inkling that it was something Davina would thoroughly enjoy, especially now that he had learned about her affinity for art. Given that he had some time to kill, it couldn't hurt to scout it out and see what potential it had as an option for a future date.

"Mother, I'm going to go for a walk while you meet with your client," he announced, having decided on his current course of action. Shiori, who was in the middle of preparing her materials to be ready for her conference, nodded her accord to his declaration, telling him to be safe and that she would call him once the meeting had concluded. They exchanged goodbyes and Shuichi headed for the exit, curious to see what awaited him.

Having checked the address before venturing out blindly into the city, Shuichi headed in the direction of his destination, paying little attention to the people who walked alongside him. Now that he had some time to settle down, he was in a decent mood, looking forward to brunch with his mother. But as he continued his walk, Shuichi began to experience that all too familiar sensation that he was being watched. It certainly put a heavy damper on his temperament, immediately taking him from a place of comfortable ease to one of defensive concern.

Instinctively, he maintained his causal composure, all the while carefully monitoring his surroundings, searching for evidence to support his perception of danger. He found nothing plausible, but knew from many of his previous experiences that the lack of physical indication meant nothing—it would be foolish to allow such findings to lure him into a fall sense of security, so he remained alert as he pressed onward.

The impression that he was under watchful scrutiny only intensified as Shuichi continued with his journey—in vain, he searched for something concrete, a strange aura, a sudden flux in energy, anything that would assist him in pinpointing the direction that such inspection was hailing from. His stride came to a pause when he had to wait for the crosswalk to permit safe passage across a busy intersection—he took the opportunity to scan the horizon, and in doing so, was able to locate something that appeared out of place.

There was a man within the small crowd of fellow travelers that had joined the ranks during their mutual venture through the city streets—he appeared normal enough, dark hair, dark eyes, pale complexion. He would have easily blended in with the throng, save for one thing: he was wearing a bright pink raincoat over his business attire. The weather for that day was brisk but sunny, without any mention of a chance for rain in the morning news—in fact, upon taking a closer look, Shuichi noted that there wasn't a single cloud in the sky to speak of.

While the realization struck him as odd, Shuichi was still unsure if this unusually dressed man was the culprit in question. But after passing several more blocks, all of which the man failed to turn on, his suspicions began to intensify. When Shuichi turned the corner onto the avenue that hosted his objective, his strange companion followed, albeit with a fair amount of space left between them. Knowing that his destination lingered close, he decided to test the waters when he came upon a vacant bus bench about halfway down the storefront lined block. Shuichi quickly claimed a spot and withdrew his phone from his pocket, going through the motions of acting as if he were typing up a message. The man in the vividly colored raincoat approached slowly, his footsteps hesitant, as if he were unsure to proceed.

Shuichi waited patiently, poised to strike if necessary—much to his surprise, the man slowly lowered himself onto the bench, effectively claiming the seat next to Shuichi. For a brief moment, the two parties made eye contact—at such close proximity, his scent flooded Shuichi's sensitive olfactory senses. While the smell was almost entirely mortal, there was something present within that gamey aroma that was decidedly apparition. Shuichi knew without a shadow of a doubt that his intuition had indeed been correct—and judging by the scent, the demon in question was small, and not exceptionally powerful. A parasite demon, most likely, or perhaps a traveler demon, whose true form was similar to that of a mangy alley cat when they weren't piggybacking off of another sentient creature. Regardless, Shuichi's concern quickly grew lax, as he understood he was not under any sort of immediate threat.

"You know, when borrowing a human body, you tend to assimilate much easier with the correct form of dress," he offered dryly to his unanticipated companion, which prompted the man to sigh heavily in defeat.

"I like the color," he retorted in a strange, childish voice that didn't not match the form he was currently inhabiting. "These humans, they have clothes for everything! It's so…unnecessary!"

"Who are you, and why are you following me?" Shuichi immediately asked, dropping all manner of pleasantry from his tone. Despite having calmed down some, he still was unsure of his companion's motives, and that was enough to keep him alert.

"My name is Yorisou, I am a courier—I come forth from Demon World, bearing a message from our master, King Hiei," the man offered quickly, holding his hands up in a gesture of surrender to placate any defensive urges Shuichi might have been entertaining. "But first, he said to tell you that 'rock beats scissors, but it's moronic that paper beats rock'—he said you'd know what that means, and that you'd know I was telling the truth because of it…"

His words fell unexpectedly upon Shuichi's ears—it had been quite some time since he had last spoken with his old friend. In fact, their last conversation had occurred during the conclusion of the second Makai Tournament, shortly after Hiei's coronation. The statement he had bestowed upon his messenger to share was a reference back to the time Shuichi had attempted to teach Hiei how to play Janken, the simple game of paper-rock-scissors—Hiei hadn't been a fan of the pastime, and had grown furious over the idea that something as weak as paper could win over a rock. It had seemed like a simple, mindless conversation at the time, but Hiei had been clever enough to include it a safety phrase with his underling—the fire apparition was more than privy to the way Shuichi's mind operated, and had anticipated his friend's innate distrust of a fellow apparition claiming to contact him on his behalf.

For Hiei to reach out in such a manner meant two things—one, he was busy. Hiei was never one to depend on others for anything, and that included relaying messages; for him to entrust this duty into the hands of another meant that he could not afford to leave behind his work to make the trip himself. The second reason was necessity—whatever matter Hiei desired to consult with him on was pressing, and needed to be dealt with sooner rather than later. This alarmed Shuichi, but he maintained his composure, deciding it best to not worry until he acquired more information.

"And what is this message?"

Yorisou gestured towards the pocket of his raincoat, keeping his hands locked in a position of yielding. Without hesitation, Shuichi dug into the pocket, quickly withdrawing a small glass orb that glowed faintly, seeming to resonate with silent power—it was a spirit of words, a popular form of communication among apparitions. The message was shared directly via the sender's voice and produced in such a way that only the intended receiver could hear it. He hadn't seen one such correspondence in many years, not since Yomi had reached out to him and requested his assistance in the conflict that would later be solved by the first Makai Tournament. The message lived within, only to be shared when the glass was shattered. Without hesitation, he tucked it into the pocket of his slacks, and then fixed his companion with a mild smile.

"Thank you, Yorisou. I'll listen to it shortly," Shuichi offered quietly, rising to his feet and securing his phone in the opposing pocket of his pants. He resumed his walk once more, making it only several yards away before hearing a startled cry ring out from the bench.

"Why the heck am I wearing my wife's raincoat?!" the man shouted, but in a voice that matched him far better than the one he had previously spoken in. Yorisou had obviously taken his leave, no longer requiring the vessel he had occupied—if there were a wager at stake, Shuichi would bet that the traveling demon was already well on his way to the other realm. Small creatures they were, but decidedly swift, able to hop at impressive speeds that mere human sight could not detect. Shuichi easily ignored the outburst, as comedic as it was, and continued on his way. He purposely passed the entrance to Art House, instead opting to make the next turn down a narrow alleyway.

Once he was absolutely certain that he was alone, Shuichi withdrew the glass orb from its holding place—after a brief moment of hesitation, he tossed the delicate container at the concrete wall, using little force. As expected, it immediately shattered upon impact, seeming to spill a strange, opaque liquid forth from the site of collision. This fluid began to morph, coming to draw a faint outline on the bare surface with gradual but precise movement—within seconds, a fair rendering of Hiei rested against the exterior, complete with his typical scowl of contempt stretched across his lips.

"Kurama," the message began, clear and concise, spoken in the voice of his friend. To hear his old name spoken so brazenly send a shiver of discontentment racing down the length of his spine, although he had expected such a thing. Unlike Yusuke, who genuinely attempted to address him correctly but on occasion made an honest mistake, Hiei refused to call him by his other alias. He believed Shuichi's desire to live a human life was a foolish endeavor that was ultimately bound to fail—while his friend's blunt opinion of his intentions left a sour taste in his mouth, Shuichi knew that Hiei truly did not mean anything malicious. He was simply a creature of habit, with strong beliefs and an unwavering attitude. He had never taken to the Human World or embraced the mortals who inhabited it—in Hiei's eyes, humans were weak willed and useless creatures, and for Shuichi to wish to abandon his demon namesake and live as one of them was something he could not understand or accept. Under normal circumstances, this plight should have very well put a considerable damper on their friendship of many years, but due to their extensive history, Shuichi believed it best to just leave things be—he had no desire to fight a losing battle, and when it came to Hiei believing that he was correct, there was no hope for victory.

"I know it's been some time since we've spoken, and I hope this message finds you well."

The very first sentence of the correspondence had Shuichi chuckling—it was easy to him to tell that those were not words chosen by Hiei—he wasn't one for sentiment in nearly any capacity. Perhaps Mukuro had assisted him in the construction of the message—while she and Hiei shared similar personalities, she was certainly the more diplomatic of the pair, and with her previous experience as a ruler over her own vast territory, she was no stranger to the subtle art of manipulative niceties.

"I have several urgent matters that I need to confer with you on immediately—I will be awaiting your arrival within Kinzoku this evening. Don't make me wait long." The words quickly died out, signaling the conclusion of the message. The sketch of Hiei swiftly disappeared, appearing to melt off of the wall and evaporate into nothing within mere seconds.

A deeply set sigh of defeat escaped Shuichi—now, those were definitely Hiei selected phrases; short and uncomplicated. Of course, a bit more detail on what said urgent matters were about would have been nice, but the lack of information did not come as a shock—forgoing such a thing only further baited the hook, which assured that Shuichi would make the journey into the neighboring realm to learn more.

Considering that he had been planning to make the venture into the Demon Realm to meet with Hiei prior to receiving this summons, this sudden invitation did not come as a disappointment. Rather, it was an opportunity, one that meant his friend would be anticipating his arrival rather than him showing up unexpectedly and pulling him away from his work. The only alteration in plan was the date of his trip—he had been planning to make the venture Monday evening, following work, but tonight would work just as well. It was a better option, in truth, given the fact that it would save him the late night excursion the following evening, and thus spare him the exhaustion that would come the next morning before class.

Content with this plan, Shuichi returned street side and made his way back to the venue. He slipped into Art House for a short period, if only to glance around and briefly take in the environment. It was a modern space, dominated by clean lines and monotone colors, but open and airy, the walls covered in an impressive collection of interesting pieces of varying styles and colors. Judging by what he saw, it was certainly a place Davina would appreciate, so he added it to his mental checklist. Satisfied with his efforts, Shuichi took his leave of the venue, slowly making his way back to his mother's building. In need of some caffeine, he paused to grab a cold beverage from a small corner convenience store, sipping on it as he walked.

He was within five minutes of making his return when his phone sprung to life, the anticipated call from his mother coming forth. Upon his arrival, they climbed back into her car and headed a short distance deeper into Osaka, Shiori filling him in on all the assorted details of her meeting as they neared their current destination to enjoy their weekly brunch.

. . .

Author's Note: I'm attempting to remain at least one chapter ahead, and things keep flowing at a decent pace, so I'm hoping to stay on track with consistent updates. However, as of Monday, I'm starting my new job (finally!) here in Wisconsin, and while it's the most normal schedule I've had in years (11am-7:30PM, and with weekends off, which is insane to me, given my previous job and it's crazy schedule), I will no longer have infinite free time to write, which, while disappointing, is unavoidable when you got bills to pay. But I will do my best to keep up with the current flow. I've had a number of ideas pop up lately, so I've been cataloging them as notes for future chapters. I sincerely hope you guys are enjoying the story. As always, thank you to everyone who read/followed/favorited/reviewed. Stay safe!