Entry 3: Welcome to Japan

The least I can say is that Japan was... well, different in a lot of ways. The weather, for example. At this time of the year and of the day, there would have been heavy clouds hiding the sun and making coats appear everywhere, with umbrellas to boot. Well, not in Japan. Nope, not a single cloud in the sky. Another thing that was different was the level of pollution in the air. I had to put a hand over my face when I exited the airport to give my nose time to adjust. Backpack slung over a shoulder, I started searching for a place to change pounds into yen, while setting the time on my watch.

When I finally found what I was searching for, the sun was high in the sky and the heat was almost unbearable. So immediately after changing my money, I set off to find a place to cool down. The heat was making me drowsy. I soon spotted a park, and a handful of seconds later, I was up in a cherry tree, sitting casually in the cool shade, 5 meters above the ground. Sunlight was softly dancing on my face, filtered by the leaves, like tiny little golden and green brushes of warm air. Oh, dear Gehenna. Fresh air, calm and quiet, warm breeze, and more colors than the Pit had ever seen, who could have asked for anything more? I really do love Assiah.

When I awoke from my lethargy, my first thought was that it was beautiful. The sun was setting, bloody colors streaking the clouds, and the temperature was quickly dropping. But as soon as I realized that I had wasted precious daylight napping instead of finding a place to stay at night, my only thought was to kick myself. Apparently; the demonic instincts in me, which I never had to experience before -due to my lack of visits Above- were a bit stronger than I had expected: a little nap in daytime, and I was already reverting to the nocturnal habits of demons.
I jumped off the tree, landing silently on the leaves-covered ground. Shaking myself free of the pieces of bark and the dry leaves stuck to my clothes, I walked out of the park and into the streets of the now brightly-lit city. My pupils were slit by the aggressive light of the countless plasma screens, lampposts, and cars all around. After a few hundred meters in a street as bright as day, I opted for another option and disappeared in the shadows of a sideways alley, spared by both blinding light, and annoying noise. My vision instantly sharpened, and my stride became more confident.

An hour later, I wished I had never left that street.

*Flashback*

They had been five, clothed in white jackets, burly and laughing, and very loud. The girls were young adults, no more than twenty three, two fragile things, doe-eyed and shivering with pure fright. The third one was lying, limp and broken on the ground, clothes torn and blood turning the earth around her into reddish mud. A blade was shining, ruby red in the faint moonlight. One of the girls -the left one- let out a muffled whimper. The men laughed even harder.
Hidden behind a wall, a shadow with glinting green eyes, I couldn't detach my eyes from the scene. The man with the knife approached the frightened women, seeming to hesitate over which one he should pick, and finally grabbed one by the hair. As she was almost lifted off the ground with a yelp, the white bag she had been holding moved and...

Dear Gehenna! It was not a bag at all, it was a child! Fair-skinned, with platinum blonde hair, clothed in white, I had mistook him for a bag. I wouldn't give him more than 6 years old at most, but still... Shame on me. His face had been hidden in the woman's chest but when she was lifted, I caught a glimpse of teary red eyes. The little boy fell to the ground as the woman in the murderer's grasp began screaming and struggling, but in vain. The yakusa were still laughing, large bellows and shrill cries. One spat on her black hair. Another grabbed an arm.

As for me, I was still weighing my options. Yes, this was a disgusting scene. As a rule, demons rarely attacked a female with her pups, and even less a female of their own species -well, unless for some mating or claiming rituals, but this was obviously not the case here. On the other side, I was a demon king, and as such, above this kind of would be most undignified to simply barge in and kill everyone like a simple-minded beast. I could just leave. I am a demon, and demons are supposed to be selfish, surely, it wouldn't be that hard?

Lost in my thoughts, I was detaching my shadowed form from the wall, ready to leave, when I spotted a flash of red. Frowning, I did a double take. The only red was the blood on the ground and on the yakuza's blade, wasn't it? That's what I thought until I locked eyes with the kid. It was a stupid move, he shouldn't have been able to see me in the first place, not with my cloak of shadows. But he did, and once I looked in those azure-circled scarlet orbs, I couldn't look away. It wasn't their color that shocked me -I had seen plenty of demons with much stranger eye-color- but the pure sadness, the terrifying knowledge -that child knew what I was!- and the silent plea in those child's eyes... Like in a flash, I saw myself, centuries ago. No youngling should ever have eyes like that, be them demon or human. The human soul in my mind stirred, and somehow, reminded me that I wasn't your average bloodthirsty and selfish demon. It was like a gentle push in the back, and I felt myself stumble forward.

I took me half a second to regain my stance, and I mentally told the man's soul in me: 'You won, I'll save them. Now, go back to sleep, it isn't going to be pretty' and stepped out of the shadows, making my presence known.

"Excuse me, but would you please unhand the ladies and let them go? After all, one should be on his best behavior in front of children, and I don't see you doing that. At all." I added with the barest hint of a devilish smirk.

Okay, maybe I was a little bit overzealous. There was no chance in Gehenna that they were going to heed my -albeit excellent- advice, but it was worth a try, right? And indeed, the men in white, as startled as they were by my sudden appearance, were now regaining their composure and sneering at me. One of them, burly and head as bald as an egg, covered in tattoos, and at the very least six and a half feet tall, trod towards me as if he owned the ground I was walking on, a mightily stupid expression on his face. His size didn't faze me; I had battled demon ten times his size and won without a scratch, (demon King here, remember?). Though, I was curious as of what he would do. So when he looked down on me (with squinted eyes, how repulsive) and slurred -quite aggressively, might I add- with a terrible accent, typical of the city:
"Ya gotta problem, midget? Wanna have th'sluts fer ye'self, maybe?"
I blinked. That sure wasn't nice at all. And that man's alcoholic breath made me want to puke. But still, since he had asked a question, I replied politely, making sure to employ a form of Japanese as elaborate and old as I dared, outright mocking.
"Nay to both of thy questions, sir. I shan't bother ye gentlemen any longer, and shall be on me way..." I trailed off with a circular glance at the whole scene, memorizing any details that might have escaped my sight, and deciding on my next course of action. Okay, I think I've got it. The hesitation had lasted for less than a second. I finished my sentence with a grin, showing off a pair or two of sharp, white, deadly demon fangs. "... as soon as my business here is done."
And with this, I took off, demonic fast, wrenched Lady n°1 from man-in-white's hands, dodged the knife aimed at my throat, and simultaneously lifted my living cargo on a shoulder (potato bag-like) while slicing the now discarded knife in pieces with razor-sharp claws to avoid any further use. I then jumped to Lady n°2, threw her on the other shoulder with a quick apology, secured the both of them with an arm, grabbed the child by the collar, and ran away. During the five seconds the fight had lasted, and all the run afterwards, the women hadn't stopped shrieking, hurting my ears like too-loud music. Oh, well. The good thing was that at least they weren't struggling... too much. But I couldn't very well throw them screaming and crying in the main street, could I? So I chose another route to make it so they would have a chance to calm down.

Three or four streets later, I slowed down from my insane (for a human) racing and down to a more normal-ish jogging pace. Without moving the women on my back, I picked up the kid and set him on my chest, securing him with both hands. His arms immediately latched around my neck in a dead grip. Once I was sure he was secure and as comfortable as he could get, I resumed my trot, absently noticing that the yells and shrieks had quieted down.
After a few seconds, a voice to my right (Lady n°2) shyly said: "Where are you taking us?"
The tone was frightened and pitiful. I thought about the question for a second, then replied: "A crowd. It would be safer if there were witnesses everywhere when they try to get you back." I marked a pause, then added: "After that you're on your own. Same if you decide to leave by yourself."

As the minutes passed, the whimpers of Lady n°1 gradually quieted down. The child's shivers too, though I think my body temperature may have more to do with that. I lengthened my stride.

Finally. Gehenna bless my sense of orientation. From where I was, some two hundred meters away from the exit, I could see the countless lights of the shops and cars, blinding my sensitive eyes. Two hundred meters, separating us from safety. I smirked. It wouldn't be long, now... Just one more second... I jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the bullet directed at my head, and turned on the spot to kick the yakusa in the back. A groan of pain. Delightful. But having my arms didn't really help, so I dropped... well... everything. More shouts of pain. I mumbled an apology to the indignant females and turned to face the attackers. White jackets, again, though these ones had guns. I recognized three of the five thugs from earlier -coincidentally, those I hadn't touched- plus half a dozen more, all armed. Cocking my head to the side with curiosity, I asked:

"Only nine? Where have gone the others?"

They must not have liked the question, because suddenly, I had half a dozen guns aimed at my head. I frowned.

"How do you plan on harming me with such blunt things?"

My only answer was a curse and a bullet to the head. Snorting, I deflected it faster than their poor human sight could detect, and then lifted a brow at them, pretending it had missed me completely. I sneered at the shooter.

"I'm sorry. Was that aimed at me?"

I heard the three human behind me get out of my way and stick to the walls. Smart move, I thought, but immediately took it back when the "click-clack" of a pair of heels indicated me that one of the women had fled. A gunshot later, I heard a fleshy 'thump'. A coppery smell and a heartbeat slowing. Shot to the head. Dead on the spot. Foolish woman, had I not made clear that I would only protect them if they chose to stay? Wouldn't that imply that if they fled, I would stop protecting them? Bless it all to the Church! I sighed deeply. What a waste...

The next breath, though, was an error. A slight wind had picked up without me noticing, and now, the whole alley strongly smelled of blood. Of fear. Of despair and salty human tears. And it drove my instincts to the surface, sending all my senses in overdrive. I felt a lengthening fang on my lip, and a prickle in my eyes. I immediately knew they had started glowing like green Hellfire. The shadows on the walls started stretching, wriggling and whispering as they answered my silent call. A grin stretched on my lips, showing pearly fangs, and suddenly, I disappeared in the shadows like a dream. Soon to be a nightmare. From my new spot on the wall, I stared at the yakusa with a cat's glare, waiting for them to notice me. As soon as one spotted me, and his gasp alerted the others, I closed my eyes and disappeared. Shadows made a black screen between the yakusa and the ones I wanted out -it was mainly for the child, he had seen enough horrors for tonight- and I bolted, giving in the blood lust.

Screams ending in gurgles: ripped throat.

Horror and the acrid smell of urine, yuck.

Tearing noise and a thump: oops, that was the left arm, not the right.

Dodging bullets like drops of water.

Wrist-deep in a man's guts.

Another's brain smashed under my heel.

Screams.

Bloodlust.

Death.

Breaking the spine of one who tried to flee.

Tasting blood on my tongue.

My demon Heart ablaze.

Blood boiling in my veins.

I wanted them dead.

I needed them red and limp on the ground,

I WOULD DEVOUR THEM AND DRINK THEIR BLO-

"Stop!..."

Everything froze. I stopped everything I was doing, eyes wide with shock. The voice was in my head. I had only heard it once, but it was still as familiar as my own. The human boy. The one whose body I currently possessed, it was his voice. How come he was talking? How come he was awake at all, least of it aware? I tried pushing him back to sleep, back in his corner of my soul, I didn't have time for this, but he was stubborn, resisted and fought all the way, didn't want to g-

"BANG!"

Shock. Pain. Torn flesh in my side. Something warm dripping, no, flowing from my body. Cold air somewhere it wasn't supposed to be. I looked down, already knowing what I would find. Black, inky blood soaking my shirt and my pants. I felt for the cold steel between my ribs, dazed. Hole in the front, hole in the back. Through my lower chest. The shocked daze I was in broke when I suddenly coughed, spat blood. There was no bullet inside, but it had ripped through my lung. I turned towards the responsible, eyes slit in fury. There would be hell to pay, literally. I pushed the human soul in me out of my way, advancing towards the now panic-stricken, blood-soaked, utterly pathetic man in white who had dared to raise a weapon against me. His only reaction was to fire again. Moron. This time I was ready, and I caught it between two fingers with a practiced ease. Adrenalin made my senses go in overdrive and gave my power new heights. The man before me tried to fire again. Missed. The gun went flying a second later, the man's hand still attached to it. A scream. And his head went flying next. The scent of blood was overwhelming, but I wouldn't lose control again. I quickly scanned the area, searching for survivors. Ah, yes! There was that man I had only mutilated, without killing him. I glided to him, crouched down and looked at his terrified face.

Then I blurted out "Ladies and younglings are not game for you to hunt. Those who forget they ARE important to your very species survival do not deserve to live and cause more harm. So tell that to... well, whoever finds you, yes?" I finished with a big, fanged grin. He nodded with terror-filled energy, almost spasmodic, as I took my leave.

A look at my hands told me I was covered in blood. That wouldn't do at all. I shook my hands clean of blood, and used a pulse of my aura on myself to clean the various bloody pieces of flesh, and brain matter stuck on them, and evaporate the blood splatters on my skin and clothes. Once done, I straightened my jacket and dismissed the smoke screen. Time to face the lady... not to forget the child.

I must admit, I should have expected it. The Lady n°2, the one that was still alive, was huddled close to the child, cowering in a corner, and sobbing up a river, which made her make-up run and her eyes puffy. It was ugly. But she was still a lady, so time to try and be a gentleman. I cleared my throat. That made her jump and stare at me like I had just killed someone... Which I kind of did. I stepped closer and crouched next to her, raising a hand to her face. She flinched, eyes wide open and entire body tense. I wiped a lock from her face with a blank look on mine. Then sighed. Rose. And told her.

"The exit is over there."

I nodded towards the brightly lit alley a few hundred meters away. I then looked back at her. "Can you stand?" I offered her a hand. She stared distrustfully at the claws, then gulped and put her hand into mine. I gently helped her up, glad I wasn't deemed a monster on the spot. Child still in her arms, she took a few steps, staggered... I caught her. Gehenna's Moon, if she couldn't walk, she should have said so! Humans and their stupid pride... I took her in my arms -bridal style, this time, and not like a potato bag- and walked her to the exit. I could feel her eyes on me, but ignored it and kept my face blank. Once at the entrance of that alley, suddenly assaulted by all that sudden light, I made a stop, grimacing lightly. As soon as stars stopped dancing behind my eyes, I let Lady n°2 down, still making sure she wouldn't fall.

"Can you find your way home from here?" I asked, and after a second's hesitation and a look around, she nodded. I smiled. "Good. Have as nice a night as you can." and I stepped back. The woman let down the child, and they both gave me a deep bow -which pleased me tremendously- as I stepped back in the shadows. I had just the time to hear a mumbled "Arigato, akuma-san!" before the rushing cars swallowed the child's voice. With a quick grin -it was the first thanks I had received in... forever-, I jumped as high as I dared, landed on a building's roof, and started running deeper and deeper in the silent part of the town, away from the crime scene, away from the lights, a shadow under the moon of Assiah. I had something to do, but first, I needed a place to rest and meditate to make sure the bloodlust and my lapse in control wouldn't happen again any time soon.

A/N: When a demon says "Bless it all to the Church", "Holy Eden" or something of the like, it usually is to swear. Sorry with the slow updates, my studies caught up with me. But I can assure you, I did not abandon this story! So keep reading and keep reviewing, please! ^^

Next chapter: True Cross Academy, disturbing news.