Everyone is together... more like time to make fun interactions happen. First couple interactions this chapter...

While I have the overall plot and a lot of interactions planned out, I'm also taking ideas for interactions so feel free to suggest any you'd like to see, yeah?

Anyway, enjoy this chapter!

When the large groups had met, things quickly went to hell. No one had spoken at first, the two groups just staring at each other as tension rose. Zelenin had finally spoke, the angel ready to make the first step towards testing the water with these new humans… But that had led to Takeshi and Akira reactly just about as badly as other demons had before.

That had been the start of an argument, people from both groups jumping in to side with either the angel or demons at random. Soon enough both groups were intermingled, arguing about this and that or trying to calm whoever they could, if they had chosen to stay out of the argument.

But calming people wasn't working and, at some point, even Dagda and Danu had gotten involved. It was a mess of yelling, confusion, and possibly a bit of injury here and there… That's when Tadano had fired off a shot of his gun and finally silenced everyone enough to at least get introductions and explanations out…

And Kazuya, looking back on it all, wasn't sure how to feel. There was a lot of conflicting ideas and races among them, and, well… He was afraid it was going to lead to not only more arguments, but also more deadly arguments.

Pascal approached him, barking and pulling him out of his worries, if only for the moment. He was so lucky he had a dog like him… Pascal always cheered Kazuya up when he needed it most.

"What a cute dog!" Asahi, a girl at the younger end of the age range amongst them, walked over to him with a smile. "I've only really seen them in pictures before now…"

"Oh?" Kazuya thought for a moment. "Want to pet him then? He's nice."

"C-can I?!" Asahi's eyes lit up as she reached towards the dog. "I'd love to!"

Pascal gave a happy bark as Asahi began patting his head with a giggle. Mr. Nakajima's gift was really coming in handy right now, supplying at least a few smiles among the group.

"Haven't seen a dog in a while." Jimenez approached with a grin. "Looks like he's the type who'd like to play fetch, huh?"

"Oh, uh, yeah." Kazuya nodded a bit, caught off guard by the sudden approach. "Maybe I should play with him later, if we can find a ball around here…"

"If you do, lemme know about it. I got quite an arm, sure he'll have fun if I throw it." As Jimenez spoke, Kazuya couldn't help but make a note that even demons liked dogs. How neat.

"Oh, fetch…? I think I read about that before!" Asahi looked to the men. "I-I wanna play with Pascal too!"

"That would be fine." Kazuya smiled at both of them. "I'm sure Pascal would love to play with either of you."

Jimenez and Asahi both seemed happy about that as Pascal trotted off, towards Aleph. He wasn't too surprised to see that, honestly. Pascal and Aleph had seemed to hit it off amazingly from the moment they met… And hey, if his dog was happy, he was happy.

"I should follow after him. I'll tell you guys when you can play with him, if the chance comes up." He gave them both a small wave and ran off after his dog.

As he approached Aleph, he realized he was talking with Yuka. What were they up to, he wondered…?

"So, you're a messiah as well, Aleph?" Yuka tilted her head to the side and Kazuya paused to listen in. "For the Messians, too…"

"I was shocked to learn I wasn't the only one, honestly!" Aleph gave her a smile and laugh. "I suppose that there are more messiahs than one would expect."

"That is true…" Yuka laughed a bit. "...Though I suppose you aren't the type to do what I've chosen to do."

Aleph rose an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"I was to be the messiah, but… I knew my fate was forever entwined with Kazuya's. I choose to follow him on whatever path he chooses… While you seem to be doing your duty as messiah over all."

"Well… I want to do what's best for the people… But I will admit that if Beth were to want to take a different path that I might not be able to keep myself from joining her…" Aleph scratched his cheek. "I suppose that wouldn't happen though…"

"Really now?" Yuka tilted her head to the side. "Why is that?"

"I choose to follow and assist Aleph in what he does." Beth, who had just walked up next to Kazuya, spoke up. "I suppose you could say I made the same choice as you, Yuka. To follow the man I'm connected to."

Yuka walked over to Beth with a smile, grasping the other woman's hands. "Then I guess I have things in common with you, just the same as I do with Aleph."

"Ah, yes…!"

Yuka looked at Kazuya. "And I guess you have things in common with Aleph and Beth too, don't you?"

Kazuya blinked a few times, having not expected to join the conversation. "A-Ah, yeah! I guess so. How funny…"

"I'm sure there are more similarities between all of us to be found as we go about this." Aleph smiled as he looked across at the rest of the group. "Which should make working together go smoother."

"Hopefully. I'm afraid things will get as messy as they did earlier…" Kazuya gave an awkward laugh, scratching his cheek.

Yuka put a hand on his shoulder, her expression soft. "Don't worry, Kazuya. I'm sure things will turn out alright in the end."

"Thank you, Yuka. You're probably right… We just need to keep our heads up and do our best."

"That's what I like to hear!" Yuka smiled at him. "Now isn't the time for doubt. You have to be as strong as you were when you saved me."

Or as strong as you were in your last life, when you did the same for me… Kazuya nodded. "Yeah, you're right."