Author's Note: I first introduced Yorokobi in the Wonderland Bites. Now, I finally get to add him to the main story. I love how it turned out. I didn't know what I was going to do with Kasuka and Ruri. But that all changed this year. Someone on my Tumblr gave me a great idea for Ruri and the Ten no Shin'en. You are going to have to stick around for that. Kasuka is kind of hard to write. His scene with Yorokobi took longer to write. I tried to make it as uncomfortable as possible. I think I did a good job. I can't wait to write next week's halo. You are going to have to stick around and see. For now, enjoy this week's halo.


Halo Fifteen: Yorokobi:

"So, Honoka-san?" Shinra asked. She didn't look up from the picture she was coloring on the coffee table.

"Hm?" she asked.

"What did you mean when was the last time we saw Izaya?" the doctor asked.

"Just as I said," she said. "When was the last time we saw Izaya in person?" Shinra took a moment to think. He started to say something but paused.

"It was when he said that someone was trying to kill him," the doctor said at last.

"How long ago was that?" the life tadpole asked. Shinra paused.

"After Halloween?" he asked. He didn't sound sure about that. He tried to think hard about the question.

"But I have been in contact with him," the doctor insisted. He remembered all of the texts and emails he got from his old friend. The more he thought about it the more he noticed that something didn't add up.

"Did his texts sound like him?" Honoka asked. She had a blue crayon in her hand this time.

"No…" Shinra said. The doctor paused for a moment.

"What are you saying?" he asked. This time, Honoka was staring at him. She had a serious look on her face. It didn't take much for him to see what she was getting at.

"Are you saying…?" Shinra began to ask. The doctor's stomach turned. Honoka went back to coloring her picture.

He told all of this to Celty. Shinra spelled out his theory to her. She too started to remember all of the texts and emails that she got from "Izaya". The dullahan also noticed how off they sounded.

"Do I sound crazy?" Shinra asked. He sounded like a child who was worried about getting in trouble with his parent.

"[Why would anyone pretend that Izaya was still alive?]" Celty wrote on her PDA. Shinra stared at her dumbfounded. He didn't have an answer.


Ruri has been missing since the thirteenth of November. She wasn't kidnapped by stalkers or obsessed fans. It was just two women in their forties. They just talked to her and she followed them off somewhere. Since then she's been missing. The fans had theories. Saburo looked so worried. Kadota couldn't remember a day when the driver wasn't in tears over his missing goddess. The man cried like his lover died. He couldn't stop watching that video where Ruri walked off with those two women.

"Devil women," he muttered at his screen. "Give her back!"

"Are you okay?" Erika asked.

"No!" Saburo wailed. He wiped away his tears. He hit play again on his phone. The video started over again, making him break down weeping. Erika and Walker just looked at each other. Kadota just let him cry it out. Maybe it was time to get him some help?

"Ruri! Where did you go?!" the driver whimpered. "Who took you?" The man sniffled. He wasn't the only one.

Some of the Awakusu had their own questions. Shiki frowned at the video on the TV screen. He had his attention on the women talking to the idol in the footage. Particularly, he noticed their clothes. Though the footage was grainy, he could tell they had on robes of some sort. If he hadn't known any better, he would've said they were members of the Ten no Shin'en.

And then December happened.

Celty turned on the TV on the morning of December 16. She flipped through the channels when a familiar face caught her attention. At first, Celty didn't know what she was looking at. That woman on the screen. Where had she seen her before?

Chisa was giving one of her sermons on TV. She looked just the way when Murata stood at the podium. She held up her hand.

"My flock!" Chisa said, her words smooth like silk. "I would love to introduce you to our newest sister." She moved from the podium. Another stepped forward in those familiar red and white robes. She looked like a saint under the hot lights. Celty's nonexistent jaw dropped.

Is that Hijiribe Ruri?!

It was true. There she was. Hijiribe Ruri was alive and well. However, something looked a bit…

"Welcome, Sister Ruri," Chisa said.

"Thank you, Mistress," she said. She bowed her head. The idol walked up to the podium and began to speak. None of her words sounded like hers. The people of Ikebukuro couldn't believe what they were seeing. This didn't feel like a publicity stunt. Her fans couldn't believe what they were seeing. Saburo's jaw dropped.

"This can't be," he said. "No…" He felt himself sinking into himself. The rest of the van gang was stunned. Saburo slowly shook his head as his idol spoke.

"No…" he said again. He sat back in the driver's seat. Saburo was trembling as theories formed in his head.

"It's those devil women!" he shouted. "They kidnapped her and brainwashed her! I just know it! We have to save her!" Saburo started up the van and drove off with the pedal to the floor. Erika and Walker screamed they were thrown backward.

"Chill dude!" Kadota shouted next to him. Saburo didn't listen. He only had one thing on the brain.

"Hold on, Ruri-san! I'm coming!" he shouted as he sped down the streets. No one had any idea how much things were going to get.


Meanwhile, Kasuka had his own problems. First, his lover goes missing. Then she resurfaces as the face of the Ten no Shin'en. Next, his brother was turned into a Minotaur. His manager was murdered. And now, he had a stalker. The last part was an unusual case.

They met at the wrap party. No, they weren't a guest there. They lured Kasuka to them. Since then, they couldn't get enough. They developed an interest in the actor. How come he never showed any emotion in real life? He came to life on screen. They were going to have to find out.

Kasuka kept looking over his shoulder. It started with the phone calls. Always the phone calls. They came about three in the morning. Sometimes a bit earlier. They didn't last long.

"Hello? Kasuka would ask half-asleep. No answer. Nothing. And then they would hang up. The first night confused him. But now it's been going on for weeks. However, Kasuka didn't have time to worry about that.

Kasuka, Tom, and Vorona all stared at Shizuo.

"Have you decided what to do with Shizuo yet?" Kasuka asked. Tom and Vorona didn't have an answer.

Last Night

Tom and Vorona sat in the living room of Tom's apartment. Shizuo sat on the floor across from him.

"This isn't working," Vorona said.

"Yeah," Tom said. There came a buzz on the door.

"I've got it," the debt collector said. He stood up and walked over to the door. Vorona kept her eyes on Shizuo. It still hurt to see him like this. She should just put him out of his misery. But why couldn't she bring herself to do it?

The Russian assassin lifted her head when she heard footsteps walking into the living room. Tom came in with Kasuka. The actor/idol had his usual stoic look on his face. The debt collector turned to him.

"This is him," Tom said. "I'm so sorry." Kasuka stared at his man-beast brother. He walked over to the minotaur. The actor knelt down in front of the creature. Vorona prepared to attack but Tom held her back.

"Don't," he said. The debt collectors watched with bated breath. The minotaur lifted his head.

"Shhh. Shhh," Kasuka whispered as he held out his hand. Shizuo moved around before settling into place. The actor gently patted him on the head. He started singing softly to Shizuo. It Tom and Vorona's surprise, Shizuo settled into place.

"There, there," Kasuka whispered. Tom and Vorona could relax now.

However, that still left the problem of what to do with Shizuo.

Now

Tom looked over at Kasuka.

"What do you want to do?" he asked. "He's your brother. I will follow any decision you make."

"You can't take the head off?" Kasuka asked.

"No," Tom said. "It's stitched on real good. Cutting the threads will decapitate him."

"I see," the actor said. He sat there in thought.

It was not easy to sneak a lanky minotaur out of the apartment without drawing attention. It didn't help that Kasuka was famous. They had the early morning hours on their side. The actor knew of a place where they could keep Shizuo safe until he could figure out what to do with him. Vorona would be allowed to see him there.

It hurt to see his brother like this.

"Who did this to you?" Kasuka asked him. Shizuo only stared at him. He couldn't speak anymore. There wasn't really any human left in him. Was Shizuo in pain? Vorona thought he was.

"He can't stay like this," she said. Still, she can't pull the trigger. Even being raised as a cold-hearted assassin, there was something inside of her that wouldn't let her do it.

Kasuka looked into the room at his brother. Shizuo sat in the corner in the dark. He was going to have to figure out what to do in the morning.

"Good night," the actor said. He turned and walked back to his room. Sleep would do him some good.

Kasuka collapsed onto his bed. It didn't take long for him to go to sleep.

Hours later, the actor awoke to someone huddled over him. A pale person with a beautiful face stared down at him.

"Hello, darling," the person said. Kasuka stared up at them. Where had he heard that voice before? Where had he seen that face before? The actor opened his mouth to speak. The figure gently put their finger to his lips.

"Shhh," they whispered. Kasuka stared at them as he tried to place the face and voice.

"You don't recognize me?" the intruder asked. They pouted at him.

"Come on, try to remember," they said. "Try." Kasuka's mind went back to the wrap party. It all started to come back. This face belonged to the deity sitting on that damned throne in that hidden dimension in the Jack 'O' Lantern building. They looked as they did days ago. Only, they had no clothes on tonight.

Yorokobi? Kasuka found himself unable to talk with his mouth. His words were coming through his head.

The deity grinned down at him.

"Missed me, darling?" they asked. They leaned down and kissed him on the lips. Not just a small kiss either. This was a full-on sloppy kiss. Kasuka wanted to push them off but he found that he couldn't move. Yorokobi forced their tongue into their prey's mouth. However, Kasuka still had no emotion on his face.

This would not do.

Yorokobi pulled away and looked into his dull eyes. They clicked their tongue.

"What is it going to take?" they asked.

What do you-? It took a moment for him to start to get it.

The deity reached for his pajama bottoms. Kasuka still couldn't move. Yorokobi could hear their prey's heart racing. There was something there. A chill ran through their body. They reached down and rolled Kasuka's shirt over his head. Yorokobi breathed heavily.

"Oh… Your body…" they breathed out. "It's so… beautiful." The deity sat up as their cheeks flushed red.

"Why are you humans such beautiful creatures?" they asked. Kasuka at Yorokobi's naked body. The rest of the skin looked so pale. His chest was flat. Maybe there were some breasts there if you squinted hard enough. Then his eyes looked further down. They were erect alright. Erect and… soaking wet? Sticky juices ran down their thighs.

Wait… You're a man. No… You're a woman. No… What are you?

Yorokobi as they knelt down to his ear.

"I'm both and neither at the same time," they whispered. Their lips curved into a smirk. There was something in his soul. Ah yes.

They slowly moved down Kasuka's body. Their mouth traveled down the flesh. Who knew humans could taste like candy? They were going to enjoy Kasuka's taste to the fullest tonight. Yorokobi rested their mouth on the actor's chest. They kissed and bit down on the spot above the heart. They didn't want to let go. But alas, there was more to taste.

Yorokobi reluctantly drew back their mouth. They sat up to look at their handy work. A deep hickey sat on the spot where Kasuka's heart should be. It looked like a bruise.

"It's perfect," they said breathlessly. The deity knelt down and started kissing down further. At last, they came down to their desired prize. Yorokobi opened their mouth and took the actor's cock in their mouth. Kasuka couldn't do anything to stop them. He found himself still unable to move. Yorokobi savored his taste. They closed their eyes and took it in. Their tongue ran along the skin. Small shocks ran through their body. How could humans be this amazing? They had to have more.

Yorokobi slowly let go of their prey's cock. They looked up at Kasuka. There was still no emotion on his face. However, they could hear his heart and pulse pounding.

"Is that fear or desire I'm sensing?" they asked. Kasuka didn't answer.

"Heh," Yorokobi said. They flipped the actor and bound his hands together behind his back with their own rope. They pushed Kasuka's legs apart. They grinned at their work.

Kasuka didn't make a sound when Yorokobi penetrated him. That didn't satisfy the deity. But it was going to have to do for now. The deity pounded into the actor's fine ass. They had their own questions for him.

"Tell me something, darling, have you ever done any nude screens?" the deity asked. Kasuka didn't answer.

"You would definitely make money doing sex work," they said. The deity grunted aloud.

"Oh! You are so tight," Yorokobi grunted. "I'm surprised I was able to fit. I could push in more but I don't want to stretch you out yet." The actor said nothing. He just laid there and took it. What was going through his head? Did he disassociate himself from the situation? Would this be the night he cracked and showed any emotion?

A single tear ran down his cheek.

Yorokobi reached down and wiped it away. They licked it up.

"Ah yes, there it is," they said. "Oh!" Yorokobi threw back their head and moaned. They grabbed Kasuka by the hair.

"Oh yes!" the depraved deity moaned. "Oh! Oh! Oh! I'm going to come!" Yorokobi screamed as they reached their climax. The deity didn't let him until his cock went limp. They pulled out and collapsed next to their prey. Yorokobi turned Kasuka's face to them. The actor's eyes looked so dead, so hollowed out. Not in his usual way either. This man looked like he had been hollowed out by the devil himself. Only his abuser could tell the difference. Yorokobi gave him a pitying look before kissing him on the lips.

"Good night, sweet prince," they whispered. The deity gave him one more kiss before they vanished into thin air.


-Yorokobi-

Their love has turned sour. She's joined a cult while he belongs to me now. Kasuka was really good. I want to play with him again soon. I can't remember the last time I had that much fun. There's so much going on in the living world. I don't know where to keep up. Everyone on this side is getting in on the action. Why shouldn't I?

Humans are the most valuable resource for us. Their blood and meat are quite the delicacy. Demons and monsters love to eat them. There are some ghosts and gods who want to eat humans too. However, humans aren't just a food source. We have many other uses for them. There's also breeding and uses for running errands and spying. We even keep some humans as pets.

The taste of Kasuka reminded me of all of that. I smiled to myself as I licked my lips. Mmm. I knew I was going to have it again. And the conditions couldn't have been more perfect.

I frowned to myself.

But first, there was work that I needed to do. Damn it. Oh well. Looks like I will have to play with Kasuka later.


The following is a recorded message found in the Dollars chatroom.

"Please… Don't let Kitano Chisa win!"