"Last stop, Kuoh town. I repeat, last stop; Kuoh town."

The train's announcer's voice chimed in from the speakers as the train slowly came to a stop, it was currently a little past 10 pm meaning the train was empty… all except for one passenger. Standing up, he grabbed the bag from his overhead compartment and made his way outside of the train's doors.

Looking at his phone from behind his glasses, he read the time and pocketed it.

It had been a few years since the events involving Souren Araya. During his time with Touko, he had learned a great deal of many things.

It was a bit sad when she left Garan no dou without saying much but it was what it was.

Seeing no reason to follow her further, he stayed in the supernatural detective company as its mobile agent.

Essentially, he goes where he damn well pleases and only gets called upon when there's something big on the horizon.

Events such as these.

The pay was good so he agreed to stay. The new owner – Azaka – and himself were quite satisfied with their current arrangement.

Now as for how he got himself in the middle of Devil territory…

"A mission?" Shiki asked, phone pressed against his ear. He had just finished killing a rogue Vampire in Misaki town after tirelessly hunting him down for a week straight.

"I'm sorry to call upon you again so soon but Yasaka-sama wants guarantees that she'll remain informed in the approaching storm regarding Kuoh town. So she's calling on us."

Shiki sighed, for context; Yasaka is the leader of the West Yokai faction, and – most importantly – the only thing keeping Garan no dou's coffers filled with money. Meaning, she was their greatest and only investor into the company.

They had caught their attention after defeating Souren 3 years ago. Apparently, Souren had been a massive thorn on Yasaka's side, having caught numerous Yokai women under her reign and had his way with them before killing them.

And now, they were essentially her private spy division that answered directly to her.

Of course, they were still free to take missions from outside Yasaka but as their manpower was limited – only really amounting to Shiki nowadays as Mikiya was more a logistics guy and Ryougi refused to be as mobile as Shiki so she was stuck only in Mifuyu as their local manager.

They were only providing services to Japan which was mostly under Yasaka's control in any case.

"I understand."

"Thank you, Shiki. Don't worry, I'll give you a raise since you've been working so hard lately."

"I suppose that's the most I could ask for, I better get going then, Ja ne."

"Ja ne"

And that's how he ended up here, with a forged identity and stuck in something that he just knew would go south really fucking fast.

Worst of all, he was asked to enroll in the local academy because apparently the upcoming shitstorm involves the church, some fallen named Kokabiel, and this piece of devil's territory.

Finally arriving at his temporary apartment, he made sure no cameras were present inside the apartment and that no one was watching before setting to work.

First, he established a rune-based bounded field. It was nothing special. Something only meant to keep the regular folk out.

Then, he sat down and pulled out a white folder and went through the details written on the paper.

His name was Shiki Tohno

Aged 17

Lost parents at an early age in a car accident in Tatsumi Port Island bridge, hopped from city to city, average grades, average life, no living relatives to speak of, no acquaintances to speak of.

Azaka really couldn't have bothered to make his fake life better at least?

Shiki sweatdropped.

Well, at least this was something new. First time he has to go under a false identity.

That said though…

'Sona…'

How many years has it been since he last saw her?

He never even got the chance to say a last goodbye before disappearing.

And he hated himself for it.

He should've forced those gates aside.

Killed anyone that got in his way and at the very least held her one last time.

He was a coward.

A sorry excuse of a brother.

He didn't even lament that he was disowned.

He didn't even lament that he would never see his sisters again.

'Fuck my life…'

And with that, he shut the folder and.. Like any normal person would, stopped thinking about the problem and shove it unto the future him to solve.

Two people arrived by car to a run of the mill apartment in the outskirts of Kuoh city.

One of them held a massive sword, and the other a ribbon that was suspiciously holy… too holy.

And the other one, seemingly a normal human girl, greeted the two arrivals.

The two bowed towards the girl who greeted them.

"Sister Ciel."

The now named Ciel, bowed in kind. Her executor robes neatly folding and following the bow without crumpling.

"Sister Xenovia. Sister Irina."

This woman was Ciel, The strongest executor, and the strongest agent the Church has to offer. Yes, even stronger than the likes of Vasco Strada in his prime.

Stepping aside, Ciel had them enter her apartment. "Please, enter."

With that, the trio of exorcists disappeared behind a set of doors and walls, layered with mystical defenses and mechanisms designed against intruders.

Deep within the middle hours of the night, in a dark alleyway hidden from view. A man, who looked as if he were on the brink of death, starved for most likely years prior. Dug his teeth into the neck of a passed out woman. One whom he had drugged, violated, and now was killing.

Gulp

Gulp

Gulp

Red fluids and a taste of iron reached his mouth. "He is near…" A raspy, almost intelligible voice, spoke out; almost as if he had forgotten he was a living person until now. "Hehehehe… HAHAHAHAHAHA! AT LAST YOU HAVE ARRIVED!" The crazy lunatic's laughter echoed from the walls of the alleyway before dying down. "Haaah…"

"I will hunt you down."

"And I will kill you…"

"Shiki…"