Chapter 16: A Demon's Tears
(OST: "The Jaws of Ice" = Xenogears soudtrack = watch?v=WCpntylKnqg )
The time had finally come.
Nothing but the sounds of the environment could be heard as Akira and Sirene both stared each other down like predators, their gazes locked, their teeth bared at each other, pure hatred and fury filling every inch of their faces, while Jun watched from afar with interest and fascination, having finally healed the wound on her gut and managing to stand up again.
"I wonder….. what is going on in their minds?" she mused, curious to know the history between them. After all the main reason Sirene had attacked her at the agency, ensnaring her in her claws and carrying her hundreds of meters in the air, was to provoke Akira into battle.
At the same time, Jun coudn't help but be amazed and fascinated at how Akira looked. His muscles, who had doubled in size, the claws on his hands and feet, the fur that covered his lower body, the bat-like wings on the sides of his head and his tail. He was already handsome as a human, but now? Everything about his appearance entranced her. Never before had she seen another devil as attractive as him, not even the late Jason Bates.
And when she saw his black eyes, her heart began to beat faster. Those were the determined eyes of a warrior, devoid of any hesitation and second-thought, the eyes of someone who had been through countless battles. Yet, in his eyes, no matter how much willpower and resolve they held, she could clearly see a hint of melancholy. At that moment it all made sense to her. He had been through a lot, just like her. She had seen that look too many times to mistake it.
She was pulled out of her thoughs by Sirene, who spoke "I would have awaited an eternity to see this moment…." a wide, monstrous smile replacing her scowl. Finally, the moment she had waited for so long, while burning in the fires of hell had arrived. Her vengeance was at hand. And this time no one will deny her that.
"Now destiny has rewarded my patience!" she declared, while spreading her arms, beckoning her hated enemy to fight her once again.
Instead, Akira, not the least bit intimidated by Sirene's display, spoke "Sirene! Our battle already ended in our original world! What reason do you have now to fight me?!" his voice filled with unbridled anger, while retracting his wings in his back. The only thing that kept him from tearing Sirene apart was the promise he made to Kaim and the fact that Jun was still alive. After hearing from Takae, that the Demon Bird had gone after another person close to him just to lure him out in battle, he was already extremely pissed off, but after witnessing the gaping injury on Jun's abdomen? That almost made him lose it. How could Sirene have done this again, after what she almost did to Miki and her family?
Akira's words caused Sirene's smile to dissappear, her spiteful scowl replacing it. She then exclaimed, outraged and even more angered "WHAT?! OUR BATTLE WAS NEVER FINISHED! DEATH ROBBED ME OF VICTORY AT THE LAST MOMENT!" while pointing one of her clawed fingers towards him. The nerve he had, to question her burning desire of revenge. Who did this puny human, posing as a demon think he was?!
"FOOL! YOU WON! YOU DEFEATED ME! I ONLY SURVIVED THAT DAY BECAUSE MY FRIEND HEALED ME! WHAT MORE DO YOU HAVE TO PROVE NOW?! WHAT WILL MORE SENSELESS BLOODSHED BRING YOU?! Roared Akira back, pure fury and outrage echoing from his voice while swinging his left arm backwards. Apparently burning in hell for years taught her nothing.
"HOW DARE YOU! IT WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU TO TAKE AMON AWAY FROM ME, SHAMING HIS NAME, KILLING HUNDREDS OF MY COMRADES, NOW YOU ARE EVEN MOCKING MY PRIDE, MY DESIRE FOR RETRIBUTION?! Roared back Sirene, even more infuriated at Akira's daring behaviour. Who did he think he was to belittle the mighty Sirene?
"END THIS MADNESS AT ONCE, SIRENE! WAS ATTACKING MIKI AND HER PARENTS JUST TO LURE ME OUT IN BATTLE, NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU?! WAS OBLITERATING THAT SMALL TOWN FULL OF INNOCENT PEOPLE, JUST TO DESTROY ME NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU?! YOUR PETTY FEUD BEGAN SOLELY WITH ME 20 YEARS AGO, WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DRAG JUN INTO THIS?!" spat back Akira, with such venom and rage that it even caused Sirene to take a step backwards. She had never seen her hated enemy so angry before. What right did he have to be so angry after everything he did?! He took her beloved Amon away from her. He had murdered hundreds of her comrades. And for what?! For a mere human girl?!
Meanwhile, Jun, who had heard the entire exchange, could only gasp in utter shock and disbelief, her eyes widening and shaking at everything she heard. Dozens of dozens of questions began to form in her mind.
Sirene and Akira clashed in battle before?
Sirene actually died and came back to life?
Who was Amon?
Did Sirene actually kill Miki and her family instead of a house fire?!
Sirene blew up an entire small town just to kill Akira?!
20 years ago?! How old was Akira really?! Why did he look so young?!
But all of those questions paled in comparison to one. Original world. Just hours ago, she had heard from Sirene that what little time she had spent in this "new world" was only a speck of her entire existence. That meant….. that other worlds…. No…. That other universes existed?! And that Akira and Sirene came from another one?! She could not believe it. After everything she went throught, all the things she witnessed, she no longer believed that the impossible existed but this was on a completely different level. Not only that but Sirene also said "Demon Race". Not beasts, Demon Race. Just what were Akira and Sirene really?
And this, as absurd as it was, was only half of why Jun had been so taken aback, so shocked. The other half of it? She had never seen Akira so angry before. The sheer venom and fury in his voice and the way he bore his sharp teeth in such hostily and viciousnees towards Sirene were the complete opposite of his usual carefree attitude. At that moment, Jun realised just how similar they were: that pure, animalistic fury and hatred was the same as the same anger and hatred Jun felt towards the one who took her beloved Kazumi's life. This before murdering her parents, kidnapping her, forcing her to not only discover Jun's real nature but also making her watch as Jun was being tortured to near death, causing her to turn into a beast, forever tainting her, due to the horror and grief of having to watch the person closest to you being nearly murdered before her own eyes.
"Akira…. Why?…. Why didn't you tell me….." was all she could mutter out, her voice filled with astonishment, compassion and somberness. Now it was clear to her: Akira had suffered just like she did. His eyes and voice gave it away: no matter how much anger, suppressed bloodlust and hatred they carried, they could not hide completely the grief, the pain, the sadness. Jun coudn't mistake them: she had seen and felt those emotions far too many times. Yet he had kept it all away from her. He hid his true nature from her. He hid his sadness away from her with his carefree attitude in order to bring her happiness back. But now she needed answers. She needed to know the truth. Deep inside, she knew that sooner or later she would have had to tell him about her true nature, even though she was sure that Akira already knew. But the way he looked and his history with Sirene? He owed her an explanation for that.
(soundtrack ends)
She was pulled out of her thoughts by Sirene roaring "PETTY?! WHO ARE YOU, A MERE THIEF, TO CALL MY DESIRES PETTY AFTER WHAT YOU DID TO ME?!" she was so angry, so outraged and so vehement that it shocked even Jun. She almost sounded….. distraught. The Devil Lady could now see a glimpse of the pain, sorrow and regret that she had witnessed earlier in Sirene's eyes before she was about to finish her off.
"That night, you took my wings….. YOU TOOK MY PRIDE! MY LIFE! But this time….. THIS TIME!" she roared once again in her somewhat distraught voice before bringing one of her arms towards her before raising it up, palm facing upwards "I SHALL TAKE IT BACK, ALONG WITH YOUR LIFE! I WILL TEAR YOU APART, JUST LIKE YOU DID TO ME, DEVILMAAAANNNNN!"
And with those final, raging words, Sirene let out a battle cry and launched herself towards her hated enemy, intending to finish their battle once and for all.
Deep down, Akira hoped that it woudn't have come down to this. He had promised Kaim to reunite him with her beloved Sirene. But in the end the Demon Bird would not listen. Pride, anger and resentment had once again blinded her. Seeing that there was no other way out, he roared "FINE, HAVE IT YOUR WAY THEN! I'LL SEND YOU BACK WHERE YOU BELONG! " before charging towards his greatest enemy. If she was not going to listen to his words, she definetely would have listened to his claws.
"Kaim….. forgive me….. i hope you will understand….." mused Akira in his mind, in regret. He had promised him to spare her. But after seeing what she was about to do to Jun and the wounds she had inflicted her, it was only because he had arrived just in the nick of the time, that he didn't immediately rip Sirene apart at once. But she just coudn't be reasoned with. She just woudn't let go of the past. He had no other choice but to strike her down once again.
But then, as if on clue, as Akira and Sirene were only a few meters away from striking each other…..
KAVOOOOMMMMMMMM!
Akira and Sirene stopped, dead in their tracks at the sound of an explosion going off. They both turned their heads towards the direction the sound came from….
Only to spot a gigantic , purple sphere of energy, quickly closing in towards them. Immediately, they both jumped backwards, narrowly avoiding the sphere that passed in between them. They then watched as the sphere passed through the surface of the lake, dividing the waters, momentarily creating a path of dry ground in between, just like how Moses parted the Red Sea in The Exodus. As the sphere left the lake, the waters of it closing in back, it gained altitude before hitting the upper slope of a large mountain and detonating into a massive explosion.
As the dust dissappeared, Akira, Sirene and Jun were astonished and shocked to see that the entire top half of the mountain was gone.
"S… Such power….." murmured Jun, not believing the destruction she had just witnessed. Not even Asuka caused such destruction during their final battle.
"That attack…. No…. It cannot be…." was all Sirene could manage in disbelief. She had seen that attack way too many times to mistake it.
As for Akira, he coudn't even speak. He was so stunned by the power of that attack that his breath had been taken away. The last time he witnessed an attack so powerful with the exception of his battle against Satan, was in his fight with Sirene when she blew up that small town. And for some reason that attack reminded him of when he was electrocuted by Sirene after having merged with Kaim's body before being impaled by one of those gigantic horns.
And, sure enough, as if on clue, a familiar calm and deep voice came from the forest "It seems that i have arrived just in time." All three demonic beings turned their eyes at the end of the forest. They watched as Kaim slowly emerged from the trees, knocking down a few of them due to his large size.
Jun's jaw dropped. She could only stare from afar in utter awe at the pachyderm demon's appearance. Those gigantic horns, that rhino-like body and legs and long whip-like tail and that armored skin. She had never seen a creature so majestic and imposing in her entire life before.
"What…. What kind of beast is that?" she spoke hesitantly, her voice and eyes filled with astonishment and wonder. Unlike many grotesque, terrifying and ferocious beasts that she fought and put down, this creature did not radiate any bloodlust and hostily. Instead it seemed…. peaceful, proud and, oddly-enough even composed. Little did she know…. Of the past of this creature…. Of what it endured in its long life…. Of what it truly was….
"You…. You've come…" spoke Akira in a surprised tone, his black eyes widened slightly, not believing that his newest friend had actually come. Takae had done it. She had called him (or so he thought). Then he remembered the promise he made him. Hope returned to Akira's heart. Maybe… just maybe… it would end differently this time.
"K….. Kaim….." hesitantly spoke Sirene, not believing what her eyes were seeing. Her long time friend and companion was alive and well before her. The one who had been with her ever since her birth, fighting alongside her and Amon in countless battles, the one who had sacrificed his body to her without a second thought in order to give her a chance to defeat her hated enemy was alive.
As soon as Sirene uttered his name, Kaim turned his gaze towards her, his yellow eyes meeting hers. It took Kaim, all of his might to not gasp in joy and amazement. His beloved Sirene was right in front of him. She was as beautiful and heavenly as he remembered her, no longer tainted by the mortal injuries she had received in her previous battle against Devilman. His heart began to beat faster at that moment. This time it will end differently. There would be no more tragedy, no more sorrow, no more senseless sacrifices.
Sirene thought that all of this was a cruel joke of fate. She did not believe that her companion was alive and well before her. But as soon as Kaim uttered back "Sirene….." in a soft, gentle and unmistakable joyous voice, all of her doubts vanished.
Pure happiness and joy filled every inch of her face, an equally joyful smile forming on her lips before she exclaimed "KAIM! YOU ARE ALIVE!" her voice filled with overwhelming happiness and rejoicement. She still coudn't believe this twist of fate. Ever since she awakened in this new world she thought that she was the last of her kind. And now fate had reunited her with one of her dearest comrades.
Both Akira and Jun were at a loss for words at Sirene's reaction. The only time Akira had ever seen the Demon Bird display such joy and jubilation was right before she died, after having fatally impaled him with the horns of Kaim's body, finally defeating him. At that moment it dawned on him: there was more to Sirene than he originally thought. Pride, arrogance and bloodlust weren't the only elements of her personality as he was soon about to found out.
As for Jun, she coudn't believe it. After first witnessing the sadness in her former friend's eyes and having her kindness rejected and then being almost killed by Sirene, she believed that the Demon Bird was beyond redemption. But now Sirene's eyes shone brightly, filled with joy and ecstasy, at being seemingly reunited with one of her friends. Perhaps….. Sirene wasn't really all that evil as Jun originally thought.
Both of them were pulled out of their thoughts by Sirene turning back towards Akira, smug, sadistic smile now present on her lips before she declared "I cannot believe my luck! Fate truly has rewarded me! " her voice full of triumph and glee. For some strange twist of fate, Kaim, the one who had always been with her was alive and well despite having given his own body to her in order to give her the strength to defeat Devilman. But death had robbed her of victory at the last moment. And now Kaim had been brought back from the dead. Now victory was truly within her grasp. Devilman would not stand a chance against both her and Kaim's powers combined. This time, all things could be brought to a close.
She then glanced slightly towards Kaim before declaring triumphantly "Come, Kaim! With our powers combined, Devilman will not stand a chance! The hour of his death is AT HAND!" causing Akira to stir up, due to a small, but possible chance of Kaim betraying him. However the pachyderm demon remained impassive as Sirene charged once again towards her hated enemy, intending to end their dispute once and for all.
But then, instead of storming towards Devilman alongside her, Sirene could only watch as Kaim swiftly rushed past her before putting himself in between the Demon Bird and her hated enemy. Sirene stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes and mouth widening in shock, not believing what she was seeing.
"K-Kaim….. What are you doing?!" she exclaimed in disbelief, her voice faltering. Kaim, her companion, instead of charging in battle alongside her, was now defending her hated enemy?!
"It is exactly what it looks like. There will be no bloodshed, no senseless sacrifices today." he replied calmly, with a serious tone. Even Akira coudn't believe it. Kaim was actually protecting him. He was keeping up his promise. Akira was afraid that, now that Kaim had just been reunited with his beloved Sirene, he would have turned against him. And yet here he was, defending him as a friend.
"W-what do you mean Kaim?! Why are you doing this?!" demanded Sirene, this time in a commanding tone, wanting to know the meaning behind her companion's actions.
She then watched as Akira came at Kaim's side and spoke "You had me worried there for a moment, buddy. Thought you were gonna turn on me." in a surprisingly casual tone, puzzling Sirene. The pachyderm demon then glanced slightly at him and replied "Do not worry, Devilman. I am a man of my word, unlike the rest of my kind." in a calm, reassuring voice.
At that moment, Sirene's face contorted itself in horror and shock, her eyes widening as she came to the realization.
"You….. YOU ARE IN LEAGUE WITH HIM?!" She exclaimed, her voice full of disbelief and horror at what her eyes were seeing. Kaim, her companion, who had always been at her side, had allied himself with her most hated enemy.
Focusing his attention back at the Demon Bird, Kaim spoke "Sirene, he is not your enemy! Amon was deceived! Please, stop this at once!" in a soft and concerned tone trying to calm her down, but it did nothing to remove the anger and the outrage on Sirene's face.
"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND, KAIM?! HE STOLE AMON AWAY FROM US! HE TOOK MY LIFE! AND YET YOU HAVE ALLIED YOURSELF WITH HIM?!" Screamed Sirene, her voice a mix of horror, anger, outrage and sadness. How could Kaim have done this? He had given his body to her in order to help her defeat Devilman. Why was he now defending him after everything he had done?!
"Please, Sirene! You have to know the truth! I…. I…..." began Kaim before halting mid-speech, closing his eyes, his lips quivering for a few seconds, due to him not managing to tell her his true feelings. But his heart gave him the strength to finally exclaim "I DO NOT WANT TO SEE YOU DIE AGAIN!" his voice full of sorrow, filled with years of withheld grief and passion.
Sirene gasped in shock at what Kaim said, all of her anger leaving her face at once. His eyes, his voice….. they were full of sorrow, grief and….. love? Was it really love? Did Kaim truly love her? She could not believe it. That….. is why Kaim gave his body to her without a second thought?
Jun, who was watching from dozens of meters behind, unnoticed, also gasped in astonishment at what she was seeing. That pachyderm-like creature….. It knew her former friend? And the way he sounded….he was distraught, overcome by sorrow and grief. Could it be….. that it was in love with Sirene?
After what seemed like hours of silence, Sirene spoke "Kaim….." astonishment and sadness radiating from every word that left her mouth "Please…. Step aside. I know you do not want to see me hurt, but….." she stopped, momentarily averting her gaze from his yellow eyes, closing her eyes "….this is between me and Devilman….." her eyes then gazed back into Kaim's own before concluding "…. i have to reclaim my pride! My honor! I have to do it for Amon!"
Kaim closed his eyes and lowered his head, saddened at the realisation that there was only one thing in her mind. Revenge against Devilman. Nothing could dissuade her from that. He hoped that it would not have come down to this. But….. he now had people to return to, a world to fight for. And if his beloved Sirene had to be his enemy, so be it.
But as Kaim, accepted what had to be done, he was pulled out of his thoughts by Akira, closing his eyes, lowering his head downwards, his upper body beginning to shake, a dark chuckle coming from his mouth before he threw his head back and broke out in a cackling, diabolical and hysterical laugh for apparently no reason, taking everyone else completely by surprise.
"Devilman?" asked Kaim in bewilderment,taken completely aback by this behaviour.
"A…. Akira….." spoke hesitantly Jun from the sidelines. This was such an out of character thing for Akira to do. What could possibly have caused it?
"You….. what is so funny?!" Demanded Sirene, her anger coming back. The nerve he had…. To laugh at her reason to fight. Who did he think he was?!
As soon as those words left the Demon Bird's mouth, Akira stopped laughing and focused his gaze back towards Sirene, eyes and face narrowed in a scowl. He remained silent for a few seconds before replying "Reclaiming your pride? Your honor? You truly are pathetic, Sirene." in a serious yet at the same time mocking tone, startling both Kaim and the Demon Bird.
"WHAT?!" She exclaimed, her anger rising up even more.
Akira then took a couple of steps forward putting himself in front of Kaim before asking in a serious and outraged voice "Is that it? Is that all you have to say to him? Is that truly everything you have to say to him, after he willingly gave his body to you without a second thought, out of love?!"
Sirene, Kaim and even Jun, all gasped in shock as soon as those words were uttered.
"D…. Devilman….." spoke an astonished Kaim, not believing that the one who once was his enemy, was now speaking for him, outraged at Sirene's indifference, trying to open her eyes, making her see what Kaim's feelings truly were.
Jun was so shocked that she coudn't even move. She was so taken aback by what she had heard that she coudn't even speak. That pachyderm-like creature – Kaim was his name – had actually given his own body to Sirene out of love?!
Meanwhile Sirene's eyes began to shake in disbelief and dismay. He knew. Devilman knew that Kaim had sacrificed himself for her. But how? How did he know about it? And what nerve did he have to speak about it?!
Immediately, Sirene clenched her mouth, pure rage, hatred and outrage twisting her face, replacing the shock that it once had, after realising that she didn't imagine what she just heard. She then roared in pure fury "HOW DARE YOU! WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT KAIM?! HIS BATTLES ARE MY OWN! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT!" while swinging her left arm backwards in anger.
However Akira was quick to retort "NO! I PITY HIM! AS A MAN, I UNDERSTAND HIS SORROW! THE SORROW OF HAVING TO WATCH THE WOMAN HE LOVED BEING TORN APART, SACRIFICING HIMSELF FOR HER AND NOT EVEN GETTING AN OUNCE OF GRATITUDE FOR IT!" his voice so full of outrage and anger that it caused Sirene to take a few steps back due to the sheer indignity that radiated from every word he uttered.
Kaim could only listen speechless in utter disbelief at Akira's words as it dawned on him: he had understood his pain, his sorrow. And now he was trying to open Sirene's eyes, to make her see. He could only stare in disbelief at his friend. He truly was a kind, noble and altruistic soul just like him.
"Akira…" quietly muttered Jun, away from them. This was the first time, she had seen him like this. She wasn't wrong about him. He truly was a kind, altruistic person. Deep down, he wanted to help others, just like her, hoping to avoid as much conflict as possible. She still coudn't believe how similar they were.
Sirene was taken completely aback by those words. She then began to lose her heart at that moment. What if Devilman was right all along? What if Kaim truly loved her? What if what she did was wrong all along?
However her pride and hatred once again eclipsed her doubts and she exclaimed again "You bastard…..Love?! What would a mere thief like you know about it? WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW?!" her voice cracking slightly, slowly filling with sadness, causing Jun's eyes to widen. The sadness that she had glimpsed earlier, back when she was about to finish Sirene off, had returned in her eyes. What happened next cleared her doubts once and for all.
"Sirene." replied Akira, his voice determined and resolute "You can hate me as much as you want, i don't care." he then pointed his left arm towards the pachyderm demon behind him "But Kaim, the one who loved you deserves an answer! Or do you really have no compassion for him, after what he did for y-"
"ENOUGH!" abrubtly roared Kaim, interrupting Akira mid-speech no longer bearing to hear the outrage, the hatred and the anger being exchanged by Akira and Sirene. Having finally made his decision he walked several steps after Akira putting himself in between him and Sirene.
(OST: Yu Yu Hakusho sad piano song = watch?v=ZsjHsKUIGn8 )
She gasped in shock after her eyes met Kaim's own. In the yellow eyes of the pachyderm demon she could see nothing but resolve and determination, not a single trace of doubt and hesitation. The same resolve and determination she saw when he sacrificed himself for her without a second though. She then remembered the final words he said to her….
"Even covered in blood, you are beautiful….."
Her heart began to beat faster at that moment and suddenly, all of her desires of vengeance vanished from her mind, replaced by only one thought: wanting to know the truth.
She then hesitantly began in a soft voice no longer distorted by anger "K-Kaim….. is it true? Did you really give away your body for me with-"
"Yes. And i would gladly do it again. A million times if i have to." answered Kaim, not even giving Sirene time to finish her question. His heart was now speaking. Those words came right out of it. Words that had been kept back for millions of years were finally being spoken.
Sirene's eyes widenend even more, her mouth hanging at Kaim's words, her heart beating even faster than before. She could only weakly manage "W-why….." her voice getting softer, filling with even more emotion as she awaited the answer.
Kaim finally replied "Because i love you, Sirene. I have always loved you, ever since your birth, millions of years ago. All i ever wished for, was to see you happy. It does not matter to me wheter you love me or not but know this: i will always be there for you. I will always be at your side. And this time, nothing will keep us part. Never again." his voice absolute and heartfelt, confessing his feelings for her once and for all. As soon as those words were spoken , a gentle wind began to fill the air, the grass and the leaf of the trees being gently moved by its breeze, under the bright moon.
Sirene's heart finally sank at those words. He loved her. All this time, Kaim had always loved her. And she had been completely oblivious to it. And what happened next changed everything.
Tears began to fall out of Sirene's blue eyes as she finally realised it. She had used him for her own selfish desires. Her battle against Devilman were merely driven by lust, by her lust for Amon, her friend. She had been blinded by her own pride, by her feelings towards Amon. She had betrayed Kaim and his love. How could she have done this? How could Sirene, mightiest, most beautiful and noble of all demonesses have done such a thing?
Akira's eyes widened and it took all of his might not to gasp in utter shock. For the first time ever he was witnessing the Demon Bird, the one who had almost killed him, shedding tears of grief. This proved to him once and for all, that there was more to her than he ever thought. He was wrong about her all along.
Meanwhile, Jun's eyes and mouth widened in astonishment. Her former friend was now crying. The sadness, the grief and the sorrow that she had glimpsed earlier in Sirene eyes now was no visible for all to see, no longer held back. Jun instinctively put her hands on her chest, near her heart, which was now beating faster.
"She…. She's crying for him…. She cares about him….. They…. They care about each other….." spoke softly Jun, deeply moved by what she had witnessed, her eyes shaking in happiness. The moment she saw Sirene's tears, she realised that she was wrong about her all along. She was not beyond redemption. She was merely misguided, blinded by her pride and arrogance. For some reason, Jun was glad that she had spared her former friend. This magical moment would have never happened if she hadn't.
"Kaim…" weakly spoke Sirene, her voice cracking even more, tears flowing with even more intensity than before as her heart was being filled with even more sadness and grief.
Not bearing to see her like this, Kaim spoke softy "Sirene….." and slowly began to walk towards her only to stop as the Demon Bird suddenly took a couple steps backwards.
"K-Kaim…. I…... I…." she weakly let out, turning her gaze away from the one who loved her, not managing to look him in the eyes due to the guilt of what she had put him through. The guilt, the regret and the sorrow finally became so much that she coudn't take it anymore.
"FORGIVE ME!" She finally wailed, her voice cracking completely, while covering her face with her right arm, before turning around and taking off, crying even more and flying back towards the forest, eventually dissappearing from the horizon, screaming in grief and sorrow all the way.
Akira, Jun and Kaim watched as the Demon Bird dissappeared among the trees in silence with the latter closing his eyes and lowering his head towards the ground.
(Soundtrack ends)
The pachyderm demon coudn't believe it. It really happened. His beloved Sirene had opened her eyes. She had finally seen his love. She had been spared from the embrace of death. He had never been so happy before in his entire existence. Fate had truly given him and Sirene a second chance. And now, he will fulfill his dreams once and for all.
He was pulled out of his thoughts by Akira coming up to him on his right. Kaim then turned towards him and spoke "Devilman….. No... Akira. Thank you. All of this would not have happened if it wasn't for you. You will forever have my gratitude for what you have done for me on this day." his voice full of utter joy and gratefulness. Fate truly had been a strange mistress this time: the one who once was his enemy, after becoming his ally, had now reunited him with the woman he loved, even standing up for him and defending his feelings. Now he will forever stand by his side in the future, should the flames of battle and war rage on again in this world.
Akira smiled happily before replying "Well, what are you waiting for? Go to her. She needs you." in a soft tone while putting his right arm on Kaim's armored shoulder.
Kaim didn't need to be told twice. He replied joyfully "I will. Be safe, Akira. May we meet again." bidding farewell, before running away, dissappearing in the forest.
Watching as Kaim dissappeared in the forest, Akira spoke happily " Who would have thought. Still can't believe it all ended peacefully." while crossing his arms. That went even better than he expected. For a moment, Akira thought that it was hopeless, that Sirene would have never listened. It was only because Kaim managed to arrive in time that this extraordinary event had come to pass. Now they were even. Akira looked forward to what the future had in store next. Perhaps, just perhaps….. Sirene would finally let go of the past and become an ally to him? If one would have told him such a thing back on his original world, he would have just laughed it off. But now? Even something as absurd as that could have become a reality.
But then….. at that very moment…
"Akira…"
(Ost: "Pathos" = Devil Lady soundtrack = /hollowuo/devilman-lady-ost-aisyuu )
Akira gasped as soon as that beautiful voice filled his ears. Even though it was slightly deeper and more demonic, it was still just as beautiful as it was the first time he heard it. He had almost forgotten about her. He then turned around and immediately stopped, his heart beginning to beat faster.
"Jun…" was all he could let out, his voice and his eyes as gentle as the breeze of the wind that was blowing at that moment. It took all of his might not to gasp in awe and wonder. Even in her demonic form, Jun was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Everything about her appearance enthralled him. The bat-like wings on her head, larger than his own, made out of her dark brown hair, which left her with shoulder length hair, her beautiful golden cat-like eyes, her muscular, amazonian but at the same time athletic and voluptous phisique (including her breasts) , the fur on her forearms and lower legs, the red markings underneath her eyes… such features should have made her monstrous, inhuman, frightening. But in Akira's eyes, they only served to make her even more beautiful.
Jun's lips parted from each other in utter disbelief and awe. The one in front of her, slightly taller than her, looked almost exactly like her. She still coudn't believe that the handsome, powerfully built devil in front of her was Akira, the same kind, brave and compassionate young man, who had spent time with her, pulling her out of her depression.
Akira braced himself as Jun slowly walked towards him, stopping just half a meter before him, her golden eyes meeting his black eyes. For the first time in who knows how long he was afraid, not because his life was at risk, but because he didn't know how Jun would have reacted.
But then Jun hesitantly lifted her right arm and slowly placed her furred hand on Akira's left cheek. The moment her surprisingly soft, furred hand caressed his cheek, all of Akira's fear vanished from his heart. He then closed his eyes and welcomed the warmth of the fur, like a cat or a dog would at the patting of its owner.
And as Jun's hand caressed his cheek, every doubt in the Devil Lady's mind vanished and her heart began to beat faster in happiness. She then put her other hand on Akira's right cheek and spoke "It's you….. it really is you….." her voice full of joy, her beautiful golden eyes shaking passionately, having finally realised that the one in front of her was in fact the same young man who had brought back happiness in her life.
"Jun….." replied softly Akira, after reopening his eyes, a single tear of joy falling from his left eye, causing Jun to gasp slightly. His voice, despite being deeper and demonic held the same cheerfulness, kindness and compassion that brought her so much warmth. She then watched as Akira gently placed his left hand on Jun's right wrist before slowly moving her hand on his chest, above his heart to further prove who and what he was. Jun's eyes and mouth widened even more. She felt his beating heart. The heart of a human.
"You….. you're like me…" was all Jun could manage, her voice full of awe and disbelief, her eyes once again meeting Akira's own. He was just like her: a Devilman, a devil with the heart of a human. He had retained his humanity.
"Forgive me." spoke softly Akira after closing his eyes again. He then reopened them before continuing "I'm sorry you had to find it out like this. I just….. didn't know how to tell you…" shame and guilt being clearly heard from his voice, while slightly lowering his head. Deep down, he knew that this moment would inevitably have come. He just wished it could have happened under different circumstances.
"I…. i don't understand….." replied hesitantly Jun, in a still bewildered tone. while slowly removing her hand from Akira's chest. "Why do you look so much like me?" she asked, still in awe at Akira's physical appearance.
Akira, realising that the inevitable moment of truth had arrived, asked " Do you have time?" earning a nod from Jun. Understanding that she was all ears he spoke "Good, cause it's gonna take a while. It's a long story…"
(Soundtrack ends)