Chapter 25: It Begins

Takeshi woke up with a start, panting heavily, getting into a semi-sitting position and clutching his throat with a hand, the pain of being strangled still etched in the back of his head. His breathing then turned back to normal as he recalled what had happened.

"Damn Vulture Beast. Didn't even give me time to kick his ass." he spoke to himself, remembering all too well how that burly man in a maintenance uniform transformed into his true form and swiftly snatched him by the throat, not even giving him time to ask who the hell he was before choking him until he lost consciousness.

But as he was recalling what happened…...

"Thank goodness you're alright."

A beautiful and relieved feminine voice pulled him out of his thoughts. Immediately Takeshi turned his head to the left and gasped in surprise. Beautiful scarlet eyes, dark green spiky hair and elf-like ears. He immediately recognized their owner.

"Mico? Is that you?" He asked dumbfounded while the beautiful girl sitting in front of him on her knees nodded with a smile.

"Didn't expect to see you again so soon." she replied casually, trying to lighten up the mood of the situation at hand.

Before Takeshi could reply, he noticed his new surroundings. Nothing but dark grey walls around him as well as a as a grey floor. The only thing that wasn't grey was a see through metal gate not unlike those used in prison cells.

"Where are we?" he asked in confusion and worry before getting up and rushing towards the metal gate. Mico immediately stirred up and gasped in distress as soon as Takeshi sprinted towards the gate.

"Wait! Don't touch-" she began in concern but it was too late. As soon as Takeshi touched one of the bars of the gate, he was electrocuted. Luckily due to his ability to manipulate electricity he wasn't hurt too much. Still he grunted slightly in pain and withdrew his now slightly scorched hand.

"The fuck is this?!" he exclaimed out loud, still clutching it. He then quickly noticed that there were also many other rooms in front of the one he was right now, all of them with the same metal barred gate. He began again in bewilderment "What the…..."

In response Mico got up, came towards him, put her right hand on his left shoulder and answered before he could finish speaking "It's useless. That burly vulture imbued every single gate with his lightning. Though from the looks of it, it doesn't seem to hurt you too much." relieved to see that Takeshi hadn't been too hurt by it.

"Yeah i can control electricity too but it's….." began Takeshi, recovering from the electrocution only to cut himself mid speech and gasp in shock "Wait…" he began again, this time turning towards Mico "Did you say vulture?!" he asked in disbelief.

The dark green haired girl, clad in burgundy simply nodded before stating "Yeah. That jerk was the one who brought you here. This is their hideout." with a hint of vexation in her voice, causing Takeshi's eyes to widen in shock. It was not a coincidence.

"No….. it can't be….." he began, his voice faltering at the realisation that he had been captured by them. How could he have been so careless? He should have known from the start that the murder of the day before was their doing! But no, he had carelessly told Akira about them and this was the result. Now surely they were going to use him to lead his friend into a trap.

Mico watched in concern as Takeshi turned away from her, checked his pockets and realised that he no longer had his phone. He then angrily balled up his hands into fists, lowered his head downwards and yelled in frustation to himself "Dammit! How could i have been so stupid?! I should have known they would have used me to lure Akira out!" having realised that he had been captured for the sole purpose of luring his best friend out.

Mico's concern turned into utter shock and disbelief, her scarlet eyes and her mouth widening as soon as Takeshi pronounced that name. At that moment she thought that she had misheard. The young man in front of her coudn't possibly know the same person who rescued her from the Demon Busters and gave her a reason to live and fight.

Or did he?

She had to be sure. So she came at his side again and hesitantly asked "You…. You mean Akira Fudo?"

Takeshi immediately gasped in incredulity and turned back towards Mico, his brown eyes meeting her scarlet ones again. He then asked in disbelief "You…. You know him too?!" clearing away all of Mico's doubts and causing her to gulp.

She then nodded in sadness before answering "He…. He was the one who gave me my purpose, my reason to fight. If not for him i would have never accepted what i am." while lowering her head downwards, taking her eyes from Takeshi's gaze.

The brown haired beast could only listen in astonishment, not believing that the beautiful girl he met two days ago also knew his best friend. His eyes then widened in realisation before he spoke "That's….. that's why you were looking at me like that when we first met….. you thought i was him due to how similar we look…." earning a nod from her. But if she knew Akira, who came from another world and thanks to him she had accepted who she was…..

Takeshi's jaw dropped in shock as he remembered that in spite of her inhuman appearance, Mico did not smell like a beast. Rather her scent resembled that of Akira a lot. Then it dawned on him.

"M-Mico….. You…. You come from…" he began, his voice faltering before the beautiful girl in front of him closed her eyes and declared "Yes, Takeshi. I am a Devilman, just like him and i do come from his world too. In fact i was a member of his army, the Devilman Corps."

Takeshi could only listen speechless at the revelation and at how sad Mico sounded. And upon seeing her body beginning to shake upon recalling all the pain, the sadness and the sorrow of everything she went through, Takeshi instinctively put his hands on her shoulders, calming her down, before he spoke "He…. He told me everything. How the humans massacred each other in his original world out of fear that they were demons. How he gathered every single person who was like him and waged war towards the demons until both races were wiped out. Until he…" he stopped as soon as Mico reopened her beautiful scarlet eyes. They were filled with much sadness, sorrow and grief. The same emotions Takeshi witnessed in Akira's eyes the day after he and Takae had welcomed him in their house.

Mico could only watch as sadness filled Takeshi's eyes and face before, much to her surprise, he spoke "Mico….. Y-You too….." saddened at the realisation that much like Akira, she had died. Mico weakly nodded, her eyes beginning to blur with tears upon remembering everything she went through, from her transformation into a Devilman, to the many long days of torture by the hands of the Demon Busters and finally, her death in the final battle.

Upon seeing a few tears leaving her eyes, Takeshi pulled Mico in a deep, caring embrace, wrapping his arms around her back, causing her to gasp and her eyes to widen. Then he spoke heartily "I'm sorry….. i didn't know….. that you had been through so much…" while pulling her closer to him. He was almost heartbroken to find out that such a cheerful and optimistic girl had been through the same pain Akira and many others had.

"T…. Takeshi…" hesitantly called out Mico, her eyes softening, her heart warmed by the amount of affection he was giving her before she returned the hug while smiling soothingly at him, her tears having dissappeared. This was only the second time someone had shown her such warmth after Akira saved her, carried her in his arms and brought her to her new home, to her new family.

The two Devilmen remained like that for what seemed like minutes before they pulled out of the hug. Mico smiled soothingly at Takeshi before declaring "It's okay. I may have been through a lot but what matters is that i'm here now."

The brown haired beast could only stare in amazement at how beautiful she looked and how kind she sounded. Heartwarmed, he smiled at her before he turned around, headed towards the wall before sitting on the ground and leaning his back on it, while declaring in a serious tone "Nobody should ever experience what you, Akira and countless others have been through simply due to what you have become. It pains me to know that once again, you've been hurt just because of what you are."

In response Mico smiled even more at the beast's concern for her, before coming at Takeshi's side, sitting near him and replying "Don't worry, it's not as bad as it looks. Compared to what i've been through before, this is nothing. But you're right, nobody should ever be judged and mistreated simply by what they look like. Akira taught me that."

Heartwarmed to know that Mico shared his same ideal, one he was willing to fight and die for, Takeshi cheerfully replied "Yeah. He may be a show-off sometimes, but i've yet to meet someone with a heart as golden as his. And i'm sure he will come to rescue us, just like he did the first time he met me."

Mico's eyes widened slightly in surprise before she asked in curiosity "He saved you too?"

Takeshi nodded happily before replying "Yep. My girl and i were taking a walk in the park when suddenly a demon attacked us. I tried to fight him off but i was no match for him. Luckily Akira just happened to be in the right place and at the right time. As a reward we welcomed him in our house, tended to his wounds and our friendship began from there." with a happy smile on his lips.

Mico simply listened as Takeshi recalled those events. She coudn't help but smile at the admiration and respect that could be clearly heard from the brown haired beast's voice. It warmed her heart to know that after losing everything, after dying and being reborn in a new world, Akira was still able to find new friends.

But before she could reply…..

"Oh my….. I didn't know how brave and selfless he was." came a demonic, feminine voice from the cell right in front of their own, having overheard the conversation of the two devilmen.

Startled, Takeshi turned towards where the voice came from and asked "What? You know him too? How did y-"

Noticing the surprise and uneasyness in his voice, Mico placed a hand on his shoulder and interrupted him "Relax, she's a friend. She's the only company i've had ever since i was captured two days ago." she declared cheerfully, causing Takeshi's eyes to widen again.

"You've been here for two days?" he asked after regaining his calm, earning a nod from Mico. They then turned back towards the cell in front of their own, trying to spot the owner of that voice but it was too dimly lit.

"That's right. And i could say the same about you Mico. I would have lost my mind after four days locked here alone with no food and water if it wasn't for your company." spoke the demonic voice again, while suddenly from the dark, a pair of piercing yellow eyes with a slit pupil, resembling those of a cat appeared. This was all Mico and Takeshi could see of the owner of the voice, given how dimly lit the cells and the corridor were.

"And as for your question big guy, yes, i did meet Akira on the streets a week ago. Bumped into him while i was going to meet my boyfriend. He seemed such a kind and handsome young man. I wonder what that hunk looks like in his true form…..." answered the demonic, feminine voice with interest, surprising Takeshi. Apparently Akira had a bad habit of just bumping into other people on his walks. Also, the owner of that voice seemed to hold Akira in high regard despite having met him only once, a week ago and not only that, she was even curious to see what he would look like in his true form.

"Yep. It's just like him, show-off attitude and all. I guess he just has that effect on people." mused Takeshi to himself in his mind with a sweat-drop. He then put his thoughts aside before saying "Your boyfriend must be very worried about you then." in a concerned tone towards the owner of that voice, shrouded in darkness.

With a saddened sigh, the voice replied "Yes… i don't even want to imagine how poor Paz must be feeling right now…."

Mico then with an encouraging smile chimed in "Don't worry, Akira will come and save us. I know he will." earning a serious look from Takeshi's face.

"Yeah, those creeps made sure of that, trust me." he began grimly, knowing all too well, why his phone was no longer with him "Let's just pray to all that things will turn out okay." he concluded, hoping that his friend would be okay.

Meanwhile

Akira and Jun, now in their Devilman forms, had arrived in the woods of the Nagano Province after 15 minutes of flight and now were standing on a rocky formation in the midst of one of the several valleys of the province. It was now the mid afternoon and the skies were cloudy.

While stopping to get a better look at their surroundings, Jun took a moment to stare at the beauty of the landscape, admiring the tall, snowy mountains and the green forest of tall trees standing before them. It woudn't be long now before it would start snowing since December had just arrived by a couple of days.

"What a lovely view. It takes me back to when i was younger, living in the countryside." mused Jun, in her mind. Despite having become adjusted to living in the crowded streets of the capital of Japan, Jun still looked back very fondly to her early childhood, spent in the countryside, in particular whenever she would visit her grandparents and even the time she spent giving that girl Chiyoko company. In truth, she was wondering how that girl was doing.

Akira, on the other hand, was less than enthusiastic. Folding his arms and sighing, he declared "Talk about searching for a needle in a haystack. Doubt we'll be able to find where those scumbags are hiding before nightfall." his voice dead-serious.

A worried look formed on Jun's face at how serious her boyfriend sounded. She then looked into Akira's black eyes and proposed "We could just fly all over the place. That way it would take less time."

"And risk being spotted right away? No, it's better if we walk under the cover of the trees for now. That way we'll stay undetected for much longer. And remember, we don't even know how many of them are waiting for us. Let's proceed with caution for now." declared Akira, after turning towards her, his eyes meeting her golden ones. He already knew that they were outnumbered two to one by Satoru's four enforcers and he didn't even know how strong they were. For that matter, he didn't even know how truly strong Jun was compared to him. Sure, they could probably easily handle the lesser beasts that served him but he had also allied himself with the demons. And he had no idea which ones. The best course of action for now, was to remain as hidden as possible while at the same time, searching for the hideout and coming up with a plan to possibly infiltrate it without being spotted. Those 20 years of war taught Akira that just charging blindly sometimes would do more harm than good.

Jun was surprised to hear just how calm, calculating and astute he sounded. Then she remembered that apparently, the war between demons and devilmen lasted 20 years. While she had been the Devil Lady for just more than a year, Akira had at least 20 years of experience under his belt. And he was right. The last time she had tried to face all four of the Crusaders at once in her desperate attempt to rescue Kazumi from them ended with her being overwhelmed by fire, ice, lighting and wind, pinned on the wall of the Tsukuba Island skyscraper's penthouse by Izumi's ice shards and being tortured right in front of Kazumi's eyes. It was only because of her former lover awakening as a beast and carrying her away from harm that she survived that night. And while she still didn't know how strong Akira actually was compared to her, judging merely by the outcome of that battle, she doubted he would fare any better than how she did, alone against all four of them at the same time.

And that was only his four elemental bodyguards. God only knew how many lesser beasts were at his command, not to mention how many of those demons he had allied himself with.

Nonetheless, Jun nodded at him before declaring "Then let's not waste any more time. Let's go." in a resoluted tone. Akira simply nodded back and the the couple flew downwards, landed into forest and began to walk through it, eventually dissappearing into it

Umberknowst to them, a seemingly normal black crow had spotted them, apparently minding its own business. But as soon as the couple began to made their way into the forest, the crow cawed before taking off, heading back presumably to its nest.

Meanwhile, at the hideout

(OST: Yu Yu Hakusho misterious unreleased soundtrack = watch?v=YHbbaNQeu08 )

Once again, in the office hall of Satoru's hideout, the young leader of the Crusaders could be seen discussing the latest developments with Atun, still in his human disquise. This time they were accompanied by Kotura who, after assuming his human form again had given his report to his boss concerning the beast he had captured and how he had successfully contacted Atun's rival.

"You have done well, Mister Kotura. Now all we have to do is wait for him and that woman to come here." spoke Satoru, sitting in his chair, congratulating his servant of lightning for having succesfully blackmailed Akira and Jun to seek them out.

With an amused scoff, Atun, sitting on another chair in front of Satoru with his hands clasped in front of him chimed in "So the infamous Devil Lady is also coming here? Interesting. I must confess that i am quite curious to find out how powerful she is."

This earned an amused look on Satoru's face, flashing his trademark sinister smile before he let out a dark chuckle and replied "Hehehe….. I see that she has also sparked your interest, Atun. Could it be because of how similar she is to your greatest enemy?" he asked curiously, wanting to know what sparked the demon hero's interest towards that woman who had refused to evolve.

"I merely want to find out if the legends are true. Ever since my rebirth on this world, i have heard many tales of the so called "Saviour of the Beasts" or "Slayer of the God Child". I am just eager to find out how she measures up, that's all." replied the demon hero with a smile on his lips. Despite his eloquent way of speaking and his ideologies, in the end Atun was a warrior through and through. Battling the strong was ultimately what he lived for. And even though he looked down on humans for their frailty, he harbored no hatred towards them, nor did he desire to bathe himself in their blood. There simply was no satisfaction in slaughtering such feeble creatures.

Indeed, Atun had grown melancholic towards his own strength, for he had grown so powerful that even among his kind, very few demons were strong enough to even make him use more than 50% of his power. Amon was one of those very few individuals. And rather than use his power for the sake of his kind, he sided with those pathetic humans. That was what infuriated Atun, not the fact that Amon turned against his own kind, but the fact that he had done so to protect such weak and fragile creatures. What did he even owe to those worms? What was the point in defending creatures so weak, they needed tools just to mimic a fraction of the power of the demons?

He was pulled out of his thoughts by a crow caw. Turning his head towards the balcony, whose window was opened, he spotted one of Satoru's Guardian Crows morphing from a seemingly normal crow to its true beast form. As it landed on the ground it bowed towards Satoru before declaring stoically "Master. They have arrived. They are now a few miles from our lair."

Satoru, Atun and even Kotura grinned darkly in satisfaction. Finally, both the Demon Hero and the leader of the Crusaders's vengeance was at hand. As the humans would say, two birds had been caught with a single stone.

Eager to fight, Kotura came at his boss's side and declared "Shall i entertain our guests, boss? I would love to fight that woman again." thrilled at the prospect of finally fighting against someone worthy of his time again. As fun as it was to kill those puny humans, nothing excited his blood more than letting his lightning loose on those who could give him a challenge.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm Mister Kotura, but for now let our crows enjoy themselves. Let's see how powerful this Amon truly is. And in the meantime i will send someone else to deal with them. Someone who also bears a grudge against that woman…." replied Satoru, pleased. Before he could get his revenge, he wanted to see just how powerful this Amon was. To do so he will send one of his more "expendable servants" in order to test him.

Satisfied by this turn of events, Atun got up from his chair and declared "Very well. I shall let her know that Amon has come." referring to a very important individual that Atun and Lilith had captured a month ago and were intending to use as an instrument to lure Amon out in battle. Said individual was now held in the tower of the mansion, in a room prepared exclusively for her. Atun went to great lengthts to let no harm befall her during her captivity. After all, she used to be a friend of his, millions of years ago.

Satoru turned back towards Atun and, still with his smile on his lips, spoke "Hehehehe….. You and i aren't all that different Atun. You are willing to use everything to get what you want." amused to see how similar his methods were to Atun's own.

As he began to walk towards the tower of the mansion, Atun glanced back and declared coldy "Do not mistake my cunningness for cruelty. She will serve her purpose. She will be free to do what she wants after i will fulfill my plans."

And with that, he left.

(Soundtrack Ends)