Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Walking down the alleyway, Yuichiro approached the young girl, huddled far in the corner. The baggy shirt hung off her shoulders, grime and dirt sticking to every part of her body. "Hey, time to get up." Yuu sighed as he kneeled down, offering out a hand. "Come on now."

Weekly, the girl lifted her hand, gripping onto Yuu's palm. Yuu tightened his fingers around the little fist, pulling her up. "Wait! Who are you?"

"I'm Yuu. I'm getting you out of here." Yuu grinned, his form changing. Six long, powerful legs reached out beneath him, his back arching as the shadowy, bat-like and hole-filled wings stretched out. His tails lifted up, waving behind him. Lastly, his fur puffed up as it always did after a transformation.

Awing, the girl ran her fingers over Yuu's snout, her mouth agape as she stared into the vivid green eyes. "Woah."

Chuckling, Yuu ducked down, lifting the child onto his back. He took a second to glance back at the body left behind in this grim place before jumping into the sky and away from the smell of death. Leaping over the buildings, Yuu travelled further downtown.

Awing, the kid shifted her gaze, completely taking in the sights in front of her. "This is amazing!" She sighed happily, laying her head down on Yuu's. "Hey, mister? Where are you taking me?"

"I'm taking you somewhere safe." Landing at the familiar building, Yuu let the small girl climb off his back before he transformed back- his hair puffing up just like his fur does as he tried to flatten it. Taking her hand, Yuu led her closer to the figure, waiting. "Sigma." He nodded curtly, stopping as the girl hid behind him.

Sigma- as Yuu called him- lifted his head, a scowl on his face. His long white hair fluttered down, only partially kept back in a high ponytail. Large white wings fluttered around his back, folded down. He was pretty average for an angel. The only thing noticeable about him was the unusual choker-like necklace that he never took off.

"You're late as usual." Sigma took a deep breath, his eyes softening when he spotted the girl. "Hello there. My name is Sigma. I'm going to take you on your final journey." Sigma offered out a hand as Yuu nodded, pushing the girl forward.

"Why can't Yuu come with me?" The girl glanced back as Yuu chuckled, shaking his head.

"Don't worry. Sigma is one of the bestest. He'll look after you." He ruffled the girl's hair, smiling as he stepped back, transforming into a smaller- more puppy-like version of his other form whose fur was puffed up, making him look like a ball of fluff.

Laughing, the girl waved, waving to Yuu as Sigma walked her through the door and out of this plane of existence. Sighing, Yuu stepped away, wandering down the street.

Hundreds of people walked about the bustling streets. It was always noisy. Stupid cities. Scoffing, Yuu walked away, crossing the road as he froze.

"It's back! Get it!"

Yelping, Yuu barely missed the bolt shot at him. Screeching, he rushed away, glancing back at the men chasing him. Filthy humans. Spinning to the side, Yuu dodged the gunshots, his eyes focused as he laughed himself over the wall, landing (a bit messing, though Yuu will never admit that) in the garden on the other side.

"What was that?"

"Stay back. It could be dangerous."

"Who's there?!"

Grumbling, Yuu pushed himself up, glancing past the shed. Humans walked closer. Some older. Most younger.

"It went over this!" The men pulled themselves over the wall, falling onto the ground as Yuu cursed. He jumped back, changing once more as he rushed out.

"It's a kid." The large human lowered her arms, watching the small boy running towards her. "Hey, it's okay."

Yuu took a deep breath, putting on his most distressed voice. "Please help me! They won't leave me alone!" Standing behind the lady, Yuu watched the people who had been chasing him step out.

"Who are you, and why are you chasing this boy?!" The large human scowled as the leader scoffed.

"That is no mere boy. Hand him over, and none of you will get hurt!"

The large human glanced at Yuu before stretching out her hand to protect him. "Never. Mika, get the kids inside now!"

The small blond one grabbed Yuu, dragging him back to the building.

"You'll regret attacking this home."

~~~

Mika stepped closer, placing the glass down on the table. "Hey there. It's okay. Those men are gone now."

Yuu lifted his head, raising his eyebrow. "That so. Guess I should go then." Yuu stood up, stretching his arms above him.

"Wait! It's dinner time. Won't you stay?"

"I only came this way to get away from those men. I'm not looking to make friends." Yuu crossed his arms over his chest as Mika laughed.

"Really? If you don't make friends, then you'll be alone and sad."

"I'm not alone."

Mika tilted his head. "Nope, 'cause we're going to become your friends. Now come and have dinner." Mika grabbed Yuu, dragging him once more out of the room and into the dining hall. The other children had already gathered.

The large human motioned for Yuu to take a seat, sitting next to Mika, who smiled sweetly. "Ah, I'm glad Mika convinced you out of that room-" the lady paused, waiting for Yuu to fill in the blank.

"Yuichiro," Yuu hesitantly supplied, a distrusting glare on his face.

"Well, Yuichiro, I'm glad that you are safe. Tell me, where are your family?"

Yuichiro scowled, scoffing and turning away from the lady.

"I thought so. You know, if you're alone, you're more than welcome to stay here. We're a family, and we'll look after you." Yuu scowled as the lady smiled, watching the food be placed down. "At least stay for the night. It's cold outside."

Yuu said nothing, scowling as the people began eating.

~~~

Groaning, Mika forced open his eyes, spotting the figure walking in the darkness. Pushing himself up, he snuck out of his room, following the figure. "Yuu?"

Growling, Yuichiro rattled the door handle, cursing as he found it locked. He looked around, spotting the window as he stepped closer. Shadows formed around him, whirling until it exploded, and Yuu was gone, a small dog-like form left behind.

Gasping, Mika stumbled out of the shadows, staring wide-eyed.

Yuu jumped up, climbing on the countertop and jumping up to the window, forcing it open. Yelping, Yuu almost fell out the window when he heard the voice from the darkness.

"How did you do that?!"

Yuu growled, stabilising himself. "Don't question it. You weren't meant to see this."

"What are you?"

"That doesn't matter. Go to sleep, Mikala."

"Are you leaving?"

"Yes." Mika lowered his head, letting out a small disappointed noise as Yuu scoffed. "Were you expecting me to stay?"

"No, but… you looked afraid when you were being chased. What if the men come for you again?"

Laughing maniacally, Yuu jumped down, his form changing as he towered over Mika. "You think I'm afraid of them? The only reason I didn't deal with those men myself is because the boss is already pissed at me, and if I killed again, I'll still be on soul duty when your species is nothing but dust. I am a demon. I can destroy this whole building, and none of you could do anything- are you even listening to me?!"

Yuu glared at Mika, looking insulted as Mika lifted his hand, brushing against the fur. "Fluffy," he muttered as Yuu looked more insulted.

"How dare you?! I am a creature of death! I am not some fluffy creature for you to pet- hey! Stop that!"

Yuu backed up as Mika ruffled Yuu's fur, petting the fluffy form as he lifted his hand, running them past Yuu's ear. He yelped in surprise as Yuu's form puffed in smoke, appearing in the smaller form as Mika's eyes sparkled more. He picked up Yuu, petting his ears as he grinned, watching Yuu's tails sway, and a light purr escape his throat.

"What was that about not being some fluffy creature for me to pet?" Mika laughed at the glare Yuu tried to give him. It wasn't as effective when Yuu was only a foot tall. "You know Yuu, I don't think that's why you chose not to fight. It's not cause of some boss ordering you around. You don't like killing, do you?"

"Don't pretend to know me."

"But I'm right?" Mika grinned as Yuu sighed.

"Only half right. Yes, I didn't kill them just because of my boss, but my choice had nothing to do with my conscience. I don't care about killing those kinds of people."

"Then why didn't you kill them?"

Yuu scowled, muttering under his breath.

"And try again, but not like you're talking to mice."

Scowling more, Yuu rolled over, jumping out of Mika's arms and puffing into his small human form. "I did it so you kids wouldn't have to see it." Mika blinked in confusion as Yuu rubbed his arms. "You're all so young. You shouldn't see death yet."

Mika grinned, jumping up and pulling Yuu into a hug.

"Hey! What are you doing?!"

"I'm hugging you silly! You're really cool and amazing!"

Yuu paused, puffing out his chest. "Yeah, I am!"

Laughing, Mika leaned into Yuu's side, an evil grin on his face as he lifted his hand, scratching behind Yuu's ear as he puffed back into his smallest form.

"Hey! Stop doing that!"

"Nope!" Mika picked Yuu up, petting him as he carried Yuu back to the bedroom, putting him down and wrapping him up. "Hey, Yuu. Thanks. For trying to protect us." Mika grinned, petting Yuu's fur as he grumbled, curling up as Mika smiled, returning to his own bed and falling asleep.

~~~

Pushing himself up, Mika looked around the room. "You're still here. I half expected you to run while I slept." Mika leaned down, glancing over Yuu's shoulder. "What you got there?"

Yuu gripped the strange object, taking a deep breath as Mika flickered his gaze over the object. It almost looked like a strange mini skull with black vines wrapping around it, a long black string wrapping around one of the vines and laying against Yuu's hand.

Yuu sighed, turning to Mika. "I'm leaving. I do not wish to stay… but… for you." He held out the weird object, letting Mika take it. "It's called a demon whistle. Angels use it to call upon us when they need us to do something. Whenever you or your family need a friendly neighbourhood demon, blow into it, and I'll come. Goodbye, Mika." Yuu turned around, jumping away and disappearing into the shadows.

"Wait-" Sighing, Mika lowered his head, holding the whistle in his hand. He took a deep breath, blowing into it. Looking up in hope, he sighed when Yuu didn't come back.

"Seriously?! I was barely gone five minutes!" Yuu scowled, his arms crossed as Mika beamed, tackling him into a tight hug.

"It worked!"

"Yeah, but that's not why I gave it to you. It was meant to be for when your family was in trouble."

"We were in trouble. One of our family members was running away." Mika poked Yuu's cheek as he scowled, pushing Mika away.

"Right, call me when you actually need me-" Yuu didn't even get to leave this time as Mika blew the whistle. "Hey! Will you stop that?!"

"Nope. I'm going to keep blowing into the whistle until you stay."

"You can't do that!"

"My demon whistle. I do what I want with it." To prove his point, Mikela blew the whistle, making Yuu cover his ears. He rushed forward, forcing the whistle away from Mika's mouth.

“Fine fine… I’ll stay…”

"Really?" Mika's eyes sparkled as Yuu reluctantly nodded. Cheering, Mika tackled Yuu into a hug, gathering attention from the young children.

"Mika? What's happening?"

"Yuu-chan's agreed to stay with us!"

Gaping, the children rushed forward, laughing as they tackled Yuu into a hug.

"Welcome to the family, Yuu-chan!"

Chapter Text

Yuu huffed as he swayed his foot above him, laying down on the bed.

“Yuu, we’re back,” Mika announced as Yuu sat up.

“Finally,” Yuu grumbled, looking over the bed as he jumped up, switching from his smaller demon form to his child one. The rest of the family all stood in front of him wearing white and black uniforms, collars strapped around their necks, and a pale tint to their skin.

“You look grumpy,” Mika chuckled as Yuu glared at him.

“I don’t like being a prisoner. I especially don’t like being a prisoner in a prison where they don’t even know I exist.” Yuu glared at Mika as he rolled his eyes.

“Would you prefer they knew you existed?”

Yuu’s eye twitched. “I would prefer to kill every vampire here and leave.”

“I thought you wouldn’t go all demon-y around children.” Mika grinned as Yuu sighed, crossing his arms.

“Then I guess I just have to wait until you’re all asleep.”

The kids laughed as Yuu softened. He helped the kids sit down and read the few books they were allowed to have. Yuu made no comment when Mika slipped out, leaving him and Akane to cook dinner and put the younger ones to bed.

Only Yuu was awake when Mika gave back. He watched Mika slip, treading quietly as he scoffed. “I know you snuck out, Mika. No point trying to hide it.”

Mika paused, glancing at Yuu. “I’m not hiding anything.”

Yuu raised his eyebrow. “Right. Where have you been?”

Mika smiled mischievously. “Last time I checked, you weren’t the boss of me.” Mika swung the demon whistle around his finger as Yuu chuckled.

“Last time I checked, that didn’t make you the boss of me.”

“So you wouldn’t care if I used it?”

“Go ahead. Sigma’s been ringing that thing for the last few years straight.”

“He’s still trying to get in touch with you?”

“He’s still trying to control me. Absolute asshole.” Yuu paused as he sighed, leaning against his hand. “But none of this answers where you were?”

Mika grinned, motioning for Yuu to come down to the lower level and away from the kids. “I went to see Lord Ferid.”

“You did what?!”

“Shush, do you want to wake everyone up.”

“Mika, Ferid is insane. Why would you go near him?”

“He takes a bit of my blood, and we get better food; it’s simple, really.”

“It’s dangerous. Ferid is a greedy bitch. He would drain you dry.”

“You make it sound like you know him.”

“I do. From a long time ago.” Yuu shook his head. “This is insane. Don’t go next time.”

“It’s fine; besides, we need it.”

“No, we don’t. We can have a better life without risking yours. I can sneak out, get food, provide for you.”

Mika smiled softly, his eyes growing sadder. “And how quickly will they catch you.”

“I’m better than you give me credit for.”

“I know, but you have a different role. Someday, we’ll beat the vampires. We’ll never give in to them. You’ve said that so many times, Yuu, and to be honest, it gives me a little,” Mika drifted off as water fell from his eyes, “hope.”

Yuu’s eyes widened in horror. “Mika, what’s wrong? Seriously?! What did they do to you?!”

Mika laughed, sticking out his tongue. “Just kidding. Did you really think I’d cry? Like really?” Mika leaned closer as Yuu scoffed.

“Well, you’re a human. Humans have pathetic emotions.” Mika scoffed as Yuu huffed. “Still, are you seriously okay?”

“No, not really. But! I’m no wuss who just lets vampires suck his blood for free. Not the Great Mikela.” Mika reached into his uniform, pulling out a gun with a grin.

“Where did you get a gun?”

“I swiped it from Ferid’s mansion. Here, you can have it.”

Yuu raised his eyebrow. “I’m good with my flute.”

Mika did not look impressed, pushing the gun into his hand. “Take it. It’s nothing compared to this. Take a look.” Mika pulled out a map and held it out for Yuu. “It’s not just any map. It’s a map that shows the exit from the vampires’ underground world into the human world. This is the real reason I got so close to Ferid. His mansion’s huge, though, so finding it took a lot of time. But now I’ve finally gotten what I was after. So we can run away. Tonight.”

“We can go!” Yuu grinned. “Do you have a plan?”

“Of course I do. I’ve plotted everything out. See, while a certain meathead was busy hiding away and reading, I did tons of preparation.”

“I am not a meathead, and what’s your plan about the virus?”

“It doesn’t affect anybody under 13, remember? I’m still only 12. So we have a whole year to figure something out. With the two of us- no, with the whole Hyakuya Orphanage family working together, we’ll figure something out.” Mika grinned widely as Akane sat up in her bed.

“What are you guys doing?”

Yuu sighed. “You’re going to do it regardless. Fine. Let’s do it.”

“Great! We’d better get moving. Akane, wake everybody up right now. We’re gonna escape from this world!”

~~~

Yuu kept his hands in his pockets as he followed Mika, keeping the group together. “Y’know, I was nervous at first, but we’re already at the gate. Is this really the exit?”

“Yes. According to the map, at least,” Mika stared at the map as he frowned. “I guess the vampires never expected we’d try to escape because of the virus.”

“Still, we’re so close.”

“Barns aren’t high-security places either, but the livestock doesn’t try to escape.”

“You’ve never seen Angel Cow.”

Mika ignored Yuu. “We aren’t livestock. I, in fact, am a genius,” he laughed as the younger ones cheered. “I guess this means everybody in the whole orphanage is a genius then. Parenthesis except Yu, end parenthesis.”

“You didn’t need parenthesis for that,” Yuu muttered. “C’mon. Let’s go.” Yuu passed, turning around as he heard a familiar sound.

“I have been waiting for you, my poor little lambs.” Ferid stood above the family as he smiled. “Yes, that look. That expression on a human’s face, the instant hope, turns to despair. That is why I’ve played this little game.”

Yuu growled, stepping in front of the kids. “Freud.”

Ferid’s eyes lit up as his grin widened. “Can it be, Xizal? Is that you?”

“Fuck off. These humans are under my protection.” Yuu swung open her arm when Ferid shot past him, picking up Fumie and sucking the blood out of her neck.

“Oh dear, I drank too much. It’s dead already.”

Yuu stared in horror as he began to growl, his body changing as he let out a raw. He slipped into his full demon form as he charged at Ferid.

“Well, now, is that ash I see.” He jumped over Yuu as Yuu roared, a salt pillar appearing out of nowhere and stabbing through Ferid’s arm. “Now, that’s just rude, Xizal. I thought you knew angels aren’t allowed to interfere. Maybe that’s why you fell.”

“Ferid, leave now, and I will spare your pitiful life.”

Ferid smiled. “Your kind does not get to make demands.”

“Mika, take the family and go. I can smell the wind. The exit is real.”

“Of course, it is real. If you run straight down this hallway to that giant door, you will exit into the outer world. Should you make it, I will have a difficult time following. As you walk the thin line between despair and hope, I wonder what your voices will sound like when you scream.”

Yuu growled. “Everyone run! Sprint to the exit. I will hold off this bastard.” Yuu glanced back before he froze. The younger members were staring at him in horror, stepping back from him.

“They’re afraid of you. You’re the monster scarier than their captors.” Ferid shot forward, slicing off the head of the first child he reached. Yuu gritted his teeth, charging at Ferid, failing to hit him as Ferid danced past him, killing the next person he found.

“Stop! Please stop,” Mika screamed as his family died in front of him. Yuu sunk his teeth into Ferid’s shoulder as he grabbed him, throwing him across the room and into a wall, breaking it. Instantly, Yuu’s form shifted, becoming a smaller beast as he fell to the ground, black blood pooling around him.

“Yuu,” Mika whispered, walking towards Yuu.

Yuu forced open his eyes as he pushed his feet under him and forced himself up. “Mika. Go.”

Mika chuckled, shaking his head as he pulled the whistle off his neck, wrapping it around Yuu. “I’m sorry for keeping you here so long. Thank you for everything.”

“What are you doing?”

Mika took the gun out, smiling softly as he walked away. “When you can, go. I’ll bring Ferid’s attention. You leave.”

“Why? Why are you doing this?”

“Isn’t that obvious? We’re family.” Mika turned away, charging at Ferid as he laughed.

“Mikaela, your blood was particularly tasty. Thank you for the delicious treat.”

Mika raised the gun as Ferid knocked his arm away, stabbing through his chest. Mika coughed, blood splattering over Ferid. He gritted his teeth, pointing the gun back at Ferid, about to pull the trigger when Ferid chopped off his arm.

Yuu rushed across the space, holding up his arm. “Die.” The salt pillar shot out, bursting through Ferid’s head, holding up his body as he went limp and dropped Mika. “Mika! Mika!”

Mika weased, trying to breath. “Go Yuu. Follow the map. The exit is right there.”

“No. I’m not leaving you behind. We’re going together.” Yuu reached under Mika’s arms. “My family has the best healers. We’ll heal you.”

Yuu froze as guards shouted, footsteps echoed along the corridor.

“Go, hurry. Don’t waste our deaths.”

“I don’t want to. You’re my family. I finally found a real family. I can’t leave you.”

Mika glared at Yuu, pushing him away. “Get out of here! You idiot!”

Yuu wiped his eyes as his human body fell away. The demon stood in his place, glaring at Ferid. “You have made an enemy today. I will kill you and everything you hold dear.” Yuu turned away, running down the exit. As he got to the exit, he returned to human, staring down at the city. “I will have my revenge.”

“Is that so? I hope against the vampires,” the man grinned as he walked up to Yuu.

“Who are you?”

“I am Guren.”

Chapter Text

Yuu glared out the window, ignoring the teacher at the front of the class. He was a demon older than the human record. It was an insult to be in this class.

“Can anyone answer? What about you, Hyakuya?” The teacher glanced at Yuu as he huffed, ignoring the man and looking out the window. “Hey! Don’t take that attitude with me, young man. I was letting you off easy because you just transferred here, but if you keep up that behaviour, I’ll see you expelled?”

Yuu smirked. “Doesn’t matter to me. Your classes are basic anyway.”

The teacher began to shout when someone poked Yuu’s back. A girl pointed at her book, lifting it up for Yuu to read. ‘I am Shonoa Hiragi. I am an army surveillance officer.’

Yuu raised his eyebrow. “Guren sent you.”

‘Should I see you display uncooperative behaviour, I will report it to the army, and your suspension will be extended.’

“I ain’t suspended.” Yuu leaned against his arm. He was offered a job in the army defending the perimeter, mostly against the four horsemen. That was also an insult.

“Cooperate,” Shinoa ordered as Yuu tutted, glancing at the teacher but not paying any more attention than he had before. “Incidentally, the army is aware that you lack any shred of cooperative spirit. Thus, it was decided that your suspension will remain in effect until you make ‘friends’ here at the civilian school. Good luck. Try to make lots of friends, okay?”

~~~

The bell rang as the class finished. Students laughed, making their plans as Yuu ignored them.

“Wait for me, everyone. I want some yummy ice cream tool,” Shinoa sang teasingly. “That’s your line. It’s not too late to chase after them.”

“Who do you think you are? We just met, so quit acting so friendly.”

“L.T. Colonel Guren told me something. He said that when you were a child, your entire family was slaughtered by vampires. And that is why you refuse to get close to anyone. You’re afraid to lose someone again. So don’t look for friends or romance because you’re too scared.”

Yuu growled, grabbing Shinoa’s shoulder. “Don’t talk about somebody’s past right where anyone could hear you. Instead of lecturing me, go tell that smug bastard to put me in a vampire extermination unit right now. I’m strong enough.”

“That’s preciously what the L.T. colonel expected you to say, so I was told to give you this. Here you go.” Shinoa handed Yuu a letter as he read it salty.

‘Sorry, Kid. The army doesn’t have any use for virgins who are too scared to work in a team, make friends or date. If you want to, then make a friend at that school and introduce them to me. I’m not holding my breath.’

Yuu let out a growl, hitting the desk and sending it flying across the classroom, much to Shinoa’s surprise. “Everybody thinks they can make fun of me!” Yuu started shouting curses in a dead language that Shinoa didn’t understand but was willing to guess it included a lot of swearing.

As he began to calm down, he let out a frustrated sigh and was about to leave when someone was pushed through the classroom door. “Please stop,” the boy cried out as the bullies stood in the doorframe.

“Stop what? You’re makin’ it sound like we’re picking on you or something. But we’re just asking a friend to buy us drinks, right? So what’s with the attitude?”

Yuu huffed, turning away and heading to the other door. “Peace. I’m going home.”

“That’s your reaction? You’ll never make friends like that,” Shinoa muttered as he rolled his eyes.

“Besides, you came to us begging to be friends, Yoichi. If you wanna be one of us, be our beast of burden.” The bully kicked this ‘Yoichi’ in the head, pushing him around as Yuu let out an annoyed sigh.

“Yo, I think that’s enough.”

“Who are you?” The main bully asked harshly as the others gathered around her.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! What have we here, guys? Are you trying to play superhero, man?”

“Or what, is this your way of volunteering to take Yoichi’s place?”

Yuu huffed. “You losers are so easy to understand. Here.” Yuu reached into her bag, pulled out a wad of cash, and held it out. “Fuck off, and it’s yours.”

“I don’t think Guren would appreciate to know you’re bribing your classmates.”

“This isn’t a bribe. Call this me making friends, and then you can fuck off too.”

The lead bully took the cash before glaring at Yoichi and walking away. As they left, Yoichi pulled himself off the ground. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“It’s fine. It’s fake, and they won’t be allowed to spend it.”

Shinoa gave Yuu a disapproving look. “And why do you have counterfeit cash on you?”

“I thought I told you to fuck off. I’m going.” Yuu turned away, walking into the corridor as Yoichi followed him.

“Wait, why did you help me at all? You must have plans for that money.”

“Not really. It’s a way to pass the time. They’re not even good copies, but I’m not like my brother; I can’t just do art.”

“You have a brother?”

Yuu gave Yoichi an annoyed sister. “He’s gone.”

“Oh.” Yoichi awkwardly glanced at the ground as he followed Yuu. “My sister is gone too.”

“That so.”

“It’s why I was hanging around Yamanaka.” Yoichi glanced at his hands as Yuu gave him an odd look. “I wanted to ask him a favour, so I asked him if he’d let me be his friend.”

“Must be important to put up with that dick.”

“I tried to get into the imperial Demon army, but I failed the application test. I really want to join. Yamanaka said he was joining that one famous unit. The vampire extermination unit called the Moon Demon Company.”

Yuu let out a loud laugh. “No, he didn’t.”

“What?”

“He is not the type that Guren would let in. I’ve seen those recruit, and they ain’t allowed to be bullies.”

Yoichi stumbled over his words. “But I really wanted to ask him if he could get the demon army to let me retake the test. I really want to get revenge for my sister.”

“Revenge?”

“Yes. My sister died protecting me from vampires. I was too scared to do anything. I regret every minute of it. I regret not having the courage to go save her.”

Yuu slapped Yoichi, making him startle and holding his head painfully. “Idiot. What’s the point of that? If you’d tried to save her, you would’ve died too. What you did wasn’t wrong.”

“But…”

“No buts. Oh, and give up on getting into the army. Because really, your sister doesn’t want revenge.” Shinoa looked at Yuu as he grumbled. “Besides, a wimp like you would just be in the way.”

Yoichi stared in shock as Yuu walked away, not getting more than a few steps, when an explosion echoed out behind them.

Chapter Text

"Emergency. Emergency. Attention all students and faculty. A vampire has escaped from the nearby laboratory. Repeat: A vampire has escaped." The voice echoed around the school as Shinoa gaped.

"What? What is a vampire doing here?"

"All students and faculty must evacuate immediately. Vampires regain strength by drinking human blood. If sighted, do not approach it."

Yoichi gaped, holding his stomach fearfully. "There's a vampire here?"

"Both of you evacuate! I'll notify the Moon Demon Company," Shinoa ordered as Yuu growled.

"No. I'll kill that vampire." Yuu rushed off as Shinoa stared in shock.

"Come back here! Hyakuya!" Shinoa watched Yuu disappear as she sighed. "That idiot."

~~~

Yuu took a deep breath as he walked into the classroom. The vampire crouched on the teacher's desk, holding a classmate in her arms. At the side of the classroom, Yuu spotted the bully from earlier.

"Vampire, leave here under the order of the Kanphorat."

The vampire froze, lifting her head before she laughed. "You think your human companies mean anything to me, filthy bug."

Yuu sighed, shaking his head. "You must be young, low rank. Not important at all."

"Shut up." The vampire snarled as Yuu pulled a flute out of his pocket.

"Guren always says I need a demon blade, and Mika gave me a gun, but personally, I always just liked my flute." Blowing into the flute, a single sound resonated out as the ground under Yuu began to shift. Suddenly, the salt pillar shot out, piercing through the vampire's arm and ripping it out of her shoulder.

The vampire let out a scream as Yuu began to play a tune. Salt bubbled under the girl the vampire had drank, sliding her away from the vampire. "Yamanaka! Grab the girl and get out of here. I don't care if you were lying about the army; get her out of here, or you're not worth anything."

Yamanaka stumbled, not finding his words. "How are you doing that?"

Yuu rolled his eyes before he grinned, showing off his sharp teeth. "What? Never met a real demon before?" Yamanaka let out a scream, running off without the girl. "Well, that was pointless."

The vampire huffed, holding a pole. "So you're a demon. I thought you lot were forbidden from interfering."

"No, that's a common misconception. After all, we're the ones who broke all those rules, to begin with; think we care about them now?" Yuu blew another note as the salt charged at the vampire.

Prepared this time, she broke the salt and pushed forward as Yuu jumped back. The salt bubbled, spikes shooting out and aiming at the vampire who broke through them each. Yuu slid back, the salt piercing through the vampire's leg as she screamed. She jumped back as she gritted her teeth. The wound wasn't healing.

"Enough with the games. You will save no one, boy." The vampire turned to the girl, grabbing her head. "Once I drink her blood, I will recover, and then you will be no match for me."

Yuu blew the note as the salt shot at the vampire. Before it could stab her, Yuu stopped it, for Yoichi tackled the vampire to the ground.

"Yoichi? What are you doing?"

Yoichi glanced back at Yuu. "Hyakuya! Kill it- quickly!"

Yuu snapped a sword of salt off the ground, pointing it at the vampire. "Goodbye, vampire." Stabbing through her heart, Yuu watched the vampire scream, turning to black salt before disappearing in the wind.

Yuu glanced at Yoichi before he sighed. "You shouldn't have done that."

Yoichi stood up, patting the salt off. "Do they normally do that?"

"When stabbed with my sword. You shouldn't run after a vampire without a plan. You need a demon weapon."

"That's a demon weapon."

"No. This is salt."

Yoichi opened and closed his mouth as Yuu picked the girl up and walked away. Yoichi followed closely behind as Yuu walked outside. He instantly spotted Guren and his squad standing across from the school.

"Ah, there you are. Are you really that dumb? People can't kill vampires with normal weapons, not without anti-vampire spells on them," Guren stated as Yuu huffed.

"I keep telling you that's not the only way to kill them."

"Right, right. Your flute."

Yuu huffed, giving the girl as he prepared for Guren to dismiss him.

"He's telling the truth," Yoichi interrupted. "I saw it. That flute turned the vampire to salt."

Yuu blinked, startled as Guren gave him a look. "I didn't tell him to say that."

"Right, where really is the vampire."

"He's actually telling the truth," Shinoa interrupted. "After warning you, I went looking for him. I didn't see the whole fight, but I saw the vampire die."

Guren's subordinates muttered amongst themselves as Yuu huffed. "So you believe her and not me. Thanks for that."

Guren sighed, turning away. "Well, then, good job."

"Is that it?"

"Yes. You still have yet to make a friend, so nothing has changed."

Yuu let out a frustrated grown, glaring at Guren as Yoichi stepped closer. "I'm his friend."

Guren blinked as Yuu coughed. Shinoa grinned herself. "I think this means you have to make good on your promise, L.T. Colonel."

"Aw, really?"

~~~

Yuu sat in his room with a huff when he heard the knock on the door. "Who is it?"

Shinoa walked in, hesitating as she approached him. "I need to talk to you."

"Is that so?" Shinoa pulled out a chair, sat down, and put her hands in her lap. "What do you need?"

"Yoichi doesn't understand much about vampires or the weapons required to kill them, but I do. You can't have killed that vampire with a flute, so how did you do it?"

Yuu paused before he sighed, reaching into his pocket. "Guren already knows all this, but when I escaped the vampire village, I found this flute. When I play it, I can create salt and manipulate it as I wish."

"Prove it."

Yuu chuckled, leaning against his hand. "I'm not a trick pony. I don't just use it."

Shinoa stood up, holding her hand out as a weapon appeared. "Now you."

Yuu shrugged, standing up as he played a soft tune. Shinoa's eyes widened. It didn't remind her of any human music she remembered from her childhood. She wondered if it was music from the vampire village. Around Yuu, the ground bubbled as a salt-made rose grew out of the ground. Yuu kneeled down, plucking it and handing it to Shinoa.

The second she touched it, the rose disintegrated and turned to salt grains.

Shinoa closed her eyes. "Not a very careful cursed weapon."

Yuu smiled. "It's much more useful than your thing, but Guren doesn't see it."

"You've never shown him that?"

"He's never asked for a demonstration." Yuu put the flute away. "Are you satisfied?"

"Yes. For now."

"Do you think I'm working for the vampires?"

Shinoa frowned. "No. The thought occurred to me, but I don't think the vampires would bother sending someone with a flute as a weapon."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Shinoa smiled slightly before she left Yuu alone. As she walked away, she kept wondering where Yuu had even learnt to play the flute.

Chapter Text

“Yuichro Hyakuya?” The girl stood in front of Yuu, holding a letter in her hands. “You saved me from that vampire. Thank you so much!” She took a breath before thrusting out her hands. “I love you! I wrote down what I felt in this letter. Please read it.”

Yuu gently took the letter before he sighed. “Listen, I’ll read it, but I have no interest in girls.” The girl stepped back awkwardly before she ran away. “Not that I have any time for this nonsense.”

“My, my, now that you’re the ‘hero’ who saved the school from a vampire, aren’t you the popular one,” Shinoa joked as she walked onto the roof. “Is she the next one you’re going to make cry, then?”

Yuu huffed, crossing his arms. “I haven’t done anything that’s wrong.”

“True virgin. Virginity is a ‘bad thing’ these days. Every day, we of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army encourage couples to come together. The world has already ended once. It was ravaged by an unknown virus. Now, the human population has been reduced to a mere fraction of what it once was. Beyond those walls lie blasted wastelands and crumbling ruins overrun with monsters. Monsters appeared suddenly and killed more people. This world of ours no longer welcomes humanity.”

Yuu said nothing, finding it slightly ironic that Shinoa was giving this speech to one of the monsters Japan had feared for so long.

“We of the Japanese Imperial Demon army are bringing the remnants of humanity together to reproduce so that we can take over the world. Breed for us, civilians! Multiple! Make more babies for the sake of the Demon Army. Long live premarital and illicit relationships.”

Yuu gave Shinoa an odd look as he sighed, leaning back against the wall surrounding the roof. “You can stop that and tell Guren to stop trying to pull that stuff with me. I have no interest.”

Shinoa shook her head. “And that’s why he keeps trying.”

“Shinoa, I have a question for you. I was assigned to a vampire extermination unit, right? So what am I still doing at this dumb school?”

“Ah, that? Please feel free to direct any complaints to the LT. Colonel.”

“I would if he were ever at the army’s offices. I can’t complain to a guy who’s never there.”

“There is little point in yelling at me, I’m afraid. Besides, your training as a member of the extermination unit has already begun.”

“It has?” Yuu did not believe that.

“Yes, you are, this minute, already in training to receive the thing your heart most desires.”

Yuu gave Shinoa an odd look. “I’m pretty sure I don’t have a heart.”

Shinoa chuckled, ignoring the statement. She pulled out a small trinket, swinging it around her, and the demon blade came out, bursting with fire. “This is the Demon I made a contract with. Its name is Shikama Doji.”

Yuu blinked. “That is no demon.”

“Jealous because I have actually useful Cursed Gear.”

“Hardly. That’s not a Demon. You can feel a demon from 200 meters away. That is an ex-vampire. Very different, and you shouldn’t call it a Demon.”

Shinoa chuckled. “Ex-vampires are demons.”

“Not even close. If you want to get technical, they’re actually called,” Rin proceeded to say something in Latin that Shinoa didn’t understand, “which roughly translates to the starving ones. While demons or,” he said another word Shinoa couldn’t understand, “are the fallen ones. They are completely different.”

“Well, in this world, ex-vampires are demons, and the demons you talk about are fairytales.”

Yuu’s eye twitched, resisting the urge to tell her he did, in fact, exist.

“Listen, the point is that to kill a vampire, we need cursed gear and since you refuse to show Guren that little flute of yours in action, he has to prove you won’t get possessed the second you go near a demon, which is why you’re here.”

Yuu gave her a look before he glanced at Shinoa’s scythe. “Is this you trying to kill me because that won’t cut it. My ‘little flute’ could beat that thing in a heartbeat.”

Shinoa let out a harsh laugh. “No way.”

“Shall we put it to the test?”

Shinoa grinned as she twisted the blade around her. “Shi, smack that idiot for me, would you?”

The ‘demon’ shot out of Shinoa’s blade, charging at Yuu as he pulled out his flute. He made a single note as the salt bubbled around Yuu, a single spike shooting up at Shikama. Its eye widened as it skidded to a stop in front of the salt, making Yuu grin.

Almost fearfully, Shikama returned to the blade at Shinoa’s side as she gave Yuu an odd look. She was about to ask what happened when the doors were kicked open. Yoichi ran onto the rough, two boys behind him. “Help me, Yuu!”

“Geez, Yoichi. Are you letting yourself be bullied again?” Yuu stepped in front of Yoichi, still holding his flute in his hand.

“Yoichi, wait for us,” a boy shouted as he came to a stop. “Yoichi, we heard you were assigned to that elite vampire extermination unit.”

“We’re really sorry we picked on you, Yoichi. Please make us your disciples.”

Yuu let out a sigh, putting his flute away. “Well, this is your problem, not mine.”

Yoichi stared at Yuu in despair as the boys turned their attention to him. “Oh hey, it’s Yuichiro! I’m Yamanaka! Satoshi Yamanaka. You saved my life during that vampire attack.”

“I don’t care.”

Shinoa watched, amused. “Goodness, he’s certainly made a lot more friends.”

Yuu rubbed his eyes as he looked over the boys. “Aren’t you two those losers who were bullying Yoichi just the other day? What gives you the right to bed to be his disciples?”

Yamanaka stumbled over his words. “Y’see, we’ve got this really major problem right now and-” Yuu cut him off.

“So as soon as there’s a problem, you bow to the guy you used to spit on? Geez, you delinquents don’t have much pride.”

“Don’t be so hard on them, Yuu,” Yoichi said as Yamanaka shook his head.

“He’s right. After what we did, we don’t really have the right to come asking favours. But Yuji- Yuji’s our friend- he went into the forbidden chamber and hasn’t come out.”

“Forbidden Chamber?”

Shinoa suddenly turned to the group. “You guys trespassed in one of the army’s class-1 restricted zones, didn’t you?” The boys once again stumbled over their words. “I’m not interested in your excuses. I expect he went in there on some foolish dare or another, correct? Unfortunately, anyone caught entering that restricted zone is severely punished.”

“Then Yuji…”

“He’s likely been arrested. It is possible he’ll be executed.”

“You can’t mean,” the boys shared a horrified look. “But you guys are part of the army’s elite now, right? Can’t you save him?”

“No, we can’t. Give up on him.”

Yuu frowned. “Say, when was this?”

“About an hour ago.”

Yuu grinned, clicking his fingers together. “I knew I sene something. There’s a demon in that room.”

Shinoa gave him a look. “I thought you didn’t call those demons demons.”

“I call actual demons demons. The one I sensed earlier was definitely a proper demon. Probably a G18 or something.”

“G18?” Yoichi looked at Shinoa for guidance as she shrugged.

“No idea.” Shinoa paused as she sighed, seeing the look in Yuu’s eyes. “Fine, come with me.”

“Wait, are you going after Yuji,” Yamanaka asked as Shinoa gave him a cold look.

“No.” And then she left, Yuu and Yoichi trailing behind her.

Chapter Text

Yuu chased after Shinoa as they walked through the corridors of the school “And you say I have no social skills.”

“We can’t have them following us.” Shinoa led the ground underground, taking long, long steps. “In the old days, an enormous tunnel system was built under Shibuya to control the River’s floodwaters. Now, those tunnels are the army’s training grounds. No, let me be truthful. This entire school is a training ground for the army. We keep demons in the basement. Any student who can tolerate the aura they admit without going mad is recruited. In other words, this ‘school’ is nothing more than one giant human experiment. Don’t tell me you actually thought that a ‘normal, peaceful school’ could really exist in this insane age.”

Yuu gave Shinoa a look. “All I got from that was more evidence. You guys have no idea what you’re dealing with. Real demons can hide their aura.”

Shinoa gave him a sharp look as she came to the door. “Beyond this point, only those people summoned by us or by the demons are allowed to enter.”

“Then Yuji was,” Yoichi drifted off as Shinoa nodded.

“He wasn’t summoned by us. Which means his heart was probably devoured by a demon.”

“What happens when a demon eats your heart?”

“You become something nastier than a vampire. You turn into a mindless man-eating demon.” Yuu crossed his arms hotly, glaring at Shinoa and biting his tongue. “To face demons requires careful training. Especially of the heart. Today, I will show you how terrifying cursed gear can be.”

“Enough, I’m done listening.” Yuu walked to the door, ignoring Shinoa’s call for him to stop as he walked in. The room was covered in weapons, mostly ex-vampire in nature, but on the other side of the room was the aura Yuu felt. In Yuji’s hand was a true demon blade. “That,” he drifted off with a smile.

“Wait, Hyakuya. Observed from a distance. Don’t approach him. The extermination unit will send backup.”

Yuu ignored her, running at Yuji.

“Yuu, stop!”

Yuu jumped at Yuji, kicking him as he turned to face Yuu, standing his ground. Yuu jumped off the cursed axe, ducking down as he swept his leg around, kicking out Yuji’s knees. As the boy fell, Yuu grabbed the axe, and everything went black.

Yuu was standing atop a cliff, much younger than he was now. Around him, crowds gathered, watching him judgingly. Chains were wrapped around his next and hands, and a blade was pointed at his head.

“For your crime, you are being banished from our ranks to never be seen again. May this display show others about the lost causes that is this child and the others like him. Break our laws and examples will be made of you.” The leader glared at Yuu, which wouldn’t normally affect him but it was hard to ignore a glare from a thousand eyes. “You will burn like all those before you since the first of your kind. You will suffer like those who do not understand the consequences of their actions. You will be alone, shackled to repay your crime. As it has been since the first, Lucifer.”

The crowds shouted out words, spitting on him and throwing rocks. Amongst the crowds, three people walked out. A small girl, maybe 8 stared at him with angry eyes, while she held onto a boy a year or so younger. The boy glared at him as well, mouthing hatefilled words. “Leave! I never want to see you again murder!”

Lastly, was the man who ignored both children to glare at Yuu, stumbling out of the crowds with angry eyes. “How could you do this? After everything! You’re a failure, a disappointment, a curse on our existence. Say soemthing, Xizal!”

Yuu sighed. “That is not my name, and if you want to trick me, don’t use such an old memory.” The colour faded from the dream, plunging Yuu back into the white. Across from him, a demon was tied to the groan, covered in chains. “Hello, Orak.”

The demon looked up with a shaky smile. “Hello, Xi.”

“That was pretty mean of you. I doubt you’ll like me to show you your banishment.”

Orak opened and closed her mouth. “I’m sorry.”

Yuu sat down, taking in Orak’s appearance. She was a child, thin and looked cold and tired. “This isn’t right. You shouldn’t be here.”

Orak chuckled. “I am to be used by the humans as they wish. That is my punishment.”

“You aren’t a clock. You’re meant to be used. You’re being starved.”

“Hungry.” Orak lowered her head. “Is my punishment over? Has it been long enough?”

Yuu didn’t respond, shuffling closer and hugging Orak. Orak couldn’t hug back, restrained by the chains.

“I’m so hungry.”

~~~

Yuu sat up slowly, a deep frown on his face. Yoichi and Shinoa blinked, moving away slightly and letting him sit up fully. “I don’t believe it. You managed to come back on your own.”

Yuu gave her a look. “Of course. It wasn’t even in question.” Yuu sighed, looking at the axe cast to the side. “Shinoa, I need you to turn around.”

“Why?”

“Plausible deniability.”

“What?”

Yuu smiled. “Trust me. I’m not gonna run.”

Shinoa shared a look with Yuu before they both turned away. Yuu held his hand over the axe, whispering a few words in a language neither of them recognised. Then he stood up. “Right, let’s go.”

Shinoa and Yoichi shared a confused look, glancing at the axe but finding no difference. Not wanting to stay anyway, they followed behind him.

Orak smiled as she watched from behind a pillar, untethered from the blade. Free, she walked out the room, invisible to the humans as she walked along the roads and the destroyed cities. She could not go home and she had no place with the humans anymore. Shifting, she became her true demon, a large black bird with a hundred eyes and ash wings. Taking off, she flew over the earth, searching for a new home.

The vampire sat on the edge of cliff, holding his sword in his hand when he felt a twitch. He looked up but saw nothing.

“Mika, oh Mika!” Ferid burst through the door dramatically. “Ah, so here you are again. Have you heard? It seems they have finally found him. The one you have been looking for all these years. Your precious darling angel. As we thought, he is being used by some very nasty humans. I speak of, Yuichiro Hyakuya.”

The sword was at Ferid’s throat the second he finished but he barely blinked.

“Now then, how will you continue your stroy? Mikaela Hyakura.”

Mika didn’t respond, glaring at Ferid with dead eyes.

Chapter Text

Yuu hopped around the school, taking the smaller demon form as he phased through the physical plane and watched the students. He paused, glancing at an odd teen with bleached hair. “Why the fuck are you bleaching your hair in the apocalypse?”

The boy stopped, turning around as Yuu hid behind a door, going quiet until the teen left.

~~~

“You’re late,” Shinoa announced as she walked up to Yuu and Yoichi. “The day has finally arrived.”

Yoichi grinned, his eyes sparkling. “Yeah, it’s finally here. Today, we finally start training classes for the moon demon company.”

Yuu rolled his eyes. “It’s still a school.”

“Come on, let’s go. I will show you where the classroom is.” Shinoa smiled as she led the boys around the school.

“Oh boy, now I’m really starting to get nervous,” Yoichi bounced slightly as Yuu shook his head.

“What for?”

“We’re going to the training classroom for the Moon Demon Company. Only the most talented people in the whole army get to be part of that class. Not only that, we’re transferring in the middle of a semester. Maybe they won’t like us. Maybe I’ll be bullied again.”

“The army isn’t that big a deal. All the armies are the same regardless of their belief in power. And the army doesn’t like bullies, so I wouldn’t worry. You can just threaten them. Or get me to. I’ll protect you.”

Yoichi blinked in surprise. “Yuichiro, you’d do that for me?”

“Of course, I would. C’mon, Yoichi.”

Shinoa rolled her eyes as she opened the door. “Excuse us. I brought them as you asked L.T. Colonel Guren.”

“Oh? Good. Okay, listen up. The reason that I, your homeroom teacher, decided to grace you all with my presence today is because we have two transfer students.” Guren glanced over the class, ignoring Shinoa as she spoke.

“You know, homeroom teachers typically attend their classes every day.”

“You shut up. Anyway, here they are. Yurichiro Hyakuya and Yoichi Saotome. They’re the idiot and the crybaby, respectively. As of today, they’re joining your class.”

You grumbled, giving Guren a side-eye. “Why are you calling me an idiot?”

“It’s the truth, isn’t it? Now introduce yourselves or whatever.”

Yuu sighed, glancing over the class. “Yeah, I’m Yurichiro. I’m being forced to do this class by the man next to me who keeps running away from me when I try to talk to him. This is Yoichi. If any of you try to mess with him, I will make your lives a living hell without ever once breaking the rules or leaving evidence.” Yuu gave the class a demon look before he turned to Guren. “Was that good enough?”

“No, it was not.”

Yuu huffed, giving him a look. “Why? I did you stupid personal growth stuff.”

Guren gritted his teeth before he kicked Yuu. “Stop questioning me.”

“But you don’t make any sense!”

“And don’t threaten your classmates!”

The class watched the fight in horror, taking a moment to glance back at their own problematic student.

“That’s enough. Sit down, fool. Oh, you need a seat, uh,” Guren paused, looking around the class, “there.”

Yuu huffed, walking to the seat Guren had pointed out. Someone had their feet on his new seat. “Hey, could you take your feet off? Are you even listening?”

“What are you bitching about? Is it lunch already?”

Yuu felt he practised incredible restraint as he pulled his chair out from under the boy and pushed the table back.

“What the hell?!”

“You don’t get to be an asshole just because you’re a dick. Respect your surroundings.”

The teen did not appreciate that. “How about you fuck off?”

Yuu and the teen began to shout at each other as Guren watched in despair. “What’s with them? I did make Kimizuki go through the friend-making routine in the regular classes, right? With you watching him.”

“That you did, sir,” Shinoa agreed simply.

“The results.”

“As you can see, sir.”

Guren let out an annoyed sound. “Do your job right, would you?”

“I watched him very closely, sir. In fact, this morning, Shiho Kimizuki came to the outer halls so he could test the strength of Yuichiro Hyakuya, the vampire killer.”

“And did you break them up?”

“Nope. He didn’t find Yuu.”

Guren wasn’t sure if he should scold her or not. Instead, he focused on the problem kids. “Knock it off.” He kicked Yuu and Kimizuki to the ground.

“Yuichiro,” Yoichi ran over as Guren huffed.

“Leave ‘em. We won’t get anything done in class with them conscious. The cursed gear aptitude test is coming up in a week. It’s been a while, but I guess I’d better teach you guys something, eh?”

Yuu huffed, sitting up angrily before sliding into his seat as the class continued to stare in despair.

~~~

Kimizuki gritted his teeth as he walked around the corridors, leaving his meeting with Guren. He didn’t get it. He didn’t understand Guren. He stopped when he heard soft music echoing along the walls.

Frowning, he followed the sound to an abandoned classroom. Yuu stood in the centre of the room, playing a flute as Shinoa and Yoichi watched him. Yuu huffed, lowering the flute.

“Is something wrong?” Shinoa tilted her head innocently as Yuu gave her a look.

“I don’t like it.”

“Well, I’m sorry, I don’t know what vampire flutes are like.”

“It’s not a vampire flute.”

“I don’t get why I can’t just use the flute I always use.”

“You’re not even meant to have that. We should probably confiscate it before it possesses you.”

“You can try. I’ve summoned it from a different country before. No box you have is gonna stop me.”

Shinoa did not look impressed. “Well, I can look again, but this is what you’re stuck with.”

Yuu looked at the flute he had been handed, frowning deeply. “I still don’t like it.”

“Just be glad no one’s calling you a traitor for playing vampire songs.”

“They’re not vampire songs.”

“They’re not human.”

“I think they’re beautiful,” Yoichi interrupted as Yuu raised his head.

“If you didn’t, there would be something wrong with you.”

Kimizuki had no idea what he had spied on as he walked away, playing the conversation over and over in his head.

Chapter Text

“Okay, everyone. Starting today, we will be running practice tests to assess your abilities in preparation for next week’s cursed gear aptitude test. But remember, if you don’t do well on these, you won’t get to take the real test. Do your best,” Sayuri finished as Yoichi glanced at Yuu.

“Do you think we’ll do okay?”

“If you think negatively, you won’t pass,” Yuu muttered as Sayuri continued her explanation.

“Today’s practice test will be done in pairs. It’s training for work in tandem. You must fight together to defeat the battle dolls I send out. The quicker you beat them, the more points you receive. Okay, everyone, partner up. Once you find someone, come to the front.”

Yuu blinked as he sighed, about to ask Yoichi to join up when Shinoa beat him to it. She pushed Yoichi away, leaving Yuu alone as he huffed. He glanced around the rest of the class, but the only other person free was the asshole Kimizuki. “Oh great, it’s you.”

“How did I get stuck with that loser,” Kimizuki muttered as Yuu took a deep breath.

“Can you fight?”

“What kind of question is that?”

“A necessary one. If you prefer, I could probably just pick you up.”

“What does that mean?!” Kimizuki went to grab Yuu when the handcuffs came out of nowhere.

“Seriously, Sayuri?” Yuu shot Sayuri a look as she chuckled.

“Okay, everyone. It looks like you’ve all found a partner. Now, make sure you all have your handcuffs on and cooperate with each other to defeat the battle dolls. Oh, and by the way! Those handcuffs are set to stay on until you’ve beaten at least one doll.”

Yuu clicked his tongue. “I hate these fucking handcuffs.”

“Ready? Good luck.” The dolls rise from the ground before they shoot into action, attacking students.

“Looks like they’re just some of the army’s cursed puppets,” Kimizuki analysed as Yuu frowned.

“I hate the curses. At least they aren’t fast.”

“Yeah. Let’s break ‘em already and get those points.” Kimizuki pulled Yuu in one direction as Yuu gritted his teeth, pulling him back.

“Don’t just run off. Make a plan first. If we-” Yuu couldn’t finish when Kimizuki shouted over him.

“Stay out my way. I won’t take orders from a vampire spy.”

Yuu frowned. “I hate the vampires, so I don’t know where you’ve got that from.” Yuu paused, glancing up as he pulled Kimizuki out of the way as a doll struck down. “Listen, as I said, I could easily just pick you up, but Guren has forbidden me from doing that, and Sayuri always tells him if I disobey, so how about we figure out a plan that doesn’t involve me losing my food privileges.”

Kimizuki rolled his eyes, pulling Yuu to one side again as Yuu huffed in frustration.

“Excuse me, ma’am! Is there a ‘Kimizuki’ here,” A soldier shouted as he ran into the training grounds.

“Kimizuki, come to the infirmary right away. Your sister is in critical condition,” Sayuri shouted as Yuu paused, looking at Kimizuki unsurely.

“You have a sister?”

“Shut up. Forget about it. Concentrate on what’s in front of us. We have to break those dolls.”

Yuu was not impressed. “I’m going to get in so much trouble.” With little problem, Yuu picked Kimizuki up with unnatural strength.

“Put me down!”

“Nope. You’re going to see your sister. This test does not matter.”

“Yes, it does! I have to get good grades here. I need the points. And so do you. Screw up here, and you’ll never get into the Moon Demon Company.”

“Are you stupid? Who cares about points? This is your family we’re talking about. If they die, then you’ll never forgive yourself. Besides, I’m not giving you a choice. Sayuri, I’m taking Kimizuki to see his sister. Tell Guren, k?”

Yuu walked away, still holding Kimizuki above him. As they approached the infirmary, Kimizuki sighed. “You can put me down.”

“Oh, right.” Yuu struggled, carefully putting Kimizuki down and letting Kimizuki see his sister. Yuu stayed quiet as Kimizuki checked her over. She was covered in spells and curses. The doctor and Kimizuki spoke, but Yuu didn’t say anything.

~~~

“Well, good to hear she pulled through,” Yuu muttered as they walked across the campus.

“This is your fault. Because of you, my grades dropped. I won’t get to fight in the moon demon company, and without that, there’s no saving my sister.”

“What are you talking about?” Yuu grinned as he resisted the urge to laugh. “Have you ever met Guren and his ‘Demon Moon Company’? Half of them are idiots who failed at least one subject. Besides, Sayuri will explain it to him. He’s going to find your dedication to your sister more valuable than any test. Loyal, integrity, self-sacrifice, all that stuff he shouts at me for.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You have connections.”

“Connections? I am a vampire farm refugee who mostly speaks in a language no one here understands. My connections don’t matter here. Guren chooses the people he wants on a whim. I could have just as easily ended up wandering the wasteland with my flute, unable to do anything. Besides, family is much more important than the army. If you truly fail to get in, I’ll have your sister treated instead. Least I can do if this really just destroyed your options.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“I’ve heard that before. My brother was pretty sick as well.” Kimizuki gave Yuu a look as he smiled. “He lived, but there was a long time in our childhood when we thought our little brother died. Shame he grew up to be an asshole, but what can you do? It’s what happens when you get raised by an asshole.”

Kimizuki sighed. “I don’t get you. You’re too relaxed.”

Yuu hummed. “I’ve already survived the worst thing that can happen to a person. Everything now is just an extra.”

“Bold statement.”

“Not really. I lost everything. I know that pain and I have no regrets. Every time I feel that pain again, it hurts, but I don’t regret it. Even with my last family, I lost them, and I’m still angry, but I never regretted staying with them. When your sister survives, you’ll be glad of all the pain of exams and studying.”

“You’re such a pain, you know that?”

“I’ve been told that before.”

~~~

Yuu made his way around the school, keeping out of sight as he let himself walk around as a demon. That was until he spotted Guren. Turning back to human, he let out an angry shout. “There you are, you smug bastard. How dare you go awol for ten days without a word.”

Guren chuckled, not being bothered in the slightest. “Seriously?”

“Yeah! You promised me a place in the army! Not more school.”

“You’re as transparent as ever. After all those mind-numbing politics, it’s kinda amusing.”

“It’s not amusing. And Shinoa keeps threatening to take my flute away.”

Guren snickered to himself before he took a deep breath. “Tomorrow. How’s that sound about making your contract with a demon? Once that’s done, off to the lines, you go.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, let’s do that. Who cares if your training is done or not. It’s your own stupid fault if you die, understand?”

“Not possible.”

“You really are dumb, you know that. One more thing, Yuu. No shouting at a superior officer.” Guren kicked Yuu as he let out a pained sound.

Chapter Text

“Okay, everyone. I’ll return your graded Spellcraft exams, and that will be it for today. The results of these tests are factored into what rank cursed gear you will be assigned. So look over what you did and try to fix your mistakes for next time.” Sayuri handed out the papers as Yuu sighed, glancing across the results.

“Oh, wow, who thought an idiot like you could get those grades,” Shinoa muttered, leaning over Yuu’s shoulder as he rolled his eyes.

“I’ve had a long time to learn it.”

Shinoa chuckled before she paused. “How come your Japanese spellcraft is so much worse than the rest of your grades? You slacking?”

“Shinoa, I know seven languages. It is not my fault that Japanese is the latest one. Regardless, spellcraft is unnatural. No one should be able to use that stuff. It’s why the world ended up like this in the first place.”

Shinoa rolled her eyes. “But you’re okay with your flute thing.”

“That is different!”

“Sure, sure.”

Their conversation went quiet as Kimizuki snatched Yuu’s results out of his hands. “How did you get that low a score on your Japanese?”

“It is my seventh language! I’d like to see you know that many.”

Kimizuki raised his head smugly, holding out his results. “From the right, Latin spellcraft, English spellcraft, Japanese spellcraft.” On all the papers, he got a 100 as Yuu gritted his head.

“I see you’re failing maths because three, not seven.”

“Guys, cut it out,” Yoichi called out weekly as Sayuri also tried to gather their attention.

“What’s going on? Is there always some ridiculous racket going on here?” Guren gave Yuu an annoyed look as Sayuri smiled widely.

“L.T. Colonel Guren! You’re back from the Demon Army’s Officers’ Meeting.”

“Hi, Sayuri. I’m back. So what’s going on?”

Sayuri glanced across the room as Guren looked over Yuu and Kimizuki. Yuu had resorted to shouting at Kimizuki in an ancient, dead language no one understood. Yuu paused, meeting Guren’s eyes. “One second Kimizuki. You’re fucking late, Guren. We have an appointment, so why can’t you ever be on time?”

“You shut up,” Kimizuki snapped, pushing Yuu back. “I’ll talk. L.T. Colonel, sir. Why did you abandon your class to go awol for ten days? If you have any explanation, I would like to know. I believe we are fully prepared to make our contracts with demons, sir.”

Guren chuckled. “So you runts think you have what it takes to make contacts?”

Yuu hummed. “Of course.”

Guren turned to Sayuri, ignoring Yuu and Kimizuki. “Well? I read the report, but do you honestly think these kids can resist demonic temptation?”

“Well, at the very least, they’re both stronger than I was at sixteen.”

“And the others?”

“Oddly enough, Yoichi Saotome is far more stable than the others.”

Guren grinned, looking at Yoichi through Yuu and Kimizuki. “Okay, well then. I can’t stand formal stuff, so maybe I’ll just test them myself.” Guren reached for his sword as Sayuri and Shinoa both jolted. “If you die, it’s your own fault for not training hard enough.”

Guren stabbed the ground with his sword as the evil aura filled the classroom. People fell to the ground as Yuu tensed, swearing under his breath. “K’thaeia.”

“My heart, it feels like it’s being crushed.” Kimizuki stumbled as he gripped his chest. Yoichi was left unaffected, Shinoa stayed focused, and Sayuri struggled against the pressure.

“They're all done.” Guren put the sword away, looking around the classroom. “Okay, everyone’s who still conscious, you have potential. Keep your training up, and someday, you may be able to make a contract and earn cursed gear. Those of you who are still standing you are the elite. You’ll try for the gear the same rank as mine. Black Demon series gear right now. So, the ones I see standing are Yuu, Kimizuki, Yoichi-” he paused, spotting Shinoa- “why didn’t you pass out when you were supposed to?”

Shinoa laughed easily as Guren sighed.

“No wards at all, and you made it look so easy. As expected of a Hiragi, the family that leads the demon army. That’s so un-cute, you know.”

“What? Just look at how cute I am.”

“Die.”

Shinoa laughed again when Sayuri stepped forward. “L.T Colonel Guren, I know you always give out crazy tests like that, but I’m not sure it’s wise to let Yoichi try for the Black Demon series.”

“You got a problem with my decision?”

“No, no problem. It’s just Yoichi’s heart that is very stable, but I’m not sure it’s strong enough to accept the demon.”

“If you’re not strong enough, you die. That’s the way the world works now. We aren’t holding hands and playing house here.”

Shinoa stepped in, meeting Guren’s gaze. “But the demons do hate weaklings, sir. Yoichi will be possessed and-”

“Shaddap, already. Yoichi, you want to get revenge for your sister’s death, right? You’re willing to put your life on the line for it, right? Or will you give up? If you’re too, you can leave. That’s okay.”

Yoichi couldn’t find an answer as Yuu sighed. “Yoichi, leave. Nice guys like you shouldn’t be here.”

“I agreed with him for once,” Kimizuki added. “You should leave.”

“But,” Yoichi stumbled, thinking back to that night. “L.T Colonel Guren, sir! I’ll do it! I want more power. I want enough so that I’ll never lose anybody important to me again.”

Yuu sighed softly as Guren nodded. “Good. Then, let’s get going. It’s time we started the contract ceremony.”

~~~

“Here we are.” Guren led the boys and Shinoa into an odd room with statues in front of different circles, each holding a weapon.

“What are those?” Yuu nodded at the statues as Guren grinned.

“What you want most. We store the weapons with the highest-rank demons sealed inside them here.”

Yuu frowned, looking around the room. Of the 8 statues before him, only three had actual demons in them. “Unnatural,” Yuu muttered, giving the non-demon statues a dirty look.

“These are all part of the black demon series. Enough talk. Let’s get started. I don’t have all day to hang around with you a lot. Pick out whichever weapon you lie to and step into the spell circle. When you touch the weapon, the ceremony will start automatically. If you don’t let the demon get the better of you, their power is yours.”

Each of the boys walked up to a weapon as Kimizuki glanced back. “And if we fail?”

“You’ll turn into a man-eating demon, or the demon’s power will crush you. Either way, you’re dead. Because if you turn into a man-eater, I’ll kill you myself.”

Yuu rolled his eyes, turning back to the sword before him, reaching out his hand. “That’s fine, it won’t happen.”

Guren shook his head. “Idiot.”

Yuu took the sword, drawing it out of the statue. In a flash, he was in an olden town; people were shouting, dragging a woman into the town centre. She was covered up with a head scarf covering her head and face. Yuu watched the woman being brought onto a wooden platform.

“I didn’t do it! Please! Let me go!” The woman cried as she looked through the crowd. “Someone, help.”

Yuu sighed, walking through the crowd. “If you want to get my heart, show me a memory I actually regret.”

“But don’t you see, even if you don’t regret it, you’re still angry.” The woman looked at Yuu. “If I had done anything else, it wouldn’t have happened. Or if the men hadn’t accused me, you wouldn’t have had to act- or even better, if humanity didn’t exist at all.”

Yuu looked at the woman before his eyes widened.

“After all, they took me from you. It’s their fault. You lost everything to them. The noisy, angry beasts who shouldn’t have ever left the farms. It’s their fault.”

Yuu took a deep breath. “That is enough.” With a flick of his hand, the illusion was stripped away. “A word of advice, when you do this stuff, don’t piss the person off. I may not be a sword, but I can swallow you whole.” The dark aura filled the space as the demon in Yuu’s sword appeared before him.

“Alright, I’m sorry.”

Yuu’s aura calmed down as he approached the demon. “What’s your name?”

“Asuramaru.”

“I am Xizal, the demon of Salt, a fourth-gen as old as this age of the world. I am going to hunt the beings who killed my family.”

Asuramaru watched Yuu in interest. “You’re not permitted to interfere with the lives of morals. You could start another war.”

“Then so be it.”

Asuramaru grinned. “I was wrong about you. You’re not angry at humanity. You’re angry at the angels, aren’t you.”

“Will you help me or not?”

“I will.”

Yuu smiled, offering out a hand and pulling Asuramaru up. “Good. You and I are going to do great things.”

“That we are.”

~~~

Yuu woke up with a snap, sitting up from the circle as Guren gave him an odd look. “How’d it go, Yuu?”

“Perfectly, of course.”

“Quit trying to act smug. You took way too long to subdue that thing,” Kimizuki grumbled before he glanced at Guren, who shrugged, walking off.

Yuu glanced at Kimizuki’s dual blades as he rolled his eyes. Kimizuki didn’t even have a demon in his sword. “How about Yoichi?”

Kimizuki couldn’t respond when an explosion sounded out from behind them.

“Well damn. I guess Yoichi wasn’t quite strong enough after all. Still, a two-out-of-three success rate with the black demon series is pretty good.”

Yuu gulped, looking at the statute that was destroyed. Yoichi had managed to pick one of the demons.

“Okay, you two have your cursed gear now, so here’s your first official Moon Demon Company Mission. Yuu. Kimizuki. Look at the ceiling. There’s a man-eating demon up there. You two go kill it.”

On the beam, Yoichi grinned as he glanced down, holding a bow in his hands. “Dangerous humans. I’d better kill them all.”

“Yoichi!”

Chapter Text

Yoichi drew back the bow, raining the powerful arrows down on Kimizuki, Yuu and Shinoa, who had to jump out of the way as the ground exploded.

“Oh, I guess demons are pretty strong even without human greed to eat,” Guren muttered as he hit away the arrow aimed at him.

“L.T. Colonel. If I might give you my opinion,” Shinoa shouted as Guren tutted.

“Nope, don’t care.”

“But in this situation.”

Guren ignored her. “Oh, yeah. Yu, Kimizuki. Here’s a follow-up order. Since you just made your contracts, neither of you is used to your weapons yet. So do not try to call your demons. Take out the enemy using only the weapons’ base abilities.”

“What?! But they’re facing a human possessed by a black demon. That’s too restrictive,” Shinoa shouted as Kimizuki gritted his teeth angrily.

“Damn it.” He drew his dual blades as Yuu glared at Guren.

“Guren, if I can save Yoichi, will you let him live?”

Guren gave Yuu an odd look. “What are you talking about? That’s a demon. There’s nothing left to save. Hurry up and kill it. Put it out of its misery.”

Yuu snarled. “Don’t say that. Yoichi can still be brought back.”

“Don’t spout idealistic garbage at me. What do you think this is? You’re part of the Moon Demon Company! We walk the path of thorns! Are you here for revenge, or have you just been playing this whole time? If you want to die, be my guest. I won’t stop you. But Yoichi is not coming back. If you have any pride as a soldier. Then get out there and do your duty.”

Yuu took a deep breath, drawing his sword. “Kimizuki, I’m going to bring Yoichi back. Try and stop me, and I’ll cut your hands off.” Yuu rushed forward as Yoichi shot at them, easily whacking away the arrows.

Kimizuki frowned before he charged as well, hitting against the cursed bow. Yuu jumped from the side, swinging at Yoichi, who swung the bow around and barely blocked the attack. “Let Yoichi go, you stupid demon!” Yuu pushed with the sword, throwing Yoichi back and kicking the bow out of his hand.

Yoichi jumped back, his eyes glimmering. “Now, ain’t that interesting.” Yoichi ignored Kimizuki as he swung at his head, not that Kimizuki could go through with it anyway. “What’s this? A demon and a human, working together and yet neither of you can kill me?” Yoichi laughed as Kimizuki frowned in confusion.

Yoichi grabbed Kimizuki’s sword, throwing Kimizuki at Yuu, who sidestepped the boy, letting him crash to the ground. “Yoichi, snap out of it. Don’t let that demon beat you. Weren’t we going to kill blood-suckers together?”

Kimizuki sat up as Yoichi drew the bow again, dozens of arrows ready to fire at them. “He’s beyond help. We have to do this, Yu.”

“No way.”

“Yoichi’s not coming back.”

“I said no! Yoichi is a good person, and I won’t let him die. I won’t let him get killed when I swore I’d never abandon my friends again. C’mon, Yoichi. Snap out of it!”

The arrows rained down, burning the ground around Yuu.

“Please, Yoichi, snap out of it.”

Yoichi did not stop. “Shut up and die.”

Yuu gritted his teeth, wondering if there was anything he could do. He could release the demon from the bow, but then they’ll have an actual demon trying to kill them. He could pull rank and get killed by Guren. None of that helped Yoichi.

Sighing, Yuu threw down his sword. “Do it. I can’t kill my friends. And you, Yoichi, can’t kill me.” The demon laughed. “If you’re like me, if you watched a family member die, then there’s no way you could kill me. So snap out of it already, you idiot.”

“What? Yu, you idiot.” Kimizuki stumbled to his feet, and Shinoa charged in, both intent on pulling Yuu out of the way.

“Die,” the demon laughed, pointing the arrow straight at Yuu.

“Yoichi! Are you going to hide underneath that bed and watch your family die again,” Guren shouted as the demon faltered. “Get out here and protect them.”

The demon didn’t lower his weapon, the arrow shooting past Yuu’s head. Yoichi dropped the bow, charging at Yuu as he cried.

“No way,” Shinoa gasped as Kimizuki stared in shock.

Yuu patted Yoichi’s head fondly. “Good to have you back.”

Yoichi couldn’t put his thoughts into words, lifting his head as Guren walked closer. “You sure took your sweet time coming back,” Guren shouted, kicking Yoichi.

“Don’t tell me you saw this coming,” Shinoa gaped, paling slightly.

“Enough out of you. I’m not one of those bleeding hearts who care if kids die.”

“Though you did look a touched worried there at the end.”

“Die.” Shinoa laughed as Guren grew more angry. “No, I mean it die.” Guren finally turned back to Yoichi. “You have talent. But you feel guilty because you couldn’t save your sister. That’s spinning your desire to live. But today, you’ve found enough reason. Your reason to live now is to protect the ones who saved you today, your friends. Revenge? Don’t let something so petty consume you. That goes for you too, moron. Forget your old family.”

Yuu gave Guren a glare. “What? No way am I gonna-”

“Because you have a new family now. Put your life on the line for the ones you see before you. The past is gone. There is only the future. All right. You finally have your cursed fear. And even managed something that vaguely resembled teamwork. Maybe it’s time we tried putting you on the front lines.”

Yuu sighed, deciding to not fight Guren.

“We’ve learnt that the vampires based in the Kansai region are planning to retake Shinjuku. We need to do some investigating around there.”

“You’re making us hunt vampires,” Yuu questioned as Yoichi stepped back in fear.

“What? Real battles already?”

“Can’t we rest first?” Kimizuki hung his head tiredly as Shinoa laughed.

~~~

Yuu hummed to himself as he walked around the dorm, stopping as he felt the presence from inside the room. Yoichi was still asleep, and above him, watching Yuu enter, the demon floated.

The demon was a young man with light hair, curved horns sprouting from his head and a black curse mark down one side of his face. He had a long black coat around his body with the front open and the tops turning to smoke like the rest of his lower half in this form. “I had a feeling it was you, though I can’t understand why you’re here, Xizal.”

“Hello, Gekkouin.”

Gekkouin titled his head. “What are you doing here, old man? I thought you were still being punished.”

“You would know a thing about that.”

Gekkouin laughed. “It’s so unfair you are able to walk free while those who did the same crime are trapped and locked in basements to rust away. Guess that's what one gets for having a high-up family.”

“My family had nothing to do with my punishment. I just didn’t kill for the fun of it.”

Gekkouin held up his hands. “You seem unhappy with me.”

“No, I just have a warning for you.” Yuu walked closer, grabbing Gekkouin from the air as he gasped, struggling to breathe. “Try to hurt Yoichi again, and I will show you no mercy. The angel committee will be finding your body for millennia, and you’ll be alive for at least half of that.” Yuu let Gekkouin go before turning around. “Rest well.”

Gekkouin rubbed his neck as he huffed. “He’s more of a psychopath than I am.”

Chapter Text

“So, what’s been happening with the angels?” Asuramaru sat on the floor of the white void, looking through the cards in her hand.

“No idea.”

“You must know something.”

“I haven’t exactly talked to the angels in a few years. You psychos are the only demon interaction I’ve had as well.”

“A few years? That’s not that long.”

“Listen, the last thing I saw of anyone, Sigma, was shouting at me for being slow.”

“Your brother was always a dick.”

“Such a dick, and that’s uno.”

Asuramaru paused, looking at her cards. “Fuck.”

Yuu grinned, waiting for her move when he suddenly felt like he was falling. He snapped awake before he grumbled. “You can’t kick me out just to avoid losing.” Yuu sighed as he pulled himself out of bed, getting ready for the day.

~~~

“Hello Yuichiro. You look smart in the Moon Demon company uniform,” Shinoa praised as Yuu looked at her.

“Thanks, I guess.” Yuu looked over her, not saying anything.

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing.”

Shinoa grinned, mocking Yuu. “Oh, Shinoa, you look so adorable in that uniform I could positively die. After all, I’m just a poor inexperience-” Yuu cut her off, covering her mouth.

“Yeah, don’t say that. If you want to know, I thought you reminded me of my sister, so seriously, don’t say that.”

Shinoa gave Yuu an odd look. “Your sister?”

“Z, she used to have an outfit like this stuff. She was basically always in black. Always looked stupid as she had pure white hair.” Yuu sighed, shaking his head. “Anyway, what’re you here for?”

“To relay orders. As of today, you will no longer be required to attend school. It seems vampires from the Kansai region are moving to capture Shinjuku. Accordingly, we will be sent from here in Shibuya up to Shinjuku.”

“That makes sense. Is there a plan, or is Guren half-assing it again?”

Shinoa laughed. “The plan is to solidify our defences in Shinjuku before any attack comes.”

“So half-assing it. If we’re going to Shinjuku, we’ve gotta leave sometime today, right?”

“Yes. Once we enter the city, no one can protect us from the monsters of the apocalypse.”

~~~

Shinoa led the way to the wall, finding tons of soldiers standing around. “We are members of the Moon Demon company. We have orders to hunt vampires outside the walls. Please open the gate.”

The soldiers muttered among themselves, looking over Shinoa and Yuu in disbelief.

“They’re calling you a kid, Yuichiro,” Shinoa laughed as Yuu rolled his eyes.

“They’re talking about you.”

“No, no. I’m still growing, you see. After all, my elder sister Mahiru grew up into a very beautiful woman.”

“Really? I didn’t know you had a sister.”

“Not anymore. She’s dead.”

“Sorry.”

“My, my, so now you choose to be circumspect?”

Yuu regretted trying to talk to Shinoa at all.

The gate was opened as Shinoa led him outside. “In this ugly, ruined world of ours, no one is untouched. I doubt there is anyone left anywhere who hasn’t lost a loved one.”

They didn’t get far before a loud shout came from the side. “L.T. Colonel Guren! I don’t understand!”

“Wow, I didn’t think there were many people who shouted at him,” Yuu muttered as Shinoa chuckled.

“Other than you?”

“I don’t shout at him. We just have loud debates.” Yuu looked past Shinoa, observing the girl that was causing the ruckus.

“Why are you assigning me to a squad full of rookies? I’ve been part of this extermination unit since I was thirteen. I’m an elite.”

“She’s arrogant.”

“You would know. Perhaps she’s our new teammate. After all, the smallest unit of operation in the moon demon company is a five-person squad.” Shinoa shrugged her shoulders when Yoichi called them over.

Both Yoichi and Kimizuki were waiting with the loud girl and Guren. “You’re late,” Kimizuki snapped as Yuu rolled his eyes.

“Blame my guide. Who’s the girl?”

“Our new teammate, apparently.”

Yuu decided to not look back and see Shinoa’s smug expression.

“Yeah, I heard her name is Mitsuba Sangu,” Yoichi added, not bothered as Mitsuba continued to shout.

“Now, if I was extremely generous and gave this the benefit of the doubt, I could understand being assigned as their leader, but you said that sarcastic airhead Shinoa Hiragi is going to be squad leader. Explain that to me.”

Guren ignored her, spotting Yuu and Shinoa’s approach. “Good, you’re all here. Let me give you your orders-”

“There you are, Shinoa Hiragi,” Mitsuba interrupted, and Shinoa smiled awkwardly.

“Yes, here I am, Mitsu.”

“No picking fights, Shinoa. Mitsuba is part of your squad now,” Guren ordered as Shinoa laughed.

“You have nothing to worry about, L.T. Colonel. Since I’m an adult, I know ignoring the whiny yipping of weak, talentless losers is only the mature thing to do.”

Mitsuba did not like that, summoning her giant battle-axe above her head. “I’ll crush you.”

Shinoa laughed, summoning the scythe, but neither blade met as Guren stepped in between the girls, slicing up and throwing both weapons aside.

“Enough insubordination. Cause any more trouble for your superior officer, and I’ll dump you both into solitary,” Guren snapped, holding both girls by their necks as they rushed to ease him.

“Don’t you two get along?” Yuu looked at Shinoa as she grinned, rubbing her throat.

“No, no, we get along very well. There aren’t many girls of our age in the Moon Demon Company, you know.”

“She sure doesn’t act like a friend.”

“I hardly care about that.”

Yuu gave Shinoa an odd look but didn’t comment. Guren cleared his throat, patting Mitsuba’s head. “Anyway, this is your new teammate, Mitsuba Sangu. The Moon Demon company generally operates in squads of five. Mostly because running into an armed vampire with any less than five means someone will be killed. Once you five leave these gates, no matter what happens, there must be no dissension in the ranks and no independent action. Am I clear?”

Guren gave a sharp look to all by Yoichi, who was spared by the blessing of the people pleaser.

“See? There. Can you manage that, Mr Reckless Headlong-Rush.”

“I would like to point out that in every fight, I’m the one normally trying to work as a team. Take your aggression out on Kimizuki, not me. He’s the one that ignored me-” Yuu stopped talking as Mitsuba swung her leg at his face.

He caught her foot, unimpressed.

“Huh, your reflexes aren’t that bad. But I hate morons like you more than anything.”

“Huh, you’re a lot slower than Guren,” Yuu snapped back, pushing Mitsuba away as she scoffed.

“It’s short-sighted fools like you who put the whole squad in danger. Now I see L.T. Colonel Guren. You assigned me to this squad so I could train him. Correct?”

“No,” Guren stated bluntly. “Both you and Shinoa are problem children enough as it is.”

Mitsuba started shouting at Guren again as Yuu sighed, leaning back. “I would still like to reiterate that I’m normally the one trying to figure out a plan.”

“Right, make it up isn’t a plan.” Shinoa laughed as Yuu resisted the urge to punch her.

“Anyway, you five are teammates now. Your teammates are closer to you than your own family. Protect them with your lives. Got it? Okay.” Guren looked over each of the problem kids before he continued. “Then let me give you your first official mission?”

Chapter Text

The group walked along the abandoned road, heading to Harajuku with a simple mission. Crush the vampire group living there and free the humans. Only then could they move on to Shinjuku.

“It’s incredible out here,” Yoichi gaped, looking around. “It makes you realise the world really did end. After the demon army took custody of me in Shibuya, I stayed inside the walls. This is the first time I’ve been outside since. I had no idea it was this bad.” Yoichi paused, looking at Yuu and Kimizuki. “Yuichiro and Kimizuki, you two used to be part of Shibuya’s military police. So you’ve been outside for patrols and stuff, right?”

Yuu shrugged. “Sometimes. Doesn’t seem that big a deal to me.” Yuu looked at the destroyed buildings. Buildings were also a fruitless monument of humanity. They put them up, claiming they would last forever until eventually they came down again.

Mitsuba laughed. “The city walls have proactive magic cast on them, so only weak horsemen can come close. Don’t get full of yourself just because you killed a few of those. See, the monster we call the ‘four horsemen of John’ suddenly appeared after the apocalypse eight years ago. Once they get a kilometre away from the walls magic, they get exponentially stronger.”

Mitsuba continued to rant as the group gave up listening.

“Out here, losing your focus for even a second invites death. Got it? Good. Now shut your mouths, move your feet and stay in formation. What, nervous? You’d better be. You want to die out here, rookies.”

Yuu sighed. “What’s with her?”

Shinoa laughed, a grin on her face. “Isn’t it simply adorable? It seems she’s starting to feel responsible for the lives of her new recruits.”

Yoichi stopped as a building came into view. “Look, it’s Harajuku station.”

“We’ve reached the mission area,” Kimizuki announced as Yuu nodded.

“We should make a plan before we head in.” Before they could think about it, a cry came from ahead.

“Help,” a small girl screamed as she ran away from a horseman.

Yuu and Yoichi had the same reaction, running in until Mitsuba screamed at them. “Stay put, morons. Don’t break formation.”

“What do you mean, ‘stay put’?”

Mitsuba turned to Shinoa, who nodded. “I agree. This is likely a vampire trap. If we try to save the girl, we will be attacked.”

“What? How do you know that?”

“Simple. It’s impossible for a little girl to survive on her own in this world. That we see her alone now means she is bait meant to lure us in.”

Kimizuki did not accept this decision either. “Wait, how can she be bait? Horsemen are non-sentient. How could they be following orders from vampires.”

“They aren’t. Horsemen only attack humans. Almost as if they were sent to cull the world’s bloated human population.”

Yuu tutted at that. He did not like horsemen, if purely because he knew where they came from, and that was far crueller than what most humans and vampires believed.

“This is a common vampire trick,” Mitsuba continued. “They dangle a human in front of monsters, goading the beasts to attack and then capture any human foolish enough to try and rescue the bait.”

Yuu shook his head, glaring at Mitsuba and Shinoa. “Who cares? Are we just going to watch?”

“Yes, we have to wait. Hold formation and see how the vampires choose to act next.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding. You’re just like the others. What’s the point of being here if you won’t save a little girl.” Yuu ran past Mitsuba, who grabbed him.

“You’re the one who has to be kidding. Go in there now, and you put this whole squad in danger of being wiped out.”

“The retreat if you want. I’ll go be the decoy and save that girl. I don’t ever want to say I survived because I left someone else to die.” Yuu’s confidence was helped by the knowledge that neither a horseman nor a vampire could actually hurt him, but it was still brash.

“Oh dear, I thought this might happen,” Shinoa chuckled, watching Yuu rush in.

Yuu jumped in front of the girl, grabbing her off the floor. “Hang on, I’m gonna throw you. My friends’ll catch you, don’t worry.” He threw her to the side as he spotted the vampires dropping down. “Well, aren’t you lot young.”

The vampires laughed, surrounding Yuu and drawing their weapons. The first one swung at Yuu as he blocked the attack. He stepped back, swinging his sword at an attack from behind before he cursed. “Give me power, Asuramaru.”

The black wind picked up around Yuu, forcing the vampires back.

“What just happened?” One of the vampires looked at their commander, who was staring in horror.

The horseman was walking away, having lost complete interest in the girl and wandering off. “Shit.”

“What is it?”

“He’s a divine warrior.”

Yuu turned to the vampire, a furrow in his brow. “What did you just say?”

The vampires didn’t respond, staring at Yuu. Neither party knew what to do now.

“Why have they stopped?” Yoichi glanced at Shinoa, who was frowning.

“Don’t tell me,” Kimizuki gasped in horror before turning to Shinoa. “Is he a vampire spy?!”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“But you said he kept playing vampire music.”

Shinoa gave Kimizuki an odd look while Yuu gritted his teeth. “For the last time, that isn’t vampire music!” Yuu let out an annoyed sound before holding up his sword at the vampire, speaking quieter so only the vampires could hear him. “And for the record, there is nothing divine about me.” Yuu charged.

One of the vampires met his blow, and the third went into strike, but Yuu blocked it, hitting the vampire away. The commander stepped back, ready to flee, when Yoichi shot him.

The group put their suspicions aside as Kimizuki rushed in to help. “We are going to discuss this later.”

The two vampires jumped away as the commander shouted for them as Mistuba called for Yuu and Kimizuki.

One of the vampires scoffed. “Stupid livestock. You think we’d let you turn tail and run?”

Yuu gritted his teeth, choosing to slash at the ground. The dark power erupted from the concrete, throwing the vampire to the side.

“Yuichiro, we’re in enemy territory. We have to escape before reinforcements come.”

“I know. Preserving everybody’s lives takes priority.” Yuu turned away as the vampire fell to the ground, not trying to chase after them.

The commander landed next to them, watching the group disappear. “That was dangerous.”

“Who were they?”

The commander thought. “Most were human, but that boy, there is no doubt about it. He was a demon. You’re lucky he let you live.”

The vampire nodded stiffly as the vampires walked away, leaving that one on the floor until they came to their senses.

~~~

Mitsuba slapped Yuu the second they were safe. “What did you think you were doing? Your actions put the entire squad in danger.”

“I know, but I don’t regret it. A kid needed to be rescued. No matter what our situation might be, I’d do the same thing every time. I don’t regret it, but I do feel bad for putting you all in danger. So if you want to hit me, that's fine. Beat me up to your heart’s content.”

Mitsuba gritted her teeth, anger flashing in her eyes. “It’s morons like you that I hate more than anything. People like you wipe out entire squads.”

“Sorry. I’ll be more careful next time.”

Their conversation was interrupted as the small girl they saved walked over. “Mister? I just wanted to say thanks. For saving my life.”

“No sweat. We were just doing our jobs.”

Mitsuba walked past Yuu, kneeling in front of the girl and smiling. “You’re safe now. The Japanese Imperial Demon Army will protect you.”

“Thank you.”

The girl walked away, and when she was out of earshot, Mitsuba turned back to Yuu. “But I still hate you!” Mitsuba stormed off as Shinoa chuckled.

“Well, that’s that. Pay it no mind, Yuichiro. Mitsu has a painful past, too. Be nice to her, okay?”

“I’m trying. She’s making it hard.”

Shinoa laughed at that. “Now, our enemies know we’re here. How shall we attack the Harajuku vampires next?”

“We’ll need to adjust our strategy,” Kimizuki stated as Yoichi gulped.

“I’d like it if we didn’t have to fight them again.”

“Aren’t you here because you wanted revenge.”

“Yeah, but,” Yoichi drifted off before Kimizuki scoffed.

“It doesn’t matter. More importantly, I want to know why those vampires didn’t attack you,” Kimizuki snapped, turning to Yuu.

Yuu could have handled this a couple ways. He supposed the truth is probably the best way. “They’re afraid of me.”

“They are?”

“Those that are smart are.”

“And why is that?” Kimizuki crossed his arms as Yuu smiled.

“They’re afraid of my brother.”

“Your brother?” Yoichi frowned as Yuu shrugged.

“Not all of us escaped our home. I suppose it’s possible they’re afraid of Z- my sister- but I think it’s more likely they’re afraid of Sigma. Dude’s an asshole.”

“And the vampires are aware of that,” Kimizuki questioned as Shinoa hummed.

“That actually makes sense. You escaped the vampires, but not everyone in your family did. I guess, though, that there is a bigger concern. If you face your family, would you side with humanity?”

Yuu paused. “I’d stab Sigma for looking at me funny. That is not a contest.”

Shinoa laughed. “You are a weird one.”

Yuu just smiled. He let them draw their own conclusions from what he said, but he wasn’t going to correct their assumptions.

Chapter Text

Kimizuki presented the girl they saved with a drink. “I’d like to ask you a couple questions,” he stated as the girl nodded hesitantly. She looked past Kimizuki, meeting Yuu’s gaze as he sighed.

“You don’t have to answer him. Not if you don’t want.”

“It’s okay. I owe you for saving my life.” The girl took the drink as Yuu huffed.

“You don’t owe us. Don’t even think that. All we want is for you to live a happy life from now on. Smiling and laughing every day.”

The group went quiet as Shinoa and Mitsuba stormed out of the changing room. Mitsuba glanced at Yuu before she stormed off.

Kimizuki ignored them all. “Okay, I’ll ask then. Can you tell me about the vampires who caught you and where they’re hiding out?”

~~~

Yuu waited, leaning against the wall as he played soft notes on the flute Shinoa had given him. One by one, the other members of the group joined, and when Mitsuba showed up, she gave Yuu an odd look.

Yuu put the flute away when Shinoa walked out. “All right. This is what the girl Yuichiro rescued had to say. It seems the vampires are hiding one kilometre away from Harajuku in the ruins of the Omotesando subway. They keep their human captives there. They outnumber us at seven. Vampires typically sleep between early morning and noon. We’ll have to ambush them then.” She glanced over the group. “Yes, Kimizuki?”

“About about the captured civilians? What should we do if any get taken hostage.”

“Ignore all hostages,” Mitsuba ordered. “We’re going into this outnumbered. We don’t have the luxury of worrying about anybody but ourselves.”

Yuu was not pleased, but he didn’t say anything.

“What’s with that look? If you don’t like it, go back to Shibuya.”

“What are you talking about? The vampires are my priority.” Yuu ignored the fact he definitely would not ignore any hostages but they didn’t need to know that.

“One more thing,” Shinoa interrupted. “Worst case scenario would be all seven vampires awake and armed. If that happens, we stand no chance of winning and will retreat immediately. We do stand a minor chance of surviving since some of us bear black demon series weaponry. However, I’d rather wipe them out without having to shed our own blood. Accordingly, independent action will be strictly forbidden.”

Shinoa shifted her gaze to each member. None of them complained.

“Well then, let’s go. Preserve the formation, protect each other's backs and don’t become separated. Understood?” Each person let out a small cry in response as Shinoa smiled. “Excellent. Well then, let us be off on a fun-filled vampire slaughtering excursion.”

~~~

Kimizuki led the group down the stairs and into the subway. The place was fairly abandoned, apart from the human children who sat despondently on the ground.

“Who’re those guys? There are so many people,” Yoichi muttered as Kimizuki frowned.

“What’s going on here? There aren’t any vampires around. Why aren’t they trying to escape?”

“They’re livestock,” Yuu snapped coldly. “They won’t leave any more than a chicken will leave its range.”

Yoichi and Shinoa stared at Yuu in concern.

“Ignore them and keep moving,” Mitsuba ordered. “Straight to floor B3, where the vampires are.” They keep finding people slumped against the walls, none of them making any attempts to move.

“What is all this,” Yoichi muttered to himself as he walked. Out of the corner, a robed vampire walked out and caught sight of the team.

“Prepare for combat,” Mitsuba ordered as everyone drew their weapons. “Hurry! Before he calls reinforcement-” Mitsuba cut herself off as Yuu charged forward.

He stabbed through the vampire's heart as the vampire spat at him. “Worthless cattle.”

Yuu scoffed. “Just die.” The curse consumed the vampire, turning him to smoke.

“That idiot,” Mitsuba shouted. “How many times do we have to tell you not to act on your own.” Mitsuba went to hit Yuu when he caught her wrist.

“I wasn’t. The enemy was totally unarmed. I even waited for the order to draw weapons first. So how about you quit nitpicking every last thing I do?” Yuu stopped, Mitsuba forward and blocking the strike that would have hit her. Yuu swung Mitsuba behind him before he took a fighting stance.

The vampire glared at Yuu. “Stupid human. Do you really think you can kill me with such sloppy swim-” The vampire was cut off when Yuu cut him in half.

“What the,” Mitsuba froze. “How can he be that strong?”

“My, my,” Shinoa laughed. “I knew L.T. Colonel Guren’s protege had to be powerful, but I hardly expected him to be this powerful.”

Yuu gave her an odd look. “You’ve seen me fight before.”

She laughed as Yuu joined Yoichi and Kimizuki.

“Who are those two,” Mitsuba questioned as Shinoa laughed evilly.

“They’re the L.T. Colonel’s favourite problem children. Two blockheads who don’t understand the meaning of ‘teamwork’. That’s exactly why he chose you to train them, don’t you think?”

Mitsuba paused. “Right. Okay, everyone, form up. We’ve still got five enemies to,” she was interrupted by the sound of shaming glass. Vampires burst through, grabbing her by her throat and surrounding the rest of the team.

“There’s seven,” Yoichi shouted as Mitsuba struggled.

“That doesn’t match with our intel.”

“Your ‘intel’?” The vampire holding Mitsuba laughed. “And just who did you get that ‘intel’ from?”

“You bastard. You used that little girl.”

“You humans are so ugly. Take your family or friends hostage, and you’ll gladly sell out your kind.” The vampire turned to look at the rest of the team. “Don’t move unless you want your little ‘friend’ here to die, surrender quietly and-”

“Damn it,” Mitsuba shouted. “I’m lost. The rest of you leave me and run!”

Yuu tutted, whispering to Yoichi. “Can you back me?”

Yoichi and Kimizuki stared at Yuu in horror.

“We got you,” Shinoa decided as Yuu grinned. He charged in as the remaining three blocked the vampires from charging after him.

“No… S-stop. Don’t,” Mitsuba tried to order weakly, but Yuu did not listen to her. He swept under the vampire’s strike, grabbing Mitsuba and killing the vampire behind him.

“Can you fight?” Mitsuba coughed, unable to find her words. “You know, I don’t think humans are that ugly. I can remember plenty of vampires who’ve sold their kind out for their self-desires, power or food. I think doing that for friends and family is a lot more noble. Don’t you?” Yuu turned to the vampires. “You’re right in saying humans will do anything for their family; they’ll happily cheer and lie and make deals with demons before their comprehension. If you wanna call that ugly, then fear human ugliness when it kills you.”

Yuu took a breath, suddenly hearing Asuramaru in his head. “You know you spoke about humans as if you weren’t one, right?”

Yuu blinked. “Oops,” he hissed before he glanced back. Mitsuba had started to breathe normally again and looked less panicked.

“Okay, let’s do it,” Kimizuki muttered. “It’s five versus six, but given it’s us,” he drifted off as Shinoa nodded.

“Yes, we can handle it. It seems none of these vampires have anything more than second-class weapons anyway.”

“Do it. Exterminate the vampires,” Mitsuba ordered, and the group moved.

~~~

The group left the underground station, spotting the little girl running up to them. “I’m so sorry, mister. I,” she stumbled around her words as Yuu smiled.

“You were just trying to protect your family. Right? You did the right thing. So no apologising, okay?” Yuu patted the girl’s shoulder when he heard a different man screaming.

“How could you do this to us? Why did you have to kill those vampires? Now that they’re dead, what’ll happen to us? To our children!” He glared at Shinoa and Yoichi, looking around wildly. “You demon army people won’t even let us into Shibuya or Shinjuku or anywhere else, thanks to your population regulations! How are we going to live out here? Who’s going to protect us from all the monsters. You damned elite living in your safe little garden behind those magic walls, do you think you’re heroes.”

You thought of all the ways he could handle this before he settled on guilt-tripping. “Listen, when I was little, I lived in the vampire’s capital city. They fed me scraps and drew blood every day.” They did not because Yuu couldn’t risk them finding out he was there, but he knew enough from Mika and the others. “But I kept telling myself that I wasn’t just livestock.

So, one day, my friend and I came up with a plan to escape. That plan got everybody killed. No… I left them behind to die so that I could get away. To this day, I regret that. Sometimes I can’t help but think maybe I should’ve stayed and died with them,” Yuu paused, pulling himself out of the real emotions. “But still, that day, I stopped being livestock, and that I will never regret.”

The man lowered his head. “So what? Dam it. What do you know. It’s not like I wanted to let them drink my daughter’s blood.” The man paused as his wife and the girl they saved, his daughter, walked over. He took a breath, holding onto them. “I’m sorry I snapped. You saved my daughter. I’m thankful for that.”

“Excuse me. Shibuya is growing and developing every day,” Shinoa announced. “I am sure by now it has enough room to accommodate the people here today.”

The family cheered, raising their daughter high.

“Was that story true?” Mitsuba glanced at Yuu as he hummed.

“I didn’t think he would want to know the full truth, but I didn’t lie about what my family went through.” Yuu chose his words carefully.

“Did you mean it when you said you left your friends behind in the vampire city?”

“That wasn’t for you to hear. And don’t pry into people’s pasts. Shinoa does that enough for everyone.”

“Wait,” Mitsuba paused as she tried to formulate her words. “About earlier- that,” she gritted her teeth, turning away. “Never mind!”

“What was that about?”

“Nothing. And I hate you!”

“Great, that again.”

Chapter Text

Kimizuki held the wire in his mouth as he carefully twisted a couple others together.

“Can you really start the car?” Yuu peered in, watching Kimizuki in awe. “That’s awesome.”

“Quiet,” Kimizuki ordered as Yuu huffed.

“Well, sorry, I don’t interact with cars that often.” Yuu crossed his arms. Seeing that Kimizuki wasn’t going to talk to him, he decided to join the girls and Yoichi at the side. “He’s being rude again.”

“Can you blame him? You’re acting like you’ve never seen a car before.” Shinoa smiled as Yuu huffed.

“My family didn’t like that new technology, so we avoided it. You don’t want to know how long Z and I spent convincing Sigma a lightbulb wasn’t going to kill him.”

“I didn’t know there were still families like that in Japan.”

“Well, he’s stubborn. Z’s much better with technology than us. If she was here, she could fix the car, no matter its condition. It’s kind of scary how up-to-date she kept her knowledge.”

The others couldn’t question Yuu statement before the car Kimizuki had been working on spurred to life.

Kimizuki walked over, scratching his head. “It’s running. We’ll make Shinjuku in no time flat.”

“Ohh, you really did make it work? Impressive,” Shinoa praised. “But you realise that auto theft is a crime, correct?”

“Shut up and get in.”

Yuu tilted his head excitedly. “Wait, does that mean you know how to drive? That’s so cool.”

Kimizuki coughed awkwardly as Yoichi laughed. “You should calm Yuu.”

“But this is great. My family can barely handle a blender. Techies are amazing.”

Kimizuki gave Yuu an odd look before he sighed. “Right, vampires.”

“We are not vampires,” Yuu huffed, but Kimizuki did not care.

“Well, I can try showing you later, but we should go now.” Yuu stared at Kimizuki. “What?”

“Nothing. I’m just wondering if you were replaced.”

Kimizuki let out a shout. “Shut up!”

Shinoa laughed as Yoichi frowned. “Is it really okay to drive without a licence?”

“C’mon, it’ll be fine; after all, is there really anyone left out there to arrest us?”

“Okay, enough horseplay,” Mitsuba shouted. “Let’s go. Our orders are to go straight to Shinjuku once we’re done in Harajuku. So we need to get moving.”

“All abroad the Shinoa Dream-Liner.” Shinoa walked away as Mitsuba stared at her.

“The Shinoa what?”

“Everyone in!” Shinoa took the driver’s seat before she paused, frowning at the steering wheel.

The rest of the team stared at her before they began to laugh. “You can’t drive at your height.”

Shinoa climbed out with a dark aura around her. “I won’t then. But first, why don’t I execute everyone who laughed just now?”

~~~

Kimizuki ended up driving. The girls and Yoichi sat in the back, and Yuu took the passenger side seat, playing soft music on his flute.

He was startled, missing his note as a low grumble echoed over the city. “What’s that noise?”

“Another horseman, maybe,” Kimizuki suggested.

“Should we go kill it?” Yoichi looked at Shinoa as she shook her head.

“No, they’re limitless. Kill as many as you want. There’s always more. We’d do better to outrun it to Shinjuku.”

Yuu wanted to correct her, but then he paused. He’d rather not explain the knowledge he had about those things, so he left it as Mitsuba spoke.

“Those booms were coming from Shinjuku.”

“Everyone on alert,” Shinoa ordered in response. “Be prepared to react to whatever may be coming.”

“Shinjuku’s walls should be visible when we round this corner,” Kimizuki announced before he counted down.

The walls were destroyed, and spoke rose from the city. “Shinjuku’s under attack,” Yuu shouted before Kimizuki spotted someone on the road.

“Who’s that?”

Yuu got a sinking feeling in his gut as he recognised the vampire standing before them. He cursed in a dead language before turning to Kimizuki. “That’s a noble. Don’t slow down. Hit him.”

Maybe it was a bit harsh of a response, but in Yuu’s defence, he really didn’t like this guy.

The car charged forward, and at the last minute, the team jumped out. Crowley held up his hand, crushing the car to a spot. Yuu fell to the ground, shooting the arrows at Crowley’s head.

The vampire smiled. “Sword, drink my blood.” Spikes pierced through his hand as he swung out, hitting away each arrow.

Yoichi landed on the floor in shock as Crowley turned his attention to him. He sliced up from the ground as Shinoa and Mitsuba charged in, barely blocking the attack.

“Oh dear. This is bad,” Shinoa muttered before she started to shout orders. “Nobody acts on their own! We’re facing a vampire armed with a first-class weapon. He’s far beyond anything we’ve seen-” she stopped as Crowley appeared behind her.

Before Crowley could do anything, Yuu chopped off his arm.

Crowley blinked in shock, turning to Yuu. “Woah, Xizal, is that you?” Yuu’s head rang alarm bells as he slowly stood and faced Crowley. “And here I thought you were forbidden from interfering. Disobeying rules again, are you?” Crowley shook his head like one would with a misbehaving child. “I’m disappointed in you, I thought last time would have served as a lesson, but I guess not.”

The other members of the team held their breaths, uncertain of how to handle the situation. Yuu was surprisingly looking calm no matter what was going on inside.

“I guess I’ll have to tell your father about this.”

Now, that got a reaction out of Yuu. He stepped back, fear palatable to everyone around him. He looked absolutely terrified. Crowley just laughed.

Before he could continue to talk, two other vampires dropped down behind him.

Shinoa gulped as she stood up. “Yuu,” she called out as he glanced at her. He stopped looking so terrified, but it was still a clear difference from his normal attitude.

“What’s our plan? Should we react?”

Yep, a very clear difference. “I would love to retreat if we could. But against three opponents of this calibre, that’s impossible. So we fight. Go as close to all-out as you can without allowing your demons to rampage. But even then, some of us will likely die.”

Mitsuba sighed. “But that’s how war is. You all understood that when you signed up, right?”

Yuu thought about transforming, trying to scare Crowley and the other two vampires off by getting them to face an actual demon. But this was Crowley. Crowley had fought demons before, and transforming would only cause problems. “I won’t let them kill anybody. Right, Asuramaru?” The power flowed around Yuu as Crowley hummed.

“How interesting.”

“Lord Crowley,” the shorter vampire called. “What are you doing out here?”

“The seventh progenitor has requested your presence on the front lines, lord Crowley,” the taller one said.

“Ferid’s calling for me? Guess I’d better get going then.” Crowley sighed. “Though it was just starting to get interesting over here. Ah well, we’ll just have to save it for next time.” Crowley picked up his arm as he turned away. “I’ll let you go this time, but next time, I’m going to enjoy sipping your blood, Xizal. It’s been a while since I’ve tasted something of your calibre.” Crowley jumped away.

Shinoa collapsed to the ground, relief filling her. “Thank goodness, we’re saved.”

Yuu didn’t say anything, walking to the side and sitting down.

The rest of the team gathered into a huddle, making vague hand gestures until Yoichi gently approached Yuu. “Yuu? Are you okay?”

Yuu laughed. “No. I hate that fucker. He’s so annoying and arrogant.” Yuu gritted his teeth as Yoichi sat next to him.

“I’m guessing you knew him in the Vampire City.”

Yuu didn’t correct him. “He lived next door to my family.” It was just a good thing no one else here knew how vampire cities actually worked.

“Well, he’s gone now. He can’t affect you.” Yoichi’s small attempt to cheer Yuu up did little to lift his mood.

Kimizuki approached him next. “What did he mean you weren’t allowed to interfere?”

Yuu gave Kimizuki a glare. “Nothing that matters. It’s a stupid rule.”

“Rule,” Mitsuba prompted as Yuu sighed.

“No one like me is allowed to interfere. There are consequences for doing so.” Yuu hugged his arm, unable to reach the scars on his back.

“Is that why you fear your father finding out?”

Yuu snapped up. “We shouldn’t be talking about this now. Shinjuku is still under attack.”

“Yuu,” Shinoa called out.

He paused for a second. “Listen, my dad doesn’t care for me, and if he comes near me again, I can handle him.” And then Yuu walked off.

Chapter Text

Sirens blared throughout the city. “Emergency! Emergency! We are under vampire attack. Vampire forces are concentrated on the Western wall. All civilians evacuate to the Eastern Wall immediately.”

As the group walked through the city, they heard different civilians shouting at one another. “Shinjuku is the Japanese Imperial Demon army’s second capital! How can they let vampires attack? What are those extermination units doing?”

“It’s not that simple,” Yuu muttered as Shinoa nodded.

Before they could move on, a loud explosion hit above them. A helicopter flew through the destroyed buildings as army members tried to shoot them down.

“Those guards have cursed gear just like us,” Yoichi questioned in shock as Shinoa shook her head.

“Not quite. Theirs is a down-graded version.”

“Right, it’s called enchanted gear. Normally, firearms don’t even scratch vampires,” Mitsuba continued as Yuu huffed.

“They’re unnatural.” Mitsuba gave Yuu an odd look, but she couldn’t think about it.

Kimizuki looked up in horror. “Things look bad. It’s practically all-out war.”

“L. T. Guren was right,” Mitsuba announced. “The Kansai vampires are out to destroy the entire Japanese Imperial Demon Army.”

The announcement system continued. “All available soldiers report to the Western battle-front. The vampires are attacking in force. Shibuya is sending reinforcements. Hold out until then.”

Yuu sighed, turning to Shinoa. “Well? What’s our squad gonna do?”

Shinoa shared a look with Mitsuba. “We are a vampire extermination unit, aren’t we? If there are vampires, we head to the front lines!”

The team took off into a run, heading to the centre of the chaos.

~~~

“Protect the gate,” a guard shouted. “Hold them off. Don’t let any vampires get loose in town.”

“Heh, quiet cattle,” a vampire snarled as he jumped up the guard only to find himself being stabbed. Yuu landed calmly as the guards turned to the squad.

“You’re- thank god! The vampire extermination units are finally here.”

“Okay, we’ve pretty much killed off everything by the gate,” Kimizuki shouted as Yoichi looked around.

“Is the enemy attacking anywhere else?”

“It doesn’t seem so at the moment,” Shinoa stated as Mitsuba turned to the guards.

“You there, guards. Haven’t any other extermination units arrived?”

Before she could get her answers, the speakers flared to life with a new announcement. “Attention! Attention! The following is an order for all active units. Just now, Moon Demon Compay commander, L. T. Colonel Guren Ichinose, the hero who retook Shinjuku from the vampires with only one squad, has entered the field. The tide of battle is about to turn. Everyone redouble your efforts. We must hold out.”

Yuu frowned slightly at Guren’s name.

“Additionally, attention, Shinoa squad. The following is an order from L. T. Colonel Ichinose. Proceed to the 5th Street intersection immediately. The vampire commander is stationed there. Repeat, proceed to the 5th Street intersection immediately.”

“The 5th Street intersection?” Yoichi frowned. “Where’s that?”

Yuu cursed under his breath. “It’s not far from here.”

“Let’s get going,” Shinoa ordered as they turned, heading towards the intersection. As they ran on, Shinoa started to smile. “One thing before we reach the front lines. Do you mind, Yuichiro?”

“Mind what?”

“I know this is sudden, but let’s begin your very first training session.”

Yuu blinked. “Now?”

“It’s precisely because we’re in the middle of this. I’m sure I needn’t remind you after we faced that vampire noble in the streets. Even though you bear a weapon in the top rank of cursed gear, you could still be killed in the blink of an eye.”

Yuu chose not to correct her on that detail.

“You’ll be useless on the front lines. Completely useless. As helpful as a turd laying forgotten on the ground.”

“I get that picture, Shinoa.” She laughed. “We don’t have time to mess around. So what’s the training?”

“It isn’t much, really. This is a fairly typical situation. What you’ll do is quite simple. Take one of these.”

Shinoa handed Yuu a box of pills. “Pills?”

“Yes, this is presently the most advanced training method available, drugging up. These tablets will increase your synchronisation rate with your demons, allowing you to draw upon their truth power more easily.”

Yuu frowned as he took the case. He wasn’t sure if taking this was a good idea, but what’s the worst that could happen.”

“In theory, one tablet increases your power to 150%. Two will push it as far as 180%.”

Yuu gave her an odd look. “What’s the catch.”

Shinoa smiled. “The third tablet, all your internal organs would rupture. Assuming, of course, the damage from the second tablet hadn’t already sent you into shock. The most anyone usually takes is one. Not only that, the tablet’s effects last only 15 minutes. Once it wears off, you are forced out of sync with your demon, rendering you utterly defenceless. That is where this comes in.”

Shinoa pulled out a pocket watch.

“Click the button at the top, and it will ring 13 minutes later. When you hear it, run. Because tow minutes later, you’ll be a normal human.”

Kimizuki frowned. “I’ve got a question. Are these pills what you were talking about before? The way to use the ‘true power’ of our cursed gear?”

Shinoa turned to him before she smiled. “No. These are a temporary measure. Getting the fullest out of your cursed gear requires copious study and training. But look at the world around us. We simply don’t have the time for that. This is war. The drugs are meant to make up for that which even the most devoted training can’t provide.”

“War has already begun,” Mitsuba shouted as Kimizuki gave her a look.

“Do you always have to harp on that?”

“Excuse me? You say something?”

Yoichi wavered. “I’m not sure what I think of this. Relying on pills and all.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Shinoa laughed. “The Demon Army itself 100% guarantees that these supplements are positively riddled with harmful side effects.”

“There’s nothing okay about that,” Kimizuki shouted.

“Well, it does make one not want to rely on them, but right now, we haven’t got a choice, so everybody takes a packet.”

Shinoa handed a case to the other boys as Yuu sighed. “What’s our timing for taking these things?”

“Typically, the commanding officer gives the order, and most don’t resort to it unless they’re facing a noble,” Mitsuba explained as Yoichi turned to Shinoa.

“Then you’ll tell us when Shinoa? You’re our squad leader.”

Shinoa shook her head. “L.T. Colonel Guren will be the ranking officer on the battlefield. The responsibility falls to him. I suggest you all listen to his orders. Though, if he is too preoccupied, I’ll give the order in his stead.”

~~~

Ferid watched Mika and the human fight. He didn’t particularly care about the outcome of the fight so long as Mika survived.

That was when he spotted little people running towards them. “I spy enemy reinforcements incoming. I’d hurry up and finish him if I were you, Mika.”

Mitsuba gasped as she spotted the fight going down in front of them. “The L.T. Colonel is in trouble.”

“Everyone, take your supplement now. Rescue the L.T. Colonel and then retreat immediately.”

The squad swallowed the pills as Yuu and Kimizuki rushed forward.

“You die here, human,” Mika announced, glaring at Guren as he glared back.

“Screw you.”

“Guren,” Yuu shouted as Mika stabbed Guren through the heart. “What are you doing to Guren?!”

“More humans? What a pain in the-” Mika spotted as his eyes widened. “Yuu?” His question faltered in the air as Yuu stabbed him.

Only then did he realise. “Mika?”

Chapter Text

Yuu didn’t know what to do. Here, in front of him was Mika. He was older and had vampire fangs but it was undeniably Mika. A little fun fact about angels and demons, they possessed a skill known as Soul View. Soul View allows them to see moral souls, living or dead. Every soul is unique and unmistakable. It was just to this ability, that Yuu knew Mika was Mika.

Well, this ability and the fact Mika still had Yuu’s demon whistle hanging around his neck.

Neither boy did anything. Yuu’s sword was still stabbing through Mika’s chest and Mika’s sword was still going through Guren’s chest.

“Yuu, what are you doing? Run the vampire through with your cursed gear now,” Guren shouted as Mika gritted his teeth. He tried to pull his sword out only to realise Guren was holding onto it. “I win, vampire.”

Guren grabbed his sword, swinging at Mika as he slid away, jumping to a far distance.

Yuu still didn’t know what to do. He didn’t understand why Mika was here or how he became a vampire considering everything that happened. He didn’t get to think on it long before Guren hit him. “What the hell were you doing? Why didn’t you kill it when you had the chance?”

Yuu couldn’t find the right answer and Guren collapsed to the ground. “Hey, that injury is bad. You shouldn’t move.”

“Don’t worry about me, you little fool. This is a battlefield! Stay alert.”

“Hey, idiot! What were you thinking?” The rest of the squad caught up as Shinoa screamed at Yuu.

Mitsuba nodded. “Yeah. You could have killed that vampire! Why didn’t you activate your cursed gear and destroy it?”

“Yuichiro, is something wrong?” Yoichi was the kindest in the group while Kimizuki knelt down beside Guren, giving Yuu an unreadable look.

“Don’t tell me you really are a traitor.”

Yuu scoffed. “No. That vampire is Mika.” The squad shared an odd look. “Mika isn’t a vampire- he wasn’t one and he was part of my family.”

Shinoa frowned, about to question it when Ferid laughed. “That was Yuichiro Hyakuya, wasn’t it? Or rather should I say Xizal, the salt bearer. What a touching reunion. I’m so moved I could almost cry. So what will you do now, Mika? It seems obvious to me that little Xi is being used by those humans.”

“I’m going to save him, of course,” Mika snapped as Ferid shook his head.

“Are you sure you can make him come with you, he isn’t human you know?” The squad flinched at that though they didn’t have a chance to say anything. “Something like that could easily wipe us all out. You think he offers you any loyalty. He would turn on you as quickly as he turned on Crowley, me and the countless others he has betrayed.”

Ferid hummed. “I could see if making him a vampire would change anything. I wonder if you can make something that into a vampire, after all, vampires do need souls to exist but I am interested. I could try to make him a vampire and see if he-” Ferid couldn’t finish as Mika grabbed his throat.

“Lay one hand on him and I will kill you.”

Ferid laughed. “It was just a little joke, Mika. How unusually for you to be so vehement. Here, let me give you a hand. I will keep the other humans occupied, while you go rescue your beloved princess.”

Mika frowned watching Yuu and the Shinoa squad. They were just using him. Yuu finally had enough. “Everyone shut up! Mika, I know that’s you! Who did this to you? Who turned you?”

Mika’s voice started to fail him. “Yuu?”

“Answer me, who did this to you?”

Ferid laughed again. “Demanding, isn’t he. If you must know, Mika here is Krul’s pet.”

Yuu almost let out a sigh of relief. Krul was an issue. She was powerful, annoying and hated humans but she was reasonable, far more reasonable than the rest of the nobles, probably as she was old enough to remember why the demons and angels turned their backs on vampire kind but not old enough to have taken that personally.

“Mika, it’s going to be okay.”

Ferid chuckled. “What an adorable reaction. No wonder you are so attached to him. Well then, shall we begin? All humans must die. Mika, you can get your precious Yuu.” Before Ferid could move, Crowley appeared behind him.

“I heard you were looking for me, seventh progenitor.”

“Ah, Crowley! You kept me waiting. With you here, it is a game, set, and match. We don’t need to kill the humans now. Instead, let us make them our cattle. We’ll transition them from ‘vampire extermination unit’ to ‘vampire livestock’. Everyone feel free to sample their blood.”

Guren cursed under his breath. “More nobles. Trying to take out their leader took too long. That’s it for us. We have to abandon Shinjuku. Everyone, prepare to retreat.”

The squad stared in shock as Yuu gritted his teeth. “Guren, those aren’t just any nobles. That’s Ferid and Crowley. They won’t let us retreat.”

“And what would you know about that?! When we get back, you and I are having a long conversation about your loyalties!”

“I did try to tell you I knew a lot about vampires.”

“You were a kid. I didn’t think you had anything valuable.”

Yuu shook his head. “Ferid is not someone to run from. He enjoys chasing, and Crowley would rather cut you in half from halfway across the battlefield than see you run. Not to mention where Crowly is, his underlings follow. There will be two more nobles here any minute.”

“Then we should run now. Retreat,” Guren shouted. “Hold ranks and move back towards the walls!”

Ferid laughed. “You won’t get away that easily.” Ferid charged forward, moving faster than the human mind could see and appearing behind Yuu. He swung at Yuu’s head as Yuu turned around, blocking the attack. “Wow, you really are fast, but you’re not that experienced with that sword, are you. Should have stuck to your flute.”

Guren jumped out the side, aiming for Ferid’s head as the vampire ducked away. “And your blade, sir, has slowed now that you're wounded.” Ferid kicked Guren’s nose, hitting him away.

“Guren,” Yuu called out as Ferid smiled, grabbing Yuu’s shoulder. “Let’s see how you taste; I’ve always wanted to try a de-”, Ferid stopped as his arm was cut off.

Mika glared at Ferid, his eyes full of panic and anger. Ferid simply jumped away and caught his arm out of the air. “It was just a little joke, Mika. No need to get so mad.”

Yuu turned to Mika, a smile on his face. “Mika!”

Mika did not calm down. “Yuu, forget all of them and run away with me.”

“What?”

“Come on.” Mika slid his arms under Yuu’s body, picking him up. Shinoa called Yuu’s name, but Mika took off.

Chapter Text

Yuu struggled in Mika’s arms. “Mika! Cut it out. What are you doing?”

“You can’t stay there, Yuu. It’s a bad place.”

“No shit, it’s a war, and I’m a demon. Those two things go hand in hand.”

“Those humans are using you.”

“No, they’re not! I am the species of deception. I would know if I was being manipulated. Now I said stop.” Yuu pushed Mika away, landing neatly on the ground. After a few breaths, Yuu turned back to Mika. “Why do you think the humans are using me?”

Mika couldn’t answer. “They are.”

“Is that what Ferid told you?”

Mika paused before he shook his head. “Krul.”

“Krul?” Yuu frowned at that. Yuu had never met Krul in person and what he did know about her was that she didn’t get along with any of the other nobles. He doubted she knew he was a demon. “Mika, why did Krul turn you into a vampire.”

Mika paused, gulping. “She was merciful.”

“The concept of mercy is very different between the races.”

Mika frowned, shaking his head. “We have to go. It’s too dangerous here. Yuu, please.” Mika stepped forward, holding the whistle and placing his other hand on Yuu’s shoulder.

Yuu considered it for a moment, but only a moment. “Mika, I can’t leave. I have friends back there.”

“No, you don’t! I’m your only true friend. I won’t try and deceive you. Those humans are only trying to use-” Mika was cut off by a scream.

Yuu turned around in horror. “That was Shinoa’s voice.”

Mika grabbed Yuu, trying to force him to stay. “Please, Yuu. Don’t look back. There’s nothing there for you.”

“Nothing?! Let me go!” Yuu managed to catch sight of the battlefield. Crowley’s lackeys had shown up, one biting into Kimizuki’s neck, the other attacking Mitsuba. An unfamiliar vampire had Yoichi pinned to the ground while Ferid held Guren above him. Lastly, Crowley had Shinoa by the throat. “No.”

“Yuu, we have to go!”

“No!”

Shinoa gasped pitifully. “Yu-Yuichiro, run,” she wheezed out before Crowley covered her mouth.

“Cattle don’t talk.”

If Yuu had been human, he wouldn’t have heard Shinoa, but Yuu wasn’t human. “Stop!”

Shinoa closed her eyes, praying for her death to be painless, when Yuu let out a scream. Everything felt wrong. Black blood poured out of his eyes, and his mind went numb.

“What the heck?” Yuu looked around the white void of the between space, seeing Asuramaru standing on his sword. “Hey, Asuramaru.”

“Oh, hello, Yuu. What is it?”

“What’s going on here? Are you trying to take over my body?”

“No. I’m not doing anything. Still, this is a problem. It seems you’re losing control, Yuu. You’re about to turn into a Canoir.”

Yuu cursed in a very ancient language. “That’s not possible. Canoirs don’t exist. They’re just folk tales.”

“What about the Canoir of War?”

Yuu gritted his teeth. “It’s just a folk tale the elders told us to get us to behave. It’s not real. They’re not real.”

“And yet, here one comes to purge the vampires who hurt them.”

Outside the void, Yuu’s human form fell apart. Large black wings exploded out his back, the form not wholly solid but instead looking like a trillion little black grains of salt making up the mass. Horns expanded out his head as eyes opened along his cheeks, all pouring black blood and completely unfocused.

Guren laughed. “It has begun.”

Mika stared in horror. “I knew it! Those humans did do something to him! Yu, don’t! Come with me and-” Mika couldn’t finish as Yuu swung out his sword, destroying the building they were standing on.

Yuu took to the sky, crashing down before the vampires.

“What the heck? Looks like something dangerous-” Crowley was forced to be quiet as the strike destroyed the city. Salt shot through the ground, leaving spikes sticking out and a scent of sea in the air.

Shinoa gasped as she looked around in confusion.

“Goodness, what was that? Humans certainly know how to craft unpleasant monsters,” Ferid muttered as Crowley landed behind him.

“Looks like trouble.”

“Of course, you’re too young to remember the stories. Canoirs- wild angels and demons running about, consumed by hatred of the creations that turned their backs on them. Hasn’t been one for a very long time, not since the last great war.”

“What now?”

Ferid hummed, turning to Guren. “You. How did you turn Xizal?”

Guren laughed. “Good question.”

“Impertinent human, you should not mess with these forces. You do not realise what you have done. Your bottomless greed has doomed us all.” Ferid dropped Guren carelessly. “We should retreat. Regardless of if this thing is artificial or not, we do not want to deal with a Canoir.”

Yuu walked closer as Shinoa gasped. “Yuichiro?!”

Yuu pointed his sword at her as Mika cried out. “Yuu! Don’t!” Yuu couldn’t hear Mika anymore. He struck out at Shinoa as Mika jumped in between them. The blade struck through Mika’s body, pausing in front of Shinoa’s face. “Yuu, no! Don’t kill humans!”

Shinoa stared in shock, the vampire blood falling on her. “You? But why?”

“Shut up, human,” Mika spat. I didn’t do this for you. How dare you use him like this!” Mika looked down at the wound. It wasn’t healing, but it wasn’t getting worse.

Yuu tilted his head before throwing Mika to the side dismissively.

“Shinoa, embrace Yuu,” Guren shouted. “That should bring him back from what he’s become!”

Shinoa blinked as she pulled herself up. “Yuichiro,” she called out, wrapping her arms around Yuu. “Please, come to your senses!”

It had no effect on Yuu. Yuu brought the sword up, stabbing Shinoa through the shoulder. The sword embedded itself in Yuu as well, but Yuu didn’t care; stab wounds didn’t really hurt him.

Shinoa screamed as Mika and Guren stared in horror. Guren cursed so much for that plan. Mika sat up, Yuu hadn’t even heard him. He didn’t know what to do.

“Xi’s losing himself,” a voice announced as Mika turned, seeing the demon who lived in his sword.

“Zornan?”

She smiled. “This should be pretty easy. You still got that whistle?” Mika reached up to his neck, where the whistle constantly stayed on a chain. “Blow it. He will hear you.”

Mika nodded, whistling. Instantly, Yuu stopped, dropping Shinoa and turning his attention to Mika. Yuu walked over slowly, looking at Mika before he bowed. Mika turned to Zornan. “Zo, what do I do now?”

“Kill him.”

“What?”

“Kidding.” Zornan kneeled in front of Shinoa, holding her hands over Shinoa’s shoulder as the wound stitched itself back together. “Xizal lay down your weapon.” Yuu ignored him. “Mika, order him to do what I say.”

Mika gulped. “Do as she says.” Yuu put the sword down. “Zo, there is a way to save him, right?”

Zornan stood up, shrugging. “I have no idea. Canoirs are rare. The last one killed our mum, so we didn’t exactly talk about them in our house.”

“Mika, care to share what’s going on?” Ferid tilted his head as Mika opened and closed his mouth, turning to Zornan as she snorted.

“Don’t look at me, they can’t see me. Only you, Xi and any other non-mortal souls lurking around can see me. Oh, and the girl since I healed her.”

“Helpful,” Mika muttered.

“Well, Mika,” Ferid prompted as Mika tried to figure out what to say. Ferid walked over to Mika, observing Yuu before turning to the whistle. “He gave you his demon whistle?” Mika gulped, nodding. Ferid cooed. “How sweet. And now, thanks to the greed of humanity, little Yuu will do anything we say.”

Mika hissed, snapping up and grabbing Ferid. “Don’t use him!”

“Calm down, Mika. We’re not going to.”

Mika didn’t trust that. He turned Zornan. “How do we turn him back?”

“You don’t,” a different voice announced as Zornan gritted her teeth.

“Sigma.”

“Zorn-” Sigma didn’t get to finish when Yuu punched him in the face.

“Oh shit!” Zornan rushed over as Mika gasped.

“Yuu, stop!”

Yuu didn’t stop.

Chapter Text

Shinya frowned as he looked up from the scope. “What the hell is going on?” Shinya’s eyes widened as he grabbed his sniper, jumping off the roof as Yuu and Sigma crashed through it. “What was Guren brought me into this time?”

Sigma pushed Yuu away as his wings spread out behind him. They glowed brightly as he glared at Yuu. “This is your last warning, Xizal. Stop this now or face the wrath of the entire heavenly army.”

Yuu just let out a demonic scream that shattered every piece of glass around them.

“Have it your way, but know, I take no pleasure in this.” Sigma’s form began to change. He was no longer any semblance of human, instead becoming a large ball with rings spinning around it. Wings stretched out behind him, and thousands of eyes glared at Yuu.

Yuu shifted in response, becoming a large black beast. His wings grew to match, stretching out as the black-salt particulars dripped off and splatted on the floor.

“Well, that's rather concerning,” Ferid muttered as Mika snapped to look at him.

“You can see that?”

“The giant angel and demon fighting in this city? Yes.”

Mika turned to Zornan, who just smiled. “I told you only you could see me, but they are visible to everyone.”

“That would have been useful to know. What do we do?”

Ferid hummed. “I suggest we leave. If the higher beings are fighting for this territory, it will be unwise to interfere.”

“But Yuu-”

“Yuu is lost. Whatever that human did to him means your Yuu is no longer in there. This is why humans shouldn't mess with things beyond their comprehension.” Ferid started walking away as if none of this mattered.

“So, what do we do?” Mika turned to the girl as she hummed.

“Get me closer to them. I'm still stuck in the radius of your sword.”

“Can you save him?”

She smiled. “I have an idea, but I make no promises.”

That was all Mika needed to hear to run off after Yuu and Sigma.

Salt burst out of the ground, going straight at Sigma as he burst out in the light. The salt broke apart, flinging away from Sigma, but it did little to slow down Yuu, who tried to bite Sigma.

Sigma grabbed Yuu, throwing him into a building. Salt built up around Yuu as he ran back out. Sigma concentrated his power, about to hit Yuu when Zornan appeared before them.

Walls of sugar surrounded her, colliding with Yuu and Sigma. The sugar dissolved, spreading around the two and solidifying. “Enough!”

“Zornan, do not interfere. You have not fallen yet. You shouldn't side with their kind.”

“Their kind? That's our brother, or have you forgotten that.”

Sigma gave Zornan an unreadable expression before he became human once more. “This is war, Zo. It's as simple as that.” Sigma held his hand out before him as a portal of light opened. “I'll let you go because you're my family, but next time we meet, I will kill him.” And Sigma was gone.

“Asshole.”

Mika turned to Zornan. “Was that a portal to heaven?!”

“There is no such thing as heaven.” Zornan walked towards Yuu, a soft smile on her face. “Alright, Yuu, let's bring you back.” Without warning, she plunged her hands into Yuu’s chest and pulled out his heart. Yuu went limp; he became human, looking like an 8-year-old. The wings stabilised and became smaller as the extra eyes closed and disappeared.

“What are you doing?!” Mika tried to cut Zornan in half, but the sword didn't seem to hurt her.

“Calm down, Mika. I'm not real, remember.” Zornan observed the heart before she reached in and twisted her fingers around it. When she pulled them out, an odd white power was attached.

She brushed her fingers off before putting the heart back in Yuu’s chest. Yuu didn't wake up, but he started breathing again.

The sugar relaxed around Yuu, dropping him to the ground.

“Yuu?” Mika went to touch Yuu when he heard a different shout.

“Yuichiro,” Shinoa shouted as she rushed over.

Mitsuba had her axe ready, about to kill Mika, as Yoichi shot at him.

Zornan held up her hand, creating a wall of sugar to protect Mika. “We should leave.”

Mika gaped, going to grab Yuu, when the sword sliced through his hand. Kimizuki went for Mika's throat as he jumped away.

“Mika, we need to go,” Zornan hissed as Mika held his severed hand to his chest. “We can come back for Yuu later, but we need to go.”

Mika sighed as he turned away.

“Guren, what the hell happened here?” Lieutenant Verbal Kureto Hiragi asked sharply as he and the rest of the army showed up.

Guren smiled. “Like hell I know.”

Kureto gritted his teeth. “Everyone move out. Let none escape. Kill every vampire in Shinjuku!”

“L.T. Colonel Guren,” Shinoa called out angrily. “I’d like to ask you a question later.”

“I'm not interested in answering. Don't bother coming by.” Guren started walking away as Shinoa screamed at him.

“Forget about him, how's Yuu doing?!” Mitsuba grabbed Shinoa as Yoichi frowned.

“He looks like he needs healing, but,” Yoichi drifted off as the group looked at Yuu. The black blood had stopped pouring out his eyes, but he had gained a number of injuries from his fight, including a bad burn on his shoulder. More concerningly, he was currently 8 with black salt wings coming out his back.

Shinoa frowned before he nodded. “He will definitely require healing. Let's hurry back to Shinjuku.”

“I'll carry him. Let's move,” Kimizuki announced, pulling Yuu onto his shoulders.

“Mitsuba,” Shinoa grabbed her, “get ready. We might need to pull a few strings.”

Mitsuba nodded before they ran off.

~~~

Mika frowned as he caught up to Ferid and Crowley. “So you’re not dead,” Ferid laughed as Mika lowered his head.

“No.”

“You should have retreated when I told you to. Where’s your precious Yuu?”

“The humans recaptured him.”

“They captured a Canoir?”

“No, we brought Yuu back.”

Ferid raised an eyebrow. “Now, how did you do that?”

“I didn’t. Zornan did.”

“Your sword?” Ferid laughed. “You are one of the weirdest vampires I have ever met.”

“I doubt that.”

Ferid started walking off before he glanced over his shoulder. “Are you coming, Mika?”

Mika nodded uncertainly as he followed behind, not once thinking about anything but Yuu.

Chapter Text

Yuu groaned as he woke up slowly. His head pounded as his chest felt tight. There was an odd salty taste in his mouth and a weight on his back.

Sitting up, Yuu looked around. “Where am I? Last I remember, I was in Shinjuku.” He was in some hospital, a body resting near his leg. “Yoichi? Hey, wake up.” Yuu shook Yoichi as he grumbled, slowly sitting up.

“What the- Yuichiro! You’re finally awake!” Yoichi launched on Yuu, pulling him into a hug.

Yuu flinched before he frowned. From the angle they were, Yoichi seemed giant.

“I need to tell everyone right away. We’re all super worried about you. I’ll go get everybody right now.”

Yoichi charged off as Yuu gaped in shock. “Hold on! Answer my question first. Just one thing! How is everyone? Are they all okay?”

Yoichi paused at the door. “What? You were worried about us?”

“Obviously.”

“Relax then. You were the only one who got hurt really bad.”

“Really?” Yuu let out a sigh of relief.

“But you were in a coma for a week. Everyone was really, really worried.”

“A week? Seriously?”

“Yeah. I’m gonna tell everyone you’re awake.” Yoichi ran off as Yuu sighed.

“They’re okay. All of them.” Yuu looked out the window as he slowly stood up. “Mika…” Yuu grinned, relaxing against the glass. “He’s alive.” Yuu paused as he stared into the glass, gulping in terror.

Yuu didn’t look 16, he looked 8.

“Shit.” Yuu closed his eyes as his form changed, appearing back as a 16-year-old, but he wasn’t normal. He could see markings under his eyes and giant wings on his back. “Fuck. That is not possible.”

“Well, I guess that solves that problem,” Shinoa interrupted as Yuu jumped, his wings turning spiky like a startled cat. “Look at that face. You’re a mess.”

Yuu turned sharply, looking at Shinoa. “How many people saw me like that?”

Shinoa shrugged. “Most of the imperial army.”

Yuu started cursing in a dead language.

“Such language,” Shinoa laughed as Yuu glared at him.

“You have no idea what I’m even saying.”

“I can make an educated guess.”

“So, what happened out there? I don’t remember after about partway through.”

“You don’t remember at all?”

“I remember Mika, then nothing.”

Shinoa nodded. “Well, because that’s when you said you were sleepy and curled up for a nap.”

Yuu gave Shinoa an unimpressed look. “I highly doubt that.”

Shinoa laughed before she went quiet. “You went berserk. Transformed into some beast and tried to kill us.”

Yuu paled. “What?”

“Then, some ball of eyes and rings appeared, and you started fighting it.”

Yuu frowned before letting out a loud groan. “Tell me that wasn’t Sigma. If it was Sigma, he would never let me live it down.”

Shinoa nodded uncertainly. “I think I heard that name. Who-what is he?”

Yuu sighed. “Get the others. I’ll explain everything.”

Shinoa didn’t have to leave before the rest of the squad charged in. “Yo” Blockhead. It’s about time you woke up,” Mitsuba screamed as she paused. “You’re 16 again.”

Yuu grinned. “Didn’t think I could?”

“Wait, can you change at will?!”

“Shut your traps. We’re in a hospital,” Kimizuki interrupted as Mitsuba screamed.

“Excuse me?!”

Kimizuki gave Yuu a look up and down. “You’re actually looking kinda okay, Yuu.”

“Yeah, sorry for making you worried,” Yuu chuckled as Kimizuki glared at him.

“Why the hell would I be about a moron like you?”

“Or so he says,” Shinoa snickered. “Even though he cared for you with such loving tenderness while you were unconscious.”

Kimizuki let out an angry retort as Yuu rolled his eyes. “Listen a sec.” The group went quiet as Yuu lowered his head. “I need to explain some stuff, starting with, I’m not human.”

“Well, no shit,” Kimizuki spat as Yuu snorted.

“I guess it is pretty obvious. I am a species you guys like to call demons.”

“I thought demons were vampires who had starved,” Yoichi interpreted as Yuu scoffed.

“Hell no. How can we explain this? In this world, there are three prominent species: humans, vampires, and angels. Then there are three subspecies, humans corrupted by dark magic, vampires corrupted by starvation and angels who are corrupted through the fall. The subspecies all fall under the same banner of demon but are wildly different.”

Shinoa frowned, sitting down. “What is the fall?”

Yuu sighed, his wings drooping. “I guess it’s sort of a punishment angles use. When angels commit a crime and are sentenced, they’re thrown off a cliff for a period equal to their crime.” Yuu shifted uncomfortable. “The momentum builds up, and it starts to burn away anything that was angelic about us. It’s why angels are white and have feathery wings, and we’re,” Yuu motioned vaguely to the black wings shifting behind him. “Then we’re left to complete our sentence- some sort of service.”

“And yours is killing vampires?” Kimizuki raised his eyebrow as Yuu laughed.

“No. I’m meant to be transporting dead souls, but Mika,” Yuu faltered, “Mika changed my plans. There are weapon demons, though, the true demon weapons.”

“Our weapons,” Mitsuba questioned as Yuu rolled his eyes.

“Mine and Yoichi’s have true demons. The rest of you have ex-vampires.” Yoichi’s eyes widened in shock as Yuu shrugged. “Ex-angel demons aren’t exactly common. When you know you’re gonna get completely abandoned and tortured for a number of days, you don’t exactly rush to be a criminal.”

The group went quiet before Shinoa sat up. “What crime did you commit?”

“I killed someone. They were attacking a woman, and I wouldn’t let them get away with it.”

“How long ago was that?”

“See if I’ll kill again?” Yuu rolled his eyes. “Relax, it was 8 centuries ago. I was so close to finishing my sentence, too. Only 2Cs to go.”

“Wait, how old are you?” Kimizuki stared at Yuu as he grinned.

“Angels age slowly. I’m about 16c.”

Shinoa frowned. “You reverted to the form of an 8-year-old.”

Yuu smiled softly. “Because that was how old I was when I fell. It’s the easiest form for me to take.” The group went quiet as Yuu stretched. “Does anyone else have questions?”

Mitsuba nodded. “Why do you have wings now?”

Yuu faltered at that. “That, unfortunately, is the one thing I don’t have the answer for. It should be impossible for me to have them at all in this form. Only people like Sigma have them.”

“The angel?” Shinoa tilted her head as Yuu laughed.

“My brother. Only angles with tons of power have Primordial forms. Haven’t been many since,” Yuu paused. “Since Sigma. He was the last one born since the great holy war or whatever.”

“Holy war?”

“Happened when I was just a baby. Almost destroyed the entire angel and demonic population, including my mother. But that isn’t what I’m here to discuss.”

The group nodded uncertainly as Yoichi frowned. “So only powerful beings have Primordial forms. Does that mean you’ve become one?”

Yuu crossed his arms. “It shouldn't be possible. Especially not out of the blue, and I don’t know why I went berserk.”

Shinoa paused before she sighed. “I believe I have the answer to that. Guren asked me to swap out your drugs. I don’t know what was in the ones he gave you, but whatever it was, it was likely the reason for your changes.”

Yuu frowned at that. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“So what do we do?”

Chapter Text

Yuu sat on the bed, playing his flute as Shinoa paused. “I swear I hid that thing?”

The salt the Yuu had been controlling stilled and fell apart. Yuu lowered the flute as he rolled his eyes. “I told you you can’t keep it from me.”

“I’m guessing that’s not a normal curse weapon, then,” Shinoa chuckled as Yuu smiled.

“It’s my vessel.” Shinoa tilted her head as Yuu sighed. “Every angle and demon has a vessel. It’s an item that contains our raw power. Some people have weapons, others have tolls, and I’ve got a flute. It’s the inspiration for your weapons.”

Shinoa hummed. “So it’s not vampire music.”

“Hardly.”

Shinoa laughed. “Is it music from your home?”

Yuu nodded. “My sister and I both have musical instruments- it's from our mother’s side.”

“Your parents affect that stuff?”

Yuu snorted. “Obviously. Zo has something similar to a guitar.”

“And Sigma?”

Yuu shrugged. “He’s got a sword. Boring as hell. My sister and I used to play songs to him back before he was an asshole.”

Before Shinoa could say anything else, a voice echoed through the speakers. “Attention, please. Special private Yuichiro Hyakuya, please present yourself at the Shinjuku Central Army Headquarters first office immediately.”

Yuu frowned. “Think they’re gonna kill me?”

“I don’t know. The first office is only available for use by the army’s higher-ranking officers.”

“How much higher?”

“Much. In fact, I expect this summons to be from the leaders of the demon army. The Hiragi family. You had best go quickly.”

“The Hiragi family?”

“They are the heart of the religious group that gathered the survivors of the apocalypse and organised the beginning of Japan’s reconstruction.”

“Isn’t your last name ‘Hirgai’?”

“Goodness, have you finally noticed? Yes, I am indeed a member of that vaunted family. I am practically nobility, in fact. Come bow down and pay your humble respects to me, plebeian.”

“Shinoa, I am 6th Gen Kalipar. Your title means nothing to me.”

“Oh? Don’t tell me you’re royalty, too?”

Yuu crossed his arms. “No. Angels don’t exactly have the whole royalty system. We go by an elder system.”

“And what does 6th mean?”

Yuu paused before he grinned. “It means I have authority over every demon currently on this planet.”

“Impressive. Your siblings as well?”

“Nah. They probably have less power. There aren’t any demons older than 3 or 4th gen- other than the first gen demon of shapes- which means most 1st to 3rd gen angels are still about and giving orders. I have no power over any angel anymore, and angels are meant to have control over demons, but we’re not known for listening.”

Shinoa laughed. “No, you are not. But all joking aside, I am quite the bashful girl, so I avoid the spotlight. So much so that I have no connection to the family’s major players. Yuichiro, members of the Hiragi family, are, as a rule, exceptionally frightening people. Be careful, okay.”

Yuu laughed. “I’m a demon, Shinoa. I’m always careful.”

~~~

Yuu walked towards the building, keeping to the shadows with his wings still stuck to his back. “The Hiragi family, huh?” He paused as he spotted Guren leaning against the wall.

“Hey there, idiot. How’re you feeling?”

“Guren. You poisoned me.”

“That was not my intention.”

“I guessed that. How about you? You okay? You did get stabbed in the chest and were bleeding everywhere.”

“Fine. I’m totally healed.”

“Yeah, right. As if.”

Guren smiled. “My health isn’t something a useless brat like you can afford to worry about.” Yuu rolled his eyes. “Anyway, where are you off to? You're in such a hurry.”

“I’m not in a hurry, and oh wow, have you gone deaf? I’ve been summoned. Probably because of the whole demon thing.”

Guren chuckled. “I suppose that is true. So you’re dashing off to the oh-so-illustrious main family’s summons, wagging your tail like a good little mutt, aren’t you.”

“My tail does not wag.”

Guren startled before he laughed. “Your wings are very expressive.”

Yuu huffed, trying to fold them in and hide them. “I don’t care about human hierarchy.”

“And yet you’ve put up with us. I wonder why.”

Yuu tilted his head with a grin. “Isn’t that obvious? I find you all very interesting. But I will warn you, try to poison me again, and you won’t like the results.”

Guren laughed. “Alright, but you remember, right?”

“Remember what?”

“The one who saved you was me. Don’t forget who was there for you when you came crawling out of the vampire capital. Me. I went out of my way to teach you how to live here. Even how to use a sword.”

Yuu laughed. “Don’t worry yourself, Guren. I’m not an angel. I actually have loyalty. I won’t betray my friends.”

Guren laughed. “Sure thing. You’re wrong about one thing, though. I’m not your friend.”

“Really? What are you then?”

“You’re superior. The guy you owe your life to. Your surrogate father. Put all those together, and I’m practically a god to you.”

“No, you’re not. I’ve met god.”

Guren laughed. “You can even call me ‘Papa’ if you want.”

“Never.”

Guren grinned. “All right, get going.”

~~~

Yuu paused as he walked through the corridor. Mistuba stepped out the door before she spotted Yuu.

“Did you just get called too?” Yuu walked as Mitsuba sighed.

“No, they just finished with me.”

“Oh, how’d it go?”

“Since I was first of the attack that repelled the vampire invasion, they’re apparently considering me for a promotion.”

“Good job.”

“Yeah, it’s only natural, of course. My abilities certainly merit it.”

Yuu rolled his eyes. “Yep.”

“Hey! You could at least give that the insult it deserves! Do I have to spell it out for you? I was utterly useless that entire battle. After all the big stuff, I said I didn’t do a single thing. Once again, I couldn’t save anybody.” Mitsuba started to stammer. “I’m still so weak. But despite all that, I’ll be the only one promoted because I’m Sangu. Go ahead and-”

Yuu stopped her, putting a hand on her shoulder. Look, I’ve got no idea why you look like you’re about to cry, but don’t be so hard on yourself. We’ll work through it together.”

“Hey! Quit acting like you understand. Someone died because of me, but I wasn’t punished. I was totally useless in battle, but they promoted me. The only bad thing that ever happened to me is getting laughed at for being superior to my elite sister.”

“Mitsuba. I’m not laughing at you.”

“But…”

“But man, I totally didn’t know. Who would’ve guessed our squad had not one but two fancy noble ladies in it? I mean, I just realised Shinoa was a Hiragi a little bit ago, too. Human costumes are so weird.”

Mitsuba laughed a little.

“I don’t care about any of that. You’re a good fighter, and that’s enough for me and the rest.”

Mitsuba sighed. “Getting lectured by an idiot like you makes me feel even stupider for getting worked up over the little stuff.”

“Excuse me?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Anyway, keep getting those promotions, and when you become a real bigwig here, help me out, okay? You were there, so I think you saw the vampires are holding my family member hostage. They’ve got him. I want him back.”

“They’re probably going to ask you about that in the interview. In fact, I’ve been ordered to keep an eye on a ‘squad mate with suspected vampire ties’ because he’s a ‘danger and a liability’.”

Yuu laughed. “That’s a bit of relief. If they care more about Mika then it’ll be a lot easier to defend myself.” Yuu glanced at Mitsuba. “And what do you think about that?”

“I told them it was ‘utterly impossible’. ‘He’s not the sort of person who has the brain or talent to deceive anybody.”

Yuu laughed. “Yeah, you’d say that. Thanks for trusting me. I trust you, too.”

“Yuu?”

“Yeah.”

“Be careful. The Hiragi family are really scary people.”

Yuu sighed. “Everybody is saying that. Trust me. I’m a demon.”

“That feels contradictory.”

Yuu laughed as he turned to the door, about to walk in.

Chapter Text

The room was pitch black. When the door shut, the marks on Yuu’s cheeks opened, revealing his other set of eyes- the eyes that could see in the dark. “Huh,” Yuu muttered. “I did not know I could do that.” Yuu looked around before a spotlight beamed down in the centre of the room.

A starving and ragged vampire sat on the floor.

Yuu jolted back. “What the-” he couldn’t finish his thought when the vampire launched. Yuu pulled out his sword, cutting the vampire down with ease. “What was that all about?”

“That was a test meant to weed out traitors,” a voice announced as the oldest Hiragi brother, Kureto, walked out. “I wanted to see if you would actually kill a vampire. Now, there is at least one verifiable occasion with reliable witnesses where you were seen to kill an unarmed vampire without hesitation. But only one occasion. Now, let’s begin the interview.”

Behind Kureto, two others stood, Shinya Hiragi and Aoi Mitsuba.

Yuu straightened up as he faced Kureto. “Who are you?”

“I’m Kureto Hiragi. Lieutenant General of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army. Now, then, let’s begin this interview’s test to see who you are and if you’re worthy of being trusted. First, you will show me purely your swordsmanship, nothing else. Do not activate your gear.”

Yuu tilted his head. “Is this really what you want to focus on?”

“Complete the test,” Kureto ordered as Yuu sighed with a shrug.

“Very well. Though I will warn you, I am skilled. I would hate for you to get insulted.”

“You’re that good, huh?”

Shinya shook his head. “Yuu, I wouldn’t trust Kureto if I were you. It isn’t wise.” He paused. “Oops, too late.”

Kureto nodded as he brought out his sword. “Possess me, Raimeiki.” The power exploded out of Kureto as Yuu took in a deep breath.

He watched each of the power waves, dodging and weaving about. Kureto went to slice him down, but Yuu met the blow. “Just so you know, demons don’t break promises or deals. However, we do notice loopholes more often than not.” Yuu let out a whistle as the salt gathered around Kureto, throwing him into a wall. “Especially when our opponents don’t play fair.”

The group went quiet. Aoi rushed to Kureto’s side as he sat up. “Now, what was that?”

Yuu hummed before he glared down at Kureto. “You should know, when engaging a demon, always ask their details first. I am Xizal, 6th generation. The king of salt. If you wish to gauge my sword fighting, that is fine, but you never said I could not use my own skills and abilities in the fight. I have stuck to your roles regardless of whether you did so yourself.”

The room was quiet as Kureto stood up. “Aren’t you something attacking a superior like that?”

Yuu laughed. “You asked to fight. Annoyed because I used an underhanded tactic? Tough, this is war.”

The man grinned. “I retract what I said. You are definitely Guren’s subordinate. Alright, demon, as you so freely admit to being, I know what kind of person you are now, so yes. Shinya.”

“Do I have to? I don’t like picking on powerless kids like you do.”

“Silence. It’s the younger brother’s duty to listen to his elder.”

“But we aren’t really brothers, you know. The Hiragi family adopted me.”

“Just do it. Or should I kill you?”

“But I don’t want to.”

“Are you scared?” Yuu glared at Shinya. “I beat Big Brother, so now you’re nervous?”

Shinya turned before he pulled out his gun. “Byakkomaru, fire. ‘Bang’.”

Yuu didn’t do anything as he waited. Then, the white tigers burst out of the wall. Yuu turned, slicing through the attack before launching himself in the air and out of the way of Shinya’s bayonet.

Yuu stayed in the sky as Shinya stared. “He can fly?”

Yuu grinned, gently landing himself back on the ground before he charged. He ducked under the follow-up shots before grabbing the gun out of Shinya’s hand, throwing it to the side and hitting his elbow into Shinya’s nose. Shinya stumbled back as Yuu pointed the sword at his throat.

“But,” Aoi stammered- “how did you grab a cursed gear without being possessed?”

Yuu laughed. “I’m a demon. That gun doesn’t even have a proper demon in it. Your little pet knows to fear me and stay out of my head because I’m one of the few beings that could kill it even in the casing.”

The room stayed still for a moment before Shinya pulled himself off the ground, still holding his bloody nose. “Kureto, does this clear up any suspicions you had about me? From Yuu’s reaction to all of this, it seems obvious that he doesn’t know me.”

Yuu scoffed. “What are you guys talking about?”

“It’s easy. Because I get along with Guren. This little interview is also testing me. There is a growing suspicion that there may be a vampire spy inside the demon army. That sort of thing is a problem the Hiragi family has very, very little tolerance for.”

Yuu hummed. “If that is what you believe, these tests are an effective measure. Even if I was a spy, I would have killed a vampire who was going to kill me- especially as I knew I had been summoned and was likely being watched.”

“Is that so,” Kureto hummed as Yuu sighed.

“Humans. You always do this. You can never trust yourselves. I have no interest in helping out the vampires. The only one I care about used to be human. The rest could die for all I care- it’s actually preferable. Especially Crowley and Ferid. Fucking hate those two.”

“Silence. Say nothing. No one trusts a spy’s word.” Kureto snapped his fingers as Yoichi and Kimizuki were brought him. They stumbled about and winced.

The aura around Yuu grew darker. “What did you do to them?”

“Because you were stupid enough to be a vampire spy, I had your ‘friends’ knocked around a little.”

“You are playing a dangerous game here, Kureto. I had no ill will to humanity and would like to see it prosper, but get on my bad side, and I will destroy you.”

Chapter Text

Salt rolled around Yuu as he glared at Kureto who in turn just grinned.

“Is that so? Now, we can finally begin the effective part of the interview. Yuu Hyakuya, or rather Xizal, resist, and I will have your friends killed. Tell me nothing but the truth. We don’t have many reports on you. Apparently, you’re a rare talent who quickly qualified for cursed gear and managed to acquire a high-ranked black demon weapon in a very short time frame. But so did those two. Now, usually, anybody who takes the cursed gear aptitude test is given a thorough background check first. But that wasn’t done for you. Why is that? Where did you come from? What is your mission here?”

Yuu didn’t answer, making Kureto sigh. “Do it.”

One of the guards stabbed Kimizuki.

Yuu growled, his wings becoming spiky. “Stop this incident, human.”

“Then tell me the truth.”

“What do you want me to say? I’ve been honest.”

“Do it.” They stabbed Yoichi.

“Stop it!” The room shook as salt started to pour out of cracks. “I’ll tell you whatever you want, but stop hurting them.”

“Of course you will. This is the Japanese Imperial Demon Army. No one goes against the wishes of the Hiragi family.”

Yuu glared at Kureto. “Arrogant human. To begin with, I believe Guren knew I was a demon prior to taking me in. I believe he took me in, knowing I would be useful eventually, and that is why he broke protocol; however, that has nothing to do with me.

I came from the city of Yovitraf, an angelic system in a different plane of existence, but I was banished when I was a child. While on Earth, I met Mika and the rest of the children in the orphanage and agreed to protect them.

When the apocalypse came, I went with them to a vampire city to continue protecting them, but during the escape mission, all but Mika and I died. My mission is to kill the vampires who have thrown the world into chaos and ignored the correct order of things for too long.”

Kureto frowned as he watched Yuu. “And why should we trust a demon?”

Yuu paused. “Angels stick to their rules. They believe their original rules are justified and won’t change them regardless of circumstance. Demons believe in fighting those rules. Angles live in black and white. We live in the nuance of experience. If you want someone who will fight for you, demons are the best. They won’t ignore you because you’re no longer in their territory, and we can’t be corrupted by human or vampire desires.”

“Tell me, you say your last name is Hyakuya. They were once the most influential group of spellcasters in Japan. Are you a survivor of the Hyakuya sect- or rather, a demon they summoned?”

“Wait a minute, Kureto,” Shinya interrupted. “Wasn’t this interview intended to determine if Yuu was a vampire spy? That question seems a little off-topic. I mean, it’s Gure that you truly suspect, right? Or do you intend to set him up as your spy on Guren?” Kureto laughed.

“In other words, you want me to promote him? Make him my direct subordinate charged with investigating Guren. It’s an idea that has merit for him, as well.”

“So you’re saying he’s worthy of serving the great Hiragi family?”

“I am. When you were so honoured to be adopted into the ‘great Hiragi family’, didn’t it bring tears to your eyes? Isn’t that right, Shinya Hiragi?” Kureto turned to Yuu. “You look like you’re clueless. I suspect that may even be the truth. That’s how Guren likes to operate. But did you know that back in the days when humanity basked in the glory of civilisation, the Hyakuya sect was an even more depraved organisation than we are? In those days, all orphanages run by the Hyakyuu sect collected orphaned children and, without fail, subjected them to their many insane human experiments. You lot were likely just another batch of guinea pigs to them.”

Yuu narrowed his eyes. “I know that.”

“You do?”

“The orphanage I ran into, I could smell the magic on them. Though, I do not know the magic they were experimenting with.”

Kureto nodded. “Guren knows that you are one of the few survivors, whether he knew who you really were or not. He is trying to manipulate it to his own ends. Yuichiro Hyakuya became my subordinate. I will guide you.”

“I don’t really care either way. Let Yiochi and Kimizuki go.”

Kureto glanced at the two boys. “Them? Don’t worry. Both bear cursed gear. Their wounds will heal quickly.”

“That’s not the issue. I don’t know, and I don’t care what’s going on between you and Guren, but I do know that Guren would never stoop to anything like this.”

“Is that so? That’s precisely why he can never catch up with me. Still, I commend you. You made the right choice. Had you meekly stepped forward to take my hand, I would have killed you. You do not attempt to curry favour with me. That, I think, is because, in truth, you belong to no one. In that case, you may go home.”

Yuu turned, rushing over to Yoichi and Kimizuki’s side. He helped Yoichi up as Kimizuki pulled himself up. “That fucking pissed me off,” Yuu hissed. They stopped outside as Mitsuba and Shinoa spotted them.

“What happened?” Shinoa looked over at Yoichi as Yuu scoffed.

“Your brother is a dick.”

“I did try to warn you.”

~~~

Sigma walked along the corridors of the angelic city. The large hall was full of angels of almost all generations.

“So, you finally show up, Sigma,” an angel growled; the Angelic King of rocks, Songrun, aka Sigma’s dad. “Always fucking late.”

“My apologies. I was dealing with the vampires.”

“I thought we told you that the war between vampires and humans is not your concern,” a different angel announced. 2nd Gen Akos, Angelic Queen of culture.

“I understand that; however, you told me that before the demons started interfering in the war.”

Whispers echoed around the hall. “Explain yourself,” Akos ordered as Sigma straightened up.

“I caught the demon Xizal and angel Zornan fighting in the war.”

The hall erupted into chaos again until a banging sound echoed around the hall. First Generation, Thiroth, Angelic Queen of Matter, sat forward. “If the demons have interfered with the war, then we must retaliate. Ready yourself, we will go to war.”

Chapter Text

Yuu stared across the city, a frown on his face.

“Xizal,” a voice called out as Yuu froze. He turned, finding a small demon bird landing on the railing. The form shifted unstably as it settled.

“Traraxak?”

The bird trilled as the form shifted, becoming a larger mass and soon becoming human. Traraxak was tiny, looking something close to a 5-year-old in every way except her eyes, and had the anger of a teenager burning inside them. “I’ve been looking for you?”

Xizal smiled. “Sorry, things have been insane.”

“We heard.” Traraxak stood up, still perched on the railing- though Yuu always thought she did that to make herself taller. “We’re ready.”

“Ready? Ready for what?”

“To fight the angels!”

Yuu blinked. “What?!”

“You stood up to those oppressive dummies. Now the angels are on the move, and we’re ready to stand by your side.”

“Wait, what do you mean the angels are on the move?”

Traraxak frowned. “Are you a moron? The angels are coming to strike down all the humans and demons. They think we’re getting out of control. They’re coming to kill us all.”

Yuu gasped, his eyes widening. Before he could respond, a different voice floated across the rooftop. “Yuu?” Shinoa frowned, looking at Traraxak as the young demon let out a scream.

“Human!” Traraxak jumped at Shinoa as Yuu caught her.

“Don’t you dare.” Yuu put Traraxak on the roof, kneeling down to her eye level. “Listen, everything I’m doing is to help these humans. If you want my orders, that’s them.”

“Right!” Traraxak started climbing to the top of the railing once more. “I will pass the message on, Xizal.” Traraxak bowed before turning into the odd bird thing and flying away.

Shinoa hesitated before she walked over. “Who was that?”

“14th Gen Demonic Queen of Hurt Crows, Trarakax.”

“Hurt crows? That’s specific.”

“That’s the point. People inherit their domains from their parents. As each category gets divided more and more each gen, they get more and more specific.”

“What were your parents’ domain?”

Yuu paused. “My father controls rocks. According to him, my mum had power over food.”

“According to him?”

Yuu shrugged. “I never met her, so I don’t know, and not many people talked about her.” Yuu sighed before he stretched. “Guren’s late again.”

“Who are you calling late?” Guren scowled as he walked out.

Yuu crossed his arms hotly. “Well, I get to be annoyed. You called us here.”

“Shaddup. I was up all night in stupid army meetings. I’m tired, and I’m in a foul mood. Can I go home now?”

“No. You call us here for a reason, and we’ve shown up. Just tell us why we’re here.”

Guren huffed. “I regret inviting you. Technically, I only need to talk to Shinoa.”

Shinoa blinked. “You do?”

“You need to teach the kids how to use their gear- manifestation, et cetera.”

Yuu gave Guren a foul look. “Why am I here then?”

“Well, you are a demon, aren’t you? Surely, that gives you some information on how to do this.”

Yuu sighed, shaking his head. “It doesn’t work like that. While I know how to manifest my own abilities, manifesting someone else’s is completely different.”

“So you’re useless.”

“Hey!”

Shinoa chuckled, stepping between Yuu and Guren. “Shall I show you my demon?” Without warning, Shinoa culled out her weapon. “Come out, Shi.” A large form burst out, swirling in the air but tethered to the scythe. “This is my demon; her full name is Shikama Doji, but I just call her Shi.”

Yuu frowned, looking into the demon’s eyes. “She’s quiet.”

“Demons don’t usually talk while manifested, but when we’re together inside my heart, we talk about all sorts of things.”

Yuu frowned. “That’s something unique to ex-vampires. Ex-demons are more than capable of talking in manifestation if they want.”

“Is that so?” Guren tilted his head as Yuu nodded.

“It’s likely because the contract is different. Human-made contracts are more brutalistic and restrict the demon more than angelic ones. Though I’ve never studied them, so I’m not an expert.”

“Okay. I’ll do you the favour of seeing if you’re ready to take the next step. Draw your sword and activate it- don’t use your flute or personal abilities. I’ll only do a normal activation for mine. Now we fight.”

Yuu drew his sword. “Am I allowed to fly?”

Guren hummed. “Sure, why not.”

Yuu smirked in response. “You’ll regret that.”

Guren laughed. “Like you’ve gotten any better.”

Yuu charged, swinging at Guren, who hit his sword back. Yuu swung himself to the side, running in again as Guren continued to parry his attacks. Guren went to stab Yuu as he took off into the air, landing a little away from the fight. “Not bad, right? We’re on equal footing now.”

Guren scoffed. “That is where things stand when we’re only using standard activation. Next, I’ll have my demon possess me. Possess me, Mahiru.”

Shinoa gasped as she heard the name. Yuu just frowned, glaring at the demon he saw surrounding Guren. “K’thaela,” he spat.

The air around Guren shifted, growing more intense as Guren gripped his sword tighter. “If you can take even one hit, then you’ll get your compliment.” Guren swung as Yuu raised his sword.

Yuu tried to dig his foot into the ground, but it didn’t matter. He was thrown off the roof, quickly opening his wings and hovering over the edge. Yuu huffed, landing. “K’thaela’s are scary.”

Guren tilted his head slightly. “You’ve used that word before. What exactly is a k’thaela?”

Yuu glanced at Shinoa. “It’s an angelic word. It’s one of a series of words used to refer to things that are fundamentally wrong. This specific one references inter-species experimentation.”

Guren chuckled at that before he paused, hearing Shinoa hissing. “Shi. Kill him for me, would you?”

The demon charged at Guren, who sliced through it simply. Shinoa slid behind Guren, holding him at a killing distance. Yuu didn’t move, watching Shinoa passively.

“Why’d you stop? If you want my head, take it,” Guren scolded as Shinoa narrowed her eyes.

“My weapon’s speciality is long-ranged combat. At close range, I am no match for you. You’d surely dodge, right?” There was a pause.

“You… I’d let kill me.”

Chapter Text

Shinoa’s eyes hardened. Her hands tensed on her weapon, which still surrounded Guren. Guren didn’t move, and his eyes shone with something she couldn’t read. She was vaguely aware of Yuu watching her. She had expected him to try to stop her, but he stayed still, just observing.

“Is that how you mean to atone for killing my sister Mahiru? She’s in there, isn’t she? In your sword. I heard you call her name.”

“Mahiru is gone Shinoa. She became a demon, and she completed the method of making cursed gear and saved the world.”

Shinoa laughed. “Don’t be silly. My sister didn’t care about the world. Deep down, all she wanted was to love you. You couldn’t be together, but she still wanted you. That was what led her down the road to possession. Yes, eight years ago, the world suddenly ended. In response to that, someone somewhere called it armageddon. They said that divine wrath was unleashed on humanity for the sins of overpopulation and over-indolence. Everyone believes that now.

If my sister hadn’t completed the means of creating cursed gear by then, humanity might truly have gone extinct. Despite being just another girl in love, you could call her the saviour of the world. But then she was killed. Killed because she had been consumed by her research and turned into a demon. And the hand that finally destroyed her was that of her lover. You Guren Ichinose.

At least, that’s the official story. Tell me, L.T. Colonel, is my sister still with you inside your sword? Does she still possess you?”

Guren didn’t say anything for a moment. “What would you do if I said yes?”

“That is a very good question.”

“Were you two even close as sisters?”

“No. We are Hiragis. A Hiragi is not raised knowing familiar love.”

“Then shut up and drop it, would you?”

“That said, watching a certain someone get so desperate to save someone he has no blood ties to makes me a little curious. I can’t help but wonder if I, too, should put a little more value into friendship and camaraderie. Was it my sister who ordered you to take advantage of Yuu?”

That caught Yuu’s attention. He frowned, finally landing back on the roof as silently as possible.

“Does she- no, let me rephrase. Does the demon she’s become command you from inside your blade? What is your goal anyway? I should warn you that if that goal is something that doesn’t benefit Yuu I’d be very appreciative if you would stop it.” The demon remained behind Shinoa as Guren sighed.

“What is gotten into you. Are you seriously that head-over-heels for him?”

Shinoa paused, not glancing back at Yuu, though she knew he was still watching. “Who knows. I certainly can’t say, but this is the choice I am making.”

Guren sighed, glancing at Yuu. Yuu was completely blank, watching as if he were impartial to the outcome.

Before Guren could respond, Mitsuba threw open the door. “The L.T. Colonel is here already. You’re early today, sir. We have more than half an hour before the meeting time. Or did I mishear?”

Yuu joined Shinoa, who laughed, pretending like nothing had happened. “My, how odd. That’s completely different from the time Yuichiro and I were told. L.T. Colonel, don’t tell me that was all just to give you a chance to inform me about my sister?”

“As if I was generously donating my valuable time to listen to the whining of you malcontents. First, Shinoa, your sister is dead. She’s not coming back. Get over it. Yes, she’s the demon inside my sword, but I’m in control. She doesn’t possess me.”

“And if I don’t believe you?”

“I wouldn’t care less. Next, Yuu, you can get much stronger.” Yuu chose not to point out that he probably would have won the fight if he used his own demonic abilities. “Get Shinoa and Mitsuba to coach you on activations. Okay, I’m done.”

“You’re really leaving?” Yuu gave Guren a glare as he shrugged.

“Yes. I wanna sleep.”

“Wait one second. I need to know something. Did you save me because I’m a demon or because I’m part of the Hyakuya sect?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. I believed you to be a guinea pig who could be useful.”

Yuu paused, narrowing his eyes. “Then, help me save Mika.” Guren turned in confusion as Yuu continued. “Mika is also a member of the Hyakuya sect, and unlike me, he was actually experimented on. I’m happy to be your soldier, to be poked and prodded for whatever experiment you want to do on a real-life demon. Just help me get Mika back.”

There was a tense pause before Guren sighed. “Did you have to go on a stupid rant about the obvious, you idiot? I already told you. Everyone standing here right now is family. That includes me. Family works together to bring back family. Is that all? Good. I’m gonna go home and get some sleep.” Guren walked off as Yuu sighed.

“Thank you.” He paused before turning to Shinoa. “Shinoa?” The girl hummed. “I should tell you. I’m gay.” Shinoa froze, letting out a startled sound.

“Why are you telling me that so suddenly?!”

“Well, Guren seems to think I’m straight and implying stuff. I wanted to warn you so you I don’t like girls.”

Shinoa paused before she took a breath. “I kind of figured that out?”

“You did? How?”

Shinoa gave Yuu a look, unsure if he was serious or not. “Yuu? Were you really going to let me kill him?”

Yuu hummed. “Yes. I think you’re the only person who had that right.”

“Because of my sister?” Yuu nodded as Shinoa sighed. She stared at Shi, shrunk in her hand. “Is what Guren said true?”

“Which bit?”

“About my sister.”

Yuu paused. “I told you that human-made contracts were different from angelic ones, right?” Shinoa nodded. “Well, there is another factor. The type of demon being bound greatly influences the effectiveness of the contract. It’s why your contracts ended up so brutalistic. They had to adapt contracts intended for ex-angels.”

“What does this have to do with my sister?”

“Well, I’ve never seen an ex-human demon before I met Guren. I’m not sure they really exist, so unless Guren’s got an unground lock up of other ex-humans, his sword is completely unique. And I’m unsure he has the knowledge to know how- no, even that he needs to adapt the contract.”

Shinoa frowned at that.

“But, he was telling the truth when he said your sister was gone. People who go through the change are unrecognisable as who they were.”

“Even you?”

Yuu hummed. “To change is to be tortured. Vampires starve. Their whole body aches and beds for blood. Their throats dry as sand paper and their body eats itself alive. For Angels, they burn. Falling for days in a constant fire that burns away everything. They can barely breathe in the momentum. Opening their eyes is agony, breathing is agony, existing is ag-” Yuu cut himself off as he took a deep breath. “I don’t know what your sister went through, but to change is agony, and if someone goes through that without changing at all, they weren’t all there to begin with.”

Chapter Text

Yuu walked around their temporary camp. Yoichi had found a nice tower to stand upon as he looked through his bow scope.

“Hey, Yoichi, how’s it looking? See any monsters?”

“Gimme just a second,” Yoichi shifted his gaze over the destroyed city. “If we continue straight ahead, we’ll run into three horsemen.”

Yuu nodded. “Should we find a different path?”

“No, there aren’t many other ways out of the city,” Shinoa stated as Mitsuba looked at her.

“But if we fight those three, the commotion might only attract more. I say we start the cursed gear training right here.”

Shinoa hummed. “But this training can cause collateral damage. I’d like to get further away from the city.”

Before they could make a decision, Yoichi called out. “One of the horsemen- oops, now all of the horsemen have noticed us. They’re coming to attack.”

“Guess they made the decision for us,” Yuu muttered.

“If you don’t mind, let me take care of them,”

The group started smiling and joking as Shinoa smirked. “Somebody sounds confident. Can you take them all out by yourself?”

“Yeah, I think so. At this distance, at least.” Yoichi took a deep breath, drawing the string. “Shoot down my enemies, Gekkouin. Let’s protect everyone.”

Power surrounded Yoichi as Shinoa and Mitsuba stared in shock. “Amazing. He manifested his demon without being taught a thing.”

The arrows shot out, turning in the air and shooting each demon from across the city. “Guys, I got them.”

Yuu clapped. “Impressive. Gekko isn’t someone who normally listens to people. You’ve done well to befriend her.”

Yoichi laughed a little as he jumped down. “Thanks.”

“It’s very impressive that you figured it out by yourself. Normally, that’s impossible.”

“I didn’t really do anything special. My demon and I talk a lot when I go to sleep, and after a while, I guess it just came to me.”

Yuu laughed. “My friend and I just gossip. And don’t underestimate yourself. While figuring out a demon contract is a lot easier, it’s still impressive.”

“I thought you said ex-angels were harder to control.”

“They are, but it’s more instinctual since the contracts aren’t held together with duct tape and prays.”

“Could you stop insulting our contracts?” Shinoa glared at Yuu as he scoffed.

“I will when you make better contracts.”

“Does this mean you’ve got manifestation?” Mitsuba looked at Yuu as he laughed.

“Nope.”

“Why are you talking like an expert then,” Kimizuki snapped as Yuu grinned.

“I am not an expert. It’s just you don’t have the basic knowledge that every angel learns in preschool.”

“You learn about contracts in preschool?”

Yuu laughed. “Yep. We have weird schools.”

Kimizuki scoffed, looking away from Yuu. “Anyway, Shinoa, can we start training already?”

“All right. Shall we do it here? Mitsu?”

“Yeah, I think this place is fine. We’re far enough out to avoid any problems,” Mitsuba said before pausing. “Though given how massively powerful their gear is, the thought of them going mad and their demons rampaging scares me.”

Kimizuki paused in horror. “Going mad.”

“What is it?”

Kimizuki frowned. “Nothing.”

“Well then, let’s begin with a basic lecture on how to properly handle your cursed gear.”

“You have to take your time and acclimate to your gear slowly. Go too far too fast, and your demon will take over. Usually, bearers are given half a year. We don’t have that kind of time,” Mitsuba announced as Shinoa nodded.

“However, given how freakishly talented you two are, you’re probably ready now. At least, according to L.T Colonel Guren. Spot on, considering Yoichi managed the impossible and figured it out himself.”

“Not impossible,” Yuu hissed as Shinoa glared at him.

“Yuu and Kimizuki have a lot of power, but they hardly think about anything,” Mitsuba shouted. “Both of them are going to have issues.”

Yuu scoffed. “I would like to point out that demons can’t fully possess other demons.”

Yoichi blinked. “Really?”

“Yep. Demon souls are technically toxic. They possess people by spreading that poison around another’s body. It’s why they can’t possess humans and vampires long-term. The poison slowly kills the person and their soul. When a demon tries to possess another demon, it doesn’t work properly as the poison concentration in the body of the demon being possessed is too strong and kills off the demon trying to enter the body.”

“Wait, that might mean you won’t be able to use the cursed gear,” Shinoa muttered as Yuu scoffed.

“Hardly. I can choose to pull the poison back, allowing Asuramaru to possess me; however, if he tries to take control any further than I allow, it’ll kill him.”

Mitsuba hummed. “If you say so. We’ll still keep a close eye on you.”

Yuu did not look pleased as Shinoa laughed. “It’s not an insult. She’s trying to complement you. In the first place, powerful gear comes from powerful demons- or ex-vampires. They have little inclination to listen to orders. Thus, rather than manifest, those demons tend to be possession types. They directly possess their bearer granting them greater power for melee fighting.”

“Then for Yuu and I, our gear,” Kimizuki drifted off as Shinoa laughed.

“Yes, like L.T. Colonel Guren’s gear, yours are likely possession types. Those types, while very powerful, are also exceptionally inconvenient. They refuse to vanish or appear at once’s convenience. When a demon is particularly vicious, their malice is too strong for them to vanish completely.”

Yuu snorted, looking at Asuramura. “That may be true for ex-vampires, but ex-angles aren’t given permission to do so. It’s to stop them skipping their sentence.”

Shinoa nodded certainly. “On top of that, trying to gain a more personal understanding of your gear is exceptionally risky. Make even one mistake? And there is a good chance that it will go berserk. Thus, we’ve isolated ourselves so that any damage will be inconsequential.”

“Got it,” Yuu announced as Kimizuki nodded.

“Well then. Let’s move on to the next step. Yuichiro? Fight Mitsu for a minute, would you? See which one of you is stronger, but don’t use your demon abilities.”

Yuu nodded as Mitsube pulled out her weapon. “All right Yuu. I’ll let you spar with me. However, you’ll need to keep at least that far away.” She hopped back as Yuu gave her a look. “Ready, go! Come on out, Tenjiryu!”

She hit her axe into the ground as Yuu waited.

Fires burst out from under the concrete as Yuu jumped back.

Shinoa laughed. “Guess who’s wide open?”

“Yuu scoffed. “Asuramaru, lend me your power.” He swung the sword around him, cutting through Mitsuba’s demon flames.

“No way,” Mitsuba screamed as Shinoa laughed.

“Goodness me. Has he cut them all down? He is a monster.”

Yuu grinned. “Still, that was pretty close for a second. You aren’t bad, Mitsuba.”

“Whatever, that’s hardly a compliment after that beat-down.”

“Okay, what Mitsuba just showed you was ‘Manifestation’. Manifestation types have special abilities they can use,” Shinoa explained as she paused. “I believe technically your power is also a Manifestation.”

Yuu tilted his head. “My salt is just salt.”

Shinoa gave him an odd look as Kimizuki frowned. “If you have something that impressive up your sleeve, why haven’t you used it in any of our fights against vampires,” Kimizuki asked Mitsuba as Shinoa answered.

“Because we can’t. Manifesting our demons means all of our power is sucked out of us, the host and into the demon manifestation. Let me demonstrate. Put your blade against my scythe and push.”

Yuu tapped Shinoa’s scythe with his sword, meeting in the middle.

“There. Now, I will manifest my demon. Come out, Shi.”

The power went away from Shinoa, being through from him. “Sorry Shinoa!”

Shinoa pouted as Mitsuba grumbled. “Ignoring Shinoa’s stupid act for a minute, that’s what happens. Manifesting your demon will give you special powers, but it takes all your strength with it, leaving you drained. Not only that, but each demon works best only at certain rangers. It looks like Yoichi’s is purely long-range, while Shinoa’s is best at mid-range. My demon is at its most powerful at mid-to-close range, but when facing off against vampires who are already physically superior, weakening yourself against melee range attacks could cost you your life.”

“Is there even any practical use of manifestation?” Kimizuki frowned as Shinoa sat up.

“It’s a case-by-case situation. You see, if we had someone, say, a ‘knight in shining armour’ to protect us at melee range.”

Yuu grinned. “That’s our job, right? Kimizuki and I will protect you guys. That way, all of us get stronger.”

“Now, onto the next step. I have explained to you what manifestation is, so now let’s talk about possession. Yuuichiro, you’ve done something like it already.”

Yuu paused. “Oh yeah. Told you true demon contracts were more instinctual.”

“It’s not true possession. That goes much further. First, why don’t you do what you did again.”

Yuu shrugged. “Lend me your power, Asuramaru.”

“Excellent. Now, while in that state, cut yourself, then tell your blade to ‘drink my blood’.”

Yuu hummed. “Alright. Who’s going first? I assume due to the risk of berserkers, we can’t go together.”

“I’ll go,” Kimizuki announced, pulling out his blade. Yuu stepped back. “Drink my blood.”

“It’s begun,” Mitsuba shouted as Kimizuki’s eyes went blank. “If he’s gonna go berserk, it could happen right away. Everybody prepare for battle.”

The group got ready until Kimizuki collapsed on the ground.

Chapter Text

The group were panicking. Kimizuki was thrashing on the ground, screaming in his trance.

“This isn’t good,” Yoichi muttered as Shinoa nodded.

“We’ve already passed the 30-hour mark. This is not a good sign.”

“The chance that his demon will take over if getting higher,” Mitsuba shouted as Yuu cursed.

“So what’re we supposed to do?”

“If he goes berserk,” Shinoa paused as she took in a breath. “In the worst-case scenario, we would have to eliminate him. Please prepare yourself for that possibility.”

Yuu cursed more in a dead language. “I have a better idea but is not gonna like it.”

“What are you doing?” Yoichi stared as Yuu took a deep breath.

“I haven’t done it in centuries, but technically, demons don’t need a contract to possess someone. We can possess people anytime we want so long as we’re not bound.”

“Wait, seriously?!” Shinoa gasped as Yuu nodded.

“It’s illegal, though. Gets the angels really fired up, so most don’t do it.”

“But you have?” Mitsuba gave Yuu a suspicious look as he nodded.

“An old friend asked me to go into their mind and serve their memories.”

“That’s someone you can do,” Shinoa questioned.

“Yes. Weapon demons have that ability locked away, but I was never so caged. We’re getting sidetracked.”

“You think you could fight the demon,” Yoichi gaped as Yuu nodded.

“Hang on,” Mitsuba shouted. “If you do that, Kimizuki won’t learn possession.”

“But he’ll live through the encounter to try again another day. Shinoa, I’m giving you the call. If you say to back off, I will.”

Shinoa looked at Kimizuki. “Do it. Help him survive. We’ll try again in a couple months.”

Yuu nodded, touching Kimizuki’s forehead. Black salt formed around his fingers, making lines on Kimizuki’s skin. Yuu’s eyes turned black, and he went still.

A moment later, he was in a half-destroyed building. Voices echoed down the corridor where a group of boys gathered around a door.

Yuu shifted, turning into his demon form before walking closer to the sound.

“There’s no food left. We’ve scavenged everything edible from this whole area,” a boy with black hair announced.

“Wait, so you’re planning to move on?” The young Kimizuki looked almost identical to his older counterpart except in one key way. The young version of him had vastly fewer walls up.

“Yeah, tomorrow morning. Be ready by then,” a different boy with light hair stated.

“Hold on. I need more time to get my sister ready to move.”

“Ditch her,” the last boy stated simply. “She’s just baggage.”

Kimizuki charged at the boy, grabbing him by the collar. “What did you say?”

“Calm down, Kimizuki. Toru, I told you to be more careful about how you say it, remember. We need him,” the black-haired boy announced as Kimizuki frowned.

“What’re you talking about?”

“Kimizuki, look at this place. The whole world’s been destroyed. Monsters are everywhere. At night, vampires come out and hunt people. And to top it off, all of the adults are dead. We’re the oldest people in this whole town.”

“Yeah, so what?”

“So we have a responsibility now. It’s our duty to protect the kids who survived. We need to keep moving to do that.”

“Give me one day. I’ll make a stretcher to move Mirai and-” Kimizuki couldn’t finish before he was interrupted.

“Kimizuki. You’re strong. You’re smart. You can even drive. We need you. But, we can’t cart around an invalid.”

“Shut up!”

The boy took Kimizuki’s hand, forcing a knife into his palm. “Kill her, Kimizuki. It’s for her own good. First off, what’s the point in trying to keep a sick girl alive in a world like this. I bet Mirai doesn’t want to be a burden to you either.”

“Wait a minute, did you put that stupid idea in her head?”

“No. She told me that’s what she wanted.”

“No!”

“She told me she’s nothing but a burden that’s weighing you down. She wanted me to kill her. She can’t move anymore, so she can’t do it herself even though she wants to.”

Kimizuki froze as the other two boys grabbed him. The leader almost sounded impartial to the events. “If you won’t do it. We’ll do it for you.”

Kimizuki ripped back his arm, kicking the brown-haired boy, Toru. He then pulled away from the other and ran back into his room.

The other boys didn’t give up, screaming and shouting through the door. Yuu followed Kimizuki, the walls weren’t real anyway so he slipped through.

“Shiho?” The little sister looked at him so softy though she almost had no light behind those eyes.

“Don’t say anything, Mirari.”

“Shiho, I don’t want to be a burden.”

“Shut up!”

“Please just kill me. I don’t want to have to watch you suffer because of me anymore.”

“Shut up, shut up, shut up! Just shut up already.”

“See? For a moment, you wished you could end it all,” Mirai stated, or rather, the demon. “You were sick of it. You wondered why all of this had to happen to you. You were only a child, after all. It was hard. You were scared. You wanted someone to save you. You wanted to run away from it all forever. If only you had actually killed your sister.”

Yuu hopped down, shifting his form. He could feel Kimizuki’s memories, the people who were close to him. The parents he lost, and he found the form that would work the best. “But you didn’t, so why are you discussing such a topic.”

Kimizuki and Mirai both froze. Kimizuki turned tearfully, looking a lot younger than he had been at the start of the dream. “Mum?”

The demon was less pleased. “Who are you?”

Yuu smiled. “I’m so sorry to both of you. I couldn’t be there for you, but you did so well. Your heart is so strong.”

“But, his heart is telling him to kill me. If only you had rid yourself of that burden, wouldn’t it have been better? Yes, that is exactly what you thought, isn’t it?”

“No,” Kimizuki shouted as the demon grinned.

“It is over, Shiho Kimizuki. You failed at life that day when you made the decision you did. There’s no need to be stubborn. Take the easy path. It’s simple. Just take that knife and do now what you should have done then. Come on. Put your sister out of her misery.”

“Shiho,” Yuu called out. “You don’t have to do anything. I learnt something a long time ago, someone’s first thought is what other people have told them. Their second thought is what they actually believe. Your first thought was to do as those boys told you to do. Your second was to save her.”

Kimizuki stood up as the demon smiled. “Thank you, Shiho. Please hurry. I don’t want to suffer anymore.”

“I’m sorry.”

Yuu got ready. If the demon wasn’t backing down willingly, the second plan was to kick her ass out.

“But first, can I tell you something?”

“What is it?”

“See, not long ago, when you weren’t around anymore, I met this kid. His name is Yuu. Can I tell you a little about him?”

Yuu raised an eyebrow, not saying anything. The demon seemed less pleased. “What are you talking about?”

“He’s a total idiot. He drives me up the wall with everything he does. I hate his guts. He’s annoying, and he always does the stupidest things. I swear he doesn’t have two brain cells to rub together. I can’t put up with him.”

Yuu frowned, not that Kimizuki noticed.

“But there’s this one thing that he’s always saying. He wants to save his family. A family member of his is captured, and he wants to rescue him. They aren’t even blood-related, but he’s still risking his life to save him. Can you believe that? That’s so stupid.”

“Yes. It is stupid. There is no reason for you to let someone like that affect what you do,” the demon stated when Kimizuki put a hand on her.

“That’s right, demon. I don’t have to let what he does affect me. But I can hardly let that blockhead show me up. Can I? And in my case, we are blood-related. So if the only solution is to kill my sister, then I’ll choose death.”

Kimizuki stabbed himself as the illusion fell away. “I’ll never do what you say, demon. It’s over.” He swung at the demon, cutting through her body.

“You got me. It seems I’m still a ways from forcing your submission.”

“So, how about you submit it to me instead?”

The demon smiled. “Ah, well. There is no rush. After all, there is still darkness inside of you. Darkness so deep you wouldn’t hesitate to betray your friends if it meant saving your sister.”

“Yeah. So what? Have you seen this cracked and rotten world? There’s no one without darkness inside them.”

“Yes. That’s right. That’s why I like humans. And I like you too. I guess I could lend you my power. You are ugly, young and naive, but you may call on me to possess you. And get rid of that other demon. I’m the only one allowed to possess you.”

Kimizuki nodded when he suddenly spotted Yuu in his smaller demon form. “Hi.”

“Why does the dog talk?”

The demon chuckled. “That’s no dog. That demon is far more scary than I am. I don’t suggest you let him back into your head. All of his family are manipulators to the higher proficiency."

Yuu was going to call the demon a bitch but was kicked out first.

The salt fell away as Yuu pulled back his hand and returned to normal. A second later, Kimizuki’s swords lit on fire, and he opened his eyes. Kimizuki swung at Yuu, who pulled out his sword in time to block it.

“Did Kimizuki go berserk?!” Yoichi and the others jumped away as Kimizuki sat up.

“No. I haven’t. I’m awake and sane.”

Yuu scowled. “Why are you trying to kill me then?!”

“You were in my head, weren’t you?”

Yuu whistled. “Maybe. In my defence, you were about to die.”

Kimizuki did not look pleased. “Hardly.”

Yuu rolled his eyes, sitting back down. “Fine. Next time, I let the demon take your soul.” Yuu paused. “You guys want to rest before I talk to Asuramaru?”

Shinoa hummed. “No. Best we get the worst part over with.”

Yuu shrugged, holding up his sword. “Asuramura, drink my blood.” A second later, Yuu was on the floor.

Kimizuki took a moment to turn to Shinoa and Mitsuba. “Care to tell me why exactly you gave that moron permission into my head?”

Chapter Text

Kimizuki sat by the fire with the rest of the group, a sour look on his face.

“Listen, I’m sorry I let him into your head, but would you prefer to be dead? I hardly doubt he could have found out that much.”

Kimizuki frowned. He didn’t want to talk about his sister to these people, let alone Yuu. “This whole time you’ve all been blathering about how we’re friends and companions. But to be blunt, I don’t believe that for a second.”

“Really? What do you mean?”

“Yoichi and I were called in by the higher-ups. The Hiragi family. They practically arrested us, and then they interrogated us. They asked us over and over, ‘What happened on that battlefield?’ Only that.”

Shinoa hummed. “And what did you tell them?”

“I said I didn’t know anything and followed your orders. They brought it. Was that the ‘right’ answer?”

“Yes. That was the correct answer.”

Kimizuki frowned more. “Okay, so how long will keeping a secret be the ‘right’ answer? We haven’t even told him everything.”

Shinoa tilted her head at that. “What do you mean? Yuu is aware of everything that happened?”

“Including the girl who brought him back?”

Shinoa tensed. “What are you talking about?”

Kimizuki scoffed. “You mentioned her when Yuu was in the hospital. Someone is talking to Mika. You said she was his sister.”

“That’s what she and the other one said.”

Yoichi gasped. “Wait, does that make her Zo?”

Shinoa shrugged. “I’m not sure. I’m not sure she was even real. Mika was the only one who talked to her. The other vampires even asked him who he was talking to.”

“But if she really is Yuu’s sibling, that would make her an angel-”

Mitsuba stopped as Kimizuki grumbled, “or a demon.”

“Quite right. It’s entirely possible she only showed herself to a select number on that battlefield. Though if that is true, I wonder why she would show herself to me.”

“If she really is Yuu’s sister, that will give him even more reason to find Mika,” Yoichi muttered.

“Or rather, the vampires if she’s hanging around them.”

“No. She wasn’t with the vampires. I’m unsure why she was there, but she was only with Mika, that much I’m certain of.”

“Is that why you haven’t told him yet?” Kimizuki asked as Shinoa took a breath.

“If we tell him that the two people he cares about most are with the vampires, I don’t think he’ll stay long enough for us to finish the sentence.”

The group fell quiet, only the crackle of fire breaking the silence. After a beat, Yoichi whispered to himself. “Do you really think so little of him?”

Shinoa stared into the blaze, not answering him. Kimizuki took a deep breath, leaning back. “If we are all truly friends, if this ‘family’ thing is for real, if it is, then as soon as he wakes up, I’m telling him everything. But if it’s just a front to let you use Yuu’s demon abilities-”

“Then you will do what?” Shinoa looked across the fire, almost glaring at Kimizuki as he shrugged.

“Nothing. I’ll stay because I need money for my sister’s medical care. But I’ll only be in it for the money. Not because we’re friends. I won’t be your knight in shining armour. I’ll pretend to get along and try not to vomit out of disgust.”

“Hold it, Kimizuki,” Mitsuba shouted. “That went too far. Shinoa’s doing this to protect Yuu. If he charges in-”

“It’s okay, Mitsu.” Shinoa smiled. “Despite this pickly act you put on, you’re a kind person, Kimizuki. It’s obvious in the way you care deeply for your sister.” She shifted her gaze to Yoichi. “Yoichi, are you of the same opinion as Kimizuki? You, too, were interrogated by the Hiragis, correct?”

“Yoichi and I have already talked it over,” Kimizuki spat out as Yoichi stumbled over his words.

“When Yuichiro wakes up, let’s tell him everything. And when I say ‘everything’, I don’t just mean about that battle. I mean everything about each of us because we’re friends.”

~~~

On the other side of the country, deep in the vampire city, Zornan stood on one of the walls, watching the city below her. Angels had almost completely taken over, gifting every vampire with demon-cursed gear and training them how to use it.

A few younger angels were too naive. They would see the kids struggling from blood loss and would heal them, restore all the blood in their body, unaware that the vampires would simply harvest again upon seeing that.

“What a shit show.” She paused, hearing footsteps approach. “Hello, Sigma.” Her brother scowled, not answering her. “Don’t tell me you’re still mad. All I did was stop you from killing our brother.”

Sigma paused. “You interfered.”

“He’s my brother. I wasn’t going to let you kill him, or the other way around.”

“He was insane. He was interfering with human and vampire affairs.”

Zornan laughed. “And what do you call this? A small helping hand?”

“This was approved by the angelic court, and we were only driven to it because the demons interfered first.”

“The demons didn’t interfere first; Yuu interfered.” Zornan paused. “Though I’m not convinced you understand the difference. You hate him so much after all.”

“He fell. He’s the demon. He ran away. I had to take the heat for losing a demon- a reaper demon- in the biggest catastrophe in the world.”

“So you hate him because the angels no longer respect you? They never respected you.” Zornan laughed. “Unless you really are that oblivious. The angels fear you. They know you’re wrong, that something’s wrong with you. They will never respe-” Zornan stopped talking as Sigma pointed a sword at her throat. She tilted her head innocently, a soft smile on her lips. “Are you going to kill me?”

“You’re talking like a demon.”

“I haven’t done anything wrong. Your precious angel court decided that when they found me. I’ve committed no crimes or anything justifying my death, or a fall. I’m not a demon.”

Sigma lowered his sword. “Then I don’t know what you are, cause you’re not an angel anymore.” Sigma walked away as Zornan’s buster faded away.

Her shoulders sagged and her head lowered. She turned on her heel, walking down the vampire streets, watching the children laughing and playing games as she wondered if Sigma saw them.

She stopped next to the bundle on the floor as Mika held a tight grip over his throat. “Human… Human blood. So thirsty,” he rambled as Zornana sat next to him, almost certain Mika didn’t realise she was there. “Damn it. Yuu… It hurts.”

~~~

The night grew in as Shinoa shivered. “It’s a chilly night to be sleeping out.”

“Will Yuchiro catch a cold lying there like that?” Yoichi tilted his head as Mitsuba frowned.

“Can demons catch colds?”

Everyone seemed to ponder the question for a moment before Kimizuki covered Yuu with his jacket. Then everyone stared at him. “What’re you looking at. All I have to do to get warm is sit closer to the fire. But if this dunce catches a cold, he’ll lag behind in training, which will delay my training.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything, actually,” Shinoa stated as Kimizuki stiffened.

“You weren’t.”

“No.”

“Oh, good.”

There was a pause before Shinoa got an idea. She went over to Mitsuba, putting her hands on her shoulder.

“What’re you doing?”

“Are you cold? Here, wear my jacket.” Mitsuba did not understand as Shinoa grinned, hissing at her. “You play Yuchiro.”

“Oh! Omigosh Kimizuki. That was so nice of you. Like really super super nice. You’re the nicest nice guy to ever be nice to me.” Mistuba pretended to blush as Shinoa grinned.

“Aren’t I just amazing?”

“But I shouldn’t read into it. You’re that nice to everybody, aren’t you?”

“No Yuu! You’re the only one I’m this nice to because you’re the only one I love.”

“Really?!”

“Yuu!” Shinoa threw her arms around Mistuba as they embraced dramatically.

“Kimizuki!”

“To be continued.”

Kimizuki glared at them both. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

They ignored him, commenting on their performance. “Still, Mitsu, your ‘nicest nice guy’ line was truly superb.”

“Of course, because everything I say is remarkable.”

“We’d never expect less of you, Mitsu.”

“That’s right, praise me. You too, Kimizuki.”

Kimizuki gritted his teeth as Shinoa laughed, returning to her spot. “Don’t be so embarrassed. Besides, it’s not like you have a bad shot, we already know Yuu’s gay.” There was a pause. “Wait, was I the only one who knew that?” The others continued to stare at her in disbelief. “But you were there! I tried to stab Guren for killing my sister?”

“I think we were a bit distracted by the whole 'trying to kill our superior' thing,” Mitsuba muttered as Shinoa covered her face in shame.

“I swear I thought you all knew.”

In Yuu’s head, he and Asuramaru watched the group. Asuramaru laughed a little too hard, and Yuu was considering punching him. “Want another round of cards? I am not going out there right now.”

“Hell yeah!”

Chapter Text

Yuu yawned, walking to Shinoa’s room. “Why does she want us so early?” He glared at the floor before he stopped.

A small bird landed on the windowsill, shifting and becoming human-or as human as Traraxak got. “Xizal!” Traraxak bowed deeply as Yuu tilted his head.

“Traraxak? Is there something you want?”

“The council of the demons are summoning you to discuss the war with the angels.”

Yuu paused. “I have other plans-” he didn’t get to finish as Traraxak grabbed him. The world around them disappeared. It felt like the floor gave out under them, dropping them through the moral plane and into the world the demons inhabited.

It wasn’t the traditional idea of hell that most people would expect, but it was more like the crawl space of the world. It was almost completely full of demons. Every so often, the ruminants of a soul would sweep through, barely formed and screaming into the void, but the demons took little notice of them.

“Xizal, it is good of you to join us,” Ozinach, 7th Gen demon of Pianos, grinned. Ozinach was the unofficial leader of the demons, being one of the oldest demons around. “Taraxak, you’re dismissed.”

Taraxak bowed before disappearing.

“Follow me, Xizal,” Ozinarch started leading Yuu around the winding maze that was the below world.

“Ozy, why have you kidnapped me?”

“We wouldn’t have needed to if you had responded to us. The war is coming. Vampires and angels have been preparing across Japan. Demons they still enslave are being forced into chains to ensure they don’t go rogue like you. We can’t sit idly by.”

“I never told you to sit idly. I just told you that I would be protecting the humans.”

Ozinarch frowned. “I don’t think you understand, Xizal. You are an inspiration for demons. You went rogue. You fought against Sigma. You started this rebellion. The demons are nervous; they know we’re outnumbered and outgunned. There are 6 angels for every demon, and that includes all the ones still enslaved. If you go just by the ones free to fight, we’re outnumbered 20 to 1, and that number only goes up with every demon who does not want to fight.”

“I’m not going to force others into fighting if they don’t want to.”

“I’m not asking you to.” Ozinarch stopped in front of a door. “The demons want to fight, but they are afraid. I need you to give them courage. Lead us into this war.”

Yuu frowned. “I have a duty to my family.”

“Those humans? They aren’t your family. We are.”

“Technically, my family is the angels, so let’s not go into that argument.” Yuu crossed his arms as Ozinarch sighed.

“If you do this, we can guarantee protection for those humans.”

Yuu narrowed his eyes. “So you’re saying if I don’t join you, you’ll hurt them?” Ozinarch started sputtering. “I don’t like blackmail. I don’t like anyone forcing people to do stuff they don’t want to, and I’m starting to not like you.”

Ozinarch took a deep breath, meeting Yuu’s eyes. “I outrank you here. I fell first.”

“I don’t care. We’re not angels. Our ranks are meant to be built on respect, not age.”

“Xizal! Ozinarch! What is happening here?”

Yuu turned to the new demon walking up. 8th Gen Vig’druron, demonic queen of rabbits, glared at both of them. She looked ready to stab both of them without a second thought.

“Viz,” Ozinarch cheered, smiling. “I was just telling Yuu about the plans for the war. He has agreed to fight with us.”

“Really? Well, isn’t that good? Mind if I borrow him? I would like to discuss our battle plans for tomorrow, then.” Vig’druron wrapped an arm around Yuu as Ozinarch hummed.

“Sure thing. I’ll see you around, Viz.”

“It’s Vig. Vig’druron to you, asshole,” Vig’druron grumbled as Yuu snorted.

“Such an asshole. “Hey, Vig.”

Vig’druron smiled. “It’s good to see you. Don’t worry about Ozinarch. We don’t need numbers to win this. We have the brains.”

Yuu rolled his eyes, glancing in the direction Ozinarch walked off in. “I’m not sure that one has brains.”

Vig’druron scoffed as she grinned. “Come on. We can look at those reports. I do need help organising the troops. You’re not late for anything, are you?”

Yuu shook his head. “Nothing important. Just team breakfast.”

~~~

Shinoa let out a frustrated shout, glaring at the door.

“Do you think we should worry?” Yoichi questioned as Mitsuba scoffed.

“He’s probably just slept in. Kimizuki, go get him.”

“Why do I have to?”

“Because I said so.”

Shinoa sighed, standing up and taking out her cursed gear. “I’m going to kill him.” Shinoa walked to Yuu’s room on the other side of campus. The people who saw her got out of her way, not wanting to even pass her for fear of their own lives.

When she stormed into Yuu’s room, she expected to see him in bed or maybe even caught up in reading, but he was nowhere to be seen. Growing concerned, Shinoa made her way back to her room.

“You find him?” Mitsuba glanced at the door as Shinoa frowned more.

“No. He’s missing.”

The group responded about as well as they could. They panicked.

“You don't think the higher-ups have summoned him again,” Yoichi asked as Mitsuba shook her head.

“No, we would have heard the announcement.”

“Not if they wanted to keep it hidden cause they're gonna kill him,” Kimizuki responded, causing Shinoa to shoot him a look.

“He's a demon. I doubt there is anything those people could do to put him in danger,” Mitsuba stated calmly as Yuu tilted his head.

“Who's in danger?” The others screamed as Yuu dropped down from the ceiling. “Sorry, I’m late.”

“What the hell?” Shinoa hit Yuu’s shoulder as he let out a cry.

“Hey! Why are you attacking me?”

“Why did you disappear on us?”

Yuu huffed, rubbing his shoulder. “The demons summoned me. Fucking annoying prick.”

“I thought you said you were the highest-ranked demon around,” Yoichi muttered as Yuu rolled his eyes.

“By angel standards. Demons don’t go by age. Most demons respect me and still have that ‘respect your elders’ ingrained in them, but we don’t blindly follow the older ones without reason. Besides, I’m not the oldest.”

“You’re not?”

“Nope. There is one older than me, but no one has seen him in centuries.” Yuu grinned, taking a seat. “Now, why did you summon us here?”