Ash groaned on his sleep when he turned. Mirouni slammed the door open as she placed her hands on her waist. Seeing her brother still asleep, she pouted and suddenly had an idea.
A loud shrilling cry -- a howler -- was heard in the background as the pictures shook, sending the birds flying out of their branches and the cats scampering away. Ash's figure went disarray as he went into shivers. He eyed Mirouni and threw off his pillow.
"What the heck was that for?!"
"I presume you know what today is." Mirouni folded her arms on her chest and gave him a mother-like glare.
"Huh??"
She sighed loudly. "I've packed your things already! Get dressed!"
Ash rolled his eyes and lazily hopped out of his bed. He stepped inside the bathroom, took his pajamas off and soaked himself into the shower.
"Moving, huh? That would be great..."
Lex arrived in the dormitory and gently opened the door. He sighed as he was exhausted from another long day from school.
"It's good to be back..." he muttered. Lex went towards the small couch where he meets his friend eyeing him with tearful eyes.
"Lex-kun..."
The bioweapon smiled, approached and put his arms around the little girl. She whimpered and grabbed his shirt.
"W...Where have you been...?"
"I went to school, Musume." Lex replied as she put the little girl on his lap. Musume whimpered and rested her head on his chest.
"I won't leave you again, Musume. I'll take you with me."
Musume cooed. "Hauu... I want some crepe..."
"I'll take you out today~"
The girl's sapphire eyes glistened in awe as her frown was replaced by a beam.
"Really~?"
"Yah. That's how I'll make it up to you~"
Musume's fox ears twitched slightly to signify her happiness as well as her tail wagging briskly.
"Unfortunately, Lexi-kun is tired~" Lex teased, making Musume pout and punch him playfully.
"I hate youuu!!!!"
Lex hugged her. "I'm just kidding, Musume~ hihihi~!"
"Ne, ne, Ruko-kun, are you done?"
"Just a sec..."
Mirouni waited outside the dressing room. Somehow, she and Ruko happened to meet along the way as they stopped by a fashion closet. For some reasons, Mirouni wanted him to wear something new for his sake.
"Seriously, do you really want to buy this for me?" Ruko asked.
"Mouu, you have to start anew!" Mirouni replied. "Now hurry up before Ash snaps on me."
"Ei, what's taking him so long?" Ash came and made his entrance.
"Sorry, Ash. Ruko-kun somehow fell in love with the new collared shirt I've chosen for him." Mirouni replied as she placed her leg over the other. "Luckily, we've ran on to him before Amy-chan would."
"Well.... I suppose.." Ash's voice went lower as he secretly looked away. "It's surprising that our new home will be two blocks away from the Kujyou estate.."
Mirouni stared at her brother wide-eyed. "Really?? We get to hang out with Ryuu-kun and Aika-chan??"
Ash suddenly felt tensed. "I-I guess so.."
The girl's expression changed as she crooked her brows. "Eh? What's with you today?"
"Nothing..." he replied as he changed the subject. "Let's go! Mom's waiting for us."
*****
"Ohh, your new home, eh? Sweet!" Ruko complimented when Ash and Mirouni made it to their new estate. They unloaded the van from boxes containing their stuff. Ruko helped them.
"Make sure the game consoles are properly placed." Their mother told them while unloading the back compartment. This surprised Ruko as he is given some adrenaline.
"What games do you have?"
"Plenty," Ash replied when he entered into their new living room. "Ryuu has influenced me into these stuff since middle school."
Ruko's gaze darkened as he is suddenly dressed in a grayscale detective.
"Ryuu Kujyou... interesting."
"That's weird. Aika-chan's not answering her phone." Mirouni redialed her phone and placed the receiver on her ear as it rang. "Ne, Ruko-kun, try calling Ryuu-kun." When she saw Ash, he is suddenly returning to his sulky state. "Ash, what's wrong? You seem distracted."
Ash sighed. "Aika's not answering her phone because it ran out of batteries.."
The girl pouted. "You're messing with me, aren't you?"
"Yoh, Ryuu~!" Ruko grinned as he began talking to Ryuu on his phone. "How are you doin'?"
Ash sighed in relief. "That was close..."
"Say, Ash and Mirouni have just moved recently, and guess what? They're just two blocks away from your house!"
"How about we go to their place?" Mirouni suggested as she continued unpacking the things. Ash shrugged and finished their work as well.
"Aaaand... we're done!"
Mirouni looked at the final outlook of her new room. Her character figurines were placed neatly inside the shelves with sliding doors made of glass. Her dresses and costumes were neatly hung inside her wardrobe and her make-up kit and other products are placed on her wide dresser. She grinned and excitedly ran out of her room, knocking on Ash's room.
"Oi, hurry up!"
"I'm right here!"
Mirouni looked over her shoulder and spotted Ash sitting on the couch, distracting himself with a PS2 game. Somehow, he and Ruko are in the middle of a 2D fighting game.
"Ne, Ash, why were you acting strange all of a sudden?" Ruko suddenly asked as Ash's mood changed drastically.
"It's... one of us has fallen..."
Mirouni and Ruko eyed him in shock. Then Mirouni realized the truth behind..
"Was that the reason why you've sent us back?"
"Yeah..." Ash replied when he put his game controller beside him.
"So Aika-chan wasn't answering her phone because she...."
Ruko put his controller down as he stood up. "Well, then, there's no time to lose! Let's go visit them." he ordered. "Come to think of it, we haven't seen Ryuu and that meganekko for quite a long time!"
Mirouni rolled her eyes and shook her head. "We'll be visitors of a home funeral. Ash, you should have told us sooner."
"In fact, Amy was the first to receive the news.." Ash said. "But Aika won't be buried. There'll be a long process of extraction before reviving her."
Ruko put his finger on his chin. "So Aika was killed, huh? Whoever killed her shall be crushed!" He pounded his palm with his knuckles. "We're gonna avenge for Aika-san!!"
After putting the game console back to the small cupboard, the three of them set off to observe their new neighborhood. After taking several walks, they stopped by the Kujyou estate.
"We're here!" Mirouni said gleefully. "Ooh, this is my first time going to their place."
"I wanna see Ryuu's games!" Ruko shouted giddily.
"...Eh..? Ruko-kun..?"
They jerked behind them and saw Amy a few steps towards them. The girl's long pink hair is tied into a pair of twirled pigtails.
"Wow, Amy-chan~" Mirouni greeted her friend cheerfully. "You're coming over, too?"
"Yeah..." Amy nodded as she looked down to her shopping bag containing fruits and snacks. "It's been a while since Aika-chan caught a fever."
"You don't have to lie, Amy..." Ruko suddenly stated, causing her to flinch.
"W...What are you talking about?"
"I've told them already," Ash admitted. "It's for the best.." He turned his head and flinched as a large bead of sweat appeared on his head. Ryuu was listening to them all along.
He sat on a small garden bench where he and Tyson are engaging into a private conversation.
"I-I didn't know you were there." Ash said awkwardly.
Just then, Ruko lunged towards Ryuu and gave him a laser-eyed glare.
"Ryuu..... tell me about yourself....."
"Ain't nobody got time for that.." Ryuu slammed his hand on Ruko's face and shoved him away. This gave Ruko a challenge.
"Alright, I'll challenge you for a duel!"
"Ruko, this isn't the time to mess around!" Amy scolded him. But when she observed Ryuu's face, it suddenly twisted into a sadistic and exultant smirk.
"How interesting...I accept your challenge."
"That escalated quickly..." Mirouni commented with a small bead of sweat on her head.
"Oh.. Tyson-kun slept over?" Amy asked.
"Yes.." Tyson replied. "...I decided to sleep in her room where she is."
"I see.. so, where's Sora-chan?"
"She's with Mizu in the treehouse. She'll be staying here as a normal human being for good.."
"While you pay 'imouto' a visit, I'll be dealing with this derp over here." Ryuu's emerald glance went towards Ruko, who paid him back with a child-like pout.
"Mouu, you better watch that talk!"
"You better not mess with him, Tsukiro-kun," Himeka came towards them as she greeted them. "It seems that we'll be having a few guests today~"
"That kid's putting too much pressure onto himself lately.." Zik commented as he sighed. "Kuro-kun... I have a bad feeling that your heir might take this seriously."
"Apparently not," Kuro shook his head in reply. "If Tsukiro misbehaves, it will be your liability."
"Ryuu-kun, make sure your daggers are not poisoned." Himeka warned her son as Ryuu nodded in reply.
"Daggers are too dangerous. I'll stick with this instead." he brandished his naginata which materialized from dark particles, leaving behind dark purple dust dancing around his hand wielding it. Ruko showed an impressed smirk.
"Naginata, huh? I'll be using mine as well."
*******
"What did you put in here this time?" Nataliya asked when she observed today's dish. She and the Seven Demons are gathered around a poker table where Beezlebub is serving his favorite course dishes.
"Turkey and veggies, dear~" the Demon replied as he added. "Blood will be our beverage. I won't mind if you'll be fussing for water instead."
"He's gonna put saliva instead!" Leviathan cackled. "Watch out, Nataliya-chi, you might get the HIV~!"
Nataliya rolled her eyes when the Demons laughed in unison. Beezlebub finished his serving as they started eating.
"Ne, ne, Luci-nii, what are you up to this time?" Asmodeus asked his brother who is suddenly sulking on his food. The Demon of pride grimaced in reply.
"That's none of your business.."
"Ohh, what is this?" Satan raised his voice and smirked. "My dear brother is scheming for another useless action to motivate himself!"
"You better not put us into trouble again..." Nataliya hissed.
"Anyways, how goo were you during your good time with Gumi-chan?" Leviathan asked Asmodeus the Demon of lust sighed softly.
"I'd never thought she is that persistent. But I had a good time, indeed. I think I'll give up on Ichinose-chan since she fancies someone else."
"Whoa... that's very unlike you." Mammon commented. "You're interested in Yagumi all of a sudden?"
"She's trying to give me conditions. But I don't trust her at all. All she ever wanted is to be free. So today will be the third round."
"Ohh no..." Leviathan raised her voice. "By this time, your third unprotected round.."
Nataliya sighed in relief. It's a good thing she had kept the Nyx domain locked. Satan placed his feet on the table and snorted.
"To get back to my goody-goody rival, Luci-kun has guts~"
The Demons glanced at Lucifer, who fumed in disgust and lost his appetite.
"Luci-nii's amusing me, hahahahaha!!!" Leviathan laughed merrily when he placed his arm around Lucifer's shoulder. "So, what is it this time?"
Lucifer swatted his arm away. "Shut up. I don't have all day."
"Luci-nii's being a selfish baby~" Mammon teased in a singsong tone.
"In that case, you won't be getting any dessert." Beezlebub changed his mind before giving Lucifer a saucer of chocolate pudding, pissing him off as well. Lucifer banged his hands on the table and stood up from his chair. His red eyes are filled with an unquestionable grimace.
"Why do you demand so much?! Do I have to tell you everything?!" he growled angrily as he bored a disgusting glance on Satan. "I won't be dealing with you any longer."
"Lucifer, sit down!" Nataliya scolded him. "No yelling at the table, please!"
The Demon of pride grimaced as he slumped back on his chair. Belphegor yawned and played with his food.
"This happens every day, you know. Every day Luci-nii flips out when things are not going according to his favor..."
"SHUT UP!!" Lucifer growled once more. Before he could rant some more, Goliath entered into their banquet as the whole dining room was silenced upon his presence.
"How are you enjoying your fiesta?"
Satan downed his glass of blood as he gulped it noisily. "Not much, your Majesty. Luci-kun decided to go banana during our leisure."
The ruler sighed. "I don't care what the reason is. I'm more concerned in terms of our prisoner's charades."
"Ahh... Gumi-chan, I see. Asmodeus locked her up really tight. Kujyou-sama has breached her powers to turn her into an ordinary human being."
"Just as what I've told Ichirou to do... great." Goliath slowly nodded. "However, she might had contact with her vessels to use them as her vassals to set her free..."
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