Prologue

Do you believe in life after death?

Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?

Do you believe in reincarnation?

Have you ever asked yourselves any of these questions?

Don't worry if you haven't. Because up until now, neither have I.

But soon, for some of these questions, there will be answers.

Oh! There is one question I forgot to ask. It's also the most important one.

Do you believe that someone who has died once, can get a second chance at life?

Chapter 01: How It All Began

"Ah, I look irresistible."

Today is the opening ceremony for my second year in high school. I, the great Yuichi Shiro, am standing in front of the mirror. I can't help but admire myself, so handsome it's sinful. I now know how Narcissus must have felt. My wonderful short dark hair. My beautiful, yet manly face. My big brown eyes. I truly am a work of art, if I do say so myself.

Knock knock! - my bedroom door.

"Come in!" I call out, without diverting my eyes from the mirror.

I look at the girl who enters my shrine through the mirror's reflection. She is my younger sister by a year, Yuna Shiro. She has dark hair which is tied back, and brown eyes that are similar to my own. She is the type of girl who could be called either 'cute' or 'beautiful' depending on who looks at her. Her maturity hovers between the line of being a girl, and being a woman. But, considering she's my little sister, I never think about such things.

I guess it's to be expected of my little sister. We share the same blood after all. So naturally, like me, she too is really pretty. The type of sister that I can brag about to my friends. I'm sure she too does the same about me. Yes, she most definitely does, who wouldn't?

"Onii-chan, will you please hurry up!? At this rate we're going to be late for the opening ceremony," Yuna urges.

I can't blame her sense of urgency though, Yuna too must have realised. The girls at school will probably kill themselves if they don't get the eye candy of seeing yours truly. This will not do! I must hurry. I wouldn't be able to take full responsibility for a series of mass suicides.

"And Onii-chan, will you stop thinking such things, you aren't as popular as you think," Yuna says as she places her hand on her forehead, "No girl would go that far for you."

As expected of my little sister, you can read me so well. I have nothing further to teach you.

"You have taught me squat!"

"To come up with a retort to my thought process. You've already surpassed me, Yuna."

Wait a second. It's probably because I was so moved by the maturity of my younger sister just now. But did I just miss something Earth shatteringly important?

"Wait, Yuna! What do you mean I'm not popular?" I ask, my voice is unable to hide my mental shock.

Yuna simply remains silent as she quickly searches through her skirt pocket before pulling out a pamphlet. Its title, 'Things to watch out for on campus' and one of the sections headings has. Huh? Why is my name there? I take the pamphlet from Yuna and begin reading it out loud.

"Enemy of all women, Yuichi Shiro. Yuichi is a second year student, whom during his freshman year, became notorious for sexual harassment. Many female students and even a couple of teachers fell victim to this monster. If he ever harasses you, feel free to come to the discipline room in confidence. We shall handle his punishment. Article submitted by Akane Mizuno."

That damn Demon Mizuno again. How dare she dye the pureness that is me with this messed up article. I can feel tears running down my face. My mind becoming plagued with a mixture of anger, sadness and frustration. That bitch should just stay out of my way. What's wrong with me showing some love to all the cute girls?

"See? You aren't well liked by the female student body," Yuna says whilst wearing a smile that seems to be saying 'I told you so'.

"It's just a minor setback!" I proclaim, as I push my bangs out of my eyes like a prince. If this were an Anime, there would be a sparkling backdrop behind me right now.

"Just come downstairs for breakfast," Yuna ignores me and walks off. How cold, how cruel. Onii-chan's hurt, truly he is.

After a while, I drag my body down the stairs and into the kitchen. Mum, Dad and Yuna are already sitting at the table. I take my seat next to Yuna and start eating. Meals at breakfast and dinner are family time, our parents are pretty strict about this.

"So Yuna, today will be your first day as a high school student. Are you nervous?" Mum asks with interest.

Yuna shakes her head. "I'm only concerned that people may think that I'm like Onii-chan," she replies whilst looking at me.

Is Yuna worried that she may end up living in my shadow? This is bad, I must remove her worries so she can quickly settle in. Her high school debut is today, I must act now.

"Don't worry, Yuna, you are you. No one expects you to be like me. I have every faith that some day, you will outshine everyone, myself included," I proclaim with a passion filled voice. It's times like this, that I show my brotherly love.

Yuna, upon hearing me, looks truly surprised. Dad puts down his newspaper, and looks at me.

"Yuichi, I think you missed the point entirely. She was saying she doesn't want to be thought of as someone like you, not that she can't measure up to you," Dad's tone of voice has something in it I recognise- pity.

Wait, so she wasn't showing respect to me. But that she doesn't want to be grouped with me. How can this be? Where did the little Yuna who persistently claim that she wanted to marry me disappear to!?

"I never once said that!?" Yuna once again retorts to my inner monologue. I don't have the energy to compliment her this time however.

My heart feels like it's breaking.

BANG! - I smack my head against the table. Trying to clear my head of all the awful memories that I wish to forget. This morning has been one shock after another.

Fifteen minutes later - we finish breakfast.

Yuna and I are now walking to school together. I'm still feeling depressed, but I'm trying not to let it show. No girl wants to look at a depressed guy after all.

Suddenly, I notice a familiar girl across the road from us. She's wearing our school's uniform almost like it was made for her. She has a small build, and shoulder length brown hair that has a ribbon tied on to it.

This girl is Sakura Kirei. She's the same age as Yuna, as well as her best friend. I already heard that she was going to attend our school from her brother. So I'm not surprised to see her wearing our uniform.

Sakura is a girl who is very popular with the guys in my year. She ranked second in the girl you most want to call you 'Onii-chan' competition back in middle school.

As a little bit of trivia, the person who ranked first in that competition was Yuna. But because she always called me 'Onii-chan', I guess I kind of take it for granted. Well, those that want things like a girl calling you 'Onii-chan', are those who don't have siblings themselves already. They're unable to understand what it's really like to have a younger sister. You just get used to how they address you, and think nothing of it. The fact I don't go squealing 'cute' every time Yuna calls me 'Onii-chan' proves my point.

Anyway, to mend my hurt heart. that just keeps being trampled on. I believe some skinship with Sakura is just what the doctor ordered.

Locking onto my target's back with my eyes, I put myself in a crouching start stance.

"GOOOO!" I shout enthusiastically.

"KYAA!" Yuna screams, guess I shocked her.

I run onto the road. Faster, faster, faster. I continue to increase my pace so I can reach Sakura, even if only a fraction of a second sooner. My eyes are locked on target. Just wait my dear, I'll give you plenty of loving.

"Onii-chan, on your right!"

Reacting to Yuna's voice, I look right. A man on a bicycle comes into view. He's riding at full speed, and is on a straight collision course with me. The bike won't be able to evade me.

My reflexes instantly kick in, I jump directly backwards. Missing the bike by mere inches. My reactions are as sharp as ever. The cyclist carries on riding past me. No word of apology? The manners of some people, but I'm a nice guy, so I'll let it slide.

I brush my bangs out of my eyes again, almost like I'm striking a victory pose. To everyone present, I must look truly cool right now.

"Onii-chan!"

"Sempai!"

Yuna and Sakura shout at me simultaneously. Sakura must have noticed me when Yuna drew my attention to the cyclist. So much for the element of surprise.

"LOOK OUT!" The two girl's shouts overlap with each other. I feel heavy vibrations on the ground, I look to my left, and I see something I wish that I didn't.

Oh, you've gotta be kidding me!

"A TRUCK!" I scream in shock.

I jumped out of a collision course with a bike, only to land into one with a truck. What the hell's with that!?

I feel my face instantly turn pale.

Honk! Honk! - The truck sounds its horn. But it's meaningless. I know, I cannot escape from this one. The screeching of the tyres trying to brake reverberate inside my ears.

It feels like time has stopped. Is this what is meant by one's life flashing before their eyes?

My body feels light. I'm in the air? Why? Why am I flying through the sky? A second later, I realise.

Oh, I've been hit.

"Sempai!"

"Onii-chan!"

The two girls calling me are the last words I hear. Everything falls silent.

I was hit by a truck, I must look totally uncool right now.

I feel my conscience fading.

My mind slowly falling into darkness.

Yuna, congratulations on getting into high school. I guess, my time has come.

Goodbye, Mum, Dad, Yuna, Everyone.

Chapter 02: Meeting The Reaper

"Urghh!" I groan in agony.

My head, no. My entire body feels really heavy right now.

"Man, it feels like a truck hit me."

"That's because a truck did hit you," A girl's voice gives a reply to the comment I thought I said only to myself.

I feel my eyes focus and my face turn serious. "For me not to feel your presence until now, I lack training," I say in a voice so cold, that it could freeze Hell over.

"What's with the cliché line just now?" The girl just shrugs it off with a voice of disinterest.

I slowly pick my body up and look at the girl I'm talking with.

Huh, she's pretty cute. The type of girl I would try to pick up if I met her in a town or city.

She has long silver hair that shimmers slightly, the fringe is parted with two hair clips, revealing her sky blue eyes. Her entire physical profile, I would rank as 'A plus'. However, the long black robe she's wearing makes her look like a stereotypical cultist. She isn't wearing the hood allowing me to clearly see her face.



I slowly walk towards the pretty, yet ill dressed, girl. I push my bangs out of my eyes, showing the girl my 'Prince Charming' pose.

"Yuichi Shiro, sixteen years old, currently single. Please, will you give me the pleasure of hearing the beautiful mademoiselle's name?" I ask elegantly.

First impressions are always important, and there is no one who can give them better than me.

The girl looks at me like I'm weird. Why?

An awkward silence. What went wrong? She should be all over me by now.

"My name's Alicia," the girl finally replies.

Alicia huh, such a beautiful name, for such a beautiful girl. She must be on her way to a fancy dress party. That must be why she's dressed like that.

"I'm a Reaper of souls."

I take that back, she needs psychiatric help. I turn my back on her to hide my shocked face. Huh, wait. What is this place? I look around in confusion. It doesn't look like any place I know. Since when did I move to an island that is surrounded by a sea of lava?

Oh well, who cares? Girl first, location second. Priorities officially sorted. I turn back around to face Alicia, having now regained my beautiful award winning smile.

"So what is it that you do?" I ask in a gentlemanly manner while showing off my pure white teeth.

"It's my job to take the recently departed to the Underworld. This is probably a bit sudden, but you do realise you're dead, right?" The way she answers me sounds like it is premeditated. Like she has said it many times before now.

Wait a second, I'm dead. That can't be, can it? I was only hit by a truc...It suddenly dawns on me. There's no way I could have survived that, and that means...

"NOOO! That can't be true! I have yet to lose my virginity! How can I be dead!?" I shout at the top of my voice. This is a very serious situation. I can accept the idea of being dead, but I will not accept dying as a virgin.

Alicia looks at me with a mixture of disgust and shock. I guess she has no poker face.

"That's the most unusual response I've heard from anyone, and I've taken well over a thousand souls."

"Are you telling me that they all lost their virginity and I haven't! That's what you're trying to say isn't it!?"

My anger is rising, I can feel it. This cruel fate I'm suffering. Can anyone blame me for being angry because of it?

A sudden image enters my mind. A church filled with all my friends and relatives gathered together, they're all crying. Yes, this is my premonition of my own funeral.

"We are gathered here in the memory of Yuichi Shiro, who has sadly had his life cut short," An elderly priest addresses everyone.

Watching this is truly heartbreaking. I'm sorry everyone.

One at a time, everyone comes and says their farewells to me. One person stands before my open coffin, with tears flowing out of his eyes he speaks to me.

"Yuichi, my friend."

This person is my best friend, he's also Sakura's older brother. I met Sakura through him, like how he met Yuna through me. The two older brothers became best friends, and the younger sisters followed suit. Anyway, so to speak, he's my best friend. It's the first time I've seen him like this.

"Yuichi, you died a virgin."

HUH!? Did my ears deceive me just now? To say this at my funeral, what kind of best friend are you?

"Don't worry, I will have lots of sex to fill your quota! When we reunite, I promise to tell you all about it."

"LIKE HELL YOU WILL!" I shout out in response. No way am I letting you pour salt into my already terrible wounds.

"What's with you?" Alicia's voice snaps me back to reality. That truly was a horrible premonition, it must be avoided at all costs.

"Alicia! I must go back to my world no matter what! If you're a Reaper, then you should know of a way right!?"

"There is but one way, and indeed, I know of it. However, you will not be able to do it."

What's with that arrogant smile she's wearing?

"If you know something, then please just tell me. No way am I handing my quota over to him." That's right. That is something I will do on my own. It cannot be entrusted to someone else.

Alicia looks at me in a questioning manner, she probably doesn't know what I'm going through at this moment. Well, let's leave it at that, getting back is more important.

"The place we are currently in is called Purgatory. It is here that souls and Reapers meet. You could say it's the half way point between the living world and the Underworld," Alicia explains as she walks back and forth.

Okay, that was a nice piece of trivia, but it doesn't answer my question.

"Ali..." I begin, planning to make her get to the point.

"In other words, if you wish to return to the living world again, you need to do it while in Purgatory," Alicia cuts me off with her explanation.

But you still haven't told me how.

"How do I get back?" I ask, trying to make her get to the point.

"It is both simple, and yet, impossible."

Okay, seriously. How long does she intend on dragging this out?

"Quit speaking in riddles and tell me, please. All my future sexual pleasure is on the line here!" I shout, my pent up frustration leaks out into my voice.

Alicia shakes her head from side to side, I think she has finally taken the hint.

"You need to challenge me to a game, and win."

"Huh?" I stand there with a confused look pasted on my face.

"In order to go back you must defeat me, then I'll take you back."

"And you can't just take me back without the hassle?"

"No!" Alicia answers sternly.

I see. So basically, if I beat her then I can come back to life, okay got it.

"Can it really be anything?" I ask for reassurance.

"Yes, and we continue until there is a clear winner. You win, I take you back. I win, I take your soul to the Underworld. Oh, just to say, I have never lost."

"You've never lost?" My voice cannot hide my concern.

"That's right, I've never lost. I'm from a noble family after all. I need to keep a perfect record," Alicia reconfirms her previous declaration proudly.

I need to think carefully now. If what she says is true, then I need to choose what I challenge her to wisely. Wait a second, I've got it. This is risky, but I'll put all my eggs in one basket. If I win, I'll get so much more than just my life. Alicia, you have just met your match.

I inwardly snigger to myself, my motivation rising by the moment. I'm sure my heightened motivation will help pull me through to victory.

"Very well. Alicia, I wish to challenge you!" I shout confidently, my previous anxiety now ancient history.

"What at? Chess maybe?" Alicia asks in anticipation, like a warrior being challenged to a duel.

Chess? No way am I going to choose something so boring. I'm going to raise the stakes in a way I'm sure you've never imagined. Prepare yourself, your winning streak ends today.

"Alicia, I challenge you to a game of strip rock-paper-scissors!" I scream whilst pointing my outstretched finger at her.

"WHA...WHAT!" Alicia is visibly shocked, her face is turning red, and her voice starts to become shaky.

"Allow me to explain how it's played. Paper beats rock, rock beats scissors, and scissors beats paper, follow?" I begin my lecture of game play whilst showing hand gestures of each item you can choose.

"I know how rock-paper-scissors is played," Alicia looks at me with a face full of irritation. I was only making sure to keep it fair. So can you turn your anger down a notch?

"The additional rule that I've added in is: 'When a player loses a round, they remove an article of their clothing'. Hence why it's called 'strip rock-paper-scissors'. You win when the opponent is completely naked, understand?" I conclude my explanation. Any questions?

"What a despicable game."

Why the anger? You said any game was fine. Plus, I don't like how I'm the only one who has something to lose.

"Let's begin shall we?" I say, readying myself mentally.

It appears that Alicia is unable to refuse. Her face has 'I definitely won't lose' written all over it. Do you want to see my gorgeous body so much? I don't blame you, but what a perverted Reaper you are.

"I shall take you down, along with your disgusting mind!"

"BRING IT ON!"

Thus the game of strip rock-paper-scissors between my noble self, and Alicia begins.

A few minutes later, and the victor has been decided.

Before me, a beautiful girl is kneeling down, covering herself desperately with her hands and arms. Her eyes are moist and red from embarrassment.

"You needn't worry, I'm not planning on saying anything about what happened here. Plus, you should look on the bright side. The only one who is seeing you in this state is me, there's only the two of us here. It's not like you're in the middle of a city or something." I give my best pep talk

Tears continue to roll down her cheeks with no sign of them stopping, pep talk instantly rejected. I guess she can't see this situation in the same light as me.

"Uh, sorry. Thanks, you're really pretty. You could win any guy you wished with your beauty that is like a piece of art," I'm not saying this as flattery, it's my honest opinion.

Sniff sniff! Her tears increase in mass

Did I just add fuel to the fire just now?

"Jeez, now I feel like I actually did something wrong. You could have just refused, or given up."

I walk over and pick up her robe and hand it to her.

"It's my victory. So you don't need to stay that way any longer," I say gently. Trying to bring out my dormant kindness that is reserved for such situations.

I turn away from her. I've scarred Alicia quite enough.

"Y...You can turn around now," Alicia says in a quiet and reserved voice a few moments later.

I did as she said. Alicia is now fully clothed, and it looks like she is feeling a little better now.

"Considering I won, you have to take me back, right?" I ask, I'm worried she might refuse due to a personal grudge.

With the final tears flowing out of her eyes, Alicia gives a light nod.

I bow my head down deeply.

"I'm truly sorry, I went too far. I promise I will keep this a secret," I apologise again. How many times is this? Please cheer up.

"I have no intention of forgiving you. But, you did win. I have no choice but to follow the Reaper's code and take you back," Alicia declares as she wipes her eyes. It always hurts my heart when a beautiful girl hates me. But it appears she's the type who puts duty before personal feelings, very professional. She then looks at me with a serious face.

"But your life will be very different from how it was before," Her voice just now is the most serious it has been thus far. I feel a cold sweat go down the back of my neck.

"Different, how so?" I ask.

"You'll find out in time."

Well, if she's not telling me now, then it can't be that big a deal.

And with that, my brief stay in Purgatory came to a close. After beating Alicia, I won back my life.

Living world, Yuichi Shiro shall once again take up residence within you. No way am I dying before I lose my virginity.

Chapter 03A: The Revival Of Yuichi Shiro - Fun As A Spirit

"Woah! Nice view!" I shout my utmost respect at the scenery.

"Would you stop looking up the nurse's skirts already!?" Alicia looks back at me in anger "Hurry up!"

What are you saying? It's not everyday you're a spirit. This is what is known as taking advantage of a bad situation.

"Looking up a girl's skirt, when you can't be seen is a must!" I explain to Alicia, who seems to be lacking this everyday knowledge.

Alicia and I have returned to the living world. I'm currently a spirit, so normal humans can't see me. They are unable to see Alicia also.

"It's the opposite. looking up people's skirts just because you can't be seen is just despicable," Alicia states.

"Don't misunderstand, I still looked up their skirts when I was alive," I reply proudly whilst folding my arms, "Now I don't mean to brag, but there is not a girl in my school year, who's skirt I have not seen under." How is that, impressed? Ha ha ha, worship me inferior being.

"That's not bragging, that's confessing," Alicia replies with a face full of disgust.

Why? Where's the respect? Girls should be pleased that the one and only Yuichi Shiro looked up their skirts.

We continue walking through the hospital as I try to find an answer for my previous dilemma. Outside the Operating room I spot two people I recognise.

Yuna and Sakura are both wearing sorrowful faces. Seeing this is truly painful. Please cheer up both of you.

"Acquaintances?" Alicia asks.

"My sister and a friend," I reply solemnly.

We walk through the door, not opening it, literally just walk through it.

Several doctors and nurses are in the room, busily running around.

Seeing myself sleeping in the bed is, how should I put it.

"My sleeping face is also heavenly beautiful," I state in one hundred percent self admiration, "Alicia, as my apology for before, I officially give you permission to stare at my sleeping face."

How is that? Just one look at me, and all your mental wounds shall heal. Aren't I just the kindest?

"Like I'd do that, punching you in the face might work however!" Alicia coldly refuses.

"Not a chance! My absolute beauty is one of a kind. Destroying or harming it, is a huge unforgivable sin!" I declare.

Damn Reaper, I was trying to make amends, and she throws it back in my face.

"Just hurry up and lie inside your body," Alicia says whilst holding her head.

I quickly do as I'm told.

"AHHH! I'm inside! It feels good!" I scream in ecstasy.

"Knock off the sexual innuendos!" Alicia shouts in anger, "I'm doing this for your sake, so stop playing around."

"Fine, I just wanted to lighten you up," I reply in a rejected voice.

"Okay, I am going to reconnect you to your body," Alicia says whilst a green aura flows out of her right hand, "You'll awaken again soon after."

"Thanks for everything Alicia, it was a pleasure meeting you," I say sincerely.

"And it was a displeasure meeting you, Yuichi Shiro," She coldly responds.

My conscience starts to fade.

Yuna, Sakura and all the other millions of Yuichi Shiro fans. I'm back, no autographs please.

_____XXXXX_____

Chapter 03B: The Revival Of Yuichi Shiro - My Sempai (Perspective: Sakura Kirei)

Two hours have passed since that happened. Since Sempai was hit by a truck. There was no way I could go to school after witnessing that. So I accompanied Yuna and Sempai in the ambulance to the hospital.

I'm sitting outside the O.R. that Sempai is currently in. A nurse said they will do all they can, but we should prepare for the worst.

The hospital staff were not able to get in touch with Yuna and Sempai's parents, so they don't know what has happened.

I called my brother to tell him that I wouldn't be at school. I didn't tell him what happened to Sempai, I just couldn't. Nii-san and Sempai have been best friends for years, I don't know how he would take it.

I once asked Nii-san how he became friends with Sempai in middle school. All he said was they just hit it off.

Yuna is sleeping beside me, until just a few minutes ago she was crying her heart out. I still can't believe it, something like that happening to Sempai.

Yuna told me through her tears that Sempai saw me from across the road and ran across without paying attention. If that's the case, is it my fault this happened?

I suddenly feel a liquid run down my cheek. I had to hold it in, for Yuna's sake. She who witnessed her dear brother being hit by a truck, the brother she always spoke of in such a disappointed tone. I have already reached my limit. I couldn't show my tears to Yuna, but she is asleep now. Knowing this I let everything come out.

Sniff sniff. - The cool liquid cools my cheeks

"Sem...pai."

The Sempai who always attached himself to me in such a straight forward manner. I was always embarrassed by his antics. Yet, despite this, I couldn't bring myself to hate him for it.

Everyone else who tried to approach me, did so in such a round about way.

Because I can't understand people very well, he was a breath of fresh air. He always spoke his mind. He always did exactly what he wanted without reservation. I couldn't help but admire him for that.

No! Why am I speaking of Sempai like he is the past? Sempai is not gone, not yet he isn't. I won't lose hope, not until it's over. Even though I encourage myself with these thoughts. My tears, don't stop. Will they ever stop? Every second feels like an eternity.

I walk down the corridor to get a coffee to calm myself down. I suddenly hear shouts coming from the O.R. that Sempai is in.

"How could this be!"

My tears increase and my legs freeze from these words. No! What happened to Sempai? It can't be...

"It's a miracle!" More words escape the O.R.

Hearing these words, my hope is renewed a thousand fold. A nurse comes out of the O.R. She looks at me.

"He has pulled through," She says with a smile.

Those four words are all it takes. My legs give out and I find myself kneeling on the floor. The nurse approaches me and gently pats my shoulder, before she walks over to Yuna, who is still asleep.

Tears continue to flow out of my eyes, words can't describe my relief. Yuna, having just heard the news is in a similar state to myself. I get to my feet and sit myself beside Yuna and embrace her tightly.

"Sakura...Onii-chan...he's...alive!" Yuna cries, her tears distort her voice.

"Yeah," One word is all I can muster.

"But it's strange," The nurse says whilst Yuna and I are shedding tears of joy, we both quickly turn to look at her.

"What...is?" Yuna asks in a worried manner.

"The injuries he suffered were fatal when he was brought in. Yet now, it's like it never even happened," The nurse answers in wonder.

"What do you mean?" I ask whilst still holding Yuna.

"I'm saying his injuries are completely healed. Something that should have been impossible happened. It's beyond lucky, we can only call it a miracle," The nurse's voice was calm, but I can tell she is shaken by it.

"Sempai, is fully healed?" I ask rhetorically.

That can't be. I saw him get hit by the truck, we both did.

However, right now, I don't care about that. The reason doesn't matter. The happiness of Sempai's survival is much greater than the question of how he did.

"Can...I...see..hi...m?" Yuna asks the nurse in a quiet and broken voice. She's still shaken up pretty badly.

The nurse gives an angelic smile. "Of course, go ahead," She says with a nod.

We enter the room with the nurse. There are several doctors and nurses looking at Sempai in astonishment.

"Yo, Yuna, Sakura," Sempai calls to us casually whilst waving his hand with a smile on his face. We silently walk to Sempai's bedside.

SLAP!

"OWWW!"

"YOU STUPID BROTHER!"

That looked painful. Yuna slapped Sempai with all her might as her tears flow uncontrollably. That one slap most likely held all her mixed emotions within it.

Sempai, after seeing Yuna's state, looks at us with an apologetic smile. "Sorry," He says as he places a hand on each of our heads.

My tears, I've given up trying to make them stop.

Welcome back, Sempai.

______XXXXX______

Chapter 03C: The Revival Of Yuichi Shiro - For Our Family's Honour (Perspective: Alicia)

Having taken Yuichi Shiro back to the living world and returning to my family's mansion. I'm now sitting at a long table eating dinner. My father is sat at the opposite end.

I had reported what happened today. How I was defeated and humiliated by Yuichi Shiro's challenge of strip rock-paper-scissors. For me to lose in such a game, the blow to my family's honour would be huge.

The result of that match has yet to be announced publicly. I came home to report to Father hoping he had a way to keep it under control. I was expecting to be harshly punished by Father for causing such a situation in the first place - Yet.

"HA HA HA! To come up with such a method. I sure wish to meet this Yuichi Shiro-kun," My father laughs vigorously.

"Father, do you not understand the gravity of this situation!?" I shout whilst banging my hands on the table.

"Calm down, Alicia. Some man would eventually see you naked sooner or later, don't let it bother you," Father says whilst gesturing with his hand for me to sit back down.

"Father, whilst that does indeed annoy me! That's not what I'm referring to!" I shout again, Father simply takes it with a smile on his face.

"Rest assured, I've already come up with a counter measure for our family's honour." He says reassuringly.

"Really?" I'm shocked, as expected of my father. Finding a solution to what would be a grave problem.

"Yes, this is what you must do..."

After hearing my father's words, I truly fell into despair.

"I...I understand, Father," I reply in a dejected voice

I'm not in a position to oppose him, it's my own fault.

Chapter 04: To School I Go

I was released from the hospital last night.

I'm just about to head to school. My second year debut was ruined by that truck hitting me. However, I have fully recovered within a day of it happening, I guess this is due to me beating Alicia.

Oh, not good, the image of Alicia in her birthday suit is making me excited. Calm down, Yuichi, calm down. I will soon be doing more than just seeing.

"Ha ha ha," I can't contain my laughter. All the girls at school must have been in serious pain yesterday. Don't worry my little kittens, Yuichi Shiro is back and here to stay.

"Okay, I'm off everyone, I'll see you tonight. Unless I score, then tomorrow morning," I shout out to my family members.

"AH! Wait Onii-chan, I'm going too," Yuna calls whilst running back and forth gathering her school things, seeing this I can only smile.

"No need to rush, Yuna. If you want to walk to school with your wonderful Onii-chan then I don't mind waiting a bit."

"Get over yourself, stupid brother!" Ouch! Those words hurt me much more than that truck ever could.

"Yuna," Mum calls, "Keep an eye on Yuichi, make sure you hold his hand whilst crossing the road."

"How old do you think I am, damn it!? I ain't a kid," show the respect that the wonderful me deserves.

"Be quiet, Yuichi. I'm talking about you, not to you!" Mum, you are so full of arrogance. Yuna, make sure not to grow up like her. "Did you just think something rude, stupid son!?" Mum glares at me so strongly I could turn to stone.

"No way would I do that," I put on my best smile possible, trying not to give into fear.

"Don't worry, Mum. I won't hold his hand. But I will keep a very close eye on him," Yuna and Mum reach an agreement.

I feel a sensation of self loathing. I get the feeling I have lost my family's respect. Come on, I was only hit by a truck once, just bad luck that time. It's not going to happen a second time, jeez.

"Okay, we're off," Yuna shouts enthusiastically.

"HAAAAAAAH~~!" After the front door closes I heave a sigh so long and loud it belongs in the Guinness book of records.

"Good morning, Yuna, Sempai," A cute voice calls out to us.

"You already look exhausted Yuichi, what's up?" A guy's voice that I know only too well.

"A very good morning to you too Sakura, Ren-Sempai," Yuna returns the greeting politely. What a great sister, you take after me so much.

"NO, I DON'T!" Yuna retorts, I'm seriously starting to wonder if she can read peoples' minds.

"Morning Ren, morning Sakura," I try to greet them enthusiastically, but my voice tone instantly betrays me.

Yes, Sakura and her older brother, Ren who is also my best friend and comrade. Ren, like me, although not too the same level, is also a good looking guy. He has spiky brown hair, blue eyes and a slightly taller than average stature. Ren is the type of guy who fits the appearance of shounen manga arch type. Although, I seriously don't understand why he's always carrying two sets of headphones, one is covering his ears, the other is resting around his neck.

"Wha...What's wrong, Sempai? Are you still not feeling good from yesterday?" Sakura asks looking worried.

I shake my head and smile at her.

"No Sakura, this is more a mental issue than a physical one. My family has demoted me from eldest son to toddler," I explain.

"Onii-chan, we need to go or we'll be late," Upon Yuna's urging, I gather every ounce of will power still in my body.

"Okay, let's go," I declare.

The four of us walk side by side towards school. I'm still feeling a little depressed, but better than I was. I guess it was my own fault for jumping into a truck, but still.

"Say Yuichi, were there any beautiful nurses at the hospital?" Ren asks with a lecherous smile on his face.

"Nii-san," Sakura looks at her brother with anger in her eyes. Oi, Oi Ren. As the older brother you shouldn't anger your cute little sister. You have so much more to learn.

"There was this one with blonde hair and huge breasts, I would totally have liked to have done her if I could of," I answer.

"Onii-chan!" Yuna glares at me with murderous intent in her eyes.

SCARY. My apologies for my hypocrisy, Ren.

Is it just my imagination? Sakura also looks like she is on the verge of tears. Cheer up my dear, Ren is a teenage boy as well. It's only natural for him to take an interest in women.

"Onii-chan, remember you are walking with two ladies. Show some delicacy," Yuna reminds me.

"You're right, how thoughtless of me. Sakura, my apologies for showing no restraint just now," I apologise with a gentlemanly-like voice.

Sakura rubs her eyes and nods, accepting my apology.

"What about me, Onii-chan?" Yuna asks.

"What about you?" I look at my sister questioningly, "OWWW!"

Damn it, Yuna! Don't stamp on my foot like that. I do feel pain, you know. Man, has Yuna entered her rebellious age? Don't grow up to be sadistic, my dear sister.

"Yuichi, you know. You really are stupid." Ren declares frankly.

"What was that, Ren!? You of all people should know the wonderful-beautiful-genius that is Yuichi Shiro," I retort.

"A genius who managed to think that a 'cock fight' was a sex related activity," Yuna rebukes my statement coldly.

"HOW THE HELL WAS I TO KNOW THE COCK WAS REFERING TO A CHICKEN!" I shout out at the top of my lungs. Jeez! When are you going to let that one mistake go already!?

"Leaving your looks aside for the moment. Do you mind if I give you a quick test to prove your genius?" Ren challenges.

"Bring it on, Ren!"

No matter what the challenge, I will accept it. I am someone who defeated a reaper to win back my life, don't underestimate me.

"It's very simple, Yuichi: Recite the alphabet."

That's it? At least give me a challenge, Ren.

"A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, I, K, L, N, M, O, P, R, S, T, U, W, V, X, Y, Z" I recite out loud

Ren stares at me in amazement, how about that!? Yuna and Sakura also look astounded.

"Okay, Yuichi. You have proven your genius. I, Ren Kirei, fully acknowledge your intellect."

As expected of my best friend, he understands my greatness by just having me recite the alphabet. I could almost cry due to the great company I keep with me.

"Umm," Sakura mutters while pulling on my sleeve.

"Huh, what's wrong Sakura?" I ask.

Sakura averts her gaze from me. No need to be shocked by my greatness, I will always be Yuichi Shiro, no matter how great I become.

"Sempai, don't feel bad. I will...always be with you," Sakura says with a slightly flushed face.

"Um, okay. Thanks Sakura, I will always be near you too," I reply.

Sakura's face reddens even more.

Hmm, what was that all about? Girls can sometimes be such mysterious creatures. Sakura more so than most. Ren, you have my utmost sympathy. Even the genius, that is me, cannot work Sakura out. You must always have a constant headache when you try to solve that mystery.

"He even missed out 'Q'," Yuna whispers something to herself, but I can't make it out.

"Sorry, I couldn't hear you then- did you say something Yuna?" I ask out of curiosity.

"Nothing," Yuna responds whilst turning her face that looks a bit miffed, This one too is also hard to figure out.

As we continue to walk. I suddenly spot someone leaning against a nearby wall, looking at us. Wait, isn't that?

"Hey, Yuichi. That girl is seriously cute, isn't she?" Ren asks.

"Uh, yeah," I give a half hearted reply.

She truly is cute, yes. The girl upon noticing our gaze begins walking towards us. When I say 'us', I'm guessing it's closer to say 'me'.

"Yuichi Shiro," The girl standing in front of me is dressed in our school's uniform.

"Alicia?" Yes. No matter how I look at the girl in front of me, she can only be the reaper I defeated before. What is she doing here?

"Y-you know her, Sempai?" Sakura stutters whilst her face is in a pre-tear like state. What's wrong, Sakura?

"A bit," I reply before turning back to Alicia, "Alicia, what are you doing here anyway?"

"I'm here because..." Alicia begins whilst looking down at the floor. She is wearing an expression that looks full of frustration. Why can't you tell me? Is it a secret?

Alicia then looks up after a few moments and stares straight into my eyes.

"I'm here because; I AM TO BE YOUR BRIDE!" Alicia shouts the last words, she must be really embarrassed, her face is the same colour as a tomato.

"EH~~~" Everyone exclaims together.

Wait, I have to marry Alicia? The girl I'm meeting for only the second time in my life. Being suddenly told that I have to marry someone I barely know. My thoughts on this, anyone can guess. There is only one answer I can give to this statement. The answer is obvious. I am sure that anyone in my current position would say exactly what I'm about to.

"Right, Yuna call up every member of our family and tell them the good news. Sakura, please arrange a date by getting in contact with the nearby church, make sure to get a price quote. Ren, you are in charge of the stag night. My only request is that there must be a stripper. NO- strippers!"

Yes, the obvious reaction. A one hundred percent enthusiastic acceptance. I'm only in high school and I've already got myself a wife. I truly am a sinfully-brilliant example of a man.

"Onii-chan,"

"Sempai..."

Yuna looks angry and Sakura upset. How many times is that today? Alicia looks at me in disbelief and shock. Why? I gave the obvious answer, why is she so surprised?

"Can I be the best man, Yuichi?" Ren asks me.

"Of course! Who else is better suited for that role than you, my best friend," I answer.

"Congratulations, Yuichi," Ren says with a smile whilst moving his hand up high.

*Pacha!* - We give each other a high five. You should hurry up and find yourself a girl too, Ren. As my best friend, you must obtain true happiness as well.

"Um, Yuichi Shiro," Alicia calls.

"Please, just call me 'Yuichi', honey~~" I reply back with my gorgeous smile.

"Then, Yuichi. Are you seriously okay with it?" She asks.

"I have no problem with it," I reply happily.

Alicia is looking at me. Her shock gradually increasing at a constant rate. What's wrong, having second thoughts?

"We barely know each other."

"That's no problem for me."

"We don't love each other,"

"That's no problem for me," I declare, "My theory is sex before marriage, love after."

Now everyone is looking at me in shock. Well, geniuses are never understood by common folk. But don't worry, I won't shun you for your shortcomings.

"My interest only lies in girls," Alicia confesses.

"THAT'S FABULOUS!" I cannot contain my voice from hearing Alicia's last comment. Both your rating and value in my book just keeps increasing. I've got myself one wonderful fiancé.

"My dream of having a threesome is within my grasp. Alicia, I shall support you every way I humanly can. But first, take this."

I hand Alicia a sheet of paper. Written on it, is a list of girls I would like to have in a threesome. All of them attend our school.

Alicia looks down at the floor again. The confession of being a lesbian must have been a heavy burden on her. Don't worry, Alicia. You and I will be able to experience a world that I thought would occur only in my wildest dreams. Thanks to you, and your sexual preferences, that is no longer the case. You have my eternal gratitude.

"I give up on trying to talk you out of it. Your 'talent' is on a whole other level," Alicia declares. It appears that it's not only Ren who recognises my greatness, thanks for the compliment. However, I cannot let Alicia drag herself down, immediate action is required.

"Don't sell yourself short, you're a very beautiful girl, Alicia. Although I'm a stallion among stallions, you don't have to feel inferior," I speak out my most kindest words to the crestfallen Alicia.

"Um, Yuichi," My best friend beckons whilst patting me on the shoulder.

"What is it, Ren?" I ask.

"I think the two of you are talking about two separate matters," He replies.

"Onii-chan!" Yuna glares at me angrily. Sorry Yuna, I didn't mean to ignore you whilst I was in my own blissful world. "I'm going to ask again, this time answer me. Who is this girl? And what is your relationship with her?"

"Yes, Sempai! I too want to know! Just who is she!?" Sakura chimes in, for some reason on odd occasions she can be really assertive.

"Sorry, I'll introduce you. Everyone, this is Alicia. Alicia, that is Ren Kirei, my best friend."

"Nice to meet you, Alicia-san," Ren gives a quick greeting.

"Yes, same here," Alicia replies whilst still looking glum.

"This is Sakura Kirei. Ren's little sister, and rank number two in the girl you want to call you 'Onii-chan' competition."

"Nice...to...meet...you," Sakura greets Alicia with a face full of contrasting emotions. The ones I can make out: shyness, determination, and is that hostility and jealousy, I see? No, must be my imagination.

"Um, yes. Please be kind to me, Sakura." Such a graceful greeting. Alicia, you can call yourself my wife with pride.

"And last but not least, this is my little sister, Yuna Shiro."

"Nice to meet you, Alicia-san, and my condolences."

"As his younger sister, you too must have it tough."

"You can say that again."

It looks like Yuna and Alicia hit it off well. I guess those who can relate to each other can become fast friends. But I have no idea what they're talking about, probably something only girls would understand.

"Okay Onii-chan, introductions over. Answer me my last question. What is your relationship?" Yuna questions once again.

"We're engaged. That should explain it all," I reply, Yuna looks at me like she wants to kill me. Why? I answered your question.

"Although, against my wishes," Alicia adds.

"Huh, what Alicia?" I ask in worry.

"It was my father that told me to do this, to keep my family's prestige," Alicia explains.

"Prestige?" I question.

Say what? Why does she need to marry me for her family's prestige?

"I told you before, that I'm from a prestigious family, right?"

"True, I remember you saying that."

"I also said I needed to keep a perfect record, didn't I?"

"Yes, I remember that as well."

Okay, I think I can see where this is going.

"And who was it that broke my perfect record? Plus the despicable method you chose makes it all the more humiliating. My humiliation, becomes my family's humiliation. So my father found a loop hole. A loop hole that will prevent it from spreading to my family."

"And that method, is for the two of us to get married, right?"

"That's right, there is no humiliation in a person of the Pandemonium family losing. If the person they lost to, is also part of the Pandemonium family."

Pandemonium, I guess that's her family name. So by having me marry into her family. It changes from her losing to Yuichi Shiro, a regular (yet beautiful) human. To losing to Yuichi Pandemonium, a member of the same household. Something like that I guess.

"Onii-chan, what is this about you humiliating Alicia-san!?"

"Sempai! Please give me an explanation!"

Wow! These two are at boiling point. All the bystanders are staring at us. Damn, don't draw so much negative attention to me will you.

"Yuichi, I'm truly jealous of you right now," Ren states whilst looking at me with a smile on his face.

"Jealous? Of this? Are you a masochist Ren?" I ask my friend.

"Yuichi, you truly are stupi... a genius," I appreciate the compliments, Ren. But even a genius sometimes requires assistance. So rather than praise me on the obvious, do you mind holding these two back before I'm killed.

"I'm going on ahead, Yuichi. We're classmates this year again, so I'll see you there!" Ren shouts as he runs towards the school as fast as his legs can carry him.

"REN YOU TRAITOR!"

"Tell me everything, Onii-chan. I'm all ears," Yuna is about to explode.

"Sempai..." Sakura says reservedly, but her eyes are serious.

Damn, I need another truck to drive past. I'm sure the Underworld is a lot less scarier than these two joining forces against me.

Chapter 05A: First Day Back – Home Room

Home room is just about to begin, I am sitting in a seat that appears to be vacant. Because I wasn't at school for the first day I do not know the seating arrangements.

"I'm glad to see you are healthy, Shiro-kun" Said the boy sitting in the neighbouring seat. He's a boy with whom I am acquainted.

"Yeah, thanks. So we're in the same class this year Ryu-san," I reply.

The boy's name is Ryu Ikena. He is someone who if you look at only his face you would call him a pretty boy. But if you look below the neck, how should I put it? He is someone who casts a very wide shadow. However, despite this he's actually very popular because of his kind personality and sense of responsibility. In the eyes of a girl he's the type of guy who they would want as a close friend but nothing more than that. Someone who is the polar opposite of me, who only has his beautiful loo... NO! Wait, I too am more than just a pretty face.

"Right, I'm looking forward to this year, Shiro-kun. If you have any problems feel free to consult me, I am the class rep for this class after all," Ryu-san continues with a pleasant smile.

"I see, thanks."

Last year we were both in different classes, and both of us were class reps, that's how I got to know him. As a little bit of trivia, I was nominated class rep with one hundred percent of the votes, it goes to show how much people trust me. The fact that I was the only candidate means nothing.

Well, I wasn't fond of those long boring meetings so I'll gladly let Ryu-san do it, I'll just enjoy life to the max.

"I will keep you on a tight leash this year, Yuichi Shiro," Proclaims a intimidating voice. I know this voice well, its owner is my mortal enemy.

"Demon Mizuno," I respond with disdain filling my voice.

This girl is a true bitch. She constantly got in the way of me showing my love to cute girls last year. I sure wish I could shake her off.

Demon, Akane Mizuno, is a girl who has a cute face. If she wasn't violent, I would so have made a move on her last year. But I have long since washed my hands of her, she is a demon woman after all.

"Don't call me a demon!" Yells the incarnate of evil, AKA Akane Mizuno.

"There's no better word to describe you though. And I must really thank you for that pamphlet you made about me. Enemy of all women? What the hell was with that?"

"IT'S THE TRUTH!"

"I never did squat to you did I? Why do you get in my way?" I interrogate.

"That is exactly the problem idiot," The demon whispers something.

"Did you say something?" I question in anger. She definitely insulted me under her breath.

"Nothing AT ALL!" Demon Mizuno turns her head away from me. Ignoring me now huh, truly a spiteful cow.

"Ha! Ha! Don't tease Mizuno-san too much, Yuichi," My best friend says whilst walk to where I'm sitting.

"I don't tease her, Ren. I just full on despise her!" I correct my friend's error, "OWWW!" THAT BITCH! Dictionaries are for looking up words; not for throwing at people's heads.

"She may act that way, Yuichi. But she was really restless yester...GAH!" Ren suddenly freezes up mid sentence, like he's terrified. The demon is glaring at him. Should I now refer to her as 'Medusa Mizuno' instead?

A few minutes pass with nothing much happening, other than me getting assaulted by a demon that is. But that's nothing new.

"Good morning, class," A beautiful voice greets.

A lady in her early twenties walks over to the teacher's podium. Despite being a teacher, if she wore a school uniform, she could pose as a student without any trouble.

"So, Rina-chan is our home room teacher, no complaints here," I voice my inner thoughts out loud.

"Gah, Yuichi-san," Rina-chan stares at me, is she recalling the time I displayed my affection to her? No need to be embarrassed, love is something that makes the age gap trivial.

Everyone in class is glaring at me with anger in their eyes, don't get jealous now.

"Well...that...is..." Rina-chan starts to stutter, no need to be shy speak freely. "WE HAVE A NEW TRANSFER STUDENT!" She shouts at the top of her voice, probably to clear her stuttering.

"Please come in," Rina-chan said having regained her calm.

The girl who came in is...Well, I kind of expected it. It's my fiancé, Alicia.

"I am Alicia Pandemonium. Because of certain circumstances I shall be studying with you all from today forward," Alicia introduces herself whilst writing her name on the board.

"Such a brilliant introduction, as expected of my fiancé," I shout out in front of the entire class.

"Huh, fiancé? Is Shiro sane?"

"It's a normal level for him."

The class starts muttering among themselves.

"AHEM" - A loud clearing of the throat draws the attention of the class onto the demon.

"I think we best clear this accusation now shall we?" Demon Mizuno stands up to address Alicia, "Are you really his fiancé? Or is he just talking rubbish like he usually does?"

Alicia stares at the ground.

"Pandemonium-san, if you don't answer clearly, people will just misinterpret."

Alicia looks on ahead in resignation, why? You're engaged to the world's best guy. You should be jumping up and down at the very thought of it.

"It's...true..." Alicia answers in a small voice.

"EHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The class shout in total sync. Well done ladies and gentleman, you couldn't pull that off so well even if you practised.

I then stand up, all eyes are focused on me right now. That's right, engrave my beautiful physique into your retinas.

"So with that, I don't want any of you making any passes at her. Oh, I'm just referring to guys here, if you're a cute girl go right ahead and do it, I'm all for that," I state.

"YUICHI!" Alicia shouts as she stares at me.

What is it, honey? Why are you shouting my name and running up to me? Do you want a hug? Well, who am I to disagree?

I open my arms wide and run towards Alicia.

"BAHHHHHH!" She kicks me right in the jaw. That truly smarts damn it.

"My...body...won't...move..." After saying those four words my conscience fades again into darkness. My first day back began with a visit to the infirmary.

Chapter 05B: First Day Back – The Two Girls, Friends Or Rivals? (Perspective: Alicia)

That idiot embarrassed me within two seconds of me transferring in. Does he not realise anything? There should be a limit to stupidity. Just because I lost some perverse game I have to become his bride. My life truly is going down the pits.

Well, Yuichi will probably be out until around lunch time. So I guess I can have some peace for now.

"Pandemonium-san," A voice draws my attention. It's the girl from before?

"Are you really engaged to that Yuichi Shiro?" The girl asks again.

Please don't keep asking me, it truly does rub the salt into the wound when you do.

"Once again, yes. Unfortunately, it's true," I reply.

"Do...you..." The girl began.

I can take a good guess what she is about to ask me.

"Love him?" I finish her sentence.

The girl nods at my question several times.

"I barely even know him, so to speak it's an arranged marriage. We met only recently."

"You're avoiding the question," The girl said sternly.

"Love at first sight is nothing but an illusion. My first impressions of Yuichi are as follows: Dumb, narcissistic, perverse, but yet somewhat interesting. To answer your question, right now, no, I don't. In the near future, who knows," I answer.

But why did I give such an answer? Why didn't I simply say 'No, I hate him'?

Ever since I met Yuichi, I have been acting differently from my norm.

My father told me I should marry him. If a girl was usually told to marry someone, then wouldn't they rebel against the decision? Yet, I never did that, why didn't I? Was it my sense of responsibility from putting my family's honour in jeopardy? Or was it something much more personal to me?

The girl stares at me blankly for a second.

"Of course you don't like him right! That damn perverted womaniser!" The girl shouts whilst having a determined look on her face, "Don't worry Pandemonium-san. I, Akane Mizuno, promise you, I will help you destroy your forced engagement to that bastard!"

"Uhh umm," I am taken aback by the girl's declaration.

"Let's both work hard for your future's sake." States the girl who just named herself Akane Mizuno, before running out the door energetically.

For my sake, huh?

How transparent, it's clearly for your own sake, Mizuno-san.

Well, what do you know. Yuichi truly is popular with girls.

Although, I am willing to bet he has never realised that girl's feelings.

Chapter 05C: First Day Back – Demon Or Just A Maiden (Perspective: Akane Mizuno)

She said that she didn't love him, that means I still have a chance. But Yuichi is quite taken with her, is this my punishment for not acting sooner?

I am currently in the girl's toilet looking at myself in the mirror.

I always knew how I truly felt, so why do I act that way? Behind the perverted and foolish exterior was always a kind and gentle boy.

He shows it in unusual ways, but it's there.

I remember in our first year, a Sempai lost a close relative, yet she always smiled. Everyone could tell it was forced, yet they went with it. Except one person, Yuichi Shiro. One day he approached that girl and started to bad mouth her deceased relative until she eventually broke. The girl who was always forcing herself to smile finally cried. All her pent up emotions got released in the form of anger towards Yuichi. In order to make her not hold her emotions in, Yuichi turned himself into her verbal martyr. Of course no one realised what he was doing, so as a result he got suspended for two weeks. The only reason I know is because I overheard Yuichi and Ren-kun's conversation.

"Yuichi, why did you do that? Now you're public enemy number one."

"Her smile, was painful to look at. But with this, in a weeks time, her smile will be the real deal."

Yuichi was right, our Sempai recovered from her grief soon after. But for a while Yuichi was intensely hated. Nobody realised his intentions, they only took what they saw and heard at face value.

It was around that time that I started to become conscious of Yuichi Shiro and everything he did. Sometimes he was just perverted, other times he would show hidden kindness. Although very few people could understand its meaning.

I began to question, just who was the real Yuichi Shiro? Eventually, all my thoughts became plagued solely on him.

'Ah, I've fallen for him' I realised this long ago. Yet still, I act like I do, why?

Its all Yuichi Shiro's fault. He goes acting all friendly with so many girls. If he just acted like a normal guy, I would be able to talk to him normally. The two of us then could have started out as friends instead of bashing heads.

'I never did squat to you did I?' Yuichi's words replay in my mind. To him, am I not even considered a girl?

I'm not violent this way because I want to be. You just leave me little option.

After I heard what happened to Yuichi before, the only feeling I had was regret. I couldn't tell him how I truly felt, I prayed all night long that he would be okay. I promised myself that if he recovered I would be honest. The relief of seeing him at school took a huge burden off my shoulders.

Yet, I still cannot be honest with him.

Breaking up Pandemonium-san's marriage for her sake? What a laugh. I just wish to be the one in her shoes, and in his eyes.

But it's not too late, I shall be reborn, a new Akane Mizuno.

Chapter 05D: First Day Back – Human Anomalies

I finally regained my conscience from Alicia's previous assault. Jeez what a messed up day, spending half of the school day sleeping, life is full of strange events.

No sooner had I awoken. Alicia came in and dragged me to the roof.

Wait, does she want for the two of us to be alone?

I think this is it ladies and gentleman, Yuichi Shiro is about to become a man. Doing it outside is very daring, although I have no objections.

"Yuichi, I want you to come with me to the Underworld to meet my parents." Alicia destroys my hopes.

Damn, so she just wants to talk.

"I told you before, right? That when you come back to life, your life will be very different from before, right?" Alicia asks.

"I remember you saying that, but you didn't say how it would be different."

"It looks like now is the perfect time to tell you." Alicia stares into my eyes with a serious look.

"Yuichi, when you died before, your soul entered Purgatory, a part of the Underworld."

"What has that got to do with anything?" I ask curiously.

"Souls that are not within a vessel, in this case your body, are easily affected by the world's environment. They mutate, or maybe evolve is a better word. Anyway, they change in a way that allows them to create physical phenomenons." Alicia explains.

"You lost me."

Alicia sighs and shakes her head. Sorry, but if you speak gibberish, even the genius me won't be able to keep up.

"You have gained supernatural powers."

Oh, those five words I did understand. In other words I can like use magic or something, right?

"Your new evolved soul is what I placed back into your body, thus reviving you. We call all humans like you a 'Human Anomaly'." Alicia continues.

Spare me the physics, tell me what I want to know.

"So can I use magic!?" I ask excitedly.

"You should be able to use something similar but it is not magic per se"

"Cool. I gotta try this out."

"DON'T! you won't be able to control it yet!"

"EHHHH. But I really want to try it out." I say whilst giving Alicia the puppy dog eyes.

"We'll train you how when we get to the Underworld, okay. Forget about all that until then." Alicia orders. She isn't fazed by my puppy dog eyes attack, you're something else, Alicia.

But if my cute fiancé asks me, I can't refuse can I? I'll forget about magic for now.

"The reason your life will change is..."

"GRRRRAHHHHH!"

What the!? Almost as if answering Alicia, a creature that's emitting a black aura is glaring at us. Appearance wise it looks like a panther, its evil glare is directed at me, like it's trying to pierce through me.

One look and I can tell it's hostile.

"The reason your life will change, is this."

"What the hell is this thing!?" I yell in disbelief.

"It's a 'Soul Anomaly', a soul exposed and mutated by the world's environment that didn't return to it's vessel. Basically, just a monster that has lost its reason. One Anomaly, naturally attracts other Anomaly, in other words it was enticed here by you, a Human Anomaly."

"By me? That can't be right, only cute girls should be entranced by me. My beauty should filter out dangerous creatures!" I shout in refusal.

"It's your soul it wants, not you. This is the fate of Human Anomalies, they draw in other types of Anomalies to them non stop. You're no exception to this, Yuichi. This beast is only going to be the first of many more to come. In order to overcome this, you must learn to protect yourself. But for now, you can let me handle it."

The Panther rushes towards me.

I can't move. Why? Why can't I move? Is this fear?

Alicia steps in front of me, like she intends to become my shield.

"ALICIA!" I shout in concern.

"Relax, this is a small fry. I won't even break a sweat." Alicia states confidently.

The Panther continues towards us at high velocity. Wait, where did that come from? Seemingly from nowhere a scythe appears in Alicia's hand. The Panther tries to claw at Alicia, however she skilfully swings her scythe.

"URRRAAAGHHH" The Panther roars in agony as its leg is severed from its body. However, no blood came out of the open wound.

"Disappear." With these cold words Alicia's scythe swiftly slices through the Panther's neck. It's severed head falls to the floor. A moment later the entire Panther disappears into nothingness. There isn't even a shred of evidence to prove it ever existed, complete nothingness.

"I've destroyed its soul. Unfortunately, when its mutated to a degree of that level this is all we can do."

"Alicia, you said I was an Anomaly. Am I like that monster?" I ask in worry. Just what am I?

"No, Yuichi. Whilst similarities exist, you are very different. Your soul was mutated due to the environment of Purgatory, that monster was altered by the living world. Unlike you it no longer was in its body that protects the soul from the mutation. You, however, have your body back, so your soul is no longer mutating and will remain in its current state." Alicia then shows me a beautiful and reassuring smile "That thing was a monster, you however are human."

The last words Alicia said are something that I will definitely remember for my entire life.

Alicia, you truly are a wonderful person. I swear as your fiancé, I will make you happy.

"However Yuichi, Anomalies are not the only natural threat. Due to the nature of Human Anomalies, the only way to kill them is by destroying their souls. Regular physical wounds that would be life threatening like being shot in the heart for example, although they will still hurt you, you will not die from them. Only things that can harm your soul can kill you, one such thing is other Anomalies, whether it be regular Anomalies like before, or other Human Anomalies."

"Then I'm not the only Human Anomaly?" I ask in interest.

"I know there are other Human Anomalies, but I don't know much more than that."

"I see."

"Your other natural enemy are 'Soul Slayers'"

"Soul Slayers? What are they?" I ask, they sound scary.

"They are weapons wielded by regular humans. Each one, as the name may suggest, causes damage to the soul. That is the only way you can be severally harmed. Soul Slayers are your natural weakness." Alicia explains in a serious down to earth voice.

"So I should avoid them right?"

"That will be difficult," Alicia shows a solemn face "All the Soul Slayers and their wielders are under the church. Hunting Anomalies is their duty. Human Anomalies are no exception."

"HUH! WHAT! WHY!?"

"Human Anomalies are still Anomalies to them. As well as the fact Human Anomalies naturally draw in other Anomalies. In their eyes you are an absolute evil that they must eradicate. People like that won't leave any room for any type of compromise. They just see themselves as being righteous." Alicia explains. Is it just me, or does she seem to know a bit too much about them?

"I...see...so they see me as the same as a monster, if not more so than that Panther."

"The life you will live from now on will be filled with conflict. That's why you need to come with me to the Underworld for a while. You should prepare yourself, both physically, and mentally, for this will be your fate."

Well if this is my fate, then I shall take it into my own hands and change it.

"Ah knock it off stop pushing AHHHH!" A voice I recognise came from the door to the roof, was she spying on us just now?

Chapter 05E: First Day Back – Learning the truth (Perspective: Yuna Shiro)

It's lunch time and I am walking side by side with Sakura. We are walking towards the second year classrooms, we both wanted to have lunch with Onii-chan.

"Ah Sakura, Yuna-chan," Ren-Sempai greets us.

"Ren-Sempai, have you seen Onii-chan" I ask politely

I can't see him anywhere in the classroom. Has he run off skirt chasing or something, I certainly wouldn't put it past him.

"I saw Alicia-san drag him to the roof a while back," Sempai answers

"The roof right, thanks Sempai."

"Wait a sec you two, if you're going to have lunch then let me tag along will you."

I guess Sempai doesn't have any plans to eat with anyone. "Sure thing," I have no reason to refuse, Sakura also nods her head.

After we agreed to let Ren-Sempai tag along, a girl approaches us.

"You three are meeting with Yuichi Shiro? Then I think it's in your best interest to let me keep that wolf from harming you unknowing young girls. It's my duty as part of the disciplinary committee." The girl announces. Does she have a grudge against Onii-chan?

"Mizuno-san, not even Yuichi would molest his own sister. Nor would he touch my sister If I am there." Ren-Sempai explains. True, if Sempai is there he won't lay a finger on Sakura.

"Huh, sister?"

The girl looked at us shocked. Wait, Ren-Sempai called her Mizuno just now. Is she the one who wrote that warning about Onii-chan?

"I'm Yuna Shiro, nice to meet you Sempai," I introduce myself to the girl who looks embarrassed.

"Um, Sakura...Kirei...it's a...pleasure." Sakura is as shy as ever. Well, this is one of her charms.

"UH AH UM! Akane Mizuno, a classmate of both your brothers," she introduces herself whilst muddling her words.

Her shock is making her erratic.

After a few simple introductions the four of us head towards the roof.

"Ah, I want a cute little sister too," Mizuno-Sempai claims.

"Isn't it closer to say you want to be the older sister in la...OUCH!"

Ren-Sempai has his foot stomped by Mizuno-Sempai.

Oh, so that's it, this girl likes Onii-chan. I thought he was delusional, but Onii-chan wasn't wrong. He truly is popular with girls. But the way this girl acts, Onii-chan will never figure it out by himself. The self proclaimed genius who failed to recite the alphabet, won't understand the complexity of a maiden's heart.

"Yuna, does this Sempai like..." Sakura begins.

"Yeah, she likes my brother by the looks of it."

"Another rival..." Sakura shows a determined look. Sorry Sakura, but I think Onii-chan sees you as a child. In the run to become his girlfriend, I don't think you're even on the starting line yet.

We eventually make it to the roof. I take a quick peek through the door. The atmosphere feels tense and serious. Not the kind of situation one can simply intrude upon. The four of us simply stick our heads out watching and listening to Onii-chan and Alicia's conversation.

"Yuichi, when you died before, your soul entered Purgatory, a part of the Underworld."

"What has that got to do with anything?" Onii-chan asks.

"Souls that are not within a vessel, in this case your body, are easily affected by the world's environment. They mutate, or maybe evolve is a better word. Anyway, they change in a way that allows them to create physical phenomenons."

Onii-chan and Alicia-san are having a serious discussion. But what Alicia-san said rings through my head, 'when Onii-chan died'? Is she referring to that traffic accident?

"Your new evolved soul is what I placed back into your body, thus reviving you. We call all humans like you a 'Human Anomaly'."

Revived? Alicia-san revived Onii-chan?

Onii-chan isn't disagreeing with what she said. Does that mean she is telling the truth?

It's just a hunch, I don't think she is crazy. I don't know why but, I believe every word she says.

"So can I use magic!?"

That's what your interested in!? Just how much of a foolish brother are you!?

"We'll train you how when we get to the Underworld, okay. Forget about all that until then."

Underworld? Just who or what is Alicia-san? She is capable of resurrecting the dead. She claims to be from the Underworld. There is definitely something different about her.

"GRRRRAHHHHH!"

HUH!? That's...just what is that? The four of us all look on in fear at some sort of huge black cat that suddenly appeared in front of Onii-chan and Alicia-san.

Alicia-san steps in front of Onii-chan as if to protect him.

"ALICIA!" Onii-chan shouts in concern.

I can't watch. I close my eyes in fear. Trying to shield my mind from the image of Alicia-san being slashed at.

"URRRAAAGHHH" A horrible noise enters my ear drums. Without my sight, naturally my other senses will grow sharper.

"I've destroyed its soul. Unfortunately, when its mutated to a degree of that level this is all we can do."

Alicia-san? She's okay? And that cat...I can't see it. What just happened?

"Alicia, you said I was an Anomaly. Am I like that monster?"

"Sempai, is like...that...thing?" Sakura looks on at Onii-chan. Almost in tears.

Onii-chan? Like that monster? That can't be? He is an idiotic pervert, but he is nothing like that thing. Onii-chan if you compare yourself to that thing, then I will get truly angry.

"That thing was a monster, you however are human."

Hearing that, my heart calms down. Onii-chan too looks much better after hearing Alicia-san's last statement.

"Everyone, I don't think we should listen to any more of this." Ren-Sempai suggests.

I agree, there's no need to do this any longer.

"No! this is about school discipline. I have many questions to ask Yuichi Shiro," Mizuno-Sempai said angrily.

"Ah, knock it off, stop pushing AHHHH!"

I fall through the door along with Sakura, Ren-Sempai and Mizuno-Sempai.

Heavy. Having the weight of three people on top of me is very painful.

"Yuna, Ren, Sakura, Medusa!" Onii-chan shouts in shock

"WHO'RE YOU CALLING MEDUSA!?" Mizuno-Sempai retorts.

Busted.

Chapter 05F: First Day Back – A Secret That Is No Longer A Secret

Honestly, to think that my sister and friends were eaves dropping on us. The demon aside, I expected better from the other three.

How much did they hear? I need to find a way to deceive them. Wait! I just thought of a cunning plan. It's perfect.

"So you had a dream like that last night, Alicia?" I ask calmly. Oh I'm good, worship me now. Coming up with such a great idea in despair. My genius truly shines when trouble arises.

Everyone stares at me open mouthed. I nudge Alicia with my elbow. Come on play along, my full proof godly plan will go to waste if you don't play your part Alicia.

"Yuichi, as your best friend, I'm just going to tell you. We aren't buying that excuse one bit," Explains Ren with eyes filled with pity.

Damn it, Alicia! If you played your part we would have been able to fool them. Why couldn't you play your role!?

"Well since it's come to this. Onii-chan, I have many questions I want answering."

"Me too, Sempai."

"I too have many things I wish to ask, for the sake of the school's morals."

My cute sister, my cute kouhai and the demon all say whilst looking at me. I step back

"Uh, Alicia, what do we do?" I whisper.

"No point hiding it at this point, might as well tell them. There's no rule saying you have to keep it a secret. Although I wouldn't go round shouting about it. Unless you wish to end up in a mental asylum," Alicia explains whilst shrugging her shoulders.

Well, I guess life would be easier if I shared this secret with the others. Although, I would rather not tell the demon who I know will use this information against me at a later date.

So I tell them everything that happened after my death by the truck. Although I left out the nature of the game I challenged Alicia to. I don't want to hurt her pride any more than I already have.

"Hmm, so that's what happened," Ren says whilst in deep thought.

All four of them are looking at me. Their eyes don't hold a single shred of doubt. I can't believe they actually took my story as the truth.

"Well, now that we've sorted that out..." Yuna looks at everyone "Shall we eat?"

With this Ren, Sakura, Yuna and Demon Mizuno learnt the truth, and I feel that life will be a bit more easier because of it.

These guys are truly strange.

Chapter 06A: How To Win A Pet - Declaration Of War

"You have been a very worthy opponent," I compliment.

"You too, boy. My body is itching in excitement," My opponent replies.

"However!" I shout for all I am worth (which is a hell of a lot).

""I SHALL BE VICTORIOUS!"" We both yell at the same time.

'How did this situation come about?' You ask. Then let me tell you all about it. The gallant adventure of every man's envy, and the object of every woman's desire. It all began during lunch.

****

"So, you're planning to go to the Underworld this weekend then, Yuichi." Ren asks.

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to meeting my in laws," I answer honestly, "Plus, I really want to take my new powers for a test run."

I can't hold back my excitement. It's everyone's dream to get super powers or magic when they are young. I've been told that I can now use them, I wish time would speed up.

"It won't be all fun and games, Yuichi," Alicia cut in, "Mastering your power will take hard work and dedication."

"Yuichi, if you could choose any one power, what power would you choose?" Ren asks, "Let me guess, the power to make all girls fall for you?"

"Don't be stupid, Ren. That power would be meaningless. My charm and irresistible smile already does that for me," I reply sternly. That's right, my looks can attract girls stronger than any magic ever could. As my best friend you should know this already.

"Uh, yeah. R,ight sorry," Ren apologises. I forgive you, let us not talk of this matter any more.

"Um...so...it will...be..just the...two of...you?" Sakura asks softly.

"The Underworld is too dangerous for regular humans to just waltz in there." Alicia states.

"Dangerous?" I ask.

"There are many vicious creatures and monsters that live there," Alicia looks at me with a sinister smile on her face, "Chances are, you will be fighting wild monsters as part of your training."

Wait a second. Is Alicia hoping that I get injured in the Underworld? This can mean one thing and only one thing.

Alicia must want to see my body, when it is all battered. I guess she's the type who likes guys when they look a bit more on the wild side. I quickly try to imagine myself covered in mud and my clothes in rags. My god I look manly, my beauty comes out brighter than the sun no matter what. Alicia, I don't think words can describe just how lucky you are to be engaged to the very definition of the word 'beautiful'. You should truly prostrate yourself before your father for all he has done for you.

"Oh, that reminds me," Demon Mizuno chimes in, completely changing the subject, "I've been hearing a strange rumour of a talking dog appearing at the park, the student council asked me to investigate it."

Oh crap, I forgot this cow was here. Maybe I should try and sneak off.

"Oh, my classmates told me about that as well." Yuna adds.

Hm, this dog does interest me. I think I'll go see it for myself.

Even animals understand the greatness of my beauty. So they always approach me on the streets. But a lot of their affection is a bit extreme, sinking their teeth into me at first sight. But I'm the kind of guy who likes it when others shower me with love. That's why, even when it hurts like hell, I still smile and continue to stroke them.

At the end of the day I walk with Ren and Alicia to the park. Demon Mizuno suddenly had other more important work she had to do, so she couldn't come. What a shame, it truly is.

I soon notice the dog in question. It's about the size of a Retriever, with thick snow white fur, and ears that point towards the sky. It's lying down on the grass.

"Found him," I shout as I run up to it.

"Yuichi wait, animals hate you, remember!" Ren shouts. What are you talking about? They adore me, just like everything else.

"Hey boy," I say in a gentle voice whilst extending my hand out to the dog.

*BITE*

OWWW! this one's love is stronger than most.

"Don't touch me, boy." The dog says coldly.

It can really speak, that's amazing. I want this dog, I'm so taking him home.

"This dog, it's a Soul Anomaly." Alicia states, "But it looks like it returned back to its body."

"Wait Alicia, what do you mean?" I ask with interest.

"This dog is like you, it died, and its soul left its body," Alicia stares at the dog intensely, "But it must have somehow managed to return back to its body before it mutated too much."

"So what you're saying is, between that panther from before and me. This dog, in terms of its nature, is closer to me?" I ask.

So rather than a Soul Anomaly it is more like a Human Anomaly. Except it's a dog so it would be a 'Dog Anomaly' right?

"Is the reason it can talk because of this, Alicia-san?" Ren asks.

"Most likely."

"Stop talking about me, when I'm standing right here!" the dog shouts in anger. Don't be like that, just burn my beauty into your retinas and let the anger fly away.

But seriously, this dog is truly one of a kind. For the wonderful me, this must be fate.

Okay, I've decided.

"Become my dog." I jump straight to the point. The dog must be truly honoured to have the opportunity to become the noble pet of the one and only Yuichi Shiro. No need to thank me however. Being able to talk has earned you this great privilege.

"You, a little boy, who is wet behind the ears, and a manhood the size of a newborn, wish to become my master? Know your place, little man." The dog replies in distaste.

You damn mutt! That was way below the belt.

"I'll have you know, that mine is so big and strong I can weight lift with it." I shout out in my defence.

"Yuichi, I heard that sometimes a vacuum cleaner can solve your current predicament." Ren says in a understanding voice.

Just what would I clean up? I am not aware of any vacuum cleaner capable of shutting up a talking dog's mouth. So pray tell. how does that help me? I appreciate the fact you're trying to help me out, but if you say such random things, not even I, a modern day Einstein, will be able to keep up.

"I'm engaged to a guy, who is being belittled by a dog." Alicia says to herself.

Okay, that does it. I'm putting this dog in his place now.

"All right mutt! you dared to look down on the great Yuichi Shiro!" I shout at the dog as I take off one of my shoes.

*Slap*

"I challenge you to a duel!" I shout as I slap the dog with one of my socks.

"Yuichi, you do know it's a glove you're meant to use right." Ren says as he shakes his head.

"GRRR! Fine, I accept. But I'm not going to take being slapped with a sock sitting down!"

All right, the dog accepted my challenge. Now I can teach him a lesson personally.

"Hey! What are you doing!?" I shout at the dog, "Don't piss inside my shoe!"

This is how the duel between me and the talking dog began. I declared war with a sock, he did it by pissing on one of my shoes. I'll make him regret that.

***

Chapter 06B: How To Win A Pet - The Duel

After I got a change of footwear; we quickly decided the rules for the duel.

The rules are simple. Three separate competitions, best two out of three. If I win, then the dog will accept me as his master. If I lose? Like hell I'll lose. The first competition I already have in the bag.

Competition #1 - Flirting.

The rules are as follow – time limit of thirty minutes. You gain one point for every minute you talk to a girl. For example, if you talk to one girl for one minute that is one point. If you talk to multiple girls at once then the 'points = no. of girls x no. of minutes'. The one with most points at the end wins the first competition.

We came down to the centre of town as it's flooded with people at this time of day. In order to make the competition interesting, there needs to be a lot of people.

"Then good luck both of you." Ren (The referee) says. Alicia had some business to do back home, for that reason she's no longer here. Just as well, I don't want her getting jealous over this little contest. You're the only one for me Alicia. But a man has to do; what a man has to do.

The contest begins.

"Hey there cutie pie, want to spend some time with me?" I ask a mid teen girl whilst pulling out my prince charming pose.

"Uh sorry. But I...I'm in a hurry." The girl replies.

Indeed you are, you're running at such a fast pace you'd think it was the end of the world.

Well, there is nothing I can do if you're in a hurry.

But seriously, that's the eleventh girl who was in a hurry. I guess we youngsters are always extremely busy.

I take a quick glance to look at the dog, what's this?

"Ha ha ha so cute,"

"So furry."

The dog is surrounded by little girls. Damn, we didn't set any parameters for how old or young the girl needs to be. Shit! at this rate I'm going to lose.

Nothing for it, I best play my trump card.

I take off my shirt to increase the amount of beautiful skin everyone can see.

Now even if the girls have somewhere to be, they will forget all about it.

Five minutes later.

Damn! My stimulation must be too strong. My beauty is far too radiant.

Because my illuminating beauty is radiating so strongly, everyone is shielding their eyes with their hands. This is bad! Everyone is keeping at least a three metre distance, the strong shining radiance of my beauty must truly be blinding for them. I can't balance my beauty in a way that it won't be blinding. Damn it! To think I'd lose the first contest because I am too beautiful, I completely overlooked this.

"Hey mum, that Onii-chan," A little girl said to her mother.

"Hush, don't look at him," the mother replies. She's right young lady, your undeveloped eyes are not used to such beauty. You don't want to go blind young do you?

Okay enough. This is my last resort. I begin to reach and unfasten my belt.

"Young man," a sudden voice calls out to me, I quickly turn around. "Why are you not wearing a top?"

Standing there is a woman in her early twenties, she is wearing a police woman's uniform.

Did she come here attracted to my beauty?

She even went the extra mile by dressing up. How did she know that I like women in uniform? Well, never mind that. I'm not out of this contest yet doggy.

"Come with me. I'll listen to your story at the station." The woman said in a stoic voice.

WOAH! This is advancing in a way I didn't expect. What a very bold woman. Screw this competition, Yuichi Shiro shall soon become an adult. But what is this 'station' she mentioned? Some posh word for a love hotel?

The woman put her arm around me and lead me out of town.

***
Competition #1 - Flirting results:

Dog wins, Yuichi disqualified for getting arrested.
***

Competition #2 - Whack a mole.

"Okay, we're going to do the next two competitions in the arcade. We can't have Yuichi causing any more trouble." Ren states.

Damn it all to hell! that woman wasn't hitting on me. She was a legit police officer, and I got myself arrested. Why!? What did I do wrong? Luckily however they let me go with just a warning.

"You're a disgrace, boy." The dog looks down on me.

"I'm going to even the score this round mutt, prepare yourself!"

"I sure hope so. Although I expected it to go as such, if I win one-sidedly it wouldn't be interesting."

"This mutt! I'll put you in your place yet." I swear to myself.

We move over to the whack a mole machine. The machine has four rows, with four moles in each, for a total of sixteen moles. Due to not being able to hold the hammer supplied, the dog is using it's paws instead.

"START!"

Watching the dog hitting moles popping out of their holes with his paw is actually quite an amusing sight. But he's good, he hasn't missed too many of them. But I know I can do better.

"Very good! You hit ninety six moles." The machine announces.

"Best that, boy." The dog challenges.

"I will." I reply, as I stretch my limbs, "Now, watch the master at work!"

I walk over to the machine and pick up the hammer.

"START!"

As the moles raise up out of their holes I hit them with the hammer accurately. My reflexes are razor sharp, which gives me a major advantage in this kind of game. Each time the moles get hit they make an 'Ow' kind of voice, confirming the blow. Soon the game ends, and the result.

"Very good, you hit 97 moles."

"How's that!?" I said with a victory smile and pose.

"Well done boy, congratulations. I've got a better opinion of you now." The dog announces.

Finally, some respect.

***
Competition #2 – Whack a mole results:

Yuichi wins by a narrow margin.
***

Now we're tied. The next match is the decider.

Competition #3 – Dance Fever.

"You have been a very worthy opponent," I compliment.

"You too, boy. My body is itching in excitement," My opponent replies.

"However!" I shout for all I am worth (which is a hell of a lot).

""I SHALL BE VICTORIOUS!"" We both yell at the same time.

Dance Fever is a arcade game where music is played and you have to step on the four directional arrows in sync with the screen's display.

The music begins to play, we chose a song from a anime. The difficulty is set to the max. No mercy.

I begin moving my feet quickly to follow the instructions. Up,left,left,up-down, left-right, right. The directions come scrolling up the screen rapidly. One mistake will break the rhythm and lead to many more mistakes. The dog is hastily walking along the dance board whilst keeping his eyes on the screen. Damn! He's really good. Many onlookers are now watching our match.

They must be entranced by the greatness of my beauty, and the swiftness of my steps.

"Hey, that dog is amazing!"

"Yeah, I've never seen anything like it."

The dog!? What about me!? I cry within myself.

"You two are astounding!" The arcade machine shouts, "Beautiful, Dancer one."

This arcade machine is very well made. It can even see my beauty. I inwardly take my hat off to the designer.

"Keep it up dancers!" The arcade machine encourages.

I best stop letting my thoughts wander. I am aiming to win.

Up-left, down-left, left-right, up-right, down-right. There are a lot of instances when two directions need to be hit simultaneously mixing in. I thought the dog wouldn't be able to do them. But strangely, somehow, he is.

"You dancers are astounding!" The machine shouts, "This is going to go down to the wire!"

The song is nearing it's end.

I keep my legs moving furiously, this is really taking its toll on me. However, I will endure. I shall be victorious, I declare to myself again.

"And that is a rap!" The machine shouts.

The moment of truth. Who shall emerge the victor!?

"Dancer one, wins. Congratulations," the arcade machine announces.

I jump and punch both fists into the air.

"HELL YEAH!" I shout. I feel like there is a million camera flashes directed on me.

"Wow, this dog is amazing," A woman says. I instantly fall back down to reality. There is indeed camera flashes (from phones), but they're not directed at me, the victor.

Why are they not taking the picture of the very embodiment of beauty!?

***
Competition #3 – Dance Fever results:

Yuichi wins the match, and the duel.

Victor's comment: It was a very empty victory.

Loser's comment: I humbly accept my loss.

Referee's comment: It was a close contest that could have gone either way.
***

"You're my dog from now on then," I declare to the dog.

"Yes, you have proven yourself worthy to be my master," the dog replies, "I sincerely apologise for my rudeness upon our first meeting, Master."

The dog's attitude has done a complete one hundred and eighty. He now reveres me, which is how it should be.

"That's in the past, let us move on." I say with a voice showing my maturity. Only a child holds a grudge forever.

The dog lays down, almost like a sign of his loyalty.

"But Yuichi, how are you planning on keeping him? Yuna-chan aside, do you think your parents will allow it?" Ren asks.

"No need to worry," I reply, "I will need to make a few preparations first, but it'll work out. So Ren, until tonight, can we stay at your house?"

"I suppose, but why?" Ren questions.

I don't answer his question, I simply touch my nose twice.

"First things, first. I need to make a quick pit stop at the library." I declare.

"Hey, Yuichi," Ren beckons, "We can't go round referring to him as 'the dog' forever."

Ren has a good point.

"Okay, I've decided. The dog's name shall be, Ren drum role please."

*DA DA DA DA TA* - Ren did as I asked by banging on a nearby machine. Nice assist.

"Wolfy." I knight with pride and confidence.

"As you wish, Master." The dog, no. Wolfy confirms.

"You have zero naming sense, Yuichi." Ren says as he shrugs his shoulders.

Once again my friend is unable to understand my genius. Oh well, silence is golden, and ignorance is bliss. Ren is my friend, so I don't want to hurt him by shouting about the differences that separate us in the hierarchy of intellect. My kindness truly is limitless.

***

Chapter 06C: How To Win A Pet – Aftermath

"Would you like some more steak, Wolfy?" My mum asks with a smile.

"Yes please, Mother." Wolfy replies.

We're sitting at the table eating breakfast as a family, Mum is already doting on Wolfy.

Thanks to my master plan, he was accepted without a hitch. I truly am great.

"Onii-chan, we need to go now, or we'll be late," Yuna announces.

"Okay, let's go." I reply back.

"I shall accompany you, Master, Yuna-sama." Wolfy states. I nod back to him.

We begin walking to school in a brisk pace. We run into Alicia on the way.

"Onii-chan, how did you get Mum and Dad to accept Wolfy?" Yuna asks in interest.

Oh, that. I recall back to that scene in the middle of the night.

I stood before my parents bed, they are asleep.

"We have a dog called Wolfy, we have a dog called Wolfy, we have a dog called Wolfy." I repeat in a hypnotic way in front of my sleeping parents. The book I borrowed from the library entitled 'Hypnosis for beginners' truly came in handy.

My mind returns back to the present.

"It's a genius' secret. My skill of convincing is top notch." I answer.

"Even if you managed to convince them, why is it that they don't find it strange that he speaks?" This time Alicia asks.

I recall last night once again.

"It's normal for Wolfy to speak, it's normal for Wolfy to speak, it's normal for Wolfy to speak."

My mind returns to the present once more.

"That, also, is a genius' secret." I reply with a smile on my face.

"Suspicious." Yuna states coldly.

"Have some faith in your Onii-chan why don't you," I say as I turn my brisk walk into a run.

Alicia, Yuna and Wolfy begin to chase after me.

"Wait, Onii-chan!"

"Master! Don't separate yourself from your escort. What if something happens?"

"Hold it, Yuichi! You did something to your parents, I know you did!"

And so, this is how I got my talking pet dog, Wolfy.

Chapter 07: The Underworld

Today is the day I meet my in laws in the Underworld. The great Yuichi Shiro shall soon be gracing the Underworld with his beautiful presence.

I walk along with Alicia and Wolfy to Alicia's apartment in the living world. Wolfy insisted on coming when I mentioned I was going to go the Underworld. You're worried about your master, Wolfy? I truly am blessed, and not just in beauty. So after agreeing it with Alicia, the three of us decided to head to the Underworld together.

"What is Father-in-law like, Alicia?" I ask out of curiosity.

"You'll see him soon enough, so why ask me now?" Alicia replies.

No..um...this isn't like me. For me to worry whether we would get along. But this is a man who is handing his daughter over to me. Why wouldn't we get along?

"Don't get cold feet, Master." Wolfy encourages. You're right, I'll just be myself, no one can resist my charm.

"Anyway, we're going to transfer from here," Alicia states as she slaps her hands together. Suddenly, a huge circular diagram appears on the ground "Our destination is my Underworld residence, connect."

The diagram, that I'm guessing is a magic circle, begins to glow brightly.

I feel my conscience slowly drift away; and my mind enters the world of dreams.

"Hey, Yuichi." A voice shouts.

Suddenly, I come back to my senses. It looks like we've arrived in some kind of mansion.

"This is my home," Alicia explains "Travelling between the living, and the Underworld can sometimes make you dream."

"Oh, I see."

So that's what happened. That truly was weird.

"Let us not discuss it again, Master." Wolfy says, I give a swift nod back.

"Huh? What?" Alicia asks whilst tilting her neck. That pose is cute, but I'm still not telling you.

I begin to look around at my surroundings, what an extravagant interior. It is littered with things like paintings and ornaments that normal people couldn't afford even in their wildest dreams.

"You really are an ojou-sama, aren't you, Alicia?" I ask.

"Well yeah. My family is one of the top three, that serve under Hades-sama." Alicia replies with pride.

'Hades-sama?' So, he really exists. The god of the dead, and the ruler of the Underworld. I wonder what he's like.

"So you have returned, Alicia-sama." An elderly gentleman greets as he approaches us along with a group of maids. I guess he's a butler.

"Yes, I've just returned, Sebastian," Alicia replies.

Yep, he's definitely a butler, only butlers are called Sebastian. I wonder if it's written in their job descriptions? 'Your first name must be Sebastian'. No, I should stop this train of thought, looking down on the profession of others is very low class. Not a fit hobby for the incarnation of greatness.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Yuichi-sama, Wolfy-sama. I am Sebastian, the head butler of the honourable Pandemonium family." Sebastian gracefully introduces himself with a bow.

"I am Yuichi Shiro, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"I am known as Wolfy, nice to make your acquaintance."

Sebastian smiles back on our greetings.

"Right this way please, my master and mistress await," Sebastian urges.

The three of us follow behind Sebastian, I make a mental note to myself not to lose sight of him, or forever be lost.

After about ten minutes of walking around this labyrinth of a mansion, we arrive at a huge door that is about five times as tall as me.

*Knock knock*

"Master, Mistress, our guests have just arrived." The butler said through the door.

Sebastian gives us a quick bow, before walking off with the maids.

*Creak* - The door slowly begins to open.

Inside, there is a man who looks to be in his early forties. He is quite the handsome gentleman. Standing with him is a woman who appears to be in her early twenties, she looks like a slightly older version of Alicia. Finally, there is a young girl of about fourteen, with silver braided hair, a cute smile, and a innocent face.

"Ah, you have arrived. I've been looking forward to meeting you, Yuichi Shiro-kun." The man announces, "I am Alicia's father, and the head of the Pandemonium family. Alexander Pandemonium."

"I am Yuichi Shiro. It's a pleasure to meet you, Father." I announce up front. Damn, I think I've come on a bit too quickly, calling him 'Father' on our first meeting.

"I am Wolfy." Wolfy quickly introduces himself.

"The pleasure is all mine, Wolfy-kun." Alicia's father bows before turning his eyes back to me, "Yuichi-kun, you needn't concern yourself with that," he says with a smile, like he has read right through me. "I would only be too pleased if you were to continue calling me 'Father'."

"Yes, Father." I reply back enthusiastically.

"Next, this is my wife, Annetta Pandemonium."

"It's a pleasure meeting you for the first time, Yuichi-kun. I heard many things about you." Alicia's mother greets elegantly. I now know where Alicia got her beauty from. With such grand parents, it would be weird if she wasn't beautiful.

"The pleasure is all mine, Mother." I return the gesture.

"And last, but not least, this is my youngest Daughter, Lilicia."

The young girl takes a step forward towards me.

"It's wonderful to meet you, Yuichi-niisama." Lilicia says with an angelic smile. So cute. She could give both Yuna, and Sakura, a run for their money in the contest of who you would want to call you 'Onii-chan'.

"It's nice to meet you too, Lilicia-chan." I say as I place my hand on top of her cute head. Her smile grows wider.

"Yuichi!" Alicia screams, "Don't defile my sister!"

"AHHHH~~~! Give! Give!" I scream as Alicia twists my wrist around. Seriously! It hurts like hell. Let go before it breaks.

"Are you jealous, Onee-sama?" Lilicia-chan asks with her cute smile.

"Jealous!? As if! Who would get jealous due to this guy!?" Alicia retorts loudly whilst tightening her grip. Stop it already! I can take a hint, so let go!

"Ha ha ha!" Father walks over and separates me from Alicia's arm lock. "It looks like both of my girls have taken a huge liking to you, Yuichi-kun."

"I HATE HIM!" Alicia shouts in denial.

"No need to act like a tsundere, Alicia," I reply back with a smile. "All girls cannot help but love the one and only Yuichi Shiro."

Alicia stares at me in anger. Everyone else just looks on in amusement. Father then turns towards me with a wonderful smile on his face.

"I'll tell you what, Yuichi-kun. How about you take Alicia as your wife, and Lilicia as your mistress." Father suggests, seriously! I can have both of his daughters. Having a threesome with two sisters was something I didn't expect to come knocking on even my door.

I felt it the first time I saw him, but this man, is truly great. I, the all beautiful and godly Yuichi Shiro, prostrate myself before you. No man can stand before him in terms of greatness, not even me.

His last suggestion proves it. Comparing the two of us, is like comparing a candle to a light bulb.

"I humbly accept your gracious offer." I say without delay.

"OWWWWWW!" I yelp after Alicia's foot, makes swift contact with my jaw.

"NO YOU DON'T!" Alicia shouts.

"I don't mind," Lilicia-chan chimes in innocently.

"You should!" Alicia cries back with tears in her eyes.

"My, my. Congratulations, Alicia, and Lilicia." Mother says with a smile.

"MOTHER!" Alicia shouts in anger.

"As expected of my master." Wolfy nods in satisfaction.

This was the last scene I saw before my mind drifted out of the current world. So tired.

Why do I always find myself on the receiving end of Alicia's anger? Even my genius can't answer this question.

http://img02.deviantart.net/c534/i/2...ry-d9ddx9z.jpg

http://img09.deviantart.net/dd13/i/2...ry-d9eg6u5.jpg

Chapter 08: Training In The Underworld

"Ah! Shit!" I shout whilst dodging for my life.

right now I'm in a place called 'Blueberry woods'. As the name might suggest, it's a huge forest area. I am currently running and dodging attacks like my life depends on it.

My mind flashes back to my conversation with Father.

XXXX

"Yuichi-kun, I am sorry, but as you will become part of the Pandemonium family, I am afraid you will need training," Father explains, "As part of our family, great responsibilities shall be placed onto your shoulders, and you must become a role model example for the residents in the Underworld."

"I understand, Father. I shall do as you say, and meet your great expectations." I reply fearlessly.

"I know you will my boy." Father says with a smile.

XXXXX

Back to the present. I am training to increase my powers. I've been running around endlessly whilst avoiding attacks from Kuro-san, the man who is my instructor. Kuro-san is a servant of the Pandemonium family and a expert in 'Reaper Spells'. He has a huge body filled with scars, each scar I'm sure has its own story.

Wolfy wanted to come with me. However, I left him behind because I know I need to become stronger. I appreciate his concern, but this is something I have to do.

Alicia, Wolfy, when I come back, I shall be an even greater Yuichi Shiro. Well, that's if my greatness can increase even more than its already godly level. Well, I know it can, but the human eye cannot see greatness above a certain level, so I doubt the increase will be noticeable to my friends.

"Here's another one, Yuichi-sama!" Kuro-san announces as a huge ball of ice expands in front of his open palm. Shit! Attacking whilst I'm in self thought is dirty.

The ice ball shoots towards me like a bullet. I dive to my right to dodge the attack. I reflexively use my hands to break my fall and push off the ground to land on my feet.

After safely landing, I hold out my left palm and point it towards Kuro-san. Ice forms in front of my hand. This is the same technique Kuro-san just used against me. My ice ball shoots towards him with perfect accuracy. The size of my ice ball isn't as big as Kuro-san's, but it is faster.

Kuro-san was truly surprised by how quickly I picked it up. well I am a genius, so what can I say?

Kuro-san's explanation of 'Reaper Spells' was also very easy to understand. Use your mind to envision your skill, and your soul will follow through. Apparently, my soul isn't too different to that of a reapers because it evolved in Purgatory. That's why I'm capable of using Reaper Spells. I was also told about special techniques that are unique to Human Anomalies. However, these cannot be taught, I have to learn them myself.

The only spell I have learned thus far is this single ice spell. This spell uses my soul as a catalyst and power source to freeze the moisture in the atmosphere and shoots it as a projectile.

Kuro-san, who has my ice ball approaching him, materialises his scythe and deflects it.

"Not bad, Yuichi-sama. Time for a change of tactics!" Kuro-san compliments proudly as he spins his scythe around in a circle.

Kuro-san stomps his feet hard across the ground. Wielding his scythe in one hand he charges towards me. I draw the sword Father lent to me. We have moved away from spell casting and into a melee fight.

*Ching! Ching!* - My sword clashes loudly with Kuro-san's scythe. If that thing hits me, my beautiful body will be damaged, that is the one thing I refuse to let happen. But seriously, he's moving something as big as that, so quickly.

However, I am no slouch either, the reflexes of the great Yuichi Shiro is second to none. When I was a child I used to do play sword fights with my friends, back then I never once lost. I never thought that such childish games of the long past could become vital experience in such a place.

*Ching! Ching!* - But even though I am keeping up with him; I am on the complete defensive.

Time to try a little experiment.

I begin to release my soul's aura outside of my body and move it behind Kuro-san. I learned how to release my soul aura and control it earlier. Kuro-san complimented my exceedingly great control of it.

*Ching! Ching!* - Our weapons continue to collide as I continue to release my aura. Like this his movements are sealed. I begin to make my soul freeze the moisture in the atmosphere. However, differently from before, using my expert control of my soul aura I freeze it into a different shape than a ball, a spike.

Kuro-san opens his eyes wide. He must have realised my plan.

"Well done, Yuichi-sama. To think you could do this in such a short amount of time. Give it a few months and I would be no match for you." Kuro-san compliments with a wide smile. You understand my greatness already? You're a wise man, Kuro-san.

*Ching! Ching!* - I shoot the ice spike that I quickly formed into Kuro-san's blind spot. Now what will you do? If you concentrate on me, the spike will hit you. Concentrate on the spike, and my sword will get you. Choose the way to your defeat.

"However, right now, I'm stronger!" Kuro-san shouts confidently. Kuro-san swipes swiftly with his scythe, my blade gets pushed into the ground. In that case my ice spike will get you. Or so I thought. Kuro-san shows me what was in his left hand that was held behind his back. In his hand is the ice spike I just shot. He caught my attack from his blind spot with his bare hand. I can't hide my shock.

"I win!" He proclaims whilst holding his scythe's blade to my neck.

My body relaxes and I drop my sword to the ground.

"I thought I had you then," I say as I sit on the ground.

Kuro-san puts his scythe away and sits down opposite me.

"Your idea was good. I never explained that you could use your soul aura like that, yet you figured it out by yourself." Kuro-san begins explaining, "The only reason you lost, was due to your lack of experience. You were too confident in your plan, and didn't think about what to do if it failed."

Lack of experience huh. Nothing I can say against that, he's right. If I thought about what I would do next if my plan had failed, I could have lasted longer. My self confidence became my downfall.

"Well, considering that your lack of experience is your main weakness. Let's take care of that." Kuro-san says whilst getting to his feet, "Blueberry woods is filled with lots of dangerous monsters, lets go hunting, shall we?"

"Yeah, I will become as strong as hell and raise my already insanely high coolness points." I declare whilst picking up my sword and getting to my feet.

Even more girls will get ensnared in my greatness. Don't be jealous though Alicia, you will always be my first lady. Lilicia-chan or Sakura can be my second. But which one?

For it to be Lilicia-chan; or for it to be Sakura, that is the question.

Whilst ranking the girls in my mind. I run with Kuro-san deep into Blueberry Woods.

XXXXXX

A couple of hours later, we left Blueberry Woods and returned to the mansion. Father was really persistent in what time I needed to be back for some reason.

I'm really exhausted and covered in mud. For girls who like guys with a wild like look I would be even more irresistible.

Alicia, Lilicia-chan, Wolfy and Father are waiting for us in the Pandemonium family's huge garden.

"Welcome back, Yuichi-niisama," Lilicia-chan greets, as she latches her arms around me. She truly is an adorable girl.

"Ah, I'm back." I reply while patting her head. Alicia is glaring at me coldly. I think she is trying to send me a telepathic message through her eyes, let's see if I can decode it.

Okay, I think I got it. 'Yuichi, you are so beautiful. Your coolness and intelligence is unrivalled. I know I am not worthy but please make me your bride.' Alicia, your love message has been conveyed to me in full. I must respond to this immediately, or else my name isn't Yuichi Shiro.

"You too, are also beautiful, Alicia my love." I say gently to my fiancé.

Alicia turns her head away, her face beet red. Was I too forward?

"You have a magical way of misunderstanding, don't you, Yuichi-sama?" Kuro-san says with a bitter smile. What are you talking about?

Wolfy then approaches me whilst looking me over from head to toe. "You look like a real man, Master." He states. What are you saying? You can just look between my legs and see that.

"How many times did you come close to losing your head?" Alicia asks with a sinister smile, having already regained her cool. Are you a sadist, Alicia? Please let go of it if you are. I don't like pain.

"More times than I wish to recall." I reply whilst averting my gaze. If Alicia is a sadist my future is going to be very hard on me. Scarring this beautiful body is a deadly sin.

"How was he, Kuro-kun?" Father asks in interest.

"Exceptional, he learns fast, he has quick reflexes, expert aura control and a sharp intuition." Kuro-san responds to Father. He then turns to face me "Yuichi-sama, before you return to the living world come see me. I'll give you data for other Reaper Spells so you can self study. Your aura control is top class, so your powers won't go out of control, even in the living world."

I give Kuro-san a thumbs up in response. I currently only know one spell, so I'll gladly accept that data. Kuro-san also confirmed the other matter, the matter of me using magic in the living world. Alicia was worried before because I might not have been able to control my powers. That argument is now mute.

Life is getting even more exciting.

Chapter 09A: Underworld Party - En route

After I had finished my basic training and cleaned myself up, I was told the reason Father wanted me back on time.

"We are all going to a formal party, I want you to come with us, Yuichi-kun." Father stated.

I had no reason to refuse, so I agreed. It will be my first time at a high class party. I bet all the women will surround me like a swarm of bees. My beauty is coming out in full force in this Tuxedo.

We're all currently heading towards the venue of the party in a huge limo. For someone of my greatness, anything less than a limo, would be an insult. Alicia, Lilicia-chan and Mother are all dressed in top of the range dresses and Father is looking as dandy as usual. In addition to the five of us, Sebastian and Kuro-san are also accompanying us as escorts. You can never be too careful, it seems the Underworld has its own troubles.

"Yuichi, this party is being hosted by another one of the top three families, don't make a spectacle of yourself." Alicia warns.

"I can't promise that. Just by being there, I will shine brightly. So how can I not become a spectacle?" I ask.

"By toning down your narcissism for starters." She replies.

"Onee-sama, Yuichi-niisama is a honest person. It's not narcissism," Lilicia-chan explains, "He's only telling the truth."

Thank you, Lilicia-chan, you're a good girl, I pat her cute head and she snuggles up to me like a cat.

"ANYWAY! Just don't embarrass me." Alicia is fuming in anger. What's with you?

"There's nothing about me to be embarrassed about. I'm beautiful, smart, cool, and beautiful, and super beautiful." I highlight my good points with pride.

"How many times did you say the word beautiful?" Alicia asks.

I'll say it as many times as I need to for you to remember. But you shouldn't need me to remind you.

"Anyway, another of the top three families? Who are they?" I ask as I turn towards Father, intending to change the subject.

"The host is the Cerberus family. Hades-sama will also be at the party. So it is getting a lot of attention." Father replies.

Hades? The leader of the Underworld? Is he going to be a robed moving skeleton I wonder? That would be frightening.

"Wait, Cerberus? Are they a family of three headed dogs?" I ask.

"No, that is just a myth from the living world. The Cerberus family is the family that governs the river Styx and prevents souls from escaping. They are a family that has one of the most highest responsibilities given to them by Hades-sama." Father explains.

I see. So they keep souls from escaping into the living world. Well, if souls of the Underworld did escape into the living world, it would probably become a Soul Anomaly. Can't have those things running amok.

"So the top three families are Pandemonium, Cerberus and?" I ask.

"Thanatos." Alicia answers "The Thanatos family is considered the best among the top three families. They are the immediate second most influential after Hades-sama."

Alicia puts on a complicated expression as she talks about the Thanatos family. Did something happen?

"Anyway, enough with the serious talk." Father declares before looking me in the eye. "Yuichi-kun, Alicia told me that you are a virgin back when you entered Purgatory. I also heard how mortified you were about it."

Alicia, just what have you been saying about me to Father!? I turn my head away in embarrassment.

"Don't worry, I'm not making fun of you, I just have a suggestion. Why don't you have Annetta take your virginity? I can vouch for for her skilful technique." Father states. He just nonchalantly suggest that I have sex with his wife. Father, your greatness is shining so much tears are flowing out of my eyes.

"I'll be in your care, Mother." I say bowing my head as tears flow out of my eyes.

"Oh my, oh my. I won't let you regret it." Mother replies with a mischievous smile on her face.

*SMACK* - A high momentum fist collides with my handsome face.

"Ow! Alicia, that was uncalled for!" I shout whilst holding where I was hit.

"Yuichi, be quiet for a minute!" Alicia orders.

"Yes, Ma'am." I reply timidly. When she's like this, disobeying her isn't an option.

"Father, what are you trying to do making an offer like that!?" Alicia asks in anger.

"No...um...you know the feeling right? When you do something fun and exciting, you want to share the feeling with your friends." Father explains as sweat rolls down his face.

Father, sharing your wife shouldn't be included in that. I truly am grateful for the thought though, thank you.

"Then make sure you do it with him soon, or I might steal him from you, Alicia." Mother announces.

Seriously!? I best not let my guard down. No, having a older woman is good as well. I'm not the discriminating type.

"Mother, would you please stop saying such things!?" Alicia screams with a beet red face that looks ready to explode.

"Don't steal nii-sama, Mother." Lilicia-chan says whilst holding onto my arm.

"You truly are popular, Yuichi-kun." Mother states.

You're right, but it can sometimes be a disadvantage. I don't want girls killing each other over my beauty.

About an hour later and we arrive at our destination.

XXXXX

Chapter 09B: Underworld Party – Grand Entrance

"Wow, it's huge," I state as I look on the huge venue

"The Cerberus family like to do things thoroughly," Father states before turning to Kuro-san and Sebastian, "Good work, you can both just take it easy at the party."

"But Master, what about your guards?" Kuro-san asks in objection.

"We don't need them. The two of you deserve to relax every so often." Father doesn't allow any objections. He is also kind to his servants and subordinates.

Kuro-san and Sebastian simply bow and walk off.

"Now then, shall we go?" Father asks with a smile. He must be looking forward to this party. Socialising with others at these kinds of events is probably a favourite pass time for the higher class.

"Yuichi, I'm going to ask you again. Please don't do anything foolish." Alicia reminds, how many times is that now? She is such a worry wart.

"Don't worry, Honey, this Yuichi Shiro is a true gentleman." I reassure in a dignified voice and pose. My beauty is radiating strongly, come Alicia, let my beauty heal you of your anxiety.

"Hah," She simply sighs. Oh well, a great person such as myself isn't one to let trivial things bother him.

Father, Mother and Lilicia-chan just look at us with their smiles.

We walk through into the spacious room that the party is taking place in. There is well over a hundred people in here. They're a mixed bag, young, old, man, woman.

"Ah, Lord Pandemonium!" One of the guests calls out as we enter. All the other guests look on in our direction.

*Clap clap clap*

"Ladies and gentleman, the Pandemonium family has entered." A man shouts into his microphone from the stage.

*Clap clap clap*

Ah, this much attention is embarrassing. Father and Mother are both dignified as they wave to the crowd with their respective free hands. They have their other arms locked together. I believe this is called escorting the lady.

Lilicia-chan latches herself onto one of my arms. Does she want to imitate her parents? Well, I don't mind. Alicia latches onto my other arm.

"Don't get full of yourself, Yuichi, this is just for appearance." She whispers in my ear. However, I can see right through your words, Alicia. I'm not your fiancé for nothing.

Alicia and Lilicia-chan begin to wave to the clapping crowd like Father and Mother.

"Ah! Lady Alicia looks dashing as usual!" The crowd begin shouting out their praise in the middle of the standing ovation we're receiving. Alicia always looks dashing in my eyes though.

"Lady Lilicia, please marry me!" Both Father and I glare at the prick who just proposed to Lilicia-chan whilst letting out a scary aura. The man quickly shrivels up. Father then returns to his great normal self, waving to the crowd.

"Ah, who is that young man? He's so handsome!" A young lady spots me from the crowd. You have brilliant eyes, I take my hat off to you.

Wait a second. I can't just be standing here looking pretty. All these people are giving me such a warm welcome. I'm not a man if I don't reply to it.

I'm suddenly hit with a nasty dilemma. I am escorting both Alicia and Lilicia-chan. I don't have a free arm to wave to the crowd. NO HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN!? Waving to the onlooking fans is a must for a man of my greatness. But I can't move either of my arms, how can I get out of this bind?

Then it hits me. I don't need to necessarily wave, I just need to acknowledge the crowd. I turn to a random lady in the crowd and then suddenly. I close one of my eye lids whilst wearing a huge smile on my face.

The lady is suddenly taken aback by my illuminating greatness. She must be feeling what is known as love at first sight. Don't feel bad, no woman can take this technique without falling for me. My beauty is my greatest weapon. To come up with such a technique during such a dilemma, my genius has manifested itself again. Like all good techniques and skills it needs a grand name worthy of it's almighty greatness. Therefore, I, as of today, as of this moment, dub my new skill. I feel like there is suddenly a drum role playing inside my head. 'Prince Wink' I declare to myself.

I continue to use Prince Wink on the ladies in the crowd. They all have similar reactions. To make this many people fall for me, I'm such a sinner. I snigger inwardly.

"Yuichi, you best tell me that you have a fly in your eye!" Alicia whispers into my ear. She must be jealous that I'm making so many people fall for me. You're the only one for me Alicia, so relax.

"I have a fly in my eye." I lie. Men are always at the mercy of their girls.

"Oh, I see." Alicia replies. I suddenly feel the grip on my arm tighten so much that it hurts. Oh shit! Alicia is really pissed.

XXXXX

Chapter 09C: Underworld Party – Main Event (Perspective Alicia)

At long last the applause died down and we all began mingling with the other high classes at the party. I can't believe it. I was holding Yuichi's arm because I realised he would start trying to draw attention to himself. Even though I took precautions to prevent him from doing it. He still managed to find a loophole for himself to use. Words cannot describe my embarrassment.

"OH HO HO HO!" I hear a voice that I instantly dread. Only one idiot really does that awful annoying laugh.

Like I thought. Dressed in an expensive one piece dress stands the daughter of the Cerberus family, Elizabeth Cerberus. I really hate this stuck up woman. I knew I would run into her at this party. It's being hosted by the Cerberus family after all.

As a family, I have no grudge against the Cerberus, I just despise this one girl.

"Good evening, Elizabeth." I greet as kindly as I can, given who the person is.

"Good evening, Alicia. OH HO HO HO!" She replies haughtily. Does she have to add that laugh in every sentence? "Your escort this evening, that gentleman, was first class, Alicia, OH HO HO HO."

As usual, straight to the point. I knew this was coming.

"Didn't like the idea he stole the spot light from you?" I retort. Elizabeth's smile quickly turns crooked, her pride is unable to accept insults.

"So tell me, Alicia, who was that gentleman?" She asks with a forced smile.

I realise that I won't be able to hide it. Even if I lie, she will find out eventually, and be even more annoying about the subject.

"He is my fiancé." I declare with (fake) pride.

Elizabeth is shocked by my response.

"Ladies and gentleman. Can I please have a few moments of your time." The head of the Cerberus family is standing on top of the stage. I turn away from Elizabeth, and towards the stage. "Our guest of honour, HADES-SAMA!"

*CLAP CLAP CLAP!* We all clap loudly upon hearing the announcement.

Hades-sama enters in the middle of the applause, he is dressed very roughly. The tie from his suit found its way onto his head. Wearing shades to hide his eyes. His hair is a mixture of stripes of all the colours in the rainbow. He'll never change.

Hades-sama takes the microphone from the Cerberus head.

"HEY HEY! How's it hanging people. DR Des is in the house!" Hades-sama screams into the microphone. Once again he has given himself another stupid stage name. I could almost swear he stole it somewhere.

"HADES-SAMA! HADES-SAMA!" The crowd doesn't mind and just screams back to him. So much for a formal party.

"Now, DR Des is a man of few words, so I'll keep this short. GO WILD!" Hades-sama shouts.

"OHHHHHHHHHH!" The crowd screams back again. I can only shake my head at the scene. Our leader is such a flamboyant man. I get the feeling he and Yuichi would hit it off right from the start.

After the address finishes. Elizabeth continues from where she left off.

"For a lowly man like that, to become your fiancé. No, I guess you are well suited for each other!" Elizabeth insults.

"For a woman like you. Who cannot even get a man, even with your huge financial assets as bait. You have no right to insult me." I don't hide the irritation in my voice. I just dig straight to where it hurts.

"OH HO HO HO!" Her laugh is clearly forced. "There is simply no gentleman whom is my equal."

"If you go searching for a homeless old timer, I'm sure you'll meet your Mr Right, Elizabeth." I add fuel to the fire of Elizabeth's humiliation. Her face is turning red in anger, my heart bleeds for you, not. Let this be a lesson to you, you stuck up bitch. I smile at my victory.

I then suddenly see a figure through the crowd walking towards us. Oh no, please don't come up to me now.

"Girls, girls, there's no reason to fight over me. Yuichi Shiro is so great that there is enough of him to go around." My fiancé states proudly in oblivious bliss. Damn it, Yuichi! Not now. Not in front of this bitch of all people.

"OH HO HO HO! You are quite the unique gentleman. Yes, you are very, unique!"

Yuichi stands there thinking for a few moments, looking confused at Elizabeth's last comment.

"Oh, I get it." He declares. My instincts tell me that he most definitely didn't. Who knows how his warped mind will translate Elizabeth's insult.

"You're hitting on me, man this is a problem. I'm already engaged and yet so many people have been flirting with me at this party." As I thought, he misunderstood it completely. I'm willing to bet the notion of other people flirting with him is also his own misunderstanding.

The magical ability Yuichi possesses of changing an insult into a compliment within his brain is truly frightening.

"OH HO HO HO! Don't be foolish." Elizabeth is scared, I can tell. This girl has no experience with guys. What a shame you ran into Yuichi of all people.

"Okay, I'm a man, I have to answer your feelings." Yuichi declares. Ah, the misunderstanding deepens.

Yuichi suddenly grabs both of our hands. I have a really bad feeling about what is coming next. He drags us with him and to a man with rainbow coloured hair. Hades-sama.

"Excuse me, Dr Des." Yuichi calls out to Hades-sama nonchalantly.

"What can I do for you, my man?" Hades-sama replies with a smile. He really is too easy going.

"You're the leader of the Underworld, right? That means you're a great man. Therefore, as a great man, you should be able to recommend a decent love hotel." Yuichi says with determination. Wait Yuichi, what the hell are you talking about? How the hell did you arrive to that conclusion? How the hell can you ask the leader of the Underworld something like that? Are you trying to get yourself executed!?

"Lo...Love...Ho...tel!" Elizabeth stutters. She isn't even doing her annoying laugh. That's how grave this situation is.

Before I can speak my objections to Yuichi, Hades-sama smiles brightly.

"Indeed I do, young man. However, this is a very delicate matter, you shouldn't be satisfied with the recommendation from just one person. Therefore..." Hades-sama states before running on top of the stage again.

"People, People!" Hades-sama addresses everyone present. What is he doing?

"My man down there suddenly asked me a very important question. A question that I can't answer by myself." Hades-sama explains. Suddenly a bright spot light appears over me, Yuichi and Elizabeth. "My man asked me to recommend him to a love hotel!"

OH GOD! Everyone is looking at us. I feel my face turn beet red. Elizabeth is the same, her voice won't even come out. Yuichi is just standing there waving to the crowd. This guy really doesn't have any sense of shame.

"So that these three can have a truly great experience. I call upon you, the crowd, to offer these youngsters your recommendations. Say my man, what's your name?" Hades-sama shouts out through the mic.

"I'm Yuichi Shiro. I'll be in all of your care. Please direct me to a great place where we can all have a memorable first experience!" Yuichi shouts back.

*CLAP CLAP* - Why the hell is the crowd applauding him!? Someone stop him already.

"I recommend going to Pure Heart. The rotating beds there are spectacular." A man from the crowd recommends. Are they seriously going to do this?

"No, Pink Flower is much better." Another man declares.

The formal party has suddenly been turned into a debate of the hierarchy of love hotels.

"Yuichi-kun," my father approaches us, please stop him. "To take the virginity of both my daughter, and the Cerberus' daughter together. I am truly moved to tears. Here take this."

"Stop him, Father, don't hand him condoms!" I scream at my useless old man.

"Thank you, Father," Yuichi says as he grabs both of Father's hands. He then turns to address the crowd, he adopts a grand pose and takes a deep breath. "I promise to all of you present, I will change this girl's 'OH HO HO HO' to 'OH OH OOH-'" What kind of dirty outrageous claim are you making in front of all these people!?

"GO FOR IT!" Why the hell is the crowd encouraging him? Someone help me.

This is the most danger I have ever faced in my life. Elizabeth is shaking, her voice still stuttering. I think this night is going to leave a huge mental scar on her.

The party soon ended. Yuichi became an overnight celebrity in the Underworld. Thankfully, my chastity is still safe. After Yuichi dragged us out of the hall whilst the crowd showered us in confetti, I knocked him out cold. Elizabeth and I then took sanctuary in a hidden area under the venue. Elizabeth was shaking the whole time, welcome to my world.

XXXXX

Chapter 09D: Underworld Party – Epilogue

After the exciting party concluded it's time to head back to the living world. It's a shame, I was laid out cold for the rest of the party. But it was still fun. Apparently I was even featured on the front page of a national Underworld newspaper. Alicia was mad at me for several hours afterwards though. Was a threesome too embarrassing for her first time? But when it is all said and done, the opinions the upper class men at the party gave me were all very educational.

Hades was also a very interesting guy. You don't have to be Albert Einstein to see why he's the ruler of the Underworld.

I also grabbed the data for some Reaper Spells from Kuro-san earlier. I'm looking forward to learning some more spells.

"It sounds like you had fun, Master." Wolfy says. Unfortunately we had to leave him behind for the party.

"Yeah, it was great. Life here is truly interesting." I reply.

"It was a pure nightmare." Alicia states. Is she holding a grudge against me?

"Come visit us again soon." Father requests.

"I most definitely will." I reply.

"Don't forget about me, Yuichi-niisama. I won't lose to Onee-sama," Lilicia-chan declares.

"I won't." I answer back, although I don't understand what she means. I feel an ill intent gaze on my back. Alicia please, you're scaring me.

"I'm expecting lots of grandchildren." Mother announces.

"Well ahead of you, Mother. I promise to meet your expectations." I declare confidently.

"OWWWW!" Something hit me hard on the back of the head, a swift sharp pain runs through me.

"NO YOU DON'T!" Alicia's angry voice is the last thing I hear before my mind goes blank.

This turn of events is seriously getting old.

Chapter 10A: The Soul Slayers – Situation Report

There has been a drastic increase in the number of Anomalies appearing at town#21460, Japan.

The Anomalies however are being slain by a force outside of our own. We believe this is due to the birth of a new Human Anomaly.

In response to the above concerns, Vincent Redfern has been dispatched. His orders are to investigate the possibility of a Human Anomaly in the area and immediately slay it should one exist.

For the sake of the world, we shall remove all impurities.

XXXXXX

Chapter 10B: The Soul Slayers – Date Invitation

A few days has passed since the great Yuichi Shiro returned from the Underworld. I've been going around fighting the Soul Anomalies that have been appearing before me over the last couple of days. There have been an awful lot of them. Apparently Alicia was dealing with them behind the scenes before. But now that I'm capable of fighting, I've been handling them myself.

However, due to the fatigue, I am currently lying down in the infirmary. Luckily no injury has come to my glorious body from fighting the Anomalies.

"Sempai," A quiet voice calls me.

"Sakura? What's wrong?" I ask. When did she arrive?

"Sempai, If it's okay with you..." Sakura fidgets awkwardly, "Will you please come with me after school!?"

After school, with Sakura? Is she asking me out on a date!?

"Um, Nii-san's birthday is coming up soon, so..." Sakura begins to explain.

"Oh. You want the genius that is I, to help you choose an appropriate gift for Ren?"

Sakura nods in confirmation.

"Okay, sure." I have no reason to refuse.

"Thank you, Sempai." Sakura says with a smile before running out the door.

XXXXXX

Chapter 10C: The Soul Slayers – True Intent (Perspective Sakura)

Yes, I did it.

I was unable to see him over the weekend, but with this, I get to go on a date with Sempai.

I feel bad that I had to use Nii-san as an excuse. But it's true that I don't know what to get him.

A lot of rivals have been appearing out of nowhere recently. Alicia-Sempai and Mizuno-Sempai are both after Yuichi-Sempai.

Alicia-Sempai even took him to her home over the weekend.

Whenever Sempai comes over to my house, it's only ever as a friend of Nii-san's. During this time it's hard for me to be alone with him. Nii-san and Sempai stick to each other like glue, and I'm hardly the assertive type. So I don't know what to do even when we are alone. However, I've been preparing myself over the last couple of days for this.

To the two Sempai who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, don't think I'll give up without a fight. I've known Sempai the longest out of the three of us.

Fiancé? It's just an arranged marriage. I won't let it stop me.

I didn't know I could act this way. 'A maiden in love is scary' I guess that's actually true.

XXXXXX

Chapter 10D: The Soul Slayers – Protect My Kouhai (Perspective Akane)

I came to check up on Yuichi Shiro. But...what is this situation?

The door is open slightly, so I can hear their voices. Yuichi is talking with Sakura-san.

"Sempai, If it's okay with you...Will you please come with me after school!?" Sakura-san is asking Yuichi out!? Does she like Yuichi as well!? Just how many girls does this guy have going for him!?

"Um, Nii-san's birthday is coming up soon, so..."

I don't know whether his birthday is coming up or not. But I can clearly tell that you're using it as an excuse, Sakura-san.

"Oh. You want the genius that is I, to help you choose an appropriate gift for Ren?" Yuichi asks Sakura whilst covering himself in his coat of pride.

"Okay, sure." He agrees without delay.

Does he really not see her true intention? Or is he agreeing having figured it out? I can never tell when it comes to Yuichi. He's a one of a kind idiot.

"Thank you, Sempai."

Crap, she's coming this way, gotta run.

"Eh." I let out a voice of surprise as someone suddenly grabs my hand. I begin to run as I am forcefully pulled. The person who pulled me and I both hide behind a corner in the corridor.

"Pandemonium-san?" I say whilst feeling a little confused.

Was she listening in as well? She's wearing a slightly angry frown on her face.

"Yuichi truly is an idiot!" Pandemonium-san scoffs before walking away.

"Pandemonium-san? I thought it was an arranged marriage against your will. But do you...?" I ask myself out loud.

Wait a second. Sakura-san is in danger. Being alone with Yuichi is asking for trouble. I quickly change my tone of thought.

As a discipline committee member I must not allow any harm to befall Sakura-san.

It can't be helped then. I will have to tag along to protect her from danger.

Yes, it's my duty to protect her. There's no other reason why I would do this.

XXXXXXX

Chapter 10E: The Soul Slayers – Last Lesson

The teacher isn't here so we're having a self study session to finish off the day.

Alicia has been in a bad mood for a while now. I don't know what's wrong with her, but the solution is simple. At times like this the great and glorious, Yuichi Shiro, will make small talk with her and gradually improve her mood.

"Say...Alicia.." I begin.

"HMPH!" She turns in her chair. Playing hard to get are you? Time for a change in tactics.

"Alicia, I don't understand this problem, it's not like I'm asking you because I want to talk to you or anything like that." I decide to go with tsundere style.

"Be quiet, Yuichi!" Alicia angrily replies.

"..." It's not like I'm being quiet because you told me to or anything like that.

"What have you done, Yuichi?" Ren asks me.

"I haven't done anything. I don't get what's wrong with her." I reply.

I thought Alicia was just in a bad mood. But it's more like she's just annoyed at me.

"No matter what it is, please try to make up with her, okay. We're classmates, so lets get along together." Ryu-san states with a smile. You truly are a good person, Ryu-san. I will do my best so as not to make you worry.

All relationships have a few bumps along the way. However, once you get over them, then you will become even closer.

XXXXXXX

Chapter 10F: The Soul Slayers – Innocent Outing

I wanted to act immediately and find out why Alicia was mad at me. However, during the last period she had ignored me completely. Seriously, how can she stay angry at someone with a face as beautiful as my own!?

I've already made plans to go shopping with Sakura, so I can't ask her what's wrong right now. I don't want to become the kind of man who breaks his word, so I decided to put the issue with Alicia to the back of my mind for now.

"Thank you for coming to help me out, Sempai." Sakura says with a smile.

"My pleasure. A younger sister working so hard to get her brother a present. Yuna could learn a thing or two from you." I reply whilst remembering how Yuna bought me a small box of chocolates from the local shop for my birthday. She even left the price sticker on it when she gave it to me. In her eyes, am I only worth that much?

I'm walking side by side with Sakura. There's a huge crowd of people coming and going from every direction.

"Anyway, I think that a CD would be a good present for Ren. He really likes his music." I give my opinion as we walk through the crowd. He's always wearing two sets of headphones.

"I see...what would be a good one I wonder?" Sakura replies.

"Let's go to a music shop and I'll help you pick something he'll like." I suggest.

"Okay." Sakura smiles and nods. "Kyyyaa!"

Sakura falls backwards after colliding with a guy.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention." Sakura apologises.

"Me too. Are you okay?" The man replies politely. Damn, he's a good looking guy with short dark hair. He's carrying a shinai bag over his shoulder, guess he is into kendo.

"Yes, I'm fine." Sakura answers curtly. I offer my hand to Sakura and pull her back onto her feet. Sakura blushes slightly, is she embarrassed about falling over?

"Take care, now." The man says as he takes his leave. I got the feeling he was glaring at me intensely just now, does he swing that way? Well, I'm not one to judge people by their sexual preferences.

XXXXXXX

Chapter 10G: The Soul Slayers – The Two Jealous Maidens (Perspective: Alicia)

"Damn! We lost sight of them!" I shout in anger.

"We have to find them. Sakura-san will be in danger if we leave her alone with Yuichi Shiro!" Mizuno-san panics, although I think she is panicking for something different from what she's talking about.

I overheard Yuichi talking with Sakura from outside the infirmary and decided to trail them. Sakura was obviously using the 'get her brother a present' as an excuse to go on a date with Yuichi. I thought she was just a shy girl. But strangely, she's actually very daring. I didn't think she would pull this off. Yuichi agreed to go with her without any second thoughts, even though he's engaged to me.

I seriously doubt Yuichi was able to see what Sakura was really after. But, I couldn't help but be angry at him. Even after I realised he didn't have any bad intentions.

I wonder when I started acting this way? I originally had nothing but contempt for Yuichi because of what he did. I agreed to marry him before because I had no choice. When did my obligation turn into my own will? Is it because I started to enjoy life a lot more since I met him?

"Damn it, Yuichi, you fool!"

But I'm an even bigger fool for falling for him. DAMN IT!

Together with Mizuno-san, I begin searching the crowd blindly. Where did you escape to, Yuichi!?

XXXXXXX

Chapter 10H: The Soul Slayers – Vincent Redfern

"Thanks for your help, Sempai. I'm sure Nii-san will be happy with this." Sakura says earnestly, her innocent smile still on her face.

I reply by patting her on her head. You're really a good girl, Sakura.

"Oh, Sempai, here. A little present for coming with me." Sakura hands me a CD. It's the new album by 'Yami Within', which I haven't had time to buy for myself. Needless to say, I'm a really big fan of this band.

"Thank you, Sakura!" I shout to her as I hug the CD she just bought me. I can only just stop myself from crying in joy. You truly are kind, Sakura. Whoever becomes your husband will be a very lucky man.

But suddenly something snaps me out of my fit of happiness.

"Huh! This is!?" I know this sensation. A Soul Anomaly has appeared nearby. I guess it's being drawn to me, a Human Anomaly.

"What's wrong, Sempai?" Sakura asks with a look of worry.

"Sakura, stay here. I'll be back in a minute." I reply as I stroke her head. I can't let Sakura be put into any danger.

I run down an alleyway, which is luckily for me, deserted.

"RAORR!" Deserted except for me and this ugly thing I mean.

The Anomaly looks something like a bear. As with all other Anomalies, it's glaring at me with malice. Getting ready to attack upon the tiniest of sparks.

"I'll end this quickly." I proclaim to the Anomaly as I summon my sword.

This sword was given to me by my father-in-law. It has been fine tuned to be summoned to me whenever I need it, it's usually kept in another dimension though. I can't be walking around everywhere waving a sword around after all.

After seeing my sword the bear starts to charge towards me. I too begin to run towards it. Our distance between one another closes quickly.

The bear raises it's claw and takes a swipe at me. I skilfully jump back and dodge the attack. This damn thing was aiming for my beautiful face. I'll make you regret that decision.

Placing both hands on the handle of my sword I lunge forward. My sword pierces right through the bear's neck.

"Grahhh" The bear lets out a painful groan as it begins to fade. That's your punishment for aiming for my face.

"Hoooh~~! So you killed one of your own!" A man's voice says from behind me. I swiftly turn around.

Standing there is the man Sakura bumped into in town.

"Who the hell are you!?" I ask intensely. He said I was the same as the bear. He knows about Anomalies, he must know I am a Human Anomaly as well.

"I am Vincent Redfern. I was ordered by the church to investigate the unusual increase of Anomalies in this town. Looks like I found my reason right here." The man naming himself Vincent smiles at me in glee. My survival instincts are telling me 'this guy is dangerous'.

"The church?" I ask whilst recalling what I was told.

"That's right my dear Human Anomaly. I came all this way to cure this world of the impurity that is you. Aren't you honoured!?" He says haughtily.

Forgive me, Vincent, but I can't say that I am. I'm more repulsed by your high and mighty attitude.

"So without further adieu," Vincent grabs at the shinai bag he is carrying. However, what he draws out of it isn't a wooden sword. It's a real one. I can instinctively tell that it's bad news as he draws the blade out of the sheath.

I recall back to what Alicia once told me. One of the few weapons that is capable of killing me now that I am a Human Anomaly.

"A Soul Slayer!?" I ask, my body feeling cold from gazing upon the jet black blade.

"Correct. This is my Soul Slayer 'Muramasa-Masamune'." Vincent replies with a snigger on his face.

"Muramasa-Masamune." I repeat quietly to myself.

A dark aura is spreading from it like a fog. I don't know how to explain it, but I get the feeling that the sword is alive, and it's pure evil.

"Here I come, sinful existence!" Vincent announces insultingly as he starts to run towards me.

I quickly create a ball of ice and launch it towards him. However, he deflects it with his Soul Slayer, without even slowing down his pace. He's already in striking distance.

Vincent swings his Soul Slayer horizontally; I lower my body down and avoid it before swiping at him with my own sword, although using the blunt side of it. Vincent simply sidesteps to dodge it.

"URGHH!" Using his free hand Vincent lands a heavy blow into my face.

My body slides along the floor from the heavy momentum, my sword falls out of my hand and skids away from me. Damn! This guy is truly strong.

"Sempai!" A voice shouts. No! What is she doing here!?

"Ah, you're that girl from before. Your girlfriend?" Vincent asks in a manner which shows he actually has no interest in the answer.

Sakura's eyes instantly swell up as she looks my way.

"Please, leave Sempai alone!" She shouts in a shaky, yet strong voice.

"Ahh~~! This is a shame. You've been corrupted by this impurity. Nothing else for it." Vincent tries to speak in a sad voice, but it's clearly fake. "Who do you think you're ordering!?"

Wait! Vincent turns his attention from me and towards Sakura. NOOO!

I quickly get myself back onto my feet. I know that I don't have time to grab my sword, so I just run with all my might. Vincent dashes towards Sakura whilst readying his Soul Slayer. Please let me make it in time.

"DISAPPEAR!"

"LIKE I'LL LET YOU!"

Our voices overlap.

I quickly position myself between Vincent and Sakura.



"GAAAAAHHH!" The pain I suddenly feel is indescribable. I look down at the blade that has pierced my body.

"Sempai..." Sakura lets out a quiet voice behind me, just hearing her I can tell her body is shaking.

I turn my head as I endure the pain. I try to give Sakura my best possible smile. But she just stares on in horror.

"URGGH!" The Soul Slayer is quickly withdrawn from my body. But the pain still remains.

My shaking legs soon give out. I fall to my knees and then a moment later I fall face down onto the hard cold ground.

My conscience continuously flickers between my surroundings and nothingness. My wandering eyes notice the CD Sakura had given me just today. The case is covered in cracks and blood.

Sorry Sakura, I've ruined your heartfelt gift already.

"Al...ic...ia..." I muster just enough strength to quietly whisper the name of my fiancé in a voice no one else could possibly hear.

"NOOOOOOOO!" Sakura's scream is the last thing I hear as my heavy eyelids slowly close.

XXXXXX

Chapter 10I: The Soul Slayers – I'll Kill You (Perspective: Alicia)

I had separated from Mizuno-san a few minutes ago and am now running to where I had felt a certain presence.

I had felt a Soul Anomaly appear in town. However, it quickly disappeared. Yuichi most likely killed it. But I can't help but have a really bad feeling. Something much more ominous than a small fry Anomaly. Please let it be just my imagination.

"NOOOOOOOO!" I hear a scream. That's Sakura's voice. I increase my pace even more as I run to the source, my anxiety increasing every second. I turn around the corner and finally made it. What I see.

Yuichi laying down in a puddle of blood as Sakura cradles him in her arms. My attention's quickly drawn to the other man who is holding something I recognise.

"Muramasa-Masamune!" I mutter the sword's name to myself. That man is holding a Soul Slayer.

"An impurity has no right to act like a hero. I didn't think he would turn himself into your shield." The Soul Slayer's wielder sniggers, like he found it amusing.

I could instantly figure out what happened from hearing those words. He targeted Sakura and Yuichi protected her with his own body. I feel my boiling emotions surfacing.

I'LL KILL HIM!

My Scythe materialises into my hand and I charge at the man who is laughing to himself.

"WHAT!" He quickly notices my killing intent. The man who was laughing just a moment ago is now wearing a serious look on his face.

I swipe at him with my scythe. He jumps back dodging my attack by no more than an inch.

"Who're you!?" He maliciously asks.

However, I don't feel like answering him verbally. I quickly create and compress lightning into a small ball and throw it at the man. This spell is similar to the one Yuichi is adept at using. However, I prefer lightning as opposed to ice.

The man, using Muramasa-Masamune cuts my lightning ball. As expected of the Soul Slayer that is said to be capable of severing anything. It can even cut through something without a tangible form like lightning.

"You're not an Anomaly are you? But you aren't human either." The man states. I don't care what you think I am. As long as I get to separate your head from your body, it's all good!

"Alicia-Sempai," Sakura finally notices me, her eyes are red and covered in tears.

"Stay with Yuichi, I'll deal with this scum." I reply.

"I'm sorry. It's...all my fault." Sakura apologises.

"No, the fault lies only with the bastard in front of us." I answer as my hostility towards the man intensifies.

"Ahhh~~ He was quite the popular monster, wasn't he? I'm almost jealous." The man says sarcastically.

Sakura glares angrily at the man through her tears due to the comment he just made.

"You are much more a monster than Yuichi could ever be." I coldly state while spinning my scythe around in a circle.

"Well going at it against you might not be a bad idea. But the little girl's scream before probably attracted the attention of people who are passing by. So I'm out of here. The impurity has been dealt with, no need for overtime." The man explains nonchalantly as he shrugs his shoulders.

"You won't get away!" I shout in anger as I run towards him.

The man stabs his Soul Slayer into the ground. A huge cloud of dust appears, obstructing my sight.

When the dust cloud clears; the man's gone.

"CURSE YOU!" I shout at the man who is no longer present while tears run down my face.

I turn around and walk over to where Yuichi lay next to Sakura, who is still shaking.

"Wait a second." I couldn't notice it before due to my rage clouding my judgement. But, although faint, Yuichi's still alive. His soul still exists.. I quickly wipe my eyes dry and run to him.

"I have a lot to complain to you about. So if you die now I'll never forgive you." I declare to my unconscious fiancé.

Sakura looks at me in confusion. But time is of the essence, so no time to explain.

If that guy realises Yuichi is alive, he'll come attack us again.

I quickly take out my special phone and input several requests to my father. Next we need a place to hide out. I can think of no place better than that.

"Our destination is the school, connect." I activate the transport magic to take the three of us to our school.

"I won't let you die." I say once again in confirmation as we transfer.

Chapter 11A: Rejuvenate Yuichi – I Trust You (Perspective: Alicia)

Sakura and I have teleported to the school. The special item I requested of my father had arrived almost immediately. I also got a personal call from him. Father was fully enraged from hearing what had happened to Yuichi. He was shouting 'how he would take vengeance'. It was really difficult to convince him to not come to the living world. He has only known him for a short time, but Father is already doting on Yuichi.

Yuichi is lying unconscious inside of the item that I had transported from the Underworld. The item in question is a special capsule that is designed to heal those who have taken damage to their souls. Yuichi took an attack from Muramasa-Masamune, hence his soul has taken great damage and needs to be healed.

Due to Yuichi's Human Anomaly soul, normal life threatening wounds will heal themselves fairly quickly. Therefore we only need to heal his soul, the rest can be left to his Human Anomaly nature.

"Sempai..." Sakura calls to Yuichi through the glass of the capsule. She must really be feeling responsible for what happened to Yuichi.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine." I reassure Sakura as I place my hand on her shoulder. Sakura turns her head to look at me, her eyes are still red from the tears. She gives me a light nod before returning her eyes to Yuichi.

I leave the room Yuichi is in. After closing the door, I lean my back against the wall, trying to take even a little of the weight off of my legs.

Yuichi's recovery is still under way and we can't move him until it's over. If the man who wields Muramasa-Masamune figures out that Yuichi is alive and attacks us. We'll be at a complete disadvantage.

Thinking about it from the danger perspective, I probably shouldn't have stopped my father from coming to the living world. But as he is the head of the Pandemonium family I can't just let him come here on a whim. Therefore, if something does happen, I can only take care of it myself.

"Onee-sama..." A voice I recognise calls out to me. Why is she here?

"Lilicia!?" I'm unable to hide my shock from seeing my little sister standing before me. "What are you doing here!?"

"I was worried about Nii-sama." Lilicia replies in a sad voice. I knew she took an instant liking to Yuichi, but I didn't expect her to come to the living world.

"Does Father and Mother know!?" I ask anxiously, she didn't just run away without a word did she?

"They know." Lilicia nods in confirmation.

Thank goodness, she has more common sense than what Father does.

"How is Nii-sama?" Lilicia asks in worry.

"The capsule is healing him as we speak. As long as nothing interferes, he'll be back to normal in no time." I reply with a confident smile.

Truth be told however, there isn't a 100% guarantee that Yuichi will recover. The wound to his soul is severe, even if it didn't kill him instantly. But I can't bring myself to tell Lilicia this.

"Alicia-san! Where is Sakura and Yuichi!?" A voice instantly questions me. I turn to its owner, Yuichi's best friend and Sakura's older brother, Ren Kirei. Running alongside him is Yuichi's little sister, Yuna, and his Anomaly turned pet, Wolfy.

"Onii-chan, how is he!?"

"Is Master okay!?"

Yuna, Ren and Wolfy look at me anxiously. I called the three of them here because of what happened. I'm hoping Ren and Yuna can cheer up Sakura. I called Wolfy here should an emergency situation arise with the Soul Slayer wielder. I didn't call Mizuno-san here because of the possibility of danger. If the wielder comes here I will have everyone here except Wolfy evacuate. However, Mizuno-san strikes me as one with a great deal of responsibility. In other words, I didn't call her here because I felt she would ignore an order to retreat should it come to it.

"He's fine, rest assured." I answer as calmly as I can.

"Um, Onee-sama. These people are?" Lilicia asks whilst motioning at Ren and Yuna.

"They're Yuichi's best friend, Ren Kirei, and little sister, Yuna." I introduce Lilicia to the two faces she doesn't know. "And this is my little sister, Lilicia. She came here because she was worried about Yuichi."

"I am Lilicia Pandemonium." Lilicia gives a quick curt introduction.

Ren and Yuna nod in acceptance.

"Can we see Onii-chan?" Yuna asks.

I open the door that holds Yuichi in the capsule. Sakura is still looking at Yuichi through the glass of the capsule.

"Sakura!" Ren calls to his little sister whilst running up to her.

"Nii-san." Sakura reacts to her brother's voice and turns to Ren. Tears are still flowing down her face. Ren wraps his arms around her.

"Wahhh~~" Sakura let all her emotions flow through her brothers embrace, "Nii-san, it's my fault...Sempai...He protected me...And...He..."

"It's okay, Sakura. Yuichi is as tenacious as a cockroach. He'll be on his feet and skirt chasing in no time." Ren's words hold much power within them. He even added a subtle insult in there. Well, not that I disagree with him.

"Onii-chan."

"Master."

Yuna and Wolfy are looking at Yuichi sleeping peacefully in the capsule. A smile then surfaces on to their faces.

"Yes, Onii-chan. Like Ren-Sempai said. I know you will pull through this. Just like last time." Yuna states confidently.

"That's right. He would not be my master if he could not pull through something like this." Wolfy agrees with Yuna's words.

"Onee-sama, why can they be so confident?" Lilicia asks whilst pulling on my sleeve.

"It's trust." I reply.

It's not only them. I too trust that you will pull through Yuichi.

So don't betray your friend's trust.

Don't betray your family's trust.

And don't betray my trust.

XXXX

Chapter 11B: Rejuvenate Yuichi – Uncleansed Impurity (Perspective: Vincent)

"How many is that!?" I ask myself rhetorically. I just purified yet another Soul Anomaly.

I purified that Human Anomaly. Yet the number of Soul Anomalies appearing hasn't decreased in frequency.

Is there another Human Anomaly in the area? No, Human Anomalies are extremely rare. I can't imagine two existing so close together.

So if it's not a separate Human Anomaly then...Is it the same one!?

Come to think of it; I didn't confirm whether it died. But I cannot imagine it surviving Muramasa-Masamune. But if it did!?

I will hunt it down!

It had two girls with it. Did they rescue it from the brink of purification?

I recall the girl who attacked me before. She was neither human nor Anomaly.

"A Reaper!" I shout upon realisation. She wielded a scythe and she seemed close to the Human Anomaly.

I have heard stories that sometimes Reapers will observe Human Anomalies.

It all makes sense now. What I must do is also obvious.

As a hero who protects the world from Anomalies.

"I WILL PURIFY ALL IMPURITIES!"

Chapter 12A: Ren Versus Vincent - I'll Deal With Him (Perspective: Ren)

"Yuichi's out of the danger zone. He'll be fully recovered in twenty minutes." Alicia-san announces.

That's good. I didn't want to say anything with Sakura and Yuna-chan around, but I was actually really worried.

"Sempai..." Sakura is still standing by Yuichi's capsule. She felt responsible for what happened, hearing that he will be fully recovered soon, must be a big relief for her.

"Thank goodness, Nii-sama." Lilicia-san was also relieved. The anxiety in the room is starting to disappear. I knew my friend could do it.

"As expected of Master, he's recovering so quickly." Wolfy states with pride. His attitude towards Yuichi has done a complete one hundred and eighty, from when they first met.

"Huh!?" Alicia-san suddenly looks worried.

"What is it!?" I ask. If you show such a shocked expression, you'll worry everyone here.

"The Soul Slayer's wielder is heading towards us. He will be on the school grounds within the next ten minutes." Alicia-san answers in frustration.

"The bastard who tried to kill Yuichi and Sakura!?" I can't contain my anger. Just the very mention of that bastard is making my blood boil.

"I set up a location spell when we arrived so that I could detect any possible threats. He must know that Yuichi's still alive. At this rate, he'll find us before Yuichi recovers. The rejuvenation process is very delicate, so we can't move Yuichi whilst he is still recovering. This is the worst case scenario, that I feared." Alicia-san explains.

"What should we do!?" Yuna asks.

"Yuna, Sakura, and Ren you three should hurry and run. That man is truly dangerous." Alicia-san states.

"I refuse." I immediately object.

"There's no way I'm abandoning Onii-chan." Yuna declares.

"It was my fault this happened to Sempai. This time, I will protect him." Sakura said with determination. I haven't seen her like this before. Your Nii-san is crying in happiness at your growth, my dear little sister.

"Onee-sama, they are serious. Yuichi-niisama has got such good friends." Lilicia-san said happily.

"I know, they're all idiots beyond repair." Alicia-san sighs in resignation. I guess to some people I would be an idiot, but that works for me. My best friend is the king of the idiots, I guess he rubbed off on me. And because I am an idiot, I can declare what I'm about to say.

"Alicia-san, I'll deal with the bastard who did this to Yuichi." I say confidently. Alicia-san is visibly shocked by my declaration.

"Don't be a fool, Ren." She answers angrily "That man is the worse type of person there is. If you approach him carelessly, you will just be killed."

"Don't Nii-san." Sakura clings onto my shirt as she begs. Even if you give me that look, my mind is made up.

"Sorry, but I can't forgive that bastard, as both a friend, and a brother." I say strongly to everyone present. "My pride will not let me sit on the sidelines. Alicia-san, you said I would be killed, if I approached him carelessly. However, if I have a plan, then it's a completely different story."

"That isn't what I meant. Against such an unpredictable enemy, having a plan doesn't guarantee anything." Alicia-san is getting angrier and angrier. "The Soul Slayer that man wields, Muramasa-Masamune has the ability to sever anything, even things that don't have a physical form. It may not sound like much, but you have no idea just how dangerous it is to fight against something like that."

"No matter what you say, Alicia-san. I will still go. My anger is not something that can be expressed in mere words. Considering I'm going to go either way, you may as well cooperate with me, so that my plan has a larger chance of success." I feel bad having to use coercion, but this is something I must do.

Alicia-san bites her lips so hard blood comes out. Seeing her like that, is increasing my guilt even more, but I won't back down.

"All right, fine!" She agrees. "What do you want me to do!?"

"The first, can you give me any information on that Soul Slayer, does it have a weakness? Secondly, can you make me look like Yuichi." I requested of Alicia-san.

"All right, but I don't think you can exploit Muramasa-Masamune's weakness." Alicia-san drops her head, she's completely given up on trying to stop me.

I quickly departed after I had her give me a bit of information. Time was of the essence, I needed to make some preparations before that bastard arrives.

XXXXXX

Chapter 12B: Ren Versus Vincent – Vincent's Arrival (Perspective: Vincent)

That Human Anomaly, as well as those two girls, were all wearing school uniforms. After doing a quick investigation, I learnt which school they were from. There are very few places that they can hide in within this area. But, that school is one of them. Now, lets see if my suspicions are true.

"Come out, come out. I know you're somewhere around here" I bluff.

Huh!? Was that!? I just saw that Anomaly run into one of the buildings. My suspicions were right on the money.

So, do you want to play a game of death-tag then?

I chase after him. It's the hero versus the monster. Let the fun commence.

XXXXXX

Chapter 12C: Ren Versus Vincent – Visual Trick (Perspective: Ren)

He is running after me. I am now in Yuichi's form. In order to draw his attention towards me and away from the real Yuichi, I had no choice but to do this.

The bastard is just a bit behind me. I'm running up the stairs as fast as I can. It's all over if he catches me. Luckily, I'm very athletic. I continue to run up the stairs, until I reach a door. I throw the door open so hard that it bangs against the wall. However, I don't go through it. Instead, I quickly run to a blind spot within the wall. I hide by pressing myself against it, I hold my breath. Knowing that if he finds me, I'm dead.

*Bang Bang Bang* I can hear the stomping on the stairs. The bastard is getting closer.

I hide myself desperately. The bastard runs on past me, and through the door. My plan to throw him off my track worked. The bastard saw the door closing itself. So, he naturally thought that I went through it. Using that visual trick to my advantage, I lured him upstairs, whilst I hid out of sight.

This is where it begins.

XXXXX

Chapter 12D: Ren Versus Vincent – The Trap (Perspective: Vincent)

I'm running up the several flights of stairs. I haven't seen that monster yet. Damn, he's quick, I'm getting fed up of this.

I finally reach the top of the stairs. The slide door to what appears to be a classroom, is wide open. What a fool, you're leaving a trail behind, did you think you could hide from me?

I go through the door and close it. Now I've got you.

Huh? There's no one here. Is he hiding? What a coward. In that case, I'll just have to smoke you out.

When I thought this, my attention is drawn to several sets of apparatus. There are multiple sets of Bunsen burners being tilted at an angle. Next to each one, is a glass beaker, with some sort of liquid inside, and some kind of splint sticking out. The way this is set up,could it be? Shit! it's a trap.

XXXXXX

Chapter 12E: Ren Versus Vincent – Conclusion (Perspective: Ren)

My plan's going perfectly. After that bastard ran past me on the stairs. I shadowed him whilst keeping a constant distance so he doesn't notice me. I've been going to this school for a year already. I won't lose to an outsider on my own turf, and this turf advantage, is what will seal my victory.

The bastard, enters into the science lab, and shuts the door behind him, perfect. I had already set up some Bunsen burners, as well as a load of flammable, and explosive chemicals in advance. As soon as I give the signal, the trap will activate. I run to the switch that turns on the gas for the science lab. I quickly turn it on with the key I stole from the office.

Now that gas is being supplied, the Bunsen burners will ignite the chemicals within the beakers.

However, I don't have time to sit and watch this happen. I run down the stairs as fast I can. As soon as I reach the window I had opened during my preparations, I dive straight out.

"URGHHH~~" I roll hard against the ground, the scraping pain is aggravating.

A moment later. *BOOOOOMM!* - The building explodes, the sound and the shock wave assault my body, and I roll even further along the ground.

The science block is a completely separate complex from where Yuichi and the others are. So, I can safely blow it up without it having any effect on them.

No human inside could have survived that. I feel a bit of lament within myself. I have done something I will never be able to take back. No matter how much of a scum bag he was, I still took a human life. I'm surprised just how relaxed I am, considering what I've just done.

I let my body stay laid out on the ground, I'm both physically, and mentally exhausted.

"GAHHHHHHH!" I scream in pain. What the hell just happened!?Something cut deeply into my body. I look around and see the likely culprit of my pain. Damn it, how did he escape?

"It appears that you're not the Human Anomaly from before, just a regular human." The bastard notices I'm not Yuichi. The spell giving me his appearance, must have worn off.

"How did you survive that blast!?" I ask the bastard. His body is dripping with blood and I can see burn marks. So, he was definitely caught in the explosion.

"I used Muramasa-Masamune to cut through the explosion. Although, I did still get caught in it. I did just enough to survive. Now, where is the Anomaly!?" He interrogates whilst pointing his evil sword at me. Just looking at that thing is giving me goosebumps.

"Go to hell!" I answer, does he honestly think I would tell him? If there's one thing I'm not, then it's a back stabber.

"I'll let you go there ahead of me." The bastard says as he raises his sword. So, this is it, huh.

The sword comes down sharply. But it doesn't impale me. He isn't going to stab me with his Soul Slayer?

"GAHHHH!" A shock wave comes out of his sword, and crashes into me. I can feel blood pouring out of every part of my body.

My mind feels blank. My sight is getting hazy. Yuichi, I'm sorry. I couldn't defeat him. I could only wound him. I hope this helps everyone, if only just a little.

"Killing you with Muramasa-Masamune would be too much of a privilege for you. So I'll just let you bleed to death there." The bastard staggers off and leaves me in a puddle of my own blood.

"Sakura...every...one...forgive...me. I let...you all...down." I can feel my tears coming out of my eyes. Tears of my own powerlessness.

I'm going to die, I already know this. I muster up the rest of my strength. These will be the final words of Ren Kirei.

"Please...let...everyone...else...be...safe." After saying this, I let a smile come to my face, even though my tears are still falling.

A few moments later, I can no longer fight my drowsiness. I give myself up, to the eternal sleep.

Chapter 13A: Team Yuichi Versus Vincent – Alicia Versus Vincent (Perspective: Alicia)

*BOOOOM!* - An explosion?

I quickly open up the blind and look out the window. The science block is on fire. What on earth happened? Did Ren do that? Or was it...

I have to investigate.

"Nii-san!" Sakura quickly runs to the window, this is the first time she left Yuichi's side. She's looking out of the window with a concerned face, not that I can blame her. Yuna walks up to Sakura and wraps her arms around her trembling friend. Wolfy and Lilicia are looking at the girls with gloomy expressions.

"Wolfy, Lilicia, look after Yuna and Sakura." I order, "I'm going to go see what happened. Take the girls and flee if it comes to it."

"But Onee-sa..." Lilicia begins.

"NO BUTS! DO AS YOU'RE TOLD!" My frustration surfaces at the worst possible time. "I'm sorry, please, just do as I say."

They're all looking at me with shocked expressions, Lilicia gives me a weak nod, then hangs her head down.

I break into a sprint the instant I step outside the room. I'm heading towards the burning science block. Ren...I should have stopped him. I knew he was no match for the opponent. Yet, I let him go and face him so easily. As soon as I reach the science block, I notice a silhouette of a man staggering towards me. Eventually the moon light beams him into full view.

It's Muramasa-Masamune's wielder. Blood is flowing out of him, and his flesh and clothes are burnt and dirty. He must have been caught in the explosion. So that means Ren caused it.

"Where's Ren!?" I ask, I fear that I already know the answer. Yet, I can only pray that I'm wrong.

"You mean that imposter boy? I killed him. Serves him right for causing that inferno." He coldly answers, my wish didn't come true. I cannot apologise enough to Sakura for what's happened.

"Where is the Anomaly!?" The man asks me with a glare. Muramasa-Masamune is already drawn.

"How long have you had that sword out for?" I answer his question with another question, I have no intention of telling him anything after all.

"Oh~ so, you know about Muramasa-Masamune's weakness. But I ain't telling, why don't you guess, Miss Reaper?" He answers with a haughty voice. It looks like he managed to figure out my identity, not that it matters.

"The Muramasa-Masamune is a cursed Soul Slayer. It has the ability to sever through anything. However, once Muramasa-Masamune is drawn out of its sheath, it cannot be placed back in it, until it severs at least one soul. And, if it doesn't sever a soul within a certain amount of time, it devours the soul of its wielder, in this case, you." I explain the weakness of the Soul Slayer to its wielder. Considering he still has it drawn, it means he didn't sever Ren's soul with it.

"You truly are well informed, I guess it's to be expected of a Reaper. Well shall we get started then. Muramasa-Masamune is demanding me to sever you." The man pulls a sadistic grin and starts weaving Muramasa-Masamune in random motions.

"Just one thing before we begin, why do you all refuse to see Human Anomalies and Reapers as people?" I ask.

"Hoh~ have you had dealings with us in the past, Miss Reaper!?" I feel my anger rising from his deduction.

"Human Anomalies, are still Anomalies, they are things that should not exist in this world. We're just putting everything right. And as for Reapers, it's because you can almost say they are the mother of Human Anomalies. They return certain individuals to life, turning them into Human Anomalies in the process. If all Anomalies are my enemy, isn't it obvious that Reapers would be as well." He answers me in a matter of fact way. This resentment, it's the same as back then. No, this one doesn't even have a cause. It's simply prejudice.

A certain girl's face flashes into my mind. No, now is not the time. I must focus on the enemy in front of me.

"It appears that talking any more would just be a waste of time." He says as he points his Soul Slayer at me.

"I suppose so. I could try and keep you talking so you reach your time limit. However. My anger will not be quelled unless I slice you up personally!" I declare as I materialise my scythe. It's payback time.

""HAAAAA~""

We both charge head on towards each other. Even though he has already taken damage from that explosion, it doesn't even hinder him.

As our distance shortens, I create several balls of lightning and launch them at the Slayer.

"That won't even slow me down!" He shouts as he brandishes his sword at my lightning balls. He cuts through them all, even as he continues towards me. He takes a vertical slice at me. I quickly dodge to one side, and jump backwards to create some distance.

I shoot out a lightning bolt from my left hand. The man uses Muramasa-Masamune as a shield, and continues running towards me.

"What's wrong? Is that it, Reaper!?" He mocks.

I continue using the lightning bolt with my left hand. I then stab my scythe into the floor. I gather a ball of water using my now free right hand and launch it. The ball of water goes through my lightning bolt, conducting some of the electricity before it breaks apart and splashes onto the man.

"ARGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!" He screams in agony.

There's no way he could sever such a wide area with just his sword. It may be capable of severing anything it hits, but if it doesn't hit it he obviously can't sever it. Your weakness is multiple attacks that cover a wide range. The fact you weren't able to escape that explosion, gave me this hypothesis. Ren, your actions, although careless, has given me the vital information that will lead to this guy's defeat.

"DAMN YOU!" He shouts as he staggers to his feet. He's tenacious.

I grab my scythe and charge at him, I'm not going to give him chance to recover.

The man jumps into the air and weaves his sword below his feet. I continue to rush at him, I swing my scythe horizontally, planning to cleave him in half. However, I feel no resistance, I missed. Just before my scythe reached him, he flew into the air. So that's what he did just now. He severed the gravity acting on him, and flew into the sky. Muramasa-Masamune is living up to its name. Wait, why on earth am I admiring him?

"DIE!" He shouts as he slashes randomly with his sword.

"ARGGHHH!" A heavy blow hits my body. The recoil pushes me onto the floor and rolling backwards several metres. A shock wave?

"Gahh~!" I feel blood trickle down my face as I get back onto my feet.

"HA HA HA! Let me hear you scream more. Or else my sweet taste of revenge will turn sour." He screams at me. The look on his face, has he gone completely mad? Wanting to hear me scream? What a sick fetish.

"Here's some more!" He slashes his sword randomly again. My body can't do any nimble movement in this state. I can't dodge it. Knowing this, I use my arms as a shield, and brace myself.

"URGHH!" I try to keep my voice in. I refuse to give this sick bastard what he wants. Because I braced myself this time, even though I was pushed back I was able to remain on my feet. If I fall to the ground in this state, I won't be able to stand up again.

"This glorious pain you gave to me, let me return it to you several times over!" He screams. Yes, he's definitely lost his mind. Or is this his true colours?

"How about an encore!? I'll give you an even bigger serving than the last two! So feel free to get torn to shreds, please I insist!" He weaves his sword along with his sarcastic remark.

Even if I try to guard against this one. I will still lose. Is my desire to kill this bastard so little!?

Droplets of water escape my eyes. I see the air pressure of the shock wave disturbing the surroundings. It's heading straight for me.

The face of the boy who became my fiancé comes to my mind. It's only at a time like this that I can say it. Even if he doesn't hear it. I know, if I don't say it, I will only have regrets. I force a smile, as I speak to the boy who isn't even here.

"Yuichi...I...lo..."

XXXXX

Chapter 13B: Team Yuichi Versus Vincent – Soul Searching

"One who acknowledges their soul gains power."

"Huh?"

"What is your nature?"

"My nature?"

"How do you see yourself?"

"Do you have to ask? I'm the most beautiful person alive."

"Acknowledge your identity, and your soul will answer you."

"Just who are you anyway?"

"I am a fragment of yourself."

"Of me?"

"Remember, let your words acknowledge your soul."

"Okay, I've got it."

"Then awaken."

"Urgh..." I slowly open my eyes.

"Sempai!" Sakura yells, her body is shaking.

"Onii-chan, you've finally woke up." Yuna looks at me with tears in her eyes, sorry to worry you.

I slowly recall what happened. Oh, right. That guy, Vincent, stabbed me with his sword.

"Why am I still alive?" I ask, Vincent stabbed me with his Soul Slayer, I thought I was a goner. My injury has also disappeared without a trace. That's good, leaving a scar on this beautiful body would be a tragedy on the scale of genocide.

"You barely survived, Master. You were brought here to recover within that capsule by Alicia-sama."

Capsule? This thing I'm lying in?

"Wait, Alicia, where is she!?" I ask whilst looking left and right, if she brought me here, shouldn't she be nearby?

"Onee-sama is..." Huh? Lilicia-chan, you're also here? "Fighting the man with the Soul Slayer. I've been feeling her Reaper spells for a while now."

What did you say!?

"Also Onii-chan, Ren-sempai hasn't returned. He went to face that guy by himself." Yuna explains with a gloomy expression.

I get out of the capsule and onto my feet at lightning speed.

"What do you mean? What happened to Ren!?" I shout. Everyone averts their gaze, their eyes look like they could burst into tears any second.

No, it can't be. Ren, he can't be.

No, I won't believe that. He won't be done in so easily.

With my newly found resolve, I face my friends.

"I'm going to help Alicia. You all find somewhere to hide until this is all over."

"Onii-chan..." Yuna tries to raise an objection.

"Rest assured, Yuna. I'm not the same Yuichi Shiro I once was. I promise you all, I will get Alicia and come back safely." I strongly declare.

"Okay, Onii-chan, go." Yuna agrees.

"Yuna..." Sakura looks questioningly at Yuna.

"There's no way to stop Onii-chan when he's like this. The only thing we can do is pray for his safety." Yuna explains solemnly.

"Okay...I...got it." Sakura also agrees.

"Please help Onee-sama, Yuichi-niisama." Lilicia-chan pleads.

I pat her head and give her a thumbs up.

"Wolfy, protect these girls." I order.

"Yes, Master, even if it costs me my life. I swear on my pride, I will keep them safe." Wolfy replies with determined eyes. Such a great pet, you take after your master so much.

"That's not a compliment, Onii-chan." Yuna states with a sigh, as usual she can read me like an open book. She's gotta teach me that technique someday.

"I'm off." I state as I leave the room waving to my friends with the back of my hand. I've always wanted to do such a cool exit scene.

And now, the beautiful hero Yuichi Shiro, shall re-enter the battle.

XXXXX

Chapter 13C: Team Yuichi Versus Vincent – Yuichi Shiro Present (Perspective: Alicia)

"Yuichi...I...lo..." I begin to confess my feelings.

"Alicia!" A nostalgic voice calls my name. Its owner runs in between me and the incoming shock wave.

"GHHH!" He turns himself into a shield and defends me from the shock wave.

"Yuichi?" I question my eyes.

He turns around and smiles at me, blood is rolling down his face.

"Yep, the one and only. The beautiful Yuichi Shiro, who has unparalleled beauty and is so beautiful even the gods are jealous." Yuichi announces. How many times do you have to emphasise your self proclaimed beauty in one sentence? He'll never change.

My legs finally give out. The sense of relief seeing Yuichi causes my exhaustion to catch up with me.

"Say, Alicia."

"Hm? What is it?" I ask.

"What was it you were trying to say just a second ago? You know, the Yuichi I lo..." My face instantly feels hot. He heard me just now.

Yuichi stares at me curiously.

"I was about to say Yuichi I loath you!" I scream at the top of my lungs.

"EHH!? What's with that? How can anyone loath someone as beautiful as me?" Yuichi asks in shock. You'll be surprised just how easy it actually is Yuichi. He bought my lie though, I'm glad he's an idiot.

"Oi oiiii~Anomaly boy and Miss Reaper! Have you forgotten about me!?" The Muramasa-Masamune wielder asks with a sadistic smile still plastered on his face.

Actually, truth be told, just for a second, I did.

XXXXX

Chapter 13D: Team Yuichi Versus Vincent – Yuichi Versus Vincent

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten." I answer the git floating in the sky. Your new make over suits your sparkling personality.

"The main dish has finally come onto the plate! This time I'll slay you properly! Miracles don't happen twice!" Vincent screams at me.

"I have many debts to repay you. For myself, for Ren, and for Alicia."

"Ha! What can you do? You stupid Human Anomaly. Just let Muramasa-Masamune cleave you in half."

"Words that identify my nature." I whisper to myself.

I feel something welling up inside of me. It's a strange feeling. The words naturally leave my mouth. I say them, almost as if by intuition.

"My soul is one that is of self confidence." I recite the words almost like a song. My mind enters a trance like state almost like I'm meditating.

"Beautiful, intelligent and kind."

"Absolute belief in myself and those that surround me."

"And a will that never dulls, bends or breaks."

After I finish the words, I feel light illuminating from the depths of my soul, and eventually to my body.

"Soul ID lyrics." I barely catch Alicia's voice.

"What the hell did you just do!?" Vincent asks me with a shocked face.

"I acknowledged myself." I reply.

I can feel my new power. Not only feel, I also understand it. Like it has always been a part of me.

"Silver Manifestation!" I call. In response a certain metal materialises out of nowhere. The power I gained, allows me to create silver at will.

I make the silver condense into the shape of a sword and take it into my hand.

"It doesn't matter! Muramasa-Masamune can sever anything, including your sword!" Vincent declares as he swiftly charges at me through the air.

*Ching!* - I stop his Soul Slayer dead with my silver sword. I can't explain it, I just had a feeling, that my sword could block his Soul Slayer.

"This can't be real!?" He shouts in shock.

"Oh, it's real, as is this!" I shout as I push his Soul Slayer to one side and slash him.

"GAHHHHH!" Vincent screams in agony. Did it hurt? Good, it was meant to.

As soon as I'm confident of my victory I Suddenly feel another presence. This is? A Soul Anomaly.

Vincent staggers backwards as he holds the wound I gave him with his free hand.

"I'll definitely kill you someday!" He declares as he slashes his sword at the ground.

A cloud of dirt blocks my view. As soon as it clears. Vincent is no longer there.

Damn it! He escaped.

XXXXX

Chapter 13E: Team Yuichi Versus Vincent – The End (Perspective: Vincent)

Damn that was close. If I had delayed any longer Muramasa-Masamune would have consumed me.

I just killed a regular Soul Anomaly that coincidentally appeared. So I've met the requirements to sheath Muramasa-Masamune.

"That damn Anomaly! I swear I'll get him for this." I declare.

"You should give up on the idea of beating him." A voice calls to me.

I turn around to find someone wearing a mask and a crimson robe standing there. The robe has an embroidery of blue flames rising up to its centre from the hem and sleeves, and another embroidery of six crosses forming the shape of a cross.

I never felt his presence, just when did he get there? The man slowly paces towards me. This feeling?

"You're a Human Anomaly, aren't you!?" I question.

"That is correct." He answers in a monotone voice.

I resist the urge to kill him, something he said is bothering me.

"What do you mean I should give up on the idea of beating him!?" I ask, are you making fun of me!?

"Muramasa-Masamune is capable of severing everything, yet you failed to sever through Yuichi Shiro's sword. And before, even though you impaled right through him, he survived. Do you know why that is?" The masked man asks, still in a monotonous voice.

"Are you saying Muramasa-Masamune is weakening?" I reply.

"In a sense, but the fault does not lie with Muramasa-Masamune."

"What do you mean!?" I'm starting to lose my patience with this guy.

"Muramasa-Masamune's potential power output has always remained constant. However, the variable that affects the actual outcome of power is the wielder, you. That is why what happened, happened."

"Are you implying that I'm an inferior wielder, that lowered the specs of my Soul Slayer!?" Don't kid with me you damn monster.

"That is correct." The same monotone voice. "During your last battle, why did you not use Muramasa-Masamune's Soul Corroding Rain?"

He knows of Muramasa-Masamune's other ability!? Of course I didn't use it. The rain covers a wide area. In close quarter combat, it would corrode my soul as well as my enemies.

"I believe the answer would be fear. It's not something I understand from an emotional point of view, I have never experienced anything that could be called an emotion after all." The masked man explains.

"What are you talking about!?" I shout.

"You fear your own Soul Slayer, that is what weakened Muramasa-Masamune's power output." He concludes.

I draw Muramasa-Masamune out of its sheath. I've had enough of this Anomaly speaking like it knows everything. Even if I'm already wounded, I can still cut him up.

"Never experienced fear? I'll let you do so right now." I rush at him. I'll kill you, damn it!

"Unfortunately, my emotions cannot be drawn out so easily." Can I take those as your last words?

I swing Muramasa-Masamune, aiming to cut off his head.

"What!?" How can this be!? He blocks Muramasa-Masamune, with his bare hand.



"With this output, your chances of victory is zero." That unemotional voice is pissing me off!

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!" I can't contain my anger, so I let it out. I force Muramasa-Masamune out of his grip.

"I have no real use for Muramasa-Masamune. However, if I kill you, and take it into my possession, then the chances of Voynich-Caduceus coming into this town increases."

This bastard! He wants to kill me to lure a different Soul Slayer out. In his eyes, I'm little more than the bait to catch the fish! Why the hell is he interested in Voynich-Caduceus anyway!? Oh well, I'll just kill him here and it'll no longer matter. I tighten my grip on Muramasa-Masamune.

"Why do you not flee? You can't win." The monotonous voice asks.

"Like hell my pride will allow me to run after all your insults!" I shout back.

"Pride? Another emotion. I guess in order for someone to be called complete, they need to have a balance made up of both emotions and logic. For me who currently only has logic, I will continue to be incomplete. However, I want to see what I become when I am complete. So I will draw them out."

"What the hell are you talking to yourself about!?" I yell as I swing my Soul Slayer at the disgusting creature before me. Damn, he blocked it bare handed again.

"Sacrifices have to be made for the sake of completeness."

"What on earth are you talking about!?" This is one creepy bastard.

"Letting you time out and being devoured by Muramasa-Masamune would work. But I will grant you a more honourable death for your pride's sake. Even though I cannot understand the feeling or the difference behind one way or the other."

My anger increases further at his last comment. I increase the strength I'm putting into Muramasa-Masamune but it doesn't budge an inch.

"My soul is one that is of the unknown." Wait, the words are different. But, is he doing the same thing as that other Anomaly? I feel a heavy sweat come down my face.

"NOOOOO!"

XXXXX

Chapter 13F: Team Yuichi Versus Vincent – Happy Ending

We're all gathered around the person who was my best friend, Ren Kirei. His face looks peaceful.

"Nii-san..." Sakura cries, Yuna hugs her whilst trying to hold in her own tears.

Everyone looks on with grief ridden faces.

"Ren...I'm sorry." It's my fault you ended up like this.

"What for?" What? A voice I thought I'd never hear again, just entered into my ear.

"Re...n." You're alive.

"Nii-san~~!" Sakura runs up to and hugs Ren, whom simply strokes her head with a brotherly smile. What's going on?

"Ren, you've become a Human Anomaly." Alicia states with a shocked expression.

"I beat this Reaper girl, who had this annoying laugh, at a game of strip heads or tails." Ren confesses as he gets back onto his feet.

"A game of strip heads or tails? Ren, what kind of pervert are you?" I ask in disgust, a gentleman should learn to keep their perverted desires under control. You should learn a thing or two from me.

"This coming from a guy who chose strip rock-paper-scissors." Alicia harshly retorts.

Oh right, I did, didn't I?

"Onii-chan!"

"Sempai!"

I get a double glare attack from my sister and kouhai.

"Ren Kirei-sama." Another voice enters the conversation. Wait, isn't she?

"Elizabeth!?" Alicia exclaims.

"Girl who wanted a threesome with me and Alicia." I call out.

"I never wanted any such thing!" She declares.

"What are you doing here, Elizabeth?" Alicia asks. Yes, I want to know too. She didn't even do her signature laugh, this must be serious.

"I am...here...to..." Elizabeth stutters, "I'm here as I am to be engaged to Ren Kirei-sama!" She declares the latter half loudly. For some reason, I'm getting a feeling of deja vu. Ren barely knows this girl and yet she's talking about marriage. If I was in Ren's shoes, there is only one possible answer I could give.

"I'm counting on you to be my best man, Yuichi." Ren says at the drop of a hat. As expected of my best friend, you chose the only correct possible answer. I give Ren a thumbs up in agreement.

I then hold my hand above my head.

*Pacha!* - We give each other a high five.

"Wait, you're okay with it?" Elizabeth asks. Ren simply gives a nod.

"Those two are so much alike it's scary." Alicia states. Really? I don't think we're all that similar.

"I guess we both cheated death in more ways than one, huh?" I say to Ren.

"So you did as well?" Ren replies.

"Yeah, I used my quick reflexes to change between scissors and paper. That way the best Alicia could get was a draw against me. I'm guessing you used a trick coin right."

"That's right, I'm surprised she never noticed." Ren confesses.

"Wait, Yuichi, are you saying?" Alicia looks at me with a bewildered face.

"Ren-sama, does that mean?" Elizabeth has a similar expression.

Ren and myself turn to our respective significant other.

""We cheated."" We say together in sync along with cheesy smiles.

Wait, you two. Why are you bringing your scythes out!?

""DIE!"" The two Reapers say together.

"Leg it!" I scream as I run as fast as my legs can carry me.

XXXXX

Chapter 13G: Team Yuichi Versus Vincent – Situation Report

Vincent Redfern's body has been discovered. The whereabouts of Muramasa-Masamune are currently unknown. We will prepare a team to locate the missing Soul Slayer. The recovery of Muramasa-Masamune will be given priority, in comparison to investigating the increase of Soul Anomalies.

Chapter 14A: Return To Peace

A few days have passed since Vincent's assault. We are now adjusting back to our regular lives.

The building that Ren destroyed in a attempt to kill Vincent has been completely rebuilt within a day by a bunch of Reapers Alicia called in. I have to say that I'm thoroughly impressed at their work. The clean up was done so well, that there's no sign that the battle ever occurred.

Alicia and I escorted Lilicia back to the Underworld. Father, upon seeing me, started rubbing his cheek against me with tears in his eyes, I must have really worried him. It took a lot of effort on Alicia's part to persuade him to give up on his vengeance plan, I still have no idea what he was planning on doing.

Elizabeth has also transferred into our class. It was really amusing hearing the class cheer upon seeing her, only to boo Ren when it was announced they were engaged. You must increase your handsomeness level my friend, that way people would be more accepting of you dating such a cute girl, strive to be like me.

Our usual group of people, plus Elizabeth, who know my, and now Ren's secret are sitting on the rooftop in a circle. It's lunch time.

"I can't believe you all." Demon Mizuno is looking at us with an angry glare. "Why didn't you tell me that happened!?"

"I didn't want to needlessly worry you." Alicia answers with an apologetic look. Your decision to not tell Demon Mizuno was the correct one. She's one of the few people who doesn't understand my beauty and grace. I wouldn't put it past her to try and kill me while I was in a weakened state.

"All's well that ends well. I learned how to create silver, it's a really useful ability," I announce, trying to change the subject to help my fiancé.

"Your Soul ID's ability, the ability to create silver at will." Alicia summarises.

"What, Soul ID ability? He has only just become a Human Anomaly, yet he's already learned it." Elizabeth looks shocked.

"What is this Soul ID ability?" Yuna asks, but I think everyone wishes to know the answer.

"A 'Soul ID ability' or 'Soul Technique' as it's better known, is a power that is unique for every Human Anomaly. They are activated when the Human Anomaly acknowledges and states the nature of their being. The ability granted is always different, in Yuichi's case, it's the ability to create silver." Alicia explains.

"Ren-sama, don't lose to Alicia's Human Anomaly. Make sure to hurry up and awaken your Soul ID's ability. I cannot allow you to be lower than Alicia's man, oh ho ho ho." Elizabeth says in a competitive manner.

"Yeah, yeah," and Ren just shrugs it off.

"You're amazing, Sempai." Sakura chimes in. Tell me something I don't know.

"Yeah, my greatness is only inferior to my beauty." I declare confidently. If I start the Yuichi Shiro cult, I get the feeling I could unite the world under one religion.

"And your beauty is inferior to your arrogance." Demon Mizuno states coldly. This girl is beyond saving. I give her a look of disdain, she simply turns her head away from me. What an unredeemable bitch.

"But creating silver truly must come in handy." Ren says in awe.

"Don't admire him, Ren-sama, I'm positive your ability will be better." Elizabeth is still being competitive, what a child, I'll just ignore her.

"It makes me a pretty penny as well," I announce.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Alicia asks.

"Silver is a very valuable metal, by weighing it in, I made quite a lot of money." I explain. Yes, by creating an endless amount of silver, I never have to worry about how to earn some spending money.

Everyone is looking at me with shocked faces. This is the level of the genius of the one and only Yuichi Shiro, ha ha ha, shiver in fear commoners.

"Um, Yuichi. I don't think that's something you should do with your new power." Ren explains.

"Well that is the difference between you and me then, Ren." I reply in a cool voice.

"Onii-chan, will you stop acting all high and mighty? It is partly your fault that Ren-sempai became a Human Anomaly." Yuna angrily states. Yes, I do feel somewhat responsible for that. Ren will not return to being a regular human, he will have to go through the same changes I did.

"What's with the glum expression, Yuichi?" Ren asks in a almost bored tone, "I'm not someone so pathetic that I'll blame you for my own screw up. Besides, I think I'm going to enjoy my new life." Ren, you really are a great guy worthy of being the great Yuichi Shiro's best friend.

"Onii-chan, will you stop using every opportunity to boast about yourself!" Yuna, your ability to read me. Could it be that you too have ceased to be human?

"I'm a regular human!" Yuna retorts to my inner monologue.

"Anyway, I think that we're forgetting the main reason for our gathering today," Ren says.

*AHEM*

"So to our new friend and my fiancé, cheers." Ren toasts to everyone present.

"""CHEERS!""" We all shout together as we clang our glasses together.

I have finally returned to my peaceful days.

XXXXXX

Chapter 14B: Return To Peace (Perspective: Currently Unknown)

"It's been a long time since I've come back here. Nothing's changed." I say to myself as I admire the scenery that I haven't seen for a while. "I wish that I could have come here on a more casual note though."

The Muramasa-Masamune's whereabouts are currently unknown. I, along with one other person, have been ordered to find it. My partner is currently scoping out the town, but I doubt she'll find anything. She has zero sensing skills after all.

Even though I'm here on official business, at the very least, I'm going to see that person. The boy who has invaded my dreams on a nightly basis. I've been wanting to see him ever since I left. The boy who helped me get out of my depression, when I was at my lowest.

I raise my staff that has several parchments of paper attached to it into the sky, I do have work to do after all. This staff is my Soul Slayer, Voynich-Caduceus. As I activate it the attached papers begin to shine.

As soon as the brightness fades, I continue to reminiscence my thoughts back to the boy I wish to meet again.

"I'm looking forward to our reunion, Yuichi-kun," I say to myself in anticipation.

http://img02.deviantart.net/c534/i/2...ry-d9ddx9z.jpg

Chapter 15A: Peace Is Always Short – Punishment For Perversion

"Why the hell do I have to help you out!?" I ask the demon in the form of a girl in front of me.

"It's your punishment for trying to peek on the girls changing!" Demon Mizuno replies.

I wanted to give my kouhai some affection, Yuichi Shiro style. However, this demon somehow thwarted my good intentions. And now she thinks that she has the right to order me around.

"Just hurry it up!"

After being urged I continue to place the boxes on the shelves. I can't win an argument with a demon. As punishment I am rearranging all this crap in the storage. I've been doing it for an hour already. School ended long ago.

"Well it's really a life saver that you're helping me out," Demon Mizuno states. "Sensei asked me to do this, but it would have taken forever on my own."

"You should have just refused then," I reply in a tone advertising my annoyance. Helping you out? Aren't I the only one doing anything?

"There's no way I can do that! I refuse to ignore someone who has asked for my help."

"Then will you help me out by cleaning this place by yourself so I can go home?"

"No! Now keep your arms moving," She coldly demands.

"You liar! You said you couldn't ignore someone who asked for your help!"

"This is punishment. It's a different matter altogether." This demon has an answer for everything. "Do you hate being with me that much?" I hear the demon whisper something. Is she trying to lay a curse on me!?

"Did you say something, Demon Mizuno?" I ask in fear.

"Don't call me Demon Mizuno!" She shouts as she shakes the stool I'm standing on.

"Oi stop it!" I shout as the contents of the box jiggles about. "Woah! Crap!" I lose my footing, drop the box and fall backwards, towards Demon Mizuno.

*Bang*

"Ow, damn it hurts. Huh?" What's this soft sensation I feel in my hand? I slowly look where my hand is. Oh shit! Lying under me is Demon Mizuno, her face is dyed red. My hand somehow managed to find its way to her bosom. She is so going to kill me.

I prepare myself for my impending death. Ren, I leave you my porno collection. Alicia, I leave to you my pride and joy, my photo album, that contains pictures of my almighty beautiful self in its rawest form. Use it to cleanse your tears of losing the beautiful man you love the most. I start to write my last will inside my head.

Wait a second. Whilst I was immersed in my thoughts many seconds passed. Why am I still alive?

I look down at Demon Mizuno who is still under me. Her face is even redder than it was before. She isn't going to attack me? Does that mean that there's a method to resolve this in a way that doesn't leave Alicia a widow?

I slowly get up and distance myself from her.

"Sorry." I give a single word apology to Demon Mizuno who is acting uncharacteristically shy.

"You touched my breast." That single sentence was full of emotion. It looks like I won't get away from this situation unscathed. The demon's mercy is non-existent.

"I'm sorry! But you were the one who started shaking the stool, Demon Mizuno!" There's no way I'm taking all the blame, when she was the cause in the first place.

"Call me Akane."

"Huh?"

"Didn't you hear me, Yuichi!? I hate it when you call me Demon Mizuno. So call me "Akane"." Her eyes start to moist. This is the first time in a long time that I actually took notice of a very simple fact, Akane Mizuno is indeed a girl. No wait, don't be fooled Yuichi Shiro. This is the demon's deceit.

"Demon Mizuno is Demon Mizuno," I state with pride, my chest held out high. There is no way I'm calling you in such an intimate way, know your place. A demon has no right to be close to someone as great and beautiful as me. This is one point I refuse to change.

"Call me "Akane", otherwise your so called beautiful face will be needing intensive plastic surgery."

"As you wish, Akane." I quickly change my view under Dem...No, Akane's threat. My previous pride shatters like glass. My face must remain intact, my pride is nowhere near as valuable as my glorious face. Damn, for Dem...Akane to pick up on this and use it against me.

"Now Yuichi, we need to tidy up all this mess now don't we?" Akane says as she smiles at me. Her smile looks angelic, but sweat is running down my neck just by looking at it.

Taking her words as a command, I hurriedly collect the things that fell out of the box back together.

I decided to not ask why she was also now referring to me as Yuichi, as they say let sleeping demons lie.

Chapter 15B: Peace Is Always Short – Father's Request (Perspective: Alicia)

"So can you and Yuichi-kun participate then?" My father asks over the phone.

"I'll ask him, I doubt Yuichi would refuse though," I reply. Yes, Yuichi's the type of person who would jump up and down on the prospect of being able to take part.

"That's great, I know the three of you together will win easily," My father says cheerfully.

"The most serious opponent in the competition is still missing after all," I state solemnly.

"Alicia, there's nothing we can do about that. The Thanatos family is still searching for her. She was their heir after all."

"Are there still absolutely no clues to her whereabouts?" I ask, hoping for a positive reply.

"No more news has come to light since you asked last," Father shoots down my hopes instantly.

That one, as Reapers go, she was a prodigy among prodigies. The oldest daughter among the family of Thanatos. Among my generation of Reapers, she stood at the very top. She was my ideal self. However, she disappeared without a trace a few years ago. The Underworld has searched high and low for her to no avail.

"Anyway, can I count on you, Alicia?" Father asks.

"Yes, we will definitely win."

"That's the spirit. I'll see you then. Give Yuichi-kun my regards."

*Click, beep beep* - The phone hangs up.

I slowly take the phone away from my ear. If she was still around, the best we could hope for in that competition, would be second place.

"Where are you?" I ask rhetorically as I gaze out the window.

Chapter 15C: Peace Is Always Short – Meeting An Old Acquaintance

We finally finished cleaning up that store room. I'm walking home with Akane. Every joint in my body is aching.

"I'm sweating like a jock, although a very handsome one. I want to get home and have a shower," I voice my thoughts out loud.

"If you stopped your perverted ways, you wouldn't have been held back in the first place."

"If you didn't force me, I wouldn't have had to do it full stop," I complain. Today has been a roller coaster of a ride.

"Say Yuichi, isn't that?" I look where Akane is pointing her finger. I recognise her right away. That long crimson hair, her dark eyes, her stylish proportions, there's no doubt. But she moved away, did she come back? The girl in question walks over to us with a swift walk.

"It's been a while, Yuichi-kun, Akane-chan," She says with a smile on her face.

"Shiori-sempai?" Akane asks in disbelief. Yes, no doubt about it, it's Shiori Azusa. She was a second year during my freshman year. She suddenly moved away in the middle of the school term. She was previously a member of the disciplinary committee, that's why she knows Akane.

She's also the only girl who I believe has ever had a logical reason for bearing a grudge against me. When she lost a relative, she bottled up all her tears. So I released her bottled up emotions in the form of anger, by insulting her deceased relative.

However, we patched things up before she left town. Today has been one surprise after another. I didn't think I would see Shiori-sempai again.

"Yuichi-kun, you've become a Human Anomaly haven't you?" Hearing this, my body instantly tenses. Akane also looks on in shock.

How does Shiori-sempai know about that?

Chapter 16A: Conference Between Slayer And Anomaly – Shiori Azusa

The three of us, Shiori-sempai, Akane, and I, decided to change the location to a local fast food restaurant so that we could talk. The burger in my hand looks like a classic example of all traditional fast food restaurants' promotion of food poisoning, not that this is stopping me from putting it into my glorious mouth. I get the feeling I'm going to regret this later, but I like burgers, so I can't help myself.

"Shiori-sempai, how is it that you know about Yuichi?" Akane questions our former Sempai.

"As I thought you know about it too, Akane-chan," Shiori-sempai replies whilst nodding her head to herself. "Regardless, Yuichi-kun I approached you to ask you about something." She skilfully avoids the question.

"What is it? It's my humble duty to answer my fans' questions," I say in a ten percent joking and ninety percent serious tone.

Shiori-sempai smiles at my comment. "The same as always." Sempai's smile suddenly changes into a more serious expression. "Vincent Redfern, does this name ring any bells?"

That bastard who wields the Soul Slayer, Muramasa-Masamune? Wait, if Shiori-sempai is asking about him, then does that mean!?

"Your face is telling me you've met him." Damn, Sempai is sharp.

"Shiori-sempai are you..." I begin.

"The owner of a Soul Slayer? Yes, I am," She readily replies.

Akane and I both stand up in shock. So Shiori-sempai is here to carry on what Vincent started!

"Sit down you two, I'm not here to pick unnecessary fights, but I do want answers." Shiori-sempai gestures for us to sit back down, we do as we're told. She then tells us, "Vincent is dead."

"Say what!?" I can't hide my shock, that bastard died. I can hardly say I'll miss the scum bag, but just how did it happen?

"So tell me what happened between the two of you." Shiori-sempai interrogates. This brings up memories of the past. She would often question me back when she was part of the disciplinary committee. I know from past experience I won't be able to fool her. I explain everything about my encounter with Vincent.

How he attempted to kill me, how he tried to kill Sakura, and about how I defeated him. I hid the fact that Ren became a Human Anomaly, someone as great as me cannot put his friend in danger by revealing his identity to a Slayer.

"So essentially, you defeated him, but you didn't kill him yourself?" Shiori-sempai summarises. I nod in confirmation.

"I thought that bastard was just licking his wounds, preparing another assault, I never knew he actually died," I explain.

"Well, truth is Yuichi-kun, Vincent's death is a trivial point to the church, it is what isn't accountable that's the problem." Shiori-sempai states. A person's death is trivial? I certainly hate Vincent, but even the very organisation he was a part of thinks little of him.

I'm hating these people more and more.

"So what are you going to do, Shiori-sempai? Are you going to try and kill me like Vincent did?" I make my voice sound tough. But it's nothing more than a front. I don't want to fight Sempai, but if she's the same as Vincent, will I have a choice? Alicia once told me that the church just sees Human Anomalies like any other Anomaly. There may have been a time when the two of us were friends, but is that time still now? Anomalies and Soul Slayers are natural enemies after all.

"Yuichi, Shiori-sempai." Akane looks at each of us in turn. I guess she's worried that a fight is going to break out.

"Haaaaah~" Shiori-sempai sighs, "Didn't I say that I wasn't here to pick a fight with you? I'm not an extremist like Vincent, nor am I so loyal to the church that I would kill one of my kouhai." I breathe a sigh of relief, I can tell that Shiori-sempai is telling me the truth. Come to think of it, if she truly did intend on killing me, she wouldn't have let me suspect her in the first place.

"Then what are you after?" Akane asks.

"I, along with one other person were dispatched to locate and retrieve Muramasa-Masamune. Officially speaking, that's our sole objective, dealing with Anomalies is secondary compared to this."

Muramasa-Masamune, that eerie blade Vincent carried that could supposedly sever anything, although it was unable to cut through my silver for some reason.

"But Yuichi-kun, the fact that you became a Human Anomaly was a huge shock, what happened?" Shiori-sempai asks.

"I was killed in a road accident when a truck hit me. I won back my life by cheating in my match against Alicia." I explain.

Just recalling that game is making me feel really hot. For some reason there's something appealing to me about the fact that I cheated in a game that decided whether I lived or died. As well as being able to watch Alicia stripping off clothes in agony and shock as I won every single round. Ren also did the same and cheated against Elizabeth, I sure wish that I was there when he took her on.

"Yuichi! A creepy smile is plastered all over your face." Akane points out in a spiteful voice.

"Hmm~" Sempai is showing a mischievous looking smile. "Don't run off Yuichi-kun, Akane-chan, I'm going to the toilet so come with me." Sempai orders as she gets out of her seat, Akane follows suit with a questioning look on her face.

Why is it that women have to go to the toilet in groups? I've always wondered this, but I still can't figure it out. You won't see me or Ren saying 'come on lets go take a piss together' to one another.

Well, now that they're both out of sight I feel like doing something childish. Sempai and I ordered the exact same drink, so whilst she's gone, I quickly pick up Sempai's drink and switch it's place with my own. You should feel honoured Sempai, this is the first time that the great Yuichi Shiro has initiated an indirect kiss with someone. Consider it your reward for putting your friends before your duty.

XXXXXXXX

Chapter 16B: Conference Between Slayer And Anomaly – Sempai/Rival (Perspective: Akane)

"So you've fallen for Yuichi-kun too have you, Akane-chan?" Sempai immediately asks me once we close the door.

*Cough cough!* She took me by complete surprise with that question. "What are you saying, Sempai!?"

"Your reaction just now was louder than any confession, Akane-chan," Sempai states as she wears a teasing smile on her face. "To think that you would fall for the very person you told me was the type you hated. I guess it's true that there is a thin line between love and hate."

"It's just that I found out that there's more to him than his narcissism and perversion." I can't lie to Sempai, she is too perceptive. If I try to tell her a lie she will see through it and I will only look more pitiful. Although it's embarrassing, my best choice of action against her is the truth.

"So, Akane-chan is my rival now is she?" Sempai confirms to herself. Wait, rival? Then that means that Sempai...

"You like Yuichi as well."

"Yep, which means I won't hand him over, not even to you Akane-chan." Sempai admits instantly with a smile.

"Sempai, just to let you know there are at least two others who like him. Including someone who he's engaged to." I explain, I doubt Sempai is aware of this.

"He has got at least four girls to fall for him? Way to go, Yuichi-kun," Sempai says in honest admiration. Her carefree nature is still with her.

"Um, Sempai, doesn't the fact that he's engaged sway you even a little?" I ask, how can she be so optimistic? The boy she's after is essentially unobtainable.

"Why? In the worst case scenario there is always NTR." Sempai says nonchalantly. I can feel my face burning up from her saying NTR.

"Aren't you Yuichi's natural enemy, how can you possibly be together?" That's right she's a Soul Slayer wielder, Yuichi is a Human Anomaly, the two are as incompatible as can be.

"Our romance can be like Romeo and Juliet!" Sempai retorts. Sempai, are you aware that Romeo and Juliet ended as a tragedy?

"Besides which," Sempai continues, "I'm only part of the church for my own agenda, I can quit any time I want." Sempai's last comment sounds like something that you would stereotypically hear from a chain smoker. But I feel that her words aren't empty, she's telling me the truth.

For what reason did Sempai take up a Soul Slayer?

"Well let's get back to Yuichi-kun, he's probably wondering what is taking us so long."

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Chapter 16C: Conference Between Slayer And Anomaly – Shiori's Warning

The three of us have just finished our meal. Sempai drank her drink lovingly, I hope you liked every sip of it. I smile to myself in self respect.

"Yuichi-kun, I'm going to make this advice very simple. With another Slayer in this town other than me, you should lay low. Don't go hunting Anomalies or make yourself stand out," Sempai advises. But that's easier said than done, I sparkle brighter than the sun just by walking down the street, beauty cannot be hidden, hence neither can I.

"Unlike me, Gungnir-Mjölnir's wielder will not hesitate to kill you, and she's no pushover when it comes to combat. Hence, the best thing you can do is steer clear of her, she isn't able to recognise Human Anomalies on sight like I can. So as long as I keep quiet, and you don't do anything stupid, she won't notice you," Sempai explains.

"Gungnir-Mjölnir?" I whisper to myself, I best ask Alicia about this later. "Say Sempai, what is the name of your Soul Slayer? I'm really curious." I try to gather more intel.

"My Soul Slayer is called Voynich-Caduceus. It's different from pure power Soul Slayers like Muramasa-Masamune. The church mainly uses me for scouting rather than to fight Anomalies." Sempai takes out some sort of staff that is littered with paper. I thought she would hesitate to answer, but she told me so readily. I gaze deeply at Sempai's Soul Slayer it's nowhere near as intimidating as Muramasa-Masamune. Is this due to the difference between Soul Slayers? Or is it to do with their wielders?

"Anyway, I need to be off. So I'll see you later." Sempai gets out of her seat and begins making her way to the exit, before she reaches the door she turns around and faces me again.

"Yuichi-kun, relay everything I told you to Ren-kun. I'm already well aware that he too has become a Human Anomaly." Sempai already knew about that? "I may not want the two of you dead, but my partner definitely would, so please just do as I said. Oh, and one other thing, it's not that I didn't enjoy it, but you shouldn't be switching people's drinks with your own." She even realised that!? After telling me what she wanted to say, Sempai left as she waves at us with the back of her hand. She's not one to be underestimated.

"Yuichi, what is she talking about?" Akane asks whilst glaring at me like I'm some sort of criminal. I simply ignore her as I watch Sempai's back slowly disappear from my sight.

I get the feeling that a flag has just been raised for some sort of serious upcoming event. But no matter what happens, my beauty will always stand as gallant as always. The number one single 'All You Need Is Beauty' by the 'Stag Beatles' says it better than I ever could. Wait? Was that the name of the song? Oh, who cares?

"Na~, na~, na~, na na na, na na na, I'm beautiful." I sing a lyric of my personal theme tune to myself as I walk out of the restaurant with Akane.

Chapter 17A: Trivia Before Storm – Yesterdays Summary

"And so that's what happened." I explain what happened when I met Shiori-sempai to Alicia, Ren and Elizabeth. I omitted the fact that I switched the drinks so as to not needlessly dirty my glorious name.

"Gungnir-Mjölnir and Voynich-Caduceus, two Soul Slayers." Alicia murmurs to herself, she has a somewhat sad and lonely look.

"Do you know about these Soul Slayers, Elizabeth?" Ren asks his spouse.

"I know that Voynich-Caduceus is capable of summoning and manipulating souls from the Underworld. For us, the Cerberus family that is charged with preventing souls from escaping, it's the most blasphemous thing imaginable," Elizabeth shows a look of displeasure before continuing, "I have only heard the name Gungnir-Mjölnir, I don't have any idea what it's capable of."

As a little bit of trivia, on the request of Ren, Elizabeth has taken serious training to stop her habit of laughing after every sentence. It has quickly bared fruit, she's much easier to tolerate now.

"Gungnir-Mjölnir is a Soul Slayer that generates lightning that's capable of shattering the soul." Alicia picks up where Elizabeth left off. "It's a golden weapon that has a spearhead on one end, and a hammerhead on the other."

"You seem awfully knowledgeable about it, Alicia." Elizabeth states whilst giving Alicia an accusing look.

"I just looked into things that could be a potential threat." Alicia shrugs it off. However Alicia, you cannot fool my beautiful eyes, there's something more you're hiding. Not that I plan on digging into it though, at least not right now.

"Well, I don't think we need to worry about Shiori-sempai. So let's just be careful of Gungnir-Mjölnir and its wielder." I change the subject to cover for Alicia. Aren't I just the best guy you could have fallen for? Feel free to express your gratitude physically Alicia, I promise to be gentle. I picture Alicia lying down on a bed, 'It's embarrassing can you turn off the light' she asks, I smile to myself at the cute (imaginary) Alicia.

"Yuichi, what's with that grin? Did something happen with you and this Shiori-sempai?" Alicia accuses.

"No, you got the wrong idea. I was just thinking that our bedroom scene may come sooner than I thought." Shit, I didn't mean to say that out loud.

"Bed...room..." Elizabeth whispers as her fingers shake. I think she's excited. Ren, make sure you fulfil your role then.

"Your 'genius' strikes again, Yuichi." Ren states with a bitter smile. No need to be jealous Ren, they say hard work surpasses a genius, so hang in there. Wait, why did he bring that up now?

"Y-U-I-C-H-I-!" Alicia slowly approaches me as she emphasises every syllable of my name. I can sense a dark aura coming out of her.

Another school day, another drop kick, another trip to the infirmary.

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Chapter 17B: Trivia Before Storm – Exhaustion From Anxiety (Perspective: Akane)

School is finished. I'm dealing with a load of paperwork that one of my teachers forced onto me, I couldn't refuse. I'm glad that the teachers feel they can trust me, but I'm seriously tired. The meeting with Shiori-sempai yesterday, another Soul Slayer. Another person is after Yuichi's life, I can't focus on this work when I'm worrying about this.

"HAHH-" I let out a sigh.

"Hm, Mizuno-san." A gentle voice beckons me.

Standing there with a smile is the class rep, Ryu Ikena-kun.

"You look exhausted, what are you doing here at this time?" He asks.

"I have to finish all this work, what about you, Ikena-kun?"

"I had a meeting I had to attend. But anyway Mizuno-san, I think it would be best if you go home, you don't want to overwork yourself."

"But all this..." I begin to protest, Ikena-kun simply holds his hand out for me to stop.

"I'll finish it up for you, so go home and get some rest."

"I couldn't possibly..."

"It's my duty to look after my classmates, don't worry." Ikena-kun says gently with a smile. I don't think I'll be able to talk him out of it.

"Okay, thank you very much. I'll take my leave." I give my gratitude to Ikena-kun before leaving.

He really is a understanding and caring person, I sure wish Yuichi would take a lesson from him. Why can't the person I like show me concern from time to time?

XXXXX

Chapter 17C: Trivia Before Storm – Flag For Future Event

I'm walking home with Alicia. This is one of the sacred times when it's just the two of us. It must be difficult on Alicia during these times, she has to hold herself back from making a move on someone as glorious as myself, even though I wouldn't mind if she just let all her feelings out.

Alicia seems to have cheered up somewhat from lunchtime, it must be due to the magical remedy of being beside her lover.

"Oh yeah, Yuichi, I forgot to ask you this before." Alicia breaks the silence.

"What is it, my love?" I ask affectionately, "GAHH!" and get an elbow to my face for my trouble.

"Father asked me to invite you to this..." Alicia begins.

"I'll do it." I exclaim without delay. There is no way I can turn down a request from Father now, is there?

"I haven't finished explaining yet."

"Fair enough, even I the incar..." I begin.

"He wants you to participate in a type of race alongside me and Lilicia in the Underworld." Alicia butts in.

"Like I said, I'll do it. It sounds exciting. But can you not interrupt me when I'm speaking."

"You were only going to say something that highlights your narcissism, and you should really practice what you preach Yuichi."

"Preach? Do I look like a priest to you?"

Alicia sighs and shakes her head. "Anyway, you've agreed, like I thought you would. Participants representing the houses of Cerberus and Thanatos will also be competing, so there's a lot of hype about it. Father wants us to get first place for the sake of bragging rights."

"I'll do my very best so he can do just that." It's the son-in-law's job to grant his father-in-law's every wish, and I, Yuichi Shiro, intend to do just that. Or else I am not beautiful, no I take that back, whether I win or lose, I will always be beautiful.

Whilst I'm psyching myself up we reach the split path where I separate from Alicia.

XXXXX

Chapter 17D: Trivia Before Storm – Slayer/Lost (Perspective: Currently Unknown)

"Where am I?"

"Where is Shiori?"

"Which way is it to the hotel?"

"Where is Muramasa-Masamune?"

"And where is the Human Anomaly that I need to exterminate!?"

I'll kill every single one of those things. They are things that shouldn't exist in the first place. They only bring forth tragedy and destruction.

"Isn't that right, Nee-sama?" I ask rhetorically as I gaze into the sky that is starting to darken.

XXXXX

Chapter 17E: Trivia Before Storm – The Reapers Thoughts (Perspective: Alicia)

I've gone my separate way from Yuichi so I'm now walking home alone.

Gungnir-Mjölnir, I had a feeling I would run into it sooner or later. It's current wielder, is most likely 'her'. I recall the face of a girl who is looking at me like I'm a monster. No matter how many years go by, I can't forget that day.

That Shiori girl told Yuichi he should just lay low. But in the first place can we even trust in her words? Yuichi may want to believe in them because she's an old friend. But can that friendship outrank the fact that they're natural enemies? That girl's face resurfaces again, It can't. My own past experience has already told me this.

Plus, avoiding the problem doesn't make the problem go away. Yuichi nearly died simply because he met Muramasa-Masamune's wielder by coincidence.

Should I encourage Yuichi to take the initiative? No, there's no guarantee he can win. The feeling of losing Yuichi again, I don't want to ever feel it again. But he can't just hide from her forever.

Which leaves only one option left, an option that will keep Yuichi out of harm's way, without running away forever.