"Look at you… Coming back to me even though you refuse to acknowledge my existence."
Mikhail looked behind him and saw his dark counterpart that possessed a pair of dark angelic wings with a golden eye on the forehead, visible marking on his face, fangs, bigger arms with bones protruding from his forearms and blazing chains wrapping his left leg.
"Why would I accept an abomination like you?" Mikhail coldly asked as he began to walk away but then found himself unable to move.
A puddle began to form right in front of him and from it emerged a beautiful woman with a sad expression and tears coming out from the corner of her eyes. Upon seeing her, Mikhail could only mutter one single word.
"Amaris…"
"Why? Why did you kill me?"
Mikhail looked down and saw his right arm go through Amaris' abdomen. The warmth of her blood snapped Mikhail out as he pulled his arm back and caught the falling Amaris while screaming in horror.
"Nononono!! Amaris!!"
The dying Amaris' face turned grotesque as she grabbed his wrists and pinned him onto the ground, asking him why he let her die. Mikhail couldn't answer due to the fear that overwhelmed him and he closed his eyes, prompting the demonic Amaris to slap him many times before hurling him away.
When Mikhail lifted his head, he saw a young Malay man with tan-skinned and dark shoulder-length hair laying on the ground while eyeing him. Giving him a smile that soon turned into a creepy one, Mikhail widened his eyes when someone crushed the young man's head, causing blood to spray on his face.
"D-D-Daihachi…"
Mikhail looked at the smiling Daihachi who manifested a blade that radiated a sinister aura and immense demonic energy before thrusting it through Mikhail's chest, killing him. As he slowly closed his eyes, he heard a familiar voice screaming for him.
"MIKA!"
Mikhail opened his eyes and immediately stood up, touching his chest frantically with a terrified expression. He calmed himself quickly before looking around and saw his worried mother and sister.
"Wh-What happened? Where am I?"
Mikayla and Mizuki were surprised and looked at one another before the former asked him what was the last thing that he remembered to which Mikhail responded that he arrived at their house with Shizuka before collapsing to the ground.
Mizuki looked at her younger brother and said, "You were talking in your sleep. Calling out for Amaris and Zuan and even… Daihachi…"
"Wh-What? Did I? I… I couldn't remember," Mikhail sat down on his sofa and clutched his throbbing head. "How's everyone?"
"Everyone was stable and only Shizuka regained consciousness. The others were still unconscious and both of your friends sustained serious injuries. Had you brought them a bit late, the two of them might have gone." Mizuki explained to Mikhail.
"I need to see them."
Mizuki and Mikayla brought Mikhail to the Genji Clan's infirmary where Mikhail went to the unconscious Ammar and Camellia. He touched their foreheads and sensed nothing wrong before kneeling down and whispering something that both female Genji couldn't hear. Grabbing their hands gently, Mikhail apologized to them for asking them to take the missions that were supposedly for him.
He then went to the unconscious Nishiki and apologized to him as well, telling him that it's his fault and because of him, Nishiki sustained serious injuries on his face. The young Genji then went to Shizuka who smiled when she saw him and sat beside her.
"Hey."
"Hey… Sorry–"
"Cut it out, Mika. It's my fault, anyways," Shizuka looked at her rival with a sad expression. "I thought that I could at least defeat that Infernian Demon but he was too strong because of the environment…"
"I shouldn't ask you to take that mission for me." Mikhail whispered, causing Shizuka to chuckle.
"And miss the chance of making myself stronger so that I can kick your ass? Nah… Besides, you've done a lot of things for us… you know?" Shizuka said while staring at the ceiling as she noticed that Mizuki and Mikayla left the infirmary to give some privacy for both of them. "It's not your fault."
"Just get some rest. I'll see you tonight, okay?" Mikhail got off the bed and was about to leave but Shizuka grabbed his arm. "What's wrong?"
"I can already leave this place but… I don't want to go back to my house." Shizuka said.
"Why? Don't your people need you?"
"Yeah… It's just… It feels a bit lonely, you know? Ever since my parents died… Since you are here, I feel a bit happy."
Mikhail was surprised when Shizuka said that. He smiled and nodded his head, telling him that he will stay with her as long as she wants before leaving the infirmary, leaving behind a smiling Shizuka.
"Heh, living with Genji, eh?"
Shizuka grumbled when she heard Nishiki's voice and asked, "How's your face, asshole?"
"Eh, it's going to heal soon. Iori-chan really did a great job in saving our lives," Nishiki said. Then, "Don't you feel a bit strange?"
"About what?"
"How come a simple investigating mission can lead to such a disaster with the appearance of not one but two Level 3 Demons."
Shizuka raised her eyebrow and asked, "What's so strange about it?"
"I don't know but my heart told me that whoever assigned these missions was trying to kill Genji. The Prime Minister could be a mole, you know?"
"That's absurd. Remember that his children were kidnapped years ago by Daihachi and Genji saved them? Why would the Prime Minister work with the Demons?" Shizuka asked Nishiki, who couldn't give any solid reason to strengthen his suspicion.
Shizuka was about to close her eyes when Nishiki suddenly said, "If I'm not mistaken, one of the Genji Elders is related to the Prime Minister and that elder really hates your lovely Mika. I don't know why but my heart keeps telling me that our mission that was originally assigned to Mikazuki was meant to kill him."
***
"I can do this."
"I know. I'm just worried."
"Bitch, I CAN FUCKING WALK BY MYSELF!"
Mikhail shrugged off his shoulders and let Shizuka walk by herself. After taking a few steps, she fell to the ground with her face landing first. Seeing the female Katagiri falling to the ground caused Mikhail to burst into laughter.
He then looked at Shizuka who struggled to get up, prompting the young Genji to lift her and carry her in a bridal style, much to her embarrassment. It's been a few days since the encounter with Ifrit and Nero, and everyone had made a full recovery except for Shizuka who still couldn't walk properly without any support or assistance.
"Hey, I've been meaning to ask you. Where's Renji?" Mikhail asked Shizuka while walking to the living room of his sister's house. "What happened to him?"
"Oh, he's in Russia, right now… If I'm not mistaken? Uh, I think it's about his training or something? I don't know, I'm not that close to that short-stick," Shizuka said and then noticed Mizuki and Nishiki. Her cheeks began to turn crimson as she snuggled into Mikhail's chest and muttered, "Fuck…"
"OHOHOHOHO!! THIS IS FUN!" Nishiki quickly took out his phone and took pictures of Shizuka hiding her face. Nishiki then mockingly asked, "So, Mrs. Genji, how's your day?"
"THE FUCK DID YOU JUST CALL ME, KASHIMO?" Shizuka yelled before hiding her face again.
Mizuki giggled and yelled for her mother and a few seconds later, Mikayla came to the living room from the kitchen with Ammar and a seemingly jealous Camellia. Seeing her son carrying Shizuka like that caused her to smile.
"You have my blessing if you are in a relationship with Shizu-chan." Mikayla said to Mikhail, causing him to grit his teeth.
"Come on, Shizuka! Don't be shy, besides, whenever you're with Mika, you act differently!" Mizuki laughed and then continued, "I don't mind having you as my sister-in-law, you know?"
"Cut it out, guys," Mikhail simply said to them. He then looked down and gazed into Shizuka's eyes, making him blush slightly. "What?"
"JUST BRING ME HOME!!"
Mikhail rolled his eyes and then told his family that he might stay at Shizuka's house for a few days, causing Mizuki to tease him more which Nishiki joined and even Ammar. As he was leaving, Mikhail purposely and loudly said,
"Me in a relationship? Hah! Who would ever want a poor bastard like me to be her partner? After all, I have nothing."
Everyone was shocked and confused by Mikhail's words except for Ammar who released a sigh and looked at his friend who's slowly disappearing from his sight. The young man with an eye patch then explained that the reason why Mikhail said those words was because back when he was in diploma, a few of his friends insulted and humiliated him by telling Mikhail that he's poor and has nothing, including a happy family.
"If I'm not mistaken, there was a girl that he had a massive crush on before but that girl even insulted him, asking him why she would date a poor guy that has no car and can't afford to treat her to a fancy restaurant. That's why he said those words just now."
Ammar then continued, "When he heard that, trust me, I tried everything to cheer him up but it didn't work. As if… the possibility of him being happy for him has simply gone."
"Do you think he will find a good woman for himself?"
Ammar looked at Camellia and then replied, "Honestly, I don't think he has any interest in having any relationship. The only reason why Shizuka and him are so close is because… well, I promised Mika not to tell why and I think you can figure it out."
"Anyways, since there's nothing to do. Let's resume with our lesson. Let's go, Camy and Ammar." Mikayla gestured for them to follow her to the kitchen, leaving Mizuki and Nishiki to discuss the upcoming meeting.
***
KNOCK KNOCK!!
"Come in."
Dayana closed her book and saw Rae walking at her before kneeling and bowing down to the Queen of Demons. Rae then said that she had just returned from meeting the Takahashi clan and they have agreed to invade the Genji Clan two nights from now. Pleased with the information, Dayana praised Rae and dismissed her before staring at the diamond that was hung onto the ceiling above her.
As Rae left the throne, Damia appeared and knelt down before her mother. She looked at the Queen of Demons and asked, "Is it necessary to ask the Takahashi clan to invade the Genji clan?"
"You dare to question my decision?"
Damia immediately bowed down, touching the ground with her forehead and begged her mother's forgiveness. Dayana scoffed and reminded her of her failure to bring back Mikhail and remarked that even though Rae failed to do the same thing, at least she had a back up plan.
"You disgust me. Leave." Dayana coldly ordered Damia who quickly vanished into thin air.
***
Arriving at Shizuka's room, Mikhail gently laid Shizuka down on the bed and sat right next to her. She adjusted her position and thanked him before leaning against the bed frame and crossing her arms.
"I'll prepare lunch for you later."
"Oh, you don't have to do that."
Mikhail chuckled and then looked outside of the window for a while. For a few minutes, he said nothing until Shizuka called him.
"What's wrong? Are you thinking about something?"
Staring at Shizuka, the young Genji thought carefully about what he was going to tell her. He asked himself whether he had the courage to tell her or the courage to face her once she knew his darkest secret.
While pondering about it, an ominous voice spoke to him within his mind,
"Are you really sure you want to do this? Once you do it, there is nothing that can help to stop the impending darkness…"
Taking a deep breath, Mikhail looked at Shizuka with a serious face and said,
"Shizuka, remember that time when you with Nishiki and Ammar came to rescue me inside my mind?"
Shizuka nodded her head.
"And then I told you guys to leave immediately right? When there's a person standing before me with his back facing us. Remember that?"
"Just spill it out, Mika."
"Okay, okay," Mikhail looked Shizuka dead in her eyes and said, "What I'm going to tell you is something that no one knows. Something that will change your perspective to me. And it is my biggest secret, relating to my past and an impending darkness in the future."
"That man who we saw in my mind is…"