Part 1

“Hime-sama?” A weak voice escaped Akito’s lips. It had only been a few minutes since he had collapsed but his complexion changed drastically. Akito’s lips were deep blue and his skin was sickly pale. If Inoue hadn’t seen these symptoms before she would have thought Akito had been sleeping inside a freezer. “I’m sorry making you worry.” Despite not having any energy left in him, Akito forced himself to speak up.

“Baka!” Inoue cried out as she hugged Akito head and two streams of tears ran down her cheeks.

Akito opened his mouth but no words came out – he didn’t know how to respond. His head was hurting and he didn’t quite understand what was happening around him. The last thing he remembered was rushing forth to knock out a boy….Shin suddenly appeared in Akito’s view. He stood quietly watching Inoue hug Akito.

Shin viewed the two with a peculiar expression – one that clearly expressed his confusion. Since when did the cat and the bats get along so well? How many years have passed since my demise? Just which era have I been reincarnated into?

Shin had some understanding of reincarnation – as long as the soul exists it is completely possible to be reborn in one of the three realms as any creature. The rules governing the laws of the universe were completely arcane to Shin. Hence, he did not understand why reincarnation happened or how it happened. However, Shin did know that if the soul is not strong enough it would not retain its memories. Shin was glad that he was able to retain his memories however it bothered him that he had no sense of how much time had elapsed since his death. How many hundreds of years have gone by for the two clans that hated each other to love each other? Just what calamity has brought these two warring factions together?

Shin had many questions which he wanted answered, however in the past six years he found no clues that would answer the mysteries of the past….no if it is the Ancient One….he probably has all the answers.

Before Shin could think any further, he was startled by Akito’s voice.

“You…” Akito cried out in alarm. Did this boy do something to him? There was no other explanation as to why he collapsed. “Hime-sama….run….” Akito urged Inoue as he tried to push her away.

Inoue slowly looked up and followed Akito’s gaze which were on Shin. “It’s okay.” She whispered as she hugged Akito even tighter. “He’s a friend not an enemy. He is the one who saved you.”

Inoue’s voice was tender and calm. There was no tension or stress in her voice. Akito found it hard to believe that Shin – the crazy boy – saved him. He is crazy right? However, Akito had no choice to accept what his Hime-sama told him. Furthermore, her voice was unusually calm. Over the last few weeks – since their escape from Korea, she had always been worried. Even though she never spoke about it; Akito always noticed the lack of lustre in her eyes. Those deadpan eyes, as though they had seen hell and back…Akito shuddered as he recalled the past. The eyes of the Inoue in front of him right now were more lively and animated than ever before. These were the eyes he grew up with – the ones which were free of worry….they were eyes that had hope?

Did that crazy boy really save me? Did he save Hime-sama too? Maybe he was pretending to be crazy….

“As promised, I have saved your retainer, demon girl. Now, are you more willing to listen to me, Maou-sama.” Shin spoke with a proud smile on his face.

Nope, he’s definitely crazy. This must all be a dream. At least it is a nice dream –Hime-sama hugging me…