Start of A Mess
[Word Count: 2261]
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Beneath the brilliant blue sky, the serene pond stretched out before Denji, its crystalline waters reflecting the sun's gentle rays. Around its perimeter, a wooden railing encased the pond, safeguarding the surrounding area. The pond was nestled in a small clearing, surrounded by tall, lush trees that swayed gracefully in the breeze.
A wooden railing, stood as both a barrier and an invitation, allowing visitors like Denji to lean in and appreciate the pond's beauty. The water shimmered with a crystalline clarity, revealing the aquatic world beneath the surface. Tiny fish darted about, their silvery scales glinting in the sunlight.
The ducks, a family of plump and contented waterfowl, waddled gracefully along the edge of the pond. Their feathers were a mixture of earthy browns, vibrant greens, and striking whites, adding a touch of nature's artistry to the scene.
Denji, leaning on the sturdy railing, found solace in this peaceful oasis, relishing the simple pleasure of enjoying his onigiri while immersing himself in the tranquility of nature's embrace.
"I wonder if it's okay to catch and eat birds like that," he mused, taking another bite from his onigiri.
Power, busy munching on her onigiri, chimed in with her usual irreverence. "If I were president, I'd allow it," she declared between bites, her words carrying an air of confidence.
As Power's proclamation echoed through the serene scene, Denji's onigiri slipped from his grasp, landing with a soft thud on the concrete below. His expression shifted from contentment to mild annoyance as he gazed down at his fallen snack.
"Awww..." he grumbled, a hint of disappointment in his voice as he observed his afternoon treat resting on the ground.
Denji reached down to retrieve his onigiri, his fingers carefully brushing away any stray specks of dirt that clung to the seaweed wrapping. Just as he was about to bite, an unexpected hand halted his movement, preventing him from enjoying his dusty snack.
"I can't believe you! Don't eat food off the ground!" scolded a man with neatly slicked-back dirty blond hair. This man was none other than Kusakabe, whose hazel eyes behind black-rimmed glasses betrayed a hint of exasperation. Like the others in the area, he wore a crisp black suit.
"There are hundreds of millions of bacteria on the ground, including those that might cause food poisoning," Kusakabe lectured, releasing Denji's arm before extending his hand. "You're far too careless. Give it here, so I can dispose of it properly."
"Huh!? This is my onigiri! I paid for it!" Denji retorted with a touch of indignation. "I decide what to do with it!"
"Typical humans," Power chimed in, shaking her head in disapproval as she savored the last bites of her onigiri. "So quick to resort to theft... such unseemly creatures..."
Aki, who had been observing the situation from a distance, chimed in with a pragmatic offer. "I'll pay you back for it later, Denji, so just let Kusakabe dispose of it."
The Angel Fiend, leisurely licking his ice cream nearby, commented casually, "You should listen."
"If you get sick, I'll make it even harder to guard you." Tamaoki, a man with short hair, faint eyebrows, visible eye bags, and a prominent mole on his forehead added.
"Yep," agreed Yoshida, a teenager with mid-length black hair, dark eyes, and a slim face. He craned his neck to peer behind him and addressed the enigmatic figure seated on a bench.
"Don't you agree... War Devil?"
Leo lounged lazily on a bench behind the group, his gaze fixed upward as he observed the dancing branches of the trees above. The prominent cracks in his right eye seemed to shimmer with the reflected light, but he remained silent, not offering any input. Yoshida's smile transformed into a sly smirk in response to the War Devil's silence.
The atmosphere grew thick with an awkward tension, intermittently disrupted by the gentle swaying of the tree branches. Denji and Kusakabe engaged in a standoff over the potentially contaminated onigiri. Suddenly, Denji broke the silence by defiantly tossing the snack into his mouth with both hands.
Chewing loudly and with enthusiasm, Denji made quick work of the hand-sized treat before swallowing with a satisfied expression. "There, I threw it away," he declared, bits of rice dotting his face. "Right into my stomach."
Kusakabe stared at him with a mixture of disbelief and disgust, his face scrunching up in repulsion.
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The plan appeared straightforward, at least in its essence: the assassins and potential kidnappers were heading to Japan with Denji as their target. That's how it should be, or so Leo assumed. He wasn't present for the plan's initial briefing, and he couldn't confirm if any alterations had been made along the way. Nevertheless, the basic idea was clear: use Denji as bait to draw in any unwelcome guests and then deal with them when they inevitably arrived.
If Leo had to hazard a guess, he'd wager that only those audacious enough would dare to confront him, or more precisely, the War Devil. Two names came to mind – Quanxi and Santa Claus. The latter, especially, posed an additional challenge due to her contract with the Puppet Devil. Getting rid of her permanently would require significant effort, but nothing he couldn't handle.
At present, Leo's personal plan was rather mundane: he was shadowing Denji and his makeshift team of bodyguards. It wasn't the most thrilling task, and he sometimes yearned for the days when he was back in the bunker, serving as Ruby's makeup mannequin. However, there were responsibilities to fulfill, and he also desired a reunion with his former mentor. A bit of boredom was a small price to pay.
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Public places are typically bustling with activity, especially during lunch hours at fast-food restaurants. However, the moment the War Devil walked into the burger joint, patrons scattered like frightened mice. There wasn't a person in Japan unfamiliar with the War Devil's distinctive appearance – the iconic scar slicing horizontally across its nose, those menacing red eyes.
What was initially intended as a quick lunch break turned into Denji and his crew having the entire fast-food establishment to themselves. The War Devil's mere presence was enough to send people fleeing, and it even earned them a complimentary meal, with staff nervously bowing as beads of sweat rolled down their foreheads.
Denji nonchalantly shrugged, while Power eagerly seized the opportunity, believing that they were paying homage to her and her alone. The two engaged in a playful game of rock, paper, and scissors to determine who would claim the burger in their meal, with Power emerging as the victor, leaving Denji with the large fries.
Somewhat disappointed, Denji reclined in his seat, gazing up at the ceiling while casually munching on fries. Meanwhile, Kusakabe leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, vigilant for any potential assassins.
"Ew..." Power muttered in disdain as she peered at the contents of her burger, which contained a solitary large tomato. She turned to Denji. "Denji, you want the vegetables...?"
"Hm?" Denji glanced at Power while munching on a single fry. She raised her burger, presenting the unwelcome tomato. "Yeah, sure."
As Denji reached out to claim the tomato, he found himself blocked by Kusakabe's hand.
Huh?" Power looked up at Kusakabe, visibly annoyed by the interruption.
"Not maintaining a balanced diet negatively impacts both the body and mind," Kusakabe lectured with a stern expression.
"You always leave too much on the plate at home too," Aki chimed in.
"Just eat it," Tamaoki commanded, drawing Power's attention.
"Hmm?" Power arrogantly placed her hand on her cheek, adopting a haughty demeanor. "Are you giving orders to someone as noble as I? You do realize that if I were to get serious, this place would become a sea of blood, right?"
Despite her bold statement, the others continued to stare at her, unimpressed. This distraction allowed Denji to seize the opportunity and thrust her burger toward her face.
"Just try it once," Denji urged, shoving the burger into her mouth. "Here!"
"GRGH!" Power exclaimed, caught off-guard by Denji's sudden move and getting a taste of the tomato. "Ugh... it tastes like dirt...!" she remarked as her face twisted in disgust. The burger slid down her face and plopped onto the table.
"Ugh..." Power groaned, wiping the smudged tomato from the corner of her lips. "Bleh...!"
"GAHAHA!" Denji chuckled, pointing at Power as she struggled to get rid of the tomato's taste.
"I can't take it... I'm gonna throw up," Power groaned, her hand covering her mouth as sweat formed on her face. "So, Denji, you eat it..."
"Huh? Don't wanna," Denji casually replied, resting his hand on his chin. "I already tried vomit once..."
Power squeezed her eyes shut and covered her mouth with her sleeve. "Ugh, I'll throw it up nice and clean, so..."
"Give me 10,000 yen, and I'll eat it," Denji remarked, leaning on the table.
"Don't talk about throwing up while we're eating," Angel said casually, sitting on the table next to Denji and Power's.
Amid the chaos of their mealtime drama, Leo locked eyes with a woman who had infiltrated the restaurant. Her determined green eyes met his menacing red ones. She maintained a calm but forced smile while holding up a napkin with a message written on it.
Leo exhaled in a less-than-amused manner through his nose as he slowly reached into his jacket for his knife. Confronting Santa Claus might not be the best move right now, but he craved some action to break the monotony of listening to Denji and Power's sibling dynamic.
Leo's movements were slow and deliberate as he reached into his jacket for his knife, but before he could grasp it, his phone began to ring. The ringing caught everyone's attention except for Power, who continued to gag.
With a calculated demeanor, Leo answered the call on his Nokia, hearing a single word from the other end: "Halloween."
His eyes widened slightly, and a sly smile crept across his lips. "I see," he muttered, ending the call and pocketing his phone. He then rose from his seat, leaving his knife untouched.
Approaching Denji and Power's table, he loomed over them, causing both to look up at him. Power ceased her antics and met Leo's gaze, her expression shifting from boisterous to uneasy.
"Chainsaw, Blood Fiend, let's make a deal," Leo said, grinning toothily.
"Hmm?" Denji was the only one to make a noise, while Power's face grew increasingly sweaty.
"Something came up, and I have to leave, so I want the two of you to do something for me while I'm away," Leo declared, chuckling lightly.
"What do you want?" Denji asked, his lips slightly pursed.
"Kill the Puppet Devil who's hunting you down," Leo answered, causing Denji's bodyguards, except for Yoshida, to tense up.
"Sure," Denji responded nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders. "Where is it?"
Leo mockingly pointed at the woman sitting on the other side of the restaurant, his scar bending as his grin widened. "Her. Kill her, and I'll owe you one favor."
Santa Claus's smile wavered as everyone in the vacant restaurant turned to look at her, and she clenched her teeth while pocketing the napkin she had written on.
"A favor?" Power stammered, taken aback by the sudden seriousness in the War Devil's demeanor.
"Yeah, one favor," Leo stated, raising a finger.
"T-T- Then, c-can I get a N-N-N-Nobel Peace P-Prize?" Power stammered, excitement building in her eyes.
Leo stopped pointing at Santa Claus as he looked back at Power, his smile dropping as he brought his hand to his chin in thought.
After a moment of mulling over Power's request, he looked at her. "Sure."
Power and Denji glanced at each other, a silent understanding forming between the two. Power had made her request, and Denji already had his request in mind. The two of them then turned their attention back to Santa Claus as Leo began making his way out of the restaurant.
Other than the sound of the door opening, there was a silent stand-off that proceeded even as the door closed behind Leo.
Denji slammed his hand on the table in front of him, sending it sliding across the floor and accidentally hitting Kusakabe's shin, causing him to yelp in pain. Meanwhile, Power used her nail to cut her palm, allowing her blood to flow freely. With a swift movement, she shaped the blood into a hand axe, which she flung toward Denji. Simultaneously, she formed a blood mallet for herself.
Denji deftly caught the makeshift blood weapon, and together with Power, the two of them charged toward Santa Claus. Their determination was clear in their expressions, their prize in mind, and a menacing smile on their faces.
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Perched on the edge of a rooftop, Leo couldn't help but hum a tune, the sun's warm rays bathing his face as he tilted his head to enjoy the pleasant weather. Oblivious to the chaos that unfolded in the distance, where Denji and Power were causing quite a commotion.
A wave of nostalgia washed over him, and he effortlessly caught a large arrow that came hurtling toward him, the sheer force of its flight ruffling his hair.
Down on the street, Quanxi, the Crossbow Devil, approached with a menacing demeanor. Her hybrid form showcased a formidable transformation, with her teeth evolving into hardened arrowheads, her wide, curved horns resembling a bow, and her forearms sporting glove-like flesh with bow-shaped attachments. She wore a black tank top tucked into high-waisted pants secured by a prominent belt, complete with sheathes on her back.
As the arrow she had fired struck the ground, the earth beneath her quaked, and in the blink of an eye, she was right in front of Leo, ready to fire an arrow at point-blank range.
Leo calmly redirected the arrow, ensuring he avoided the razor-sharp edges. The projectile whizzed past him, effortlessly slicing through an adjacent building.
"Long time no see, Crossbow," Leo remarked, a smug smile playing on his lips.