In the past decade, Kuri had been experiencing a massive surge of criminal activity when an underground criminal organization emerged from the shadows. During the decade, the KMPD had a hard time managing the rise of criminal activities in the city. The emergence of high-profile criminals has an impact on the country as they wreak havoc on many establishments and public spaces. Some are high-end robbery, Murderers, Kingpins, and Human traffickers. Some people receive a rating from the station from C to S; for the severity of their crimes.
To combat the S-class criminals, the KMPD implemented a special detective force. They have independent autonomy and they can move without higher-ups. They are also allowed to exterminate Class B, A, and S criminals if necessary. They are allowed to wield Class 3 weapons and can have a special weapon made just for a detective.
Criminal rankings differ from the crimes they commit. Petty crimes like Theft, pickpocketing, and vandalism aren't ranked. In C class, includes: Invasion of privacy, Home Invasion, and Trespassing. B Class includes Destruction of property, Grand theft auto, Assault, and Battery, Attempted murder, Espionage, and Smuggling. In A class it usually involves heinous crimes like Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, Human Trafficking, Arson, and many more. While S class deals with an individual that is hard to capture it is also linked with Mass Murder, Human experimentation, Torture, Manufacturing weapons of mass destruction, Grand Larceny, Treason, and Organized crimes. Each has its own bounties to pay if a bounty hunter or a civilian captures them or gives a hint on the whereabouts of the criminals that lead to their capture. If a detective captured the criminal on their own, the reward goes directly to their paycheck.
In a dark room where mysteries go unsolved and screams go unheard. There was a man who sat in the candlelit room drinking the finest wine in the city of Kuri. In the turn of events, the wooden door creaked open, seeping light into the room as the black-haired man was slightly illuminated. "Do you have any reason on why you decided to barge in?" The man asked
"Y-yes, I do have a reason" Said the fair man in a black suit. His green eyes gazed inside the room, where he saw the man enjoying the fine liquor. "I'm sure you've heard about Phantom Maestro's escape?"
"Asahi?" He chuckled. The red wine swirled inside the glass as the black-haired man observed it. "Of course, I knew. After all, I've been watching them through the eyes of Beelzebub"
"The eyes of the insects?" He said. "Then, what are you gonna do with it?" The man asked.
"Nothing," He replied. "Let it all unfold. Because things have gotten interesting you see?"
"Interesting?" he said.
"Yes"
"H-how come?"
"Simply because of the appearance of the cop in Asahi's life, " The black-haired man said.
"That wanted detective?" he asked.
"Precisely" he confirmed.
The room is always clad in darkness with the occasional illumination of candlelight. The man has served him for almost a decade. Yet he cannot figure out what's in his mind. Since the foundation of the organization, everything has become hectic in the city. Always stirring up trouble as they cash in. He swallowed his spit, looked at him, and asked the man in a suit.
"Just what are you planning to do with that child?" he asked
"Child? He's not a child anymore, more than that now to be frank," he said. "Like I said earlier, I will watch everything unfold. Now that you mention it, how about I visit him?"
"Him?"
"Indeed, it has been ten years since I personally saw him. A little visitation wouldn't hurt. Won't you agree, Amane?"
"I'll advise you not to," Amane said. "I've personally seen how he uses his goetia. In your current state, can you even counterattack?"
"Counterattack?" he scoffed. "Who said I'll fight him?"
"But, I'm just worried," Amane exclaimed. "Seeing how he's slowly freeing himself out of the curse"
"Tell me, do you think he just broke the curse of anti-entropy on his own? No," he said. "He merely adjusted to it. No one can break that curse easily. Do you really think someone who hasn't broken a simple curse would defeat me?"
"I-"
"Exactly" he interrupted.
His body scattered into billions of insects as it flew behind Amane. The insects formed a figure of a hand on Amane's shoulder and turned into a fair hand that grasped his shoulder as the man transformed back into his original form and leaned in toward Amane's ear. The weight of his hand made Amane feel a slight discomfort and felt the breath that came in contact with his nape, which made him shudder. In a deep tone, he slowly said, "How about you manage the finances while I'm gone. I'll be back before you know it".
His body pivoted and he's gone. Nothing but a few leftover insects that got left behind. He could not refuse. Instead, Amane walked out of the room, his chin up as he traversed the winding hallways of the building.
"Unbelievable…" he muttered to himself.
Within the confines of the house, Hogou woke up early after the massage he did to Asahi. He groaned as he clearly remembered what happened yesterday. His doubts in his head still lingered but he had no choice but to join forces with him while Misami was still hunting them down. He rose from the uncomfortable red sofa and paced his way to the kitchen. It was still daybreak, the entire house is covered in faint darkness. He let out a yawn. Hogou pulled the fridge open and saw some eggs, milk, scallions, and ham. 'I wonder whose house is this. I feel bad raiding their fridge. I doubt this is his house' he thought to himself. Moments later, he decided on Omelets. He propped the pan onto the gas stove. Out of nowhere, the silver-haired young man walked into the kitchen with a messy bedhead like a storm just passed a small town.
"Good morning, Detective" He yawned. He straddled the table. He pulled the chair out and sat down. His face fell front side down onto the wooden table which resulted in a loud thud.
"M-morning… Mr. Kureha" he stammered. The atmosphere between them is drier than the desert. It invoked a deep awkward feeling that played around his head. Between him and the bedhead criminal. This shouldn't be a problem but just how can he be nice when he's an enemy,. a day ago. Hogou let out a deep breath. "What do you want to eat?" He asked.
A dead air pierced prominently as Asahi looked him dead in the eye. "..."
Hogou, held his irritation and presented a forced smile that almost passed but not quite.
"..."
'SAY SOMETHING WILL YOU!' Hogou thought.
Asahi's purple eyes lit up. His lips perked into a smirk and said, "You, Detective. I want to eat you."
"....."
"ARE YOU CRAZY?!" He exclaimed as he threw a whole carrot at Asahi. Asahi however seemed to dodge the carrot while remained seated. "Like hell you're gonna do that, Hannibal"
"Hannibal? HAHA, Not like that detective" He chuckled. "More like something else" his hand gestured an okay sign while it hovered above his mouth with his tongue in front of it. A gesture that Hogou… Unfortunately recognized
Within a second, his once warm fair complexion turned into a red tomato as he stammered, "W-what, what the hell is wrong with you?"
"You're so cute when you act like that… it makes me want to do it even more~" he smiled, his purple eyes seemed content as he saw Hogou's reaction.
"Please don't." The gloomy aura descended around the detective as he squirmed his lips out of embarrassment. The detective faced away from him, then uttered:
"Can you stop toying with me?"
Asahi smiled like a radiant sunshine. "Is it that bad?" He asked.
Briefly, Hogou replied: "Yes"
He released an exasperated sigh, Hogou stared at Asahi intently and requested, his tone was sincere. "Can you stop it?"
Asahi's finger swirled, his voice was like honey. "Can't guarantee~" he chuckled.
"Stop laughing can you not?"
"Hm, fine." Asahi slumped against the table.
The sizzles of the eggs being fried in the pan were the only sound the two could hear. The dead air came back and none of them uttered a single word since then. Asahi's nose tingled as the sweet fragrant scentl of butter encapsulated the room along with the savory smell of the egg.
His stomach grumbled as he smelled what Hogou was cooking. The awkward tension between them still hasn't dissipated yet. But it was more than enough to strike a conversation with him.
"It smells good," he said, still huddled on the table.
Hogou glanced into Asahi's general direction as he hummed a tune.
It was oddly familiar. The tune he was humming, the fact that he resonated with it. Hogou was not a good singer or anything, a few voice cracks could be heard. To Asahi, it was peaceful albeit the cracks of pitch that Hogou could not reach.
"Nocturne op. 09?" Asahi perked up from the table. His lips gaped, the hair from his skin was electrified.
"Not quite," Hogou answered. "Though, I admit it quite sound familiar to that piece"
Asahi stared at Hogou and said, "Then, what is that song?"
"I don't know, my mother used to hum that to me whenever I felt down. Maybe it was nocturne but this is different"
"I see…" He let off a soft smile and Hogou. Savoring the smell as he listened to the angelic humming.
A golden color shone into Asahi's eyes as Hogou finished cooking their breakfast. It was an omurice. The red viscous ketchup was scribbled into a happy face. The savory warm steam sprayed into his face. His mouth was watering to the sight of the food plus the constant growl of his stomach. He immediately grabbed the spoon and tried to dig in. However, he was abruptly stopped by Hogou with a stern look on his face. "Hold on a minute, who said you can eat that?"
"What?"
"Did I tell you to eat that?"
"N-no"
"Well then, why are you trying to eat it?"
"I'm hungry"
"So?" His plate was taken away by Hogou before he could get far. Asahi leaped in front of him and stopped him.
"Stop!! I'll do anything to let me eat that, I swear!" He exclaimed.
'I won' Hogou thought
"Anything?"
"YES, ANYTHING! I'LL EVEN OFFER MY BODY TO YOU" He declared
"W-what… are you talking about…I'm not into that" he said.
Before long, Hogou gave two conditions to Asahi. "First, You'll stop doing that now"
Asahi nodded which promptly went to the second condition. "Second, you'll help me bring down your brother"
Asahi's eyebrows went up then suddenly he smiled,"Misami huh? Don't worry, I'm going after him anyway. Even without the second condition, I'll help you"
"Can I ask you a question?" Hogou asked.
"Sure" Asahi replied.
"Why are you like this to me?"
It was silent for a few seconds. Then Asahi let out a light chuckle and said, "You're just interesting, that's all"
Asahi's answer did not answer any questions Hogou had, instead he got more questions now. Why is he like this? He cannot figure him out, it's like his mind is random and chaotic.
Hogou looked Asahi into his eyes and said, "Do you… Swing the same way?"
The young man furrowed his brows, he seemed surprised by Hogou's question. He answered with his hand on the back of his head. "Swing the other way? Haha'' he chuckled. "That's an interesting perspective." Asahi's hand glided to Hogou. It twitched, but he did not move away. Hogou's eyes avoided Asahi's. "However, I don't like men. Ahahaha, you're just interesting that's all, don't fret about it." His words hit somewhere in Hogou's psyche, unlike his usual tone, he sounds more sincere this time. It wasn't an elaborate prank to get under his skin. Not a trace of this was present.
Badum… Badum…
His heart tapped in a rhythmic beat. He could not understand what was happening…
"I hope that answered your question"
Hogou flinched from his mind when he heard Asahi's voice.
"T-thanks"
He took the pan out of the stove. He scooped steamy rice from the rice cooker as he slid the omelet on top of it. Asahi heard faint squirts as he continued to face down the table.
The ceramic plate clunk as Hogou placed it down at the table. Asahi grabbed the silver cutleries. As soon as he punctured the omurice. The fragrance of the rice spilled into the room that made Asahi squirm in excitement.
'This is… This is…' he took a spoonful of it…
Asahi felt warm and fuzzy. The juices exploded in his mouth as he chewed it. "This is heaven," he grumbled. It felt like warm sunlight after the fierce cold in winter. "I never knew you cook, ha ha ha ha" Asahi laughed
"Well, I never said I don't know how to cook didn't I?" He said.
"You're full of mystery, this is why I like cracking you down." Asahi's tone was promiscuous, then he retracted his initial statement. "Just joking! Haha, you're easily fooled Detective."
Hogou palm's traced over his face. He sighed then walked away from Asahi. "Detective, where are you going?"
"Away from you." His voice grew distant as Asahi stuffed his mouth with food.
"Ofhay!" Asahi grumbled.
The light from the tv faintly pierced through his eyes. Bzzz! Hogou noticed the presence of flies and wasp in the house. He looked around, previously no bugs was present, it was as empty as his wallet before payday. His face muscles tensed as he noticed to irregularity of the insects.
As time passes, numerous insects perched on the furnitures of the house. It was revolting, the amount of insects present could make Hogou think that there's a corpse inside the house.
He called out Asahi as the bug proliferated in an alarming rate. "Asahi, help!"
The silver-haired young man dashed to the living room. He was greeted by millions of insects. All of the insects stared at Asahi. Each time he moved, the insects traced his movement.
"What the…" Asahi outstretched his arms. Hogou could feel the air cool, it was like the last time in the warehouse. He was surrounded by a chilly aura, it reduced the insects into a pile of icy husk.
But more bugs pooled inside the house and crawled on their body.
"Ehhhhh!" Hogou was jittery, he shook his body vigorously. He hated bugs, even as a kid. Their minute footsteps skittering through his body made him feel skimmish. While Asahi stood motionless, the insects laid on his skin were frozen solid.
His purple eyes gazed outside the window, as the insects formed into a silhouette of a tall man. Asahi's lips was tensed, the frost crept along the window as he demanded. "Who are you?"
He still asked, even though he knew who it was. No one in the world have this power besides him. The one who wielded the embodiment of gluttony.
Beelzebub…
"I won't ask again…"
Moments later, a deep voice came from the silhouette. "Looks like you've gotten better of using Belial. Amane was right, good thing I am outside its range."
Hogou saw the change within Asahi's facial expression. He was gritting his teeth as his face were stretched tight.
"I knew it… i knew that you're not dead yet… how did you live?
William Malady."