Noah stumbles backward, unable to believe what he's seeing. Just a few seconds ago, Ouran was...well, Ouran, but now they've transformed into something entirely different. The face is still the same, but everything else, including their body, is altered. Where Ouran usually appears more masculine, now their form is decidedly more feminine. The previously flat chest has a slight curve, and their overall figure is more delicate. Noah wants to ask so many questions, but before he can, there's a sudden crash behind Ouran.
"Aw! Here I was hoping that I'd finally catch you off guard for a change, Ouriichi. Darn."
Ouran turns toward the voice and grins. A figure, who appears to be a young person similar to Ouran, stands there with a devilish grin and a playful demeanor.
"As if you could, Jove. What are you doing here?" Ouran asks, their voice tinged with both amusement and annoyance.
"How rude, Ouriichi! Are you saying you're not happy to see me? I personally volunteered to come fetch you when Lady Simone was thinking of sending Karis instead. I saved you from that nightmare, so you should be thanking me. Instead, here you are, frolicking around with your boyfriend here. Humph."
As Jove gives Noah the evil eye, Noah can sense the animosity radiating from them. He notices that although Jove looks like a boy at first glance, they could easily pass for a girl in some lights, especially with their mannerisms. Noah also sees that, although they share many similarities with Ouran—such as the slit eyes, the tiara, and other physical characteristics—there are distinct differences. For instance, Jove's wings are white on top and black underneath, the opposite of Ouran's. Their clothing also has swapped colors. Additionally, Jove's left eye is green, while their right eye is red, just like Ouran's. It finally clicks for Noah: Jove is a Reaper too, just like Ouran.
"Oh please, as if Karis would ever pose a threat to me," Ouran scoffs. "He's just a loser who likes to pretend he's a badass so he can get in favor with our Lady and be praised. His bark is bigger than his bite, especially in relation to me. I'd wipe the floor with him ten times over. So thanks, but you really didn't need to bother. Also, Noah isn't my boyfriend…well, not yet."
"No way! He's a dumb mutt—you're way out of his league. I, on the other hand, am just right."
Noah doesn't know what's going on, but he's sure he's just been insulted. "I'm not a mutt!"
They turn and look at him, surprised by his sudden outburst, as if they've just remembered he's actually there. "Oh, it speaks. My apologies, I should make myself clearer. You're a naïve mutt."
Noah clenches his fists, and Jove just smirks, clearly enjoying the game of poking fun at him. Jove has no mercy for anyone who threatens their chances with Ouran. They were doing well before Noah came around.
"Enough already, Jove. You really are such a child—that's exactly why I'm not interested. I want a man," Ouran retorts.
"Oh, and he is? Just how manly would he be once he saw you as your true self? He'd be disgusted!"
"Actually, you're wrong. He wouldn't. He's already seen me as I am, and he didn't get freaked out at all. He even said it was awesome. He's not so superficial that he only looks at my physical appearance. He may not be interested in being with me at the moment, but it's got nothing to do with how I look. I just haven't charmed him enough yet. So your interference really pisses me off!" Ouran charges at Jove, their saber drawn.
Jove sucks their teeth and grips their saber. "I admire your determination, but don't think that means I'm going to give up on you. I'm just going to work even harder. I'll start by beating you and proving my worth." They swipe upward just as Ouran's saber barrels toward their face.
When the two beams connect, there's an explosion of light between them, illuminating the cavern with a spectacular display. Once again, Noah finds himself blinded by its brightness. He quickly backs away from them.
"What's the deal with you crashing in on us like this? If our Lady sent you to fetch me, then a simple summons would've sufficed. You always have to do things so extravagantly, as if I'd be impressed." As Ouran speaks, they continuously clash, flitting around with impressive speed.
"If I didn't do things in such an extravagant way, you'd totally ignore me. Our Lady told me not to come back without you, so I must bring you. Can't you work with me?" Jove blocks a strike.
"Listen, I'm grateful to our Lady for taking me in when I was alone, but I have no intention of joining her ranks. I'm a Reaper in name only. I don't intend to embrace it or answer my 'calling.' I just want to live a simple life with someone I love, and if I can't have that, then I'd rather just be alone." Ouran dodges another attack.
"That's such a miserable life! We already have eternity to live, and you'd really say that you want to live it alone? I know it seems unfair, but there's nothing we can do about it. We were born Reapers—our duty—."
"Don't talk to me about duty!" Ouran interrupts, their voice filled with anger. "I never asked to be born a Reaper! Who would ever ask to be born as an intersex freak who's only a silhouette of a human? We can't be individuals, we can't reproduce, we can't die. All we can do is chase after the dead and make sure they stay dead or liberate those who still have time. That's all we exist for, it's our only purpose! If you think that's any less lonely than keeping to myself and living as I wish, then you're only fooling yourself. I'm not going to be just another Reaper drone!"
Ouran, now visibly riled up, jumps into the air, taking flight. With a powerful thrust, they strike Jove with their saber, making them cry out in pain and fall to the ground. Jove writhes on the ground, and while Ouran feels a twinge of guilt, it's not enough to stop them.
"Now that you understand, go home." Ouran walks away from Jove, approaching Noah, who seems very shaken by what he just witnessed.
As Ouran draws closer, Noah looks up at them with a shaky voice. "What…just…happened?"
Ouran laughs, and with a sudden flash, they revert to their usual form. "I guess that must've surprised you, huh? I know I still have a lot to explain, so what do you say we do it over some good grub? I'm starving!" Ouran reaches out their hand, and Noah takes it, getting to his feet.
Ouran continues walking in the direction of the city, completely ignoring Jove, who's still writhing on the ground, groaning.
Noah feels a pang of guilt about just leaving them there. "Hey, Ouran, what about Jove?"
Ouran looks back nonchalantly. "What about them? I've said what I needed to say to them. They're a big kid and can handle themselves." Ouran continues walking, having nothing more to say, their tone surprisingly cold.
Noah doesn't want to care, and he definitely doesn't want to involve himself in other people's business, but at the same time, he can't help but feel heartless walking away like that. He extends his hand, offering to help Jove up. Jove looks at it in disgust.
"I'm not going to touch your hand, mutt!" Jove leans away from Noah, making it very clear that they're repulsed by him. Like a switch, Noah's temper flares, but he quickly stifles it, turning off his emotions. "Whatever. I was trying to help." He turns and runs after Ouran. "Hey, wait up!"
Jove watches them walk away, seething with anger. Yet, tears suddenly start streaming down their face. "You're so mean sometimes, Ouriichi. Why won't you love me? What do I have to do?" They mutter these words as they lie on their back, crying, thinking that Ouran and Noah are too far away to hear them.
However, Noah hears them clearly and finds himself empathizing with Jove. He even considers urging Ouran to go back for them, but he quickly decides that it's not his problem and that he needs to stay out of it. He won't let himself succumb to his emotions. He vowed that night to never let his emotions hurt him again, and the only way to do that is to turn them off for good.