Love's Not Void

Chapter 12:

She woke up on her back. Konoe was the first person she saw, beside him Asato. Rai was kneeling beside her, checking her pulse. However, at the sight of her awakening, he reframed from touching her.

"What are you searching for? Dead, remember?"

"Kitty," Asato peered over Konoe's friend to get a better look at her. With a relieved smile, he began to purr.

"Yup, I'm alive...sort of. Can someone help me up? I think my foot fell asleep."

While helping her up, Rai noticed her twisted face.

"Is something wrong?"

"I'm gonna-," turning in the other direction, black sludge and tar-like vomit came out of her mouth. It wasn't a mouthful either. We're talking everything in her stomach, and possibly her stomach itself.

Smacking her lips together, she stuck out her tongue. "Gah, gross. At least I didn't throw up before I passed out. With my luck I would have landed in the vomit."

Turning, she clutched her stomach. "Nope."

And she puked some more.

Taking small breaths, she waited.

...

"Okay, I think I'm done."

Rai stood beside her, before outstretching his hand. Within it, his fingers curled around her most prized possession.

"*Gasp* my baby!" She gripped her phone, and placed it in her pocket. "Thanks, Rai."

He didn't respond. He didn't really look at her either.

Placing her headphones around her neck, she realized that her hair had turned back to normal.

"Oh, I almost forgot that would happen." She checked her arms, which were clean.

Then, she turned to Konoe, giving him the look.

Sighing, he lifted the back of her shirt.

...

"It's gone."

Too bad, she kinda liked that tattoo. But when it's a devil's mark, one can't really keep it.

Hearing the sound of someone clearing their throat, everyone looked up to see the three devils. They were standing beside each of their monuments, staring casually.

Shooing away Konoe's hand, she smoothed down her shirt.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"Oh, we never left. Our business isn't quite finished," Froud spoke.

"You still want my freaking soul?! Man you just don't give up." Before anyone could say anything, she rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "Yeah, yeah, I know. You're honest when it comes to your desires. If you're so hungry, why don't you look for someone else?"

"And pass up you?"

Verg grinned at his partner's question. "You're the only human on Earth. That alone is plenty reason to stick around."

"Besides, others will be after you. We cannot afford to lose you like we lost him." Razel's eyes moved to Konoe, a little bit of resentment lingering in his corneas.

The cat threw him a glare, a growl rising in his throat.

"Will you two take that somewhere else," she deadpanned. "Who will be after me? Aren't you guys the only devils who know of my existence?"

"Others will find out very soon," Froud answered, "We were just lucky to find you before someone else did."

She's flattered...

"So, we have no choice but to team up once more. And as you know, we don't lie."

"Tch, no," Rai looked away from the small group of inhumans.

In return, Kimberly threw him a chilling glance.

"What do you mean 'tch, no'. We don't have a leg to stand on without their help. Not to mention, you know as well as I that they can't lie."

Throwing the same glance in the devils' way, she stared them down one by one.

"You promise you won't try to eat me before this is done, right?"

"We promise."

"Then that settles it." Everyone smiled, until Kimberly frowned once more, "on one condition. You," she pointed at Froud. "Leave him alone." She moved her pointer finger to Rai.

"Aw, things are going to be so boring," he whined.

"You're the devil of joy. I'm sure you'll find some way to entertain yourself."

So, she turned heel and looked down the other three boys.

"Where we headed?"

"It seems she's the one in charge, doesn't it," a whisper mumbled. The voice belonged to Verg.

Nobody seemed to take notice of his comment. Instead, Rai answered her question.

"To the city," he said. "We aren't too far from Ransen. It will be two miles, maybe three if you slow us down."

She stuck her tongue at him.

"It's normal for girls to get cramps!"

"Tch, idiot."

She mocked him, using his voice (which she had perfected long ago).

When everything died down the large group ventured north.

Hi-ho, hi-ho, off to Ransen we go~!