Back down from the mountain I at least have time to order my mind while I'm waiting for the bus at the station.

 

"And you say you belong to me?" (I)

 

An emphatic nod from the mini demon.

 

"Do you have a name?" (I)

"Uhm, no." (demon girl)

 

Sure, who should have given her one?
That might have been my job, yet I drained her down the sewer.
I feel so bad.
I take a closer look at her.
She might have a resemblance to some antagonists in horror movies, but from the frame her looks are cute.
The hair should get combed at times and the skin color is more on the sickly side, also the black gown which looks like fluid floating down her skin, makes it even more gloomy.
Nonetheless, her smiling expression is sweet.

 

"How is Kuri?" (I)

"Huh?" (demon girl)

"As a name. Kuri! From Kuro for black, but I thought it should be more feminine." (I)

 

She stares at me.
And erupts!
Literally, as a huge wave of blackness encompasses us.
Please, let the bus be okay.

 

"Yes! Thank you mommy! Thank you!" (Kuri)

 

She cries and I have severe issues with the teardrops.
If this goes on I might have to deal with thousand Kuris.

 

"Please, calm down. What if something comes from your tears?" (I)

"My tears are fine, mommy. They just make darkness!" (K)

 

Truly, they evaporate into smoke after a moment.
That one lingers in the air and gives me an image of severe pollution.
Still, creepy!
I hold my head.

 

"Is something wrong mommy?" (K)

"Uh, I'm not really ready to be a mother yet. This is all a bit much. I don't know how I could raise you." (I)

 

I don't see why I shouldn't be honest here.
She has some understanding it seems.

 

"Don't worry! I can care for myself! I am here for mother, not you for me!" (K)

"Nice of you, but that's not how it should be. I have to take care of you, I think." (I)

 

At this, she embraces me.

 

"I love you, mother!" (K)

 

She is crying against me and despite feeling touched I start to worry that the bus will just drive past us if the driver sees this huge pillar of smoke.

 

"Kuri, can you make the smoke disappear? Others might see." (I)

"Oh, yes!" (K)

 

She separates and in a blink all the smoke extremely fast drives into her.
It's suddenly gone.
Even the air feels fresher than before.
Yet for some reason not as soothing.
More like biting mint.

I wait a little and after a while, the bus comes.
I have to buy a ticket for the young girl holding my hand and we sit down on the last bench.
She places herself next to me and I take the time to write mum a message that I am fine.
However, I also write that I have a really big problem and need her help when I come back.
Naturally, she doesn't want it to stay this ominous, but that she has now a grandchild is something I don't want to confront her with per text.
All the while, this little demon has put her head on my lap.

Sigh. No way out of this.
At least it stays quiet for a while and I can enjoy this little breather.
The bus comes eventually to a stop and we have to get out.
Just some way and I am finally back home.
However, I've got the feeling I forgot something.
When I'm just one station away from home I feel suddenly a spark inside me.

 

Shit!!!
Shit, shit, shit, shit!
I forgot to let my best friend out of hell!
Tending to Kuri I say,

 

"Sorry, I forgot something very important. I need to go into my personal dream. Do you understand this?" (I)

"Sure, I belong to you! We are bound!" (K)

 

After looking around for a moment, to make sure no one sees, I concentrate to teleport into my dream world.
I blink and the moment it's over I'm already inside the castle.
And I see my two "guests".

 

"You took your sweet time!" (Z)

"I... had some problems." (I)

"Is everything alright with Makoto?" (C)

 

Chiaki looks already much better, if quite exhausted.
Well, and maybe a little worried that I ate our friend.

 

"Uh yes, but I kinda wrecked their demon repellent barrier, twice. (I)

 

The second time with Kuri counts as well.

 

"Great! They deserve it!" (Z)

 

Ignoring this remark I concentrate on the topic.

 

"And how was it? Did you achieve some results?" (I)

"We did. She was first quite inept, but I am good." (Z)

"Chiaki?" (I)

"Ehm, yes. It worked out I think." (C)

"Just to make sure. You're aware that you shouldn't shoot beams around in public? Before we unleash you upon the world?" (Z)

"Yes, yes! Naturally!" (C)

"You look better. Was it alright here? I am a little self-conscious about this place." (I)

"Sounds kinda weird, coming from you." (Z)

 

Yes, yes. Great pun.

 

"At first it was a bit oppressive. But the longer I was staying here the calmer I've got. I somehow start to feel safe." (C)

"Glad to hear that. It got late. I should let you out." (I)

"Late? But it's still bright. The sun..." (C)

"Doesn't exist here! Your friend has not created a night, yet." (Z)

 

At the moment, I rather concentrate on not creating anything.
And it takes quite much to quell the voices

 

"Anyways, I should bring you out." (I)

 

After all, it is kinda creepy that I have them stored inside my body.

 

"Alright. Just one question before you do so." (Z)

"Yes?" (I)

"Who is that behind you?" (Z)

"What?" (I)

 

I turn around and find Kuri.

 

"How do you come here? I didn't bring you in!" (I)

"We belong together, mum! And I held your hand." (K)

 

So it's not necessary to absorb her, but simple contact is enough for transport.

 

"Mum!?" (C)

"Ah, so you made a familiar. I thought you didn't want to?" (Z)

"It was..." (I)

 

I can't say accident here with Kuri present.

 

"Do you remember my question about the ink?" (I)

"Ah, so that's the one you flushed down the toilet!" (Z)

 

Can this demon be any more abrasive?!
The poor child!

 

"Iori! No!" (C)

"It was the sink!" (I)

"It might surprise you to hear that both of them end up at the same place." (Z)

 

I look at Kuri, feeling extremely guilty about this.
Yet she tilts her head.

 

"Is something wrong, mommy?" (K)

"I-I'm sorry." (I)

"For what?" (K)

"What I did to you. I didn't know this would happen. When I became... like I am now, I panicked and cried. I couldn't cope. My face was in the end stained with those black tears and I washed them off at the sink. I didn't know something would happen with it. I am so sorry. You had to go through so much because of me. I'm sorry!" (I)

 

Instead of anything like being dejected or getting angry, she hugs me.

 

"I am here for you, mommy!" (K)

"No! You don't understand! I did something terrible to you!" (I)

 

I am totally through and feel extremely guilty.
So much that I cry over and over.
However, the tears just evaporate on the ground, since everything here is already me.

 

"I became big for you! Now I can help! This is good!" (K)

 

The sweeter this child becomes the worse I feel.
But when she rubs my tears away with her small fingers, I really can't worry her any further.
So I try to calm down.

 

"Done with your mental breakdown?" (Z)

"Can't you be a little more considerate?" (I)

"You might not have noticed, but this whole world shook while you cried! I seriously don't intend to die due to one of your moods! And I've lost a whole day of hunting thanks to you!" (Z)

"Sorry." (I)

 

At least for the not-perceived quake.
Chiaki looks as well unsure.

 

"Sorry, Chiaki." (I)

"Uh, no. I understand. Hard stuff." (C)

"Right. So, shall I bring you out now?" (I)

"Ehm..." (C)

 

Chiaki looks as if she wants something, rubbing her hands together, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

 

"Yes?" (I)

"Could I maybe... sleepover?" (C)

"Uh, okay. Have to ask mum first but it should be fine." (I)

"N-no. I meant... here." (C)

"What? You really want to stay at this place?" (I)

"Before you're asking, I want to leave!" (Z)

"I didn't sleep since yesterday. I, I feel now better, just exhausted. But those lessons don't help when the monsters assault me in my bed. There are none at this place, right? I could sleep." (C)

 

Understandable.
She fears the monsters under her bed that might really be there.

 

"But we can't contact your parents from here." (I)

"Uh, I wouldn't really want to go out and directly in again. One time was bad enough." (C)

 

That's understandable as well.

 

"I will just give you my phone and you press send when you're out!" (C)

 

She hands it to me after finishing the text.

 

"And you are sure about this?" (I)

"Mhm." (C)

"Fine, I'll do so." (I)

"Don't forget to wait for their reply before you come back!" (C)

"Sure." (I)

"Are you now finally able to get me out of here?" (Z)

"Ahh, yes. Do I have to absorb you again?" (I)

"Are you stupid? I am already inside you! Just go where you were and squeeze me out!" (Z)

"Okay, okay!" (I)

 

I do as she said and am again in front of the door to my home.
It got already quite dark.
On the other side, the darkness demon, that somehow was able to follow me again, might as well be responsible for that.
I search for Zika's presence and subsequently find the pulse that I suppose to be her inside me.
I can basically feel the agitation.
I try to force it out and promptly feel how my body shifts.
My front opens and out there Zika crawls through thousand tentacles looking as if she just made it out of hell.
Which kinda might be the case.

 

"Bye then! Don't call me!" (Z)

 

And she's gone.
I quickly press send on Chiaki's phone which I find now in my hand and enter our building.
It's time to tell mum about today's events.
Poor mum.