Dark Walker - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Now that lomoki was able to dream consciously, he realized something important. After he fell into the Depths of Dreams after their last conversation. Yuugo was still angry.

"Yuugo!” he yelled, running from here to there, trying to escape the vulgar demons.

"Aren't you gonna save him?” Jade asked as she pawed at Yuugo’s back. He was dressed in his usual comfortable jean jacket and jeans, lying on top of a mountain.

“It’s not my fault if he won't face the truth. He won't die because of those weaklings, anyway."

"You're the one who can’t face the truth!" Jade pushed a paw against Yuugo’s cheek. He was being so childish.

"Yuugo, you bastard!" Tomoki was running around desperately, and a slimy, sticky thing came at him from the darkness. The dirty brown monster stuck to Tomoki's arm and spread out its body, like an octopus spreading out its tentacles. “Ahhh! I’m gonna be eaten!"

He screamed at the disgusting feeling on his skin. It felt like raw rubber. Just as he grabbed it, a green flame burst from his fist, causing the sticky monster to burst into flames. He quickly shook his hand, and the cold flame fell to the ground along with the slime.

“Huh?” He looked at his hand and saw a golden-green flame. When he squeezed his hand and then opened it, it glowed brighter and then disappeared. When he began to walk again, the other monsters seemed frightened and backed away.

“Looks like he remembered ‘Flame Fist.'"

“Lord Tomoki is so strong!” Jade and Kurou were impressed.

“Now if only he can make his weapon appear, he’d be complete,” Yuugo whispered as he gazed at the dark sky. In this world, the power of one's spirit was everything. If you focused, the human body could be very strong. Taking on a fighting stance, pumping your fist and yelling, “Get away!” could be very effective against monsters, even if you didn't know what you were doing. Even silently willing something to “Disappear!” or “Burst into flames!" could be a very effective offensive and defensive tactic.

But the only sure thing was to have a reliable weapon like Yuugo’s. If you trained with it diligently, the sword would become sharp and strong. And it was best to give the sword a name. If its master called for it be name, it would materialize in his hands instantly.

“Do you want me to save you?” Yuugo said in a carefree voice to Tomoki, who had been running from demons and monsters like a chicken with its head cut off.

“You're such a bully!" Tomoki said, panting

“It’s just a dream, so it’s okay, right?" Yuugo used his own words against him. Tomoki groaned and then grew pale. He realized he had just been afraid that if he died in his dreams, he’d die in real life.

Yuugo crossed his arms behind his head and smiled. "This is pretty funny.” He looked satisfied. Before, like the "Sleeping Beauty" Tomoki had mentioned, he had closed his eyes and rejected him time and time again. Yuugo had thought he was just a quiet pretty boy—but now that lie saw him angry, Yuugo decided tliat this side of Iomoki was much more lively and interesting. It made him seem even more attractive than before.

"Yuugo! Hejumped up. hearing Tomoki's screams. Help me! Tomoki was running towards him. his face pale. A demon that resembled a dragon was crawling from the darkness. It was creeping along like a snake. It was unbelievably large, probably taller than a two-story building. It gazed at Tomoki with a pair of glowing, red eyes. No monster like this exists in Reality!

It opened its mouth wide, revealing sharp fangs. It looked hungry.

"Tomoki, take cover as fast as you can!" Yuugo ran and jumped over Tomoki's head from behind. "Jade Thunder!" Just as he called its name, a glittering sword appeared. He sliced the sharp blade into the dragon's neck. It didn't seem to realize what had just happened and froze momentarily. Only when it turned its head did it give a deep, guttural cry. The cut had been so fine even the defeated dragon hadn’t realized it at first. As he stared at the dragon’s neck that lay wriggling at his feet, Yuugo shook his sword. The dark liquid on it turned into dark red smoke and then vanished.

“Are you okay, Tomoki?”

“Yeah, I’m fine." Yuugo turned around and saw Tomoki far away, waving to him. "Ahh. that scared me! I didn’t think something that big was here!” Tomoki smiled and started to walk towards him when suddenly the hair on the back of Yuugo’s neck stood on end.

“Tomoki!” he screamed as he saw some kind of black tentacle reach behind Tomoki in the darkness.

“Ahhh!” Tomoki's face contorted with pain and he clutched at the black thing that coiled around his body. Goosebumps spread all over him. The dragon’s tongue wriggled inside his fist disgustingly, and he immediately let go of it, as if he had been electrocuted. "Yuugo!” he screamed, reaching his arms out towards him. Suddenly the ground was far away, and his legs were kicking in mid air. He must have been very high up, because Yuugo’s figure got smaller and smaller on the ground. The dragon’s reptilian eyes stared at him in the darkness. It opened its large mouth wide, revealing rows of sharp fangs. Its breath was warm and smelled of something raw. Tomoki started to feel faint.

“Oohhh. Lord Tomoki is in trouble!” Kurou shouted excitedly, flapping around Yuugo.

“Yuugo, you can't! That one’s too strong! If you fight him, you'll turn into a real demon!”

“But if he does not save him, Lord Tomoki will be eaten!"

"But, but, but, Yuugoooo!”

Not paying any attention to their quarrel, Yuugo stared at the dragon’s eyes. Deep in the darkness, he could see other giant figures crawling around. A cold sweat spread over his forehead, and he sighed.

"Yuugo!" Jade cried shrilly. She knew they couldn't get to him now. His eyes were filled with the desire to kill. Her fur stood up on end. Yuugo kicked off the ground, and spread his wings with a loud flapping noise. "Yuugo! Jade clawed the ground to keep herself steady against the strong wind.

With just a tew flaps of his w'ings. Yuugo had disappeared into the darkness.

"Yuugo went to fight.”

"I should have stopped him,” Jade said with tears in her eyes.

"What should we do now?” Kurou asked, flapping around.

"Escape so we don’t get in the middle of it!"

"Got it!” The golden cat and the crow hounded away, leaving the battlefield behind them.

“Sleeping Tremor...” Yuugo kicked off the ground and flapped his wings. “Come to me. Jade Thunder!" He called the weapon back to his hands. Two black lines appeared on his face with a flash. Since he had absorbed the powers of a certain demon he had defeated, they always appeared before battle. They almost looked like tiger stripes, or war paint. Leather gloves appeared on his hands, and dull silver arm and leg guards materialized.

"Tomoki!” He sliced at the air as he watched Tomoki about to be taken into the dragon’s mouth. Suddenly he shoved his blade into one of the dragon's eyes.

“Gyaaaaaa!" The dragon shook its head and opened its mouth wide in pain. Its tongue was still wrapped around Tomoki, who tried to twist out of its grip. Just as he was on the verge of being pierced by one of the dragon’s sharp fangs. Yuugo swung his sword onto its tongue. The dismembered tongue squirmed, squeezing Tomoki, who had fallen unconscious. Yuugo wrestled him free from the smelly tongue, but just when he had let his guard down another dragon attacked him from the side. Yuugo barely dodged it. and could hear the clicking sound of the dragon’s fangs.

Dozens of pairs of eyes stared at Yuugo from the darkness. “Shit!” he screamed. He held the unconscious Tomoki in one arm, so he couldn't move quickly or use his sword. He returned to the ground again and softly laid Tomoki's body down in the shadow of a mountain.

I guess I have to fight them...

He looked at Tomoki, whose eyes were closed, and gulped hard. Even though he was fast, it would be impossible to fly away carrying him. There were numerous dragons high in the sky with tongues as fierce as whips. He didn't know what would happen to him if he fought such large demons, but he knew he couldn't let Tomoki be eaten.

He turned back to look at Tomoki once more and then narrowed his eyes. He gripped his katana in both hands and leaned forward. His enemies had tongues like whips and long necks. They had fangs and sharp, reptilian claws on their feet that glittered black. When he got the chance, Yuugo kicked off the ground and flew into the group of red eyes.

The blade of his katana blocked their sharp claws with a dang, and he dodged them with a yell. He slew all the dragons blocking his way and was drenched in the blood that gushed from their bodies. The katana that had protected him since he was five was sharp and gleamed even before these formidable enemies.

If he let his guard down for even a moment, a sharp, steel-like claw would come slicing towards him. Yuugo cut the dragons in two with his sword. His adrenaline pumped, and he got so excited he almost forgot what his objective was. When he focused his energy like this, his muscles became as strong as a beast’s. He forgot human emotions like fear or cowardice. His body trembled with pleasure from his slaughter, and for a while he was lost in it. His katana had become his own fangs, his own claws that he was free to manipulate.

“Yuugo...,” Tomoki said in a trembling voice after he had regained consciousness. All he could do was watch, dumbfounded, as the heroic scene unfolded around him.

Yuugo slew every dragon that faced him. one after another. His jet black wings and his body were soaked in blood; he almost looked like a demon from Hell. After he had defeated all of his enemies, Yuugo stood in the center of the ruins. He had been wounded in battle, and blood ran down his leg.

“Yuugo...”

Tomoki rushed over to him, his face pale.

“Tomoki," Yuugo whispered. He shook the blood off his katana, which disappeared into the air after its duty had been finished. Yuugo still panted. Tomoki wanted to smile to comfort him, but his face looked so distorted.

“Yuugo?” Tomoki reached out both hands worriedly, and Yuugo fell to his knees. His whole body began to strangely convulse.

“Guuaahhh!” A beast-like roar came from the back of his throat. His left arm flailed, clawing at the air, and he grabbed it with his other arm, trying to hold it down. Cold sweat ran down his face from fear and intense pain. He gritted his teeth against the unbearable pain.

“Yuugo...” The color drained from Tomoki's face. A single large, black claw had just sprouted from Yuugo's left elbow, tearing through his skin. Then, the same kind of demon claws ripped out of his fingers. His body had started to transform into a demon's. It seemed that Yuugo had absorbed the powers and characteristics of the demons he had just defeated.

“Tomoki...Tomoki, save me!” he cried. The one who was most scared at that moment wasn’t Tomoki, but Yuugo. “Tomoki...” His flesh burned, and he felt faint from the pain in his left arm. It exceeded fear. Even though he was writhing against the pain, it was as if he was being controlled by an evil demon. It felt like his insticts for fighting and killing and feeding were going
wild. In the back of his mind. Yuugo thought he was done for.

I can’t be human anymore...I'm a demon now... When I wake up, the human known as Yuugo Oda will he gone...

All he’d be able to do is remain in that world, an ugly demon.

“No! No!" The sight of Tomoki was his only relief and it started to sway. “No! Don’t go. Tomoki!" He didn't know why he was crying so desperately.

“Yuugo, snap out of it! Yuugo!” Tomoki called his name and held onto Yuugo’s trembling body. "I'm right here. Yuugo. I’m holding you!”

“Tomoki, Tomoki...”

"It's okay. Yuugo. 1 m holding you. Don’t worry.”

Yuugo sobbed and held onto Tomoki frantically. His claws dug into Tomoki’s back.

"I'm right here,” Tomoki held Yuugo’s body against his. Tomoki called Yuugo’s name many times, trying to soothe him, but he still cried out in pain. His bloody body continued to change. He had slaughtered so many demons with his sword.

Tomoki had just seen him fight for the first time, and remembered how scared it had made him. He almost thought that the Yuugo he knew had been an impersonator. But now, as he turned into a demon, Yuugo seemed so scared.

"I remember, now,” Tomoki said tearfully as he pushed his cheek against Yuugo’s, who was still howling in pain. “I remember everything about you, now." He smiled gently and kissed Yuugo’s lips.

Tomoki remembered everything from his first encounter with Yuugo. Yuugo had defeated a demon who had tried to eat Tomoki, and he had been drenched in blood just like he was now. I remember. They had made love so many times, sometimes maddeningly roughly, sometimes sweetly and gently.

"This time. I'm going to save you.” Tomoki took Yuugo’s arms and held Yuugo’s precious body close against him.

"Yuugo, does it still hurt?” Tomoki looked up worriedly. He sat on the floor while Yuugo sat on his bed. He had bandaged up his arm until it turned back into a “human” arm. “Are you okay? Have you calmed down?”

“Yeah." Yuugo answered, looking down. Tomoki sat next to him on the bed. Yuugo stared down at the hand that had just had claws growing from it and sighed. He pushed back his hair. The feeling of his fingers was back, and Yuugo sighed again with a painful look on his face. “Are you scared that my body changed?"

“No.” Tomoki rubbed his red eyes and shook his head. Sitting on the bed, he took Yuugo’s hand between his. He remembered what had happened before. Yuugo had screamed in pain and cried, and Tomoki had held him.

Why wasn't Tomoki scared after such a terrible thing had happened? When Yuugo had held onto him, it was as if he was clinging onto him, searching for warmth. He was clinging to anything that was human. He was desperately clinging to his desire to be loved by someone.

That’s how much both Yuugo’s body and heart had been wounded. Even though Tomoki hadn't been fully consciuous, he had understood Yuugo's heart clearly. That's why he had been able to accept him. He was sure Yuugo had kissed him so gently afterwards to try to calm him, so he wouldn't cry. He had held Yuugo and stroked his hair.

“Tomoki, I might turn into a demon,” Yuugo reached a hand up to gently touch Tomoki’s cheek.

“No, you won't.” Tomoki smiled, his pretty amber eyes crinkling, and put his own hand on Yuugo’s. It was the hand that had had claws coming from it. Yuugo had thought Tomoki would be scared and would pull away from his embrace. He hadn't realized he had clung to Tomoki’s back so hard that his claws had dug into it. They weren’t bleeding anymore, but the cuts that were visible through Tomoki’s ripped pajamas looked painful.

“I might hurt you more, Tomoki. I might lose control and eat you,” Yuugo whispered painfully.

"It doesn't hurt anymore. And it'it looks like you’ll turn into a demon. I'll heal you—so don't worry.” He hugged Yuugo, trying to cheer him up. Actually, Tomoki had no idea whether or not he even had those powers, but he wanted to do anything to soothe Yuugo. “You’re so handsome, it would be a shame if you weren't human anymore.”

"Tomoki.” Yuugo smiled, but then covered his face with his hands. Tomoki's kindness had helped lift the uneasy feeling he had in the pit of his stomach. His body felt warm. Warm in a way he had never known until he met Tomoki.

He felt better just being with him. He felt like it was because of Tomoki that he was still human. He was the only one who could save Yuugo from his wildness. Still coverin his face, he gulped. "I...want you to stay with me. I love you," Yuugo said in a choked voice.

Tomoki blushed slightly at Yuugo’s confession. “I know.” His throat felt tight, and that was all lie could say. He had wanted to hear those words so much. Yuugo hadn’t even said them in his dreams when they made love. He wanted Tomoki so much and had treasured him so much, but he hadn’t said those words until now. “I would have felt a lot better if you’d have said that earlier.” When he thought of when they first met, he suddenly understood. Maybe at first, it had been pity. He wanted to make love to Yuugo because he felt his uncertainty and fear. No matter what bad things had happened in his life, he had always unconsciously searched for him in the depths of his dreams. He wanted to acccpt all of him. Because he loved him.

He finally understood how he felt. "I love you. too, Yuugo,” he said honestly, his voice hoarse. “You re so stupid, though,” he whispered bitterly, and, after he closed his eyes, tears dripped onto his lap. "If you had just told me from the beginning, I would have been yours even then...” Tomoki looked up and smiled, his eyes full of tears. He was so happy his chest was trembling, but his face was hot and he couldn't stop crying.

“Tomoki.” At just the sound of Yuugo calling his name, Tomoki’s body went weak. Yuugo tilted his chin up and kissed Tomoki's hot face. He looked at him with love in his eyes. Their tongues intertwined until they grew numb. Yuugo held Tomoki gently in his arms. He showed his true face to Tomoki when he smiled at him now. Those eyes that were so full of love were only for Tomoki.

“Yuugo..." Tomoki's voice was muffled by kisses. Yuugo’s tongue traced his lips, making him moan. His wet tongue slid inside his mouth. He licked around insde, making the hair stand up on the back of Tomoki’s neck.

They lay down on the bed. still kissing, and he moaned from the feeling of Yuugo’s body on top of him. “Mmm...” Yuugo's smooth tongue teased him. They had kissed many times in the Depths of Dreams, but his heart was pounding so fast he felt like it would explode. Yuugo bit his earlobe playfully, and Tomoki’s face grew hot with embarrassment.

Yuugo unbuttoned Tomoki’s pajamas, and traced Ws fingers along Tomoki's bare skin. Yuugo found his erect nipples and teased them with his fingertips.

“Yuugo...”

He licked all the way up to Tomoki’s neck, making his lips tremble. They stripped off all their clothes, and Tomoki lay face down on the bed, Yuugo holding him. The weight of his body was painful, but the sensation of his smooth skin was so pleasant Tomoki felt like he would melt. Even though he wanted to turn off the lights, no matter how much he squirmed he couldn't resist the fingers that moved beneath him. Yuugo knew Tomoki was hard, but purposefully stroked his inner thigh slowly.

He kissed Tomoki’s soft brown hair and the nape of his neck, and Tomoki's pale skin flushed a light pink. Yuugo searched for his erogenous zones as his fingers traveled downward until he touched Tomoki's hardness. Tomoki's moans became more frequent, more sensual. His eyes became wet. He felt Yuugo’s hard member pushing against his back, and then raised his hips naturally.

“Ahhhh!" Yuugo teased him with his tongue and fingers and, just as he had in Tomoki’s dreams, coaxed a moan of pleasure from his lips.

“Tomoki,” Yuugo sighed into his ear, holding him from behind. Tomoki trembled from the way Yuugo's long fingers stroked him, and his desire swelled even more. He felt Yuugo's breath upon his neck, and his hard head pushing between Tomoki’s legs.

"Aahhh!’" Tomoki cried out in a painful voice as Yuugo’s overwhelming manhood pierced through his soft flesh. Yuugo buried his hardness to its base, deep within Tomoki, and Tomoki clutched the sheets as he arched his back. He felt dizzy, and when Yuugo withdrew and then plunged himself back in again. Tomoki let out another yell.

“Yuugo...” he whispered. He felt like Yuugo was squeezing every drop of pleasure from him. Yuugo flipped his sensitive body over and placed both Tomoki’s legs over his shoulders. He leaned down and kissed Tomoki, who eagerly kissed back. Both their bodies were hot, and their sweat and rough breathing mixed together. Yuugo’s hardness plunged in again, and Tomoki’s body shook as if he were in the middle of a stormy sea. “Yuugo...” He clung to Yuugo's strong back as if that would keep him from being carried away.

That night, Tomoki sat on Yuugo’s bed, watching as he went to turn off the lights. He was going to try to fall into the Depths of Dreams while fully conscious. Even if there was just a little darkness, they could move to another type of darkness, in dreams. That's why they were called “Dark Walkers.”

Tomoki was wearing a white cotton shirt, jeans and sneakers. “Remember what you're wearing right now,” Yuugo said, pointing to his clothes. He sat on the edge of the bed in bare feet, also wearing a cotton shirt and jeans. “Open your eyes and remember how your clothes feel on you." He lifted Tomoki up and placed him in his lap. The room was dark. Once his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, Tomoki looked at Yuugo with an uneasy look on his face.

“It’s okay. I’m right here,” Yuugo said, and gave him a soft kiss. “Once the floor and bed disappear, just pretend like you're diving in the ocean.”

“The ocean?”

"Just imagine it. You were scared before when was nothing beneath your feet, right? So let’s fall slowly,” he explained kindly.

So when I had that sense of vertigo last time, it was just an illusion? Tomoki thought as he nodded against Yuugo's chest. Ever since they had become lovers, Yuugo had been extremely kind to Tomoki in his dreams and Reality. So much so that it had almost become a problem at School.

"Are you ready? Here we go.”

"Okay.” Tomoki gulped and held onto Yuugo. Even though they were together, his heart pounded violently.

Yuugo had told him to imagine the ocean, but all Tomoki could do was stare at the digital clock on the other side of the room that read "9:13.”

Suddenly the numbers seemed to be floating in mid-air. Tomoki looked up in surprise, and, at that moment, realized they were falling through the floor. Yuugo's condo was on the ninth floor, and even though there should have been someone else's room below them, there was nothing below Tomoki’s feet.

They had moved from Reality to dreams.

“You don't have to hold me so tightly. You won't fall,” Yuugo said, and Tomoki loosened his grip. He fell relieved at the gentle smile on Yuugo's face. They were falling into the dark space slowly, and it almost felt as if they were swimming through a warm liquid. His body fell lighter than it did in reality. When he thought about sinking further, he’d sink further, and he felt like he could float in midair if he wanted to. His body didn't feel hot or cold. When he breathed in, the air felt moist, like just before a typhoon.

“You’re always in your pajamas, huh?" When they both reached the ground, Yuugo laughed as he put Tomoki down.

“Ah, you’re right!”

“You're not wearing any shoes, either," he said, pointing to Tomoki's bare feet. He, on the other hand, was wearing his normal sneakers.

“I wonder why I took them off?"

“It's because you think this is a dream, so you end up in your pajamas and bare feet. If you just imagine it, you can wear the clothes and shoes you just had on. And sometimes, if you're not careful, you can end up going back to Reality naked!"

“So it wouldn't be good if you were barefoot?"

“I’m going back to my room, so it’s okay.”

“But when we came here before, I was in my school uniform, and then 1 was in my pajamas,” Toooki whispered, confused. And when he had woken up the next morning, he was in his own bed with his pajamas on and his school uniform was hanging up in the closet as usual. That's why he had thought it had been a dream.

“I brought you back to your room and changed you.”

“You can come into my room? Have you come before while I was asleep?” Tomoki was shocked.

“All I did was drop you off so you wouldn't get lost."

"Hey. Once I saw a silhouette in my room that had wings. Was that you? I thought something strange had come in.”

"Hey, I’m not that persistent!” Yuugo said indignantly. “Why would I have to go into your room, anyway? We always have sex in our dreams. I only brought you back because there were so many demons around your house back then, so it was dangerous.”

"Seriously? But I thought demons can't come into everything Reality."

"That's what I thought, too. But even I don't know everything about this world. If one of them was really in your room..."

"I'm sorry, I believe you.” He felt bad when he saw the serious look on Yuugo's face. “I'm sorry," He held onto Yuugo's arm and apologized again.

“Okay. First, imagine your clothes.” Tomoki touched his pajamas. He felt the buttons and the softness of the fabric. But he had been wearing a white cotton T-shirt before they had fallen. It was fairly new, so he couldn’t remember its design clearly.

“You really love that jean jacket, don’t you?" Tomoki couldn’t picture his clothes clearly, so he opened his eyes and stared at Yuugo’s clothes. With his jet-black wings, they made him look tough. He unbuttoned Yuugo’s shirt and stroked his chest as he looked on and smiled. The feeling of the soft fabric and his soft skin was exactly the same as in real life.

Even though he had been barefoot before, he had on his favorite basketball shoes. When Tomoki leaned over, he saw that even the shoelaces were untied, and the soles of his shoes were rubber.

“Just think of some clothes you remember well."

“Wow!” When he pulled on Yuugo’s jeans, he was impressed that he was even wearing underwear. “There’s even a tag on them!" The brand-name tag was still on Yuugo's favorite pair of boxers.

“Don't worry about the tag. The only reason it's there is because I remembered it well,” Yuugo said, laughing as he saw the worried look on Tomoki's face.

“Does this look weird?” Tomoki turned around, and Yuugo gave him the “okay” sign

"So you settled on your school uniform after all, huh?”

“I can’t remember any of my other clothes as well.” Tomoki said indignantly as Yuugo laughed at him. Since he wore laffore his familiar school uniform every day, it was the easiest thing to imagine.

“It’s okay. Much better than pajamas.”

“I’ll work on wearing regular shoes, too.”

"Clothes aren't important. Concentrate on armor to protect yourself. Leather is good to start with. Concentrate and focus on the feel of the material, the weight of it.”

“So it’s like magic?”

“Yes. You can make anything appear here as long as you can picture it and believe you can.”

“Leather armor..." Tomoki whispered and closed his eyes in concentration. He tried to imagine the smell of leather and the feel of it. and then felt the tangible sensation of leather in his hands. He felt the weight of it, and grasped it with both hands before it could disappear.

"You think you can protect yourself with that?" Yuugo sighed.

“Huh?” In Tomoki's hands was his familiar leather school bag. The leather bag definitely wouldn’t provide my defense against demons. “1 guess I always conjure up things I remember the best." He opened the bag and searched inside. Even his pencils, textbooks, notebooks and his wallet were inside. "Oh. shit!” he exclaimed. Yuugo looked at him curiously.

"I forgot to do my math homework!" Tomoki said seriously as he looked through his notebook, and Yuugo sat down on the floor.

“Tomoki, your school bag is all wrong. Stop getting distracted by your homework and start thinking about the enemy!” Yuugo said, pointing at him.

“Oooh, Lord Tomoki is safe!” Kurou came flying from the other side of the darkness.

“I'm so glad Yuugo wasn't turned into a demon!” Jade said happily.

“I was so worried about Lord Tomoki I could not sleep last night!”

“You don't even have to sleep!”

“I love the human Yuugo!” Jade jumped on Yuugo’s shoulder, purred and licked his cheek.

"Hush, you,” Yuugo crossed his arms and said in a tired voice.

Tomoki didn’t have a lot of concentration to begin with, but he definitely wouldn’t be able to concentrate with a cat and a crow freaking out around him. Yuugo spread his wings wide and flapped them furiously while standing. Jade fell off his shoulder from the wind pressure and tumbled to the ground, and Kurou was thrown backwards in the air.

“Yuugo. that wasn’t nice! You could have just asked them to be quiet!” Tomoki held Jade in his arms, who was meowing loudly, and Kurou was perched on his shoulder.

“Yeah, I’ll be quiet!”

“Me, too!” They both swore quietly and smiled at Yuugo. He turned away, discouraged. He knew he had lost.

"I can't make a katana like yours." A flickering, blurry image glowed in Tomoki's hands.

“You can't expect things you imagine to materialize at first," Yuugo explained. It seemed like Tomoki wanted a weapon like his a lot more than armor.

“The essence of his spirit seems completely different. Maybe his powers are different from Yuugo's?" Jade said, looking up from the ground.

“I don’t know. All I can conjure up is this light in my hand. It happened that one time when I was trying to get away from some demons.” Tomoki said dejectedly. As he closed his hands into fists and pushed them out, thin green lines webbed out, firing a faint, shiny membrane around his body. "What is this?”

Jade tried to touch it, but her fur stood up like she had received an electric shock. “Ow!” she cried. Next, Yuugo tried to touch the transparent membrane. There was a snap of energy in his fingertip like static electricity.

“Is this a defensive barrier?”

“Hmm...Lord Tomoki is good at defense. Is he the Barrier Master we have heard about?” Kurou got excited, referring to a rumor he heard from some other demons.

"But aren't Barrier Masters really rare among Dark Walkers?”

"But they said his spiritual energy was green and Lord Tomoki’s is a beautiful green...”

"Is a Barrier Master someone who has great defensive powers?" Yuugo asked Kurou, who was confidently pointing at Tomoki.

“That's not at all. They can make ‘places’ in the human world and send demons to them!”

Tomoki looked annoyed at how excited Kurou was. “Even if that’s true. I’d never do that! They’d eat all the humans!” He squeezed his hand, and the green membrane disappeared as if it had melted into the air.

“I hope it's true! Then you can let me live in the other world!”

“And I want to watch TV! And try to transform into a human!"

“I'll turn into a high school girl and dress really cute!” The two of them seemed to really long to go to the human world.

“A Barrier Master, huh..." Yuugo stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Far away on a rocky mountain top, one man stood, looking down at them. “Looks like he’s almost awakened." He wore a brown leather jacket. He was at least two meters tall and had long arms and legs. His golden hair flowed down his back like a mane. He had a beautifully chiseled face that was so perfect that it seemed somehow artificial. His cruel blue eyes burned with ambition, and his lips formed a cynical smile. He had strong muscles that had been forged in the heat of battle.

“But that annoying Dark Walker is with him." He stared at the winged Yuugo with a look of amusement on his face. “Looks strong.” He chuckled deeply. “Wonder how I should tear him apart and kill him?" He got excited just thinking about it. He stared at Yuugo, almost like he was evaluating him. “But that's the one I want.” He shifted his gaze back to Tomoki. "I see the resemblance,” he muttered. Cruel laughter came from his lips.

Once the rainy season started, there was rarely a sunny day. They had switched to the light, short-sleeved school uniforms at the beginning of June. It was very humid, but the temperature wasn't high enough to make one sweat.

Every day, Yuugo would walk to school with Tomoki. And every day, Tomoki would rub his sleepy eyes. Sometimes he would even doze off on Yuugo’s shoulder under the umbrella. Yuugo would support the half-asleep Tomoki and hold both their bags and umbrellas.

“Good morning, Oda-kun!”

“Morning. Oda-kun, want me to take his bag?"

“No, I’ll wake him up when we get to the shoe lockers.” The girls would always greet him quietly so as not to wake up Tomoki, and Yuugo would smile back cheerfully.

“Look, Oda's carrying Tomoki again!“ The boys would laugh as they came through the school gate.

“Naruse-kun looks so cute when lie's sleeping!"

“That’s not a surprise; when he's awake, he looks like a little kid!"

Yuugo’s female admirers looked on with difficult looks on their faces. "I wonder if Oda-kun and Naruse-kun are doing it."

“I dunno, maybe he's just being a good friend?"

“Yeah, they don't look like lovers."

“Tomoki, wake up." Yuugo shook him awake when they had reached the shoe lockers.

“Where...am I?” Tomoki asked, confused. He rubbed his eyes sleepily.

“At school in Reality. It's about five minutes before first period." As Yuugo changed his shoes, he handed a stack of letters to Tomoki, who was stretching.

“I don’t want your love letters!” Tomoki said, yawning, but reluctantly took them anyway. The lockers next to the classrooms had locks on them, so the girls usually put love letters in the shoe lockers, which did not.

Once, he had seen Yuugo about to throw the letters way and had taken them from him. He knew it took courage to write those letters. Even if Yuugo didn’t want to read them, it was too cruel to just throw them away right there.

“Don’t throw them away at school!”

“But I’m going out with you!”

Tomoki was happy that Yuugo was being so considerate, but if they ever found out Yuugo had thrown their letters away, the girls would be heartbroken and humiliated. Yuugo wasn't used to other people, so he still didn’t have a lot of common sense.

After Tomoki put the stack of letters into his bag, he opened his own shoe locker, and saw there was one letter inside. “Is this...?” The letter was addressed to him, and he blushed. It was the first love letter he had ever gotten!

“Want me to throw it away for you?” Yuugo asked, smiling, and Tomoki quickly shook his head.

“I'll take care of it on the way home.”

During class, he read the letter with his heart pounding. It was pretty intense, and closed with, “Please go out with me!” He laid his face down on his desk. Lately, he'd often fall asleep during class, and sometimes even during gym class. Every night in his dreams. Tomoki was training to learn how to protect himself. He was so tired from that that he didn't care where he fell asleep. Once he had fallen asleep on the gymnasium floor, and the guys from the sports club had gathered around him.

“Is he a first year? He’s got a pretty face.”

“It says he's Tomoki Naruse. from class I-A!" One of the guys laughed as he read the name tag on Tomoki’s gym shirt.

“He looks pretty comfy”

“But isn't that kinda S&M-ish?”The upperclassmen burst out laughing. Yuugo. who had been searching for Tomoki, happened to overhear and curiously peered inside. He was shocked to see that Tomoki had fallen asleep with his hands and feet tangled up in the volleyball net.

“Sorry, this kid is in my class," he had said protectively, pushing through the crowd. He had picked Tomoki up in his arms. As Tomoki rubbed his eyes their senpai called in disappointed voices, “See ya later, Tomoki Naruse-kun!"

“Come back and sleep again!"

Yuugo’s head hurt. When Tomoki was sleeping, his face looked so sensual and defenseless that it captivated people.