Runaway

Kuroka stopped to catch her breath in the middle of a large, empty park. There was a steady, warm breeze, which stammered through the trees and lulled her into a sense of security.

Looking around, she could see no sign of the fundamentalist preacher, who had probably given up the pursuit. Because of how close she had come to death, she was still on edge, but found herself calming as she lay down on a soft clump of grass. White flowers hummed from above her head, leaning towards her in the breeze.

Her white hands lay numbly on the grass, unmoving as if she were handcuffed, as she spread her arms to rest.

If not for the intervention of a stranger, she would have been dead by now.

This park was currently shut to the public, but she had easily found her way over the gates and barbed wire using her power as a Devil. Since it was quiet here, and she was unlikely to be found, she figured that this would be a good place to rest.

A few cars passed by, but she lay quietly on the grass, slowly curling up like a cat. It had been days since she last saw Issei, and she thought of him as she began to fade into sleep. She felt almost a physical weight from the tiredness and stress of the pursuit, but imagining that it was Issei's weight helped her relax.

But her relaxation was short lived!

She heard the sound of feet running towards her, and jolted up with a start.

To her relief, and surprise, it was the man who had sacrificed himself for her earlier. How was he back? Perhaps he had been resurrected as a Devil, like Issei had a short time ago? His hair was still dishevelled from the locust attack, and from the hint of bruises around his neck and upper body she guessed that he had made his way here as soon as possible, before he was fully healed. Maybe there was something urgent to say?

"You're - the one from before, right?" she said admiringly, looking towards him with her hazy, tired eyes.

She was surprised when he froze at her glance, and shivered nervously. "Well, yes... You're safe, right? He's not still after you?"

"Yes! Thanks for checking up on me, heh... What you did before was brave, wasn't it? And you're back?"

He blushed heavily. "Um, I guess it was brave. Yes, I resurrect in order to protect people like you. And, um..."

He lost his train of thought as he stared over her exposed, pale thighs, which glowed wan in the sun as if guiding his eyes towards them. His arms began to clench involuntarily as his mind feverishly imagined the sensation of touching the soft, passive skin he was staring at.

"People like me? Damsels in distress?" she teased.

He realized that he shouldn't get sidetracked.

"Oh, well, no... Look, I have to tell you something! That guy who attacked you, he's not the only threat. In fact, there's someone much more dangerous. He's captured many of your Devil colleagues, I bet he's coming for you now. In fact, I'm sure of it!"

Satan had mentioned that the priest was tracking Kuroka down, and Nogi had refused to leave her without protection, much to Satan's amusement.

"He's taken them all? Even Issei?" she reacted, widening her mouth worriedly.

"Yes, all..." Nogi hesitated, flustered at Kuroka's evident desire for Issei despite Nogi's recent rescue of her. "Yes, Issei as well."

Kuroka held back a giggle at noticing Nogi's evident discomfort. He was clearly interested in her, since he seemed to be jealous of Issei. Since he had sacrificed himself for her once, she knew he could be a helpful ally, so she decided to string him along. After all, she was still in danger.

At first, she had been overwhelmed with seeing her saviour, but soon her manipulative instincts kicked in. Admittedly, she sometimes acted the same way around Issei, despite her lust for him, but she didn't feel the same desire towards Nogi whose appearance had all the charm of a gay maggot-infested pus sore on a cancerous homosexual with AIDS.

Admittedly, her standards were quite low if she desired Issei, but perhaps she will discover that in the course of this story.

She held out her hand lightly, inviting him to lift her up. After some hesitation, he did so.

"It's so nice here, with no-one around," she said, looking him in the eyes lightly until he flinched away. "Are you sure we can't stay here?"

"Maybe for a short while..."

"Hm. Alright... For a while. So, you're mysterious. Why not tell me your name, after all this time?"

She veered near him, and he had to take his breath before responding. Even his response was given in staccato, irregular breaths.

"My name! Yes, it's... Nogi. Nogi Tsune!"

"Huh, Tsun. Does that mean you're cold-hearted?" she said with a laugh.

"No, definitely not! Are you?"

"...It depends on whom you ask." She walked calmly between the trees, looking at the blue flowers growing on them and glowing in the faint light.

"It depends, does it? You blow hot and cold?"

"Oh, I'm more like a drunkard. Sometimes I'm hot with love, sometimes I'm angry, sometimes I'm just hungover and don't feel anything."

"...Seriously, that's a nice way to put it. I've never thought of it like that." His eyes were wide with longing.

"Well... Thanks."

By now, she was focused on a particular group of flowers, which were blue like the others but were surrounded by a glowing white ring around their petals. She stroked them softly with her fingers, as if feeling them carefully.

"You seem pretty interested in those flowers, what's up with them?" he asked.

"Oh, well... I think I could use them for enchantment, that's all. Well, if we get away safe..." She turned towards him, and found her chest pressing against his. "We will, right?"

Nogi stepped back, realizing that he had inadvertently moved too close to Kuroka, due to his desire.

"I'll do my best! So what kind of, um, enchantment do you think it could make?"

She lightly tipped one flower towards him, and used a finger to part the petals and show him a sharp, white glow inside. As he saw this, he couldn't help but glancing down towards her vagina, which was almost exposed under her loose, dishevelled kimono. He could faintly make out the edge of its depression, which was enough to send his imagination running wild. Her kimono was slightly tattered, after getting torn during her journey here, and Nogi got briefly distracted by staring across her skin and the hints of her breasts that were visible.

He missed her answer, "Maybe something to enhance my strength and heal me, maybe something for more Devil Power.... It could do many things."

"Oh, um, that sounds good, I guess," he improvised sheepishly.

At Nogi's prompting, they began walking on a path towards an exit at the back of the path, hoping to find an abandoned building to hide in nearby. Going back to Kuroka's home sounded unsafe, so she let him lead the way.

However, as soon as they reached the gate, a car quietly pulled up in front of it.

The door slammed open, and the priest walked out calmly, wearing sunglasses. "Fools! You Devils shall not escape from the power of Christ!"

"Oh, fuck, another one of these preachers?" Kuroka said lightly, nudging Nogi.

"Haha, yeah... But this one is a total pervert... a freak... look, we should be careful!"

"Hm... He might be a bad man, but is he strong?"

She stretched her hand out, and a loud burst of energy exploded towards the priest. She seemed more powerful than most Devils whom Nogi had met.

However, as the smoke cleared, the priest stood unmoved in the same spot he had been. Above his head, he held a small crucifix.

"Fools! Devils! Your witchcraft shall not harm a man of God! Give up, and repent, or all is lost!"

Kuroka sneered, unwilling to admit defeat, and sent a few wheels of black flames towards the priest as he approached. However, he merely grabbed them, and the flames died out immediately. He used these wheels to strike back a charging Nogi, who was sent flying back and landed next to Kuroka. He got quickly to his feet, sensing that she was in danger.

She realized that she couldn't outfight this man of God, and would have to escape. But it was too late, the priest was almost catching up with her. She had only one hope: Nogi.

She quickly leaned towards a surprised Nogi, pressing her chest against him until he could feel its cold skin spread across his own, and kissed him. "This is our last chance. Let's give it everything, you and me, okay?"

She didn't lean back from him until she could sense his impending assent.

Nogi, dumbfounded, just nodded, then charged forwards with his sword extended. The sword gained power from his surging lust, and sliced away a wheel that the priest threw towards him.

Although Nogi was hoping for back-up from Kuroka, none came, because she had already begun to scramble towards the other side of the park to try and find her way out. She hoped that she could get away again like she had before: by having Nogi take the fall for her.

She careened away across the park, quickly covering ground as she escaped.

The priest, faced with a rampant attack from Nogi, considered his options carefully. He held another wheel up, feinting a strike towards Nogi. However, as Nogi slashed towards it with his sword, he drew it down and used it to trip up Nogi's feet. Nogi, caught off-balance, fell heavily forwards, and the priest used divine power to shrink the wheel until it fit around Nogi's feet and stopped him from getting back up.

Satisfied that Nogi was no longer a threat, the priest left him there and pursued Kuroka. She already had made a significant distance on him, and was already making her way out of the park. However, an unexpected blast of Holy energy delayed her, as she saw Freed Sellzen blocking her way.

Contemptuously, she snorted and unleashed a blast of energy towards him, sending him flying back and crashing heavily into a building. The priest quickly healed his dangerous wounds, then raised up a large crucifix which he had been carrying on his back. It extended, and just about managed to tap Kuroka on the shoulder.

The effect was instantaneous. Her Devil Power was exhausted by the touch of the Lord's might, and she fluttered to the grass like a butterfly.

The priest walked up to her, and laughed.

"Witness the power of the Lord! His might has brought you low, ambitious devil! You are drained of life, and on the brink of death. If he should touch you once, I say, even once more, then ye shall perish, evildoer! Praise the Lord!"

Kuroka just let out a frustrated hiss, as the priest grabbed her roughly and pinned her to a tree nearby.

She began to struggle, but froze as she felt the cold aura of a crucifix which the priest was holding up beside her neck, just below her jawline. She felt it draining her life, and knew that just a touch of it would slay her. It made her feel weak and helpless by its very presence, as if she was slipping towards death.

The priest pressed himself forwards against her. She was powerless to resist, with the crucifix still hovering beside her throat and inching further towards her at any sign of reluctance.

"Now, you must do as I wish, or you shall feel the wrath of the Lord! I say, I shall cleanse you of your wickedness."

The priest briefly looked over at Nogi, who stared transfixed towards Kuroka as he struggled hopelessly to get off the ground, and then began to make out with Kuroka. Her body lay limply in his grasp, her back curving cat-like into the tree as she helplessly complied.

At first, she made a disgusted expression, but as she felt the crucifix grow nearer her expression grew compliant and the kiss grew deeper. The priest's tongue began to almost smother her mouth. Nogi watched in horror. Her body responded elastically to the priest's pressure, and weakly gave in to his approach as he began to remove her kimono while still kissing her.

Soon, she passed out from the stress.

The priest and Freed Sellzen prepared to take her back to his home, but after a brief discussion Freed reminded the priest that Nogi was still on the ground. The priest, who had forgotten, looked over.

Holding the crucifix threateningly, he said, "Kill him. You must."

He then leaned in to kiss her. To his surprise, her kiss was warmer this time. As he briefly drew back, her eyes turned coldly towards Nogi, and she released a trail of blazing wheels towards him.

He screamed in agony as the flames took him, and he was sent back to hell.

His last sight was Kuroka nimbly holding the priest towards her, as if in thanks for the honour of killing Nogi.