(Y/N) gazed at the massive white blade sticking out of his gut, black blood dripping from his mouth. The blade seared his flesh, eliciting agony that could not be described. The black blood that touched the light emitted by it squirmed and boiled, almost appearing to be screaming in agony with a life of its own. 

SHUNK!!!

The blade pulled itself back into (Y/N), and he staggered forward, clutching the massive wound in his gut, the blade left behind a wound that-

SLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Y/N) roared in agony as the blade dug through his stomach once again, cleaving his belly open diagonally. Makima flew out of the massive hole she had just opened, skidding to a halt on the sand. She clutched an ethereal sword, which had a golden hilt that could only be described as angelic in nature and design. Its blade was composed of a small white flame. Despite the blade being big enough to cleave open (Y/N)'s massive form moments ago, the blade now was only a few inches long, barely holding its shape as the small flame flickered.

(Y/N) vomited a torrent of black blood, a massive glowing gash in his stomach. The dark blood squirmed, trying and failing to close the wound as he crumpled to his knees. The wound opened beyond the boundary of (Y/N)'s flesh. It was as if she had cleaved through reality itself with that blade.

(Y/N) choked on his blood, snarling in a mix of rage and agony. 

"It's interesting, is it not?" Makima asked. "The Gun was offered one year from the life of every American citizen, nearly equating to 270 million years, yet it was struck down relatively easily." Makima said. "Whereas this sword here used only two thousand years of human lifespans, yet it holds so much power." Makima said, gazing at the flickering flame of her blade. "But when you think about it, it all makes sense..."

"Picture losing one year from your lifespan. It doesn't seem all that bad, does it not? You could take up to five, or even ten before you start seriously worrying." Makima began. "Whereas with this sword, I dedicated the entire remaining lifespans of only around fifty devil hunters. You see, the difference in strength comes from the intrinsic value of the human lifespan. Fifty people could fork over a year of their life willy-nilly, or with only a bit of apprehension. But a single person dedicating their remaining fifty years of life, all their potential to find happiness, success, love, and all the good things to be found in living, holds exponentially higher value."

"MAKIMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

(Y/N) roared, ignoring Makima's little diatribe. His cloak thrashed violently as a hundred darkness blades flew from beneath it. They moved instantaneously, every single blade burying itself in Makima's body, turning her into a pincushion of otherworldly swords as she was swallowed in an explosion of pure darkness.

Makima waved the flaming sword, the white flame blazing to life as it dissipated the darkness in a moment.

(Y/N) roared, manifesting a darkness blade and blitzing toward her. He impaled her straight through the eye, bursting the blade through the back of her head and impaling her head to the ground. He snarled, spraying Makima's face with droplets of black blood as the darkness began to swallow them both, blanketing them like a living organism.

Makima smirked.

And held the hilt of the blade against (Y/N)'s chest.

"Let..."

"There..."

"Be..."

...

"Light."

----------

All over Tokyo, people stopped to gaze at the sight.

"Whoa!"

"What the hell?"

"Damn...!"

"What is that...?"

"So pretty!"

"It's... beautiful...!"

These words were uttered as the people gazed at the horizon.

Where a massive shaft of light glowed.

The pillar of white light pierced the clouds, opening the churning dark clouds to reveal a beautiful blue sky.

It was like a scene from scripture.

----------

...

...

...

"What did I tell you?"

Makima held the ethereal blade as its white flame once again returned to a small flicker. She smirked at the sight.

"The villain always loses..."

(Y/N) laid in a mile-long crater of glass carved into the beach by the blade's flame, a massive elliptical hole seared into his chest. His darkness form had been entirely erased in the heavenly light, leaving him a bleeding, broken mortal. He choked on his own blood, muscles jerking as he barely clung to life.

...

...

...

"P-Please..." (Y/N) choked.

...

...

...

"Please... come out...!" (Y/N) pleaded, tears welling up in his eyes. "We're... so... close...!"

...

...

...

"PLEASE!!!" (Y/N) yelled in a pix of pain and agony. "IT COULDN'T HAVE ALL BEEN FOR NOTHING!!!" He roared, ignoring the blood dripping into his lungs.

...

...

...

But the entity never answered.

"Wh-Why...?" (Y/N) asked quietly. "Why...?" He asked again, swallowed by even more crippling despair by the second. "W-why aren't you-"

SCHLUNK!!!

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHH!!!!" (Y/N) screamed in agony as Makima's chain impaled him, digging into his stomach. He screamed over and over, flailing as the chain slid deeper and deeper inside of him, digging into his organs. He screamed as he was hoisted up by the chain, hovering towards Makima, who gazed at him with a cold, calm smile.

"GYAAAH!!! AAAAHHH!!! HRAAAAAAAA-"

"Quiet."

Makima ordered.

In an instant, (Y/N)'s body stilled, and his face became as calm as hers. Despite this, his body still twitched ever so slightly, and the tears still bountifully flowed from his trembling eyes. She made a beckoning motion, pulling (Y/N) closer with her chain.

"Do you know why he didn't answer your call?" Makima asked quietly. (Y/N) stared at her, unable to answer. "The answer is quite simple, you see..." Her face curled into a grin.

"It's because he would never harm his dear little sister..."

...

...

...

(Y/N)'s body began to tremble uncontrollably, spasming in tiny movements. His throat quivered violently, trying to force out a scream. The tears gushed from his eyes, the veins within them bursting from the strain. 

Makima ignored (Y/N)'s quiet suffering, slowly leaning towards (Y/N)'s belly.

"Can you hear me, big brother...?" Makima asked as she pulled (Y/N) into a hug, pushing her cheek against his blood-covered stomach.

"I've come to save you..." Makima whispered. 

"Just sit tight..."

"I'll be setting you free. Very, very soon..."

------------

Kishibe sat on a chair, gazing at a TV. In their own separate corners, the different not-devils sat, anxious.

Kishibe paused as his phone rang.

"Hello?" Kishibe asked, answering his phone.

...

...

...

...

...

...

"I see." Kishibe said. He slowly closed his phone, placing it back in his pocket.

"Plan B it is..." Kishibe muttered, getting up from his seat.

"What was that?" Aki asked as Kishibe walked to the door and opened it.

...

"The kid fuckin' lost..." Kishibe hissed.

...

...

...

"What...?" Aki whispered. "W-Wh-Wha...?" Aki fell to his knees as Reze scrunched her eyes closed, gritting her teeth. Quanxi's face didn't change, having expected this outcome already. "He's dead...?" Aki asked quietly.

"Worse." Kishibe said, closing the door behind him.

Kishibe departed as the sound of Aki's cry of anguish sounded from behind the door.

----------

(Y/N) did not return home that night.

Power sat on the couch gazing at the door worriedly.

"Yo, Power, the bathroom's open. Come brush you teeth." Denji said, stepping out of the bathroom.

...

"Something feels wrong..." Power muttered.

...

"What do you mean?" Denji asked.

...

"I'm worried about top henchman..." Power said.

"Don't be, he's probably still chatting with Makima." Denji said.

"For hours straight?" Power asked.  "What if something happened to him? What if something got him?" She asked worriedly.

"Power, don't worry." Denji said. But in truth, worry began to creep up his back as well. "Maybe... maybe he just stayed the night at Makima's..." Denji rationalized.

"B-But he would never choose Makima over me!!!" Power cried.

----------

Power laid on her and (Y/N)'s bed, gazing at the ceiling. Meowy nuzzled up beside her, the cat sensing her anxiety. It didn't feel right. (Y/N) wouldn't just vanish on her, and he sure as well wouldn't spend a night at Makima's when he had her! Something bad must've happened to him!

Knock!

...

Knock!

Power froze as she heard two knocks at the apartment door. 

"Top henchman!!!" Power thought, hopping out of her sheets and running out of her room. She hurriedly jogged to the door, bringing a hand to it.

She froze for a moment.

...

Something didn't feel right.

...

But she had to know.

Power unlocked the door, slowly opening it.

"Top henchman...?" Power asked as she pulled it open.

----------

Denji yawned as he sat up in his bed. It was morning. He hadn't had the door dream, so today must've been his lucky day! He sighed, slipping out of his bed. He walked out of his room and into the bathroom, brushing his teeth and washing his face. He walked to Power's room, walking through the open door.

"Yo, Power. Wakey wa-"

Denji froze as his eyes landed on an empty bed.

Power and Meowy were nowhere to be seen.

He gazed at the bed for a moment, before he slowly turned around, leaving the room.

Power must've gotten up before him, maybe she was resting on the couch or trying to work the microwave-

He froze as his eyes landed on the wide-open door to the apartment. Creaking as it shifted back and forth in the wind.

...

...

...

Maybe Power went for a walk.

Maybe she was looking for (Y/N).

Yeah, that must be it.

She'll be home later.

Denji slowly closed the door to the apartment, turning and walking to the couch, sitting down on it.

...

...

...

"I'm hungry." Denji said to the empty room. He slowly got up, walking to the fridge. He pulled it open, grabbing one of Power's favorite yogurts.

"Hey, Power. I'm gonna eat your favorite yogurt!" Denji chirped, expecting her to leap around the corner to scream at him.

...

Nothing happened.

...

Denji blinked before he fished a spoon from the dishwasher. He pulled the paper lid off of the yogurt, tossing it on the floor before he dug in, finishing in a few scoops. He licked his lips, enjoying the sweet taste.

...

He dropped the yogurt on the floor, pulling out a second one.

...

Then a third.

...

Then a fourth.

...

He'd finished them all.

...

...

...

Denji stared at the empty yogurt package, his eye twitching ever so slightly.

"Whelp, I'll go buy some more..." Denji said, turning to grab some of the money they stashed in the back of the apartment.

----------

"That'll be around 13400 yen." The clerk said, pushing a handful of assorted snacks and ice cream into a grocery bag. Denji had decided to get more than just yogurt.

"Here." Denji placed a handful of bills on the counter.

"Sir, this is far too much!" The clerk said worriedly.

"Just take it, I'm loaded." Denji took the bag and walked out of the store.

He walked down the street, whistling as he journeyed back to the apartment. 

He passed by a dark alleyway.

He paused, taking a few steps back to gaze down it.

He sighed.

He slowly walked down it, looking around.

"Yo, Power! You in here? Aki? Rezeeee?" Denji asked, calling around the shadows. "(Y/N)? How 'bout you, you here?" Denji asked.

Nothing.

...

"Tch." Denji turned and left.

Denji decided to check a few more alleys. Just to make sure.

Maybe a few back streets, too.

And maybe the mall as well.

And the park.

And that other apartment complex.

Denji slowly walked toward a random pedestrian.

"Hey, have you seen-"

-

"-my friend?"

-

"-my pal?"

-

"-a girl?"

-

"-my girlfriend?"

-

"Hm? Could you describe them?"

Every bystander he talked to asked.

"Oh, sure." Denji said. "Well..."

-

"He's got black hair, and wears a devil hunter uniform. Oh, he ties his hair on the top of his head-"

-

"-and his hair's got all these messy spikes and it's super long and curly-"

-

"-she's also got these red horn-looking accessories she likes to wear on her head-"

-

"-and she wears a choker around her neck!"

-

...

"No, I haven't seen them."

Every single bystander Denji asked said this.

Denji didn't falter. He continued walking, continued looking, continued asking, continued searching.

He walked and walked and walked.

He looked and looked and looked.

He asked and asked and asked.

He searched and searched and searched.

...

...

...

But not a single sign of any of them showed.

Denji slowly walked towards his apartment, night had fallen. It was so weird how fast time could move sometimes. Denji slowly approached a bench under a streetlight, deciding to sit down by it.

He sighed, reaching into his snack bag.

Melted.

Broken.

Torn open.

Melted.

Melted.

Oh!

Denji pulled out a good popsicle, kept mostly solid by mooching off the coldness of the other popsicles. He pulled off the wrapper, biting into it without a care for his teeth. He finished it in a few chomps, licking the stick clean to finish it. He let out a low sigh, letting his mist breath flow in the light of the streetlamp.

He slowly gazed at the popsicle stick.

Winner!

Is what was written on top of it.

...

...

...

"HUARK!!!" Denji vomited the ice cream, sending half-digested cream plopping onto the pavement. Denji gazed at the white puddle at his feet, his breaths ragged and shallow. 

...

...

...

"Where did you guys all go...?"

Denji asked quietly.

He slowly brought his hands to the sides of his head, holding himself tightly.

"Aki..."

"Power..."

"Reze..."

"(Y/N)..."

Denji gritted his teeth as tears welled up in his eyes.

"Where did you go...?" He whimpered.

He sobbed quietly, tears dripping onto the puddle of vomit I've cream.

"W-What did I do wrong...?" He sobbed.

"What are you doing, Denji?"

"GYAH!" Denji shot up, lifting his head.

"Makima!" He exclaimed.

"Hello, Denji." Makima knelt beside him. She gazed down at one of his trembling hands, taking it in hers. Denji froze at the contact.

"My... Your hand is freezing." Makima said. 

"It's fine. It won't kill me..." Denji muttered.

"it's not fine." Makima said. "If your body gets too cold, you'll get depressed." Makima explained.

Denji let out a low sigh.

...

"Denji, would you like to have tea at my place?" Makima asked.

...

"Sure." Denji muttered.

----------

Makima led Denji down the street, slowly approaching an incredibly expensive-looking apartment complex.

"My home is the 2nd and 3rd floors." Makima said casually.

"Neat." Denji said, not much caring.

"Oh, one more thing." Makima said. "Are you okay with dogs?" She asked.

Denji nodded.

----------

Makima pulled open the door to her apartment. 

"I'm ba-"

BORK!!!

RUFF!!!

BARK!!!

YAP!!!

Makima and Denji cried out in surprise as they were swarmed by a gang of huskies. The dogs lept onto them, dragging them to the ground and licking their faces.

"Gaaah! Hahaha!!!!" Denji laughed as one of them lapped at his chin, tasting some of the ice cream that remained there.

"Ah, alright, alright already... I'm glad to see you too..." Makima chuckled as three dogs smothered her with their tongues. "Look, someone came to visit! Isn't that nice?" Makima cooed to the dogs. "His name is Denji. Why don't you say woof evening to him? 'Woof evening!'"Makima said while petting the dogs.

----------

Denji sat down on the floor, in between a couch and a coffee table as he patted the heads of Makima's dogs.

"I have black tea, green tea, and genmaicha. Do you have a preference?" Makima asked from the kitchen.

"Whichever one tastes best..." Denji asnwered.

After a brief moment, Makima returned from the kitchen with tea and a small plate with a dessert on it. She placed both on the table.

"Have some tiramisu, I made it myself." Makima said.

"Tira-"

WOOF!!!

Denji was cut off as one of the dogs barked excitedly, licking Makima's face.

"Woah, not you, boy!" Makima chuckled. "I wasn't calling you."

"Hm?" Denji was confused.

"Oh, this pup here is named Tiramisu. 'Hi, I'm tiramisu!'" Makima spoke in a goofy tone, speaking for the dog. 

"The one you're petting is named Cream Puff." Makima added, gesturing to the white husky whose belly Denji was rubbing. "That's nice having your tummy rubbed, isn't it?" Makima asked the dog. "I bet it feels great, doesn't it, Cream Puff?" Makima chuckled as the dog barked excitedly in response. 

"Who wants a treat?" Makima asked, holding up a bag of dog treats.

WOOOOOOOOOF!!!

The dogs crowded around her as she fed them each a few treats, snapping hungrily at the little bone-shaped biscuits.

Denji watched her as he ate a piece of the Tiramisu with a fork.

"Man..." Denji thought as he took a sip of his tea. "This place seems really great..."

Denji placed his tea on the table, letting his hand rest on it for a moment.

Before Makima slowly scooped it into hers.

Denji blushed as Makima grasped his hand, gazing at it.

"Good. Very good." Makima said. "It's nice and warm." Makima said.

"Yeah..." Denji muttered.

"The best thing you can do when your hands are cold is to touch a living being." Makima said.

...

"Thanks, Makima..." Denji smiled.

"Hm?"

"Thanks to you, I'm a little happier..." He muttered.

He froze a Makima placed a hand on his head.

"You've gone through so much..." Makima whispered. "You've done well to survive..." Makima added.

...

"I'm so proud of you..."

...

Sniff...

Denji sniffled as his lip began to quiver. He let out a small, choked sob as he gazed at the floor.

"Hm? Denji?" Makima asked, watching as the tears flowed.

"Ugh! It's nothing!" Denji cried, wiping his face.

BORK!!!

The dogs sensed his distress, rushing to lick his face and cheer him up.

"GYAAAAGH!!!" Denji cried as he was swarmed. "Gyahaha!!!" He laughed.

...

"Denji..." Makima began. "While he got away, you still prevented the gun hybrid from causing major damage." Makima began. "And you saved me from Santa Claus." She added.

...

"Do you remember out promise?" Makima asked.

...

"Hm?"

...

"Tell me what you want, and I'll make it come true." Makima said.

...

...

...

Denji stared at her.

...

Oh shit.

He hadn't really thought about it all that much.

For a while, at least.

Denji stared at her a little longer, before turning away from her. He gazed into nothing for a moment, thinking hard about what he wanted. 

Just what did he want the most?

...

...

...

...

...

...

"Makima..." Denji spoke.

"Yes, Denji?" Makima asked.

...

...

...

"Can you..." Denji looked to the ground. 

"Can you fire me?"

...

...

...

"Fire you?" Makima asked. "I'm not following."

"I...I want to go." Denji said. "I'm thankful for all you've done for me. Thanks to you... I got to see things and meet people I never would have without you. And I'm thankful for that." Denji muttered. "But seeing you so happy with these dogs... It makes me jealous." Denji muttered. "It makes me want to find my own family..." Denji muttered. "But I feel like all the people I care about are leaving..." Denji muttered. "And I have to go find them..."

"Power..."

"Aki..."

"(Y/N)..."

"The girl I like..."

...

"Recently, they all disappeared." Denji muttered. "I wanna go out into the world and find them." Denji said. "I want to see them again..."

"Argue with them again..."

"Play videogames with them again..."

"Enjoy delicious food with them again..."

"Watch movies with them again..."

"I want that... More than anything in the world..." Denji muttered, looking at the ground.

"Can... Can you grant me that wish, Makima?" Denji asked.

Makima gazed at him for a moment.

...

...

...

Ding-Dong!

"Oh, he's here." Makima said, turning to the door.

...

"Who's here?" Denji asked.

"(Y/N). I had him go pick something up." Makima said.

"Huh!? (Y/N)'s here!?" Denji got up from his seat in a flash. He was damn near ready to kick down the door, but Makima grabbed his wrist.

"Let's go together." Makima smiled at him. Denji smiled back, and the two walked towards the door slowly.

"You open the door, Denji." Makima said.

...

"When you open it, I'll kill (Y/N)."

...

...

...

"Huh?" Denji asked.

They got closer to the door.

"W-wait... Huh? Huh??? Wh-what did you say?" Denji asked frantically.

"Hm?" Makima asked, not turning to him.

"Y-You're joking, right?" Denji asked.

...

"M-Makima...?" Denji asked quietly.

They stopped at the door.

"Alright, Denji..." Makima said, slowly turning to him.

"Open it."

-

"Don't open it."

-

The phrase from his nightmares played in his head.

"Open the door, Denji." Makima said.

Denji took a step forward, before freezing. Sweat was accumulating on his brow, and he had an anxious look on his face.

Makima cupped a hand around his head, pulling him close.

"You don't have to think about it. Do you trust me?" Makima asked.

Denji looked at her.

Then back at the door.

...

"If I open that door..."

Denji extended a hand towards the door.

"If I open that door... then (Y/N) will be there, smiling..."

His hand drifted closer.

"He'll set off a fire cracker..."

His hand drifted ever closer.

"And he'll be holding a cake..."

He rested his finger on the knob.

...

"Wait.. why will he have a cake...?" Denji wondered.

...

...

...

"Oh yeah... Tommorow's my birthday..." Denji thought.

"Yeah... (Y/N) will be holding a cake..."

"Aki... and Power... and Reze will be by his side... All of them will be smiling..."

"They'll shout 'happy birthday!' and laugh..."

Denji hooked his hand around the doorknob.

"I get it now..."

"They all disappeared... Because they were planning a surprise party for me..."

"Ain't that right, (Y/N)?" Denji smiled, opening the door.

(Y/N) stood alone, wearing a red party hat and holding a cake with a melancholic look on his face. He lifted his gaze slowly, his eyes sparkling as they met Denji's.

"H-hey, Denji...!" (Y/N) smiled at him.

"(Y/N)...?" Denji asked, looking around. "Where are the others...?" He asked.

(Y/N) stared at him for a moment.

Before tears began to drip from his eyes.

"D-Denji..." (Y/N) whispered.

"Denji... No matter what she says..."

"It's not your faul-"

"Bang."

SPLAT!!!

Blood sprayed Denji's face as Makima extended a pointer finger at (Y/N), flattening all but (Y/N)'s head and lower body against the wall behind him with an unseen force. Denji stared at (Y/N)'s head as it hit the ground with an audible thud, settling in a pool of his own blood. He gazed at it, his breath slowly growing shallower and shallower as the sight in front of him sunk in.

"Good riddance." Makima muttered, gazing at (Y/N)'s head. She slowly turned to Denji, taking his hand in hers.

"Oh, your hands are cold again." Makima observed. "Let's go back inside."

Denji's mouth slowly opened, his lower jaw quivering.

He wanted to scream.

He wanted to scream his fucking lungs out.

...

But nothing came.

Makima smiled as she led him inside, closing the door behind her.

----------

...

...

...

That's right.

It was me, reader.

I was the villain all along.

Have fun sleeping tonight :)