Rain poured relentlessly over a desolate stretch of the forest, transforming the landscape into a blur of muted greens and browns. Amidst the downpour, a solitary, dilapidated shack stood defiantly against the elements, its weathered wooden planks creaking softly in the gusty winds. Beside the shack, neatly stacked logs and timber awaited their purpose, their rough surfaces glistening with droplets, creating a haphazard yet oddly organized fortress of potential.
Inside the dimly lit shack, a young boy sat among mismatched pallets and a lumpy, worn pillow. He wore an eyepatch over one eye, giving him an air of mystery, while a small, peculiar dog-like creature nestled closely beside him. This strange companion had a chainsaw protruding from its forehead, and its vibrant fur was slightly damp from the rain.
"I heard something recently. Apparently, it's normal to eat sliced bread with jam on it," Denji said to Pochita as he took a bite of a slice of white bread. "But normal is just a pipe dream for us. It feels like I'll be paying off my debt until the day I die. I'll probably never go out with a girl, either. I can't invite a girl over to this rundown shack, and I don't have money for any dates, anyway."
Pochita whined from where he rested on Denji's chest, his large eyes staring at his friend with sadness.
"If dreams do come true… I want to hug a girl before I die." Denji said.
As darkness fell, Denji hugged Pochita as his lone eye stared out into the darkness with apathy. A low growl echoed from his stomach, mirroring Pochita's own.
"So hungry I can't sleep," Denji said. "When I can't sleep, I think about my debt. Then it's even harder to fall asleep… I know. This is what I'll dream about when I do fall asleep."
Pochita perked up and stared at Denji's face. "I'll spread jam on sliced bread and share it with you. I'll flirt and stuff with a girl. We'll play video games in our room together… and I'll fall asleep in her arms," Denji smiled and looked down at Pochita, whose tail was wagging. "Good dream, right?"
-=C-S-M=-
Denji blearily opened his eyes.
It took a few seconds for his vision to focus, allowing him to see the minimal furniture in his new bedroom. He looked down at the plush pillow he was hugging against his chest, the shape of it resembling Denji's, the real Denji, old friend.
"That dream again…" Denji muttered and squeezed his pillow tighter.
After the day Daniel awakened in Denji's body, he began to experience all of Denji's real memories and life experiences. Each night of sleep brought him deeper insights into Denji's life. Every depressing and sad memory was now his to hold and own.
However, the memories Denji shared with Pochita were undoubtedly the brightest and happiest. Whenever Pochita was around, the world seemed to come alive. It was clear that Denji loved Pochita with all his heart.
As Daniel, or should he now refer to himself as Denji, continued to have these dreams each night, he gradually started to share in that love.
Denji wondered if these dreams were his brain's way of absorbing the memories of his new body into his own mind—merging them into a cohesive line of recollections to ease the transition of suddenly inhabiting a new identity.
Regardless, Denji couldn't shake the worry that he might struggle to differentiate where Denji ended and Daniel began. Still, he felt confident he wouldn't lose his sense of self. For some reason, he believed that a part of him would always know how to keep both aspects of his identity separate and distinguishable.
Letting go of his pillow, Denji looked over at the clock on the wall. Seeing that it was six in the morning, he decided he might as well get a jumpstart on the day. He sat up and stretched his stiff body. Standing to his feet, he began a series of stretches and lowered himself to the ground.
"1… 2… 3… 4…" Denji said after each new push-up.
While he had wanted to avoid becoming part of the crazy future of the events of Chainsaw Man, Denji had accepted that escaping his future was impossible.
Still, while he may not like it, he may as well grow stronger and better prepared for the Hell coming his way.
Once he was finished with his set of push-ups, Denji moved on to do sit-ups. From there, he did squats, lunges, burpees, and planks.
Each new calisthenics exercise burned his muscles and made him want to quit.
But he couldn't.
He knew he had to grow stronger. He had to be strong to survive.
And maybe, change the future.
-=C-S-M=-
"We've got a Fiend inside an east Nerima residence. Civilian evacuation and lockdown of the scene is complete at this time," A police officer said into his radio. A large crime scene stood behind him as several other officers barricaded a two-story Japanese home. "The Public Safety Devil Hunters are clear to proceed."
"Copy that," another officer near the barricade said into his radio. He then turned to Aki and Denji. "Everything is ready. Please proceed."
Aki nodded and passed under the police tape, closely followed by Denji. They walked up to the entrance of the home, where two officers stood.
"The Fiend is holed up in a room on the second floor. We'll let you Devil Hunters handle the rest. Good luck," an officer with a clipboard said.
Aki and Denji nodded and walked inside the home. They looked around and noticed how normal everything inside appeared. "Don't let your guard down," Aki said as he took point and walked up the stairs.
"There aren't any family pictures on the walls. Was this guy some sort of loner or something?" Denji asked as he gripped the incredibly sharp axe in his hand. "Big house for one person."
"The details don't matter. What matters is we find the Devil and eliminate it,"
"Do you ever relax? Even at home, you look so serious. We should get you a hobby."
"Shut up," Aki said as he walked up to a door. He leaned on the wall as wet, crunching noises could be heard from the other side. "Get ready."
Lifting his leg, Aki kicked the door open effortlessly. Aki and Denji stepped inside the room and looked at a balding man with a monstrous beak for a mouth eating a large parrot alive. All around the room, bloody birdcages hung as magazines with provocative pictures of women were strewn out.
"Now then, turn into a devil and show me your power. I'll decide whether you're useful or not," Aki said as he motioned at the Fiend, who rose to his feet with an angry expression.
"Would you use a wrench to drive in a nail? Or a hammer?" Denji asked.
"What?"
"What I'm trying to say is that me transforming for this guy is overkill. Watch," Denji said as the Fiend began to yell nonsense before rushing them. With a quick swipe of his axe, Denji sliced the Fiend's head off in one fell swoop. "Well, that was a lot easier than I thought. But you see my point, right? For a threat this minimal, I don't need to transform. But don't worry, I'll show off eventually. And when I do, you'll be glad you kept me around."
Aki frowned and looked down at the bleeding corpse. He couldn't argue against Denji's logic. "Very well. I just hope that power of yours is worth all this trouble. Now let's go, we have another case to get to."
Denji nodded and watched Aki leave. He turned to the dead Fiend and frowned.
"Yeah… me too."
-=C-S-M=-
…Two Weeks Later…
"You've been really well, Denji-kun," Makima said. "Hayakawa-kun has informed me that you've been making steady progress. And so, I believe you're ready for me to pair you up with a Buddy."
"A Buddy?" Denji muttered as he looked over to Aki. "We aren't buddies? What are we then? Partners? Duos? The two musketeers?"
"Please be quiet," Aki sighed.
"No, you and Aki aren't Buddies. In Public Safety, we work in pairs for small-scale missions, patrolling, and similar tasks for safety's sake," Makima said as she turned toward the door of her office, where loud, obnoxious footsteps could be heard. "Perfect timing. Your Buddy is here. Just be careful… she's a Fiend."
She's here. Denji thought, not sure if he was dreading or anticipating meeting his new buddy.
The doors to the office were swung open with a bang, and a pinkish-blonde-haired young woman with red horns on her head stepped inside with her arms waving dramatically. "Hey, hey, hey! Grovel, you humans! My name is… POWER!"
"Power, that's definitely… a name," Denji said as he took in the infamous Blood Fiends' appearance. "Those horns."
"It's as Makima-san said, she's a Fiend," Aki said.
"Fiends are just as much targets for elimination as devils, but since Power is highly rational, I appointed her to Hayakawa squad. Public Safety Double Extermination Special Division Four is experimental after all, because of that, the higher-ups will be looking to swiftly dissolve your team if you can't get results," Makima said with a smile. "You're both aware of what's in store for you should that prove to be the case, yes?"
Denji and Power both frowned at the barely hidden implication Makima had said.
Not liking the uncomfortable silence, Power turned to Denji. "You! Plain one! Are you my buddy or whatever?!"
"Me? No, he's the one you're looking for," Denji said as he motioned at Aki.
"I am not! He is!" Aki growled and pointed at Denji's face.
"Don't be rude to your buddy, Aki. This is why you don't have too many friends."
"I have friends!"
"I don't count,"
"We're not friends!"
Power hummed as she watched Aki and Power bicker back and forth. "These humans… how annoying!"
"What? Maybe Aki is annoying, but I'm a riot,"
Makima tilted her head as she watched the three begin to bicker.
Slowly and almost imperceptibly, Makima smiled.
-=C-S-M=-
"Makima said your horns attract too much attention, which is why we're now doing our patrol from the rooftops," Denji said as he looked up from his Japanese for Idiots book to inspect the streets below. Seeing nothing of concern, he turned back to his book. "Usually, Aki and I don't really run into devils too often. Maybe once a week. So as long as we look busy, we should be fine."
"Unacceptable! I demand combat!" Power yelled and ran all over the rooftop in search of a devil. "I yearn for the taste of blood!"
Seeing Denji ignoring her in favor of reading his book, she growled and ran up to him. Rearing her arm up, she tried to land a smack on the back of Denji's head, but missed as he leaned to the side.
"Oi. Smacking me won't cause any devils to appear, so just relax and keep your eyes peeled," Denji said and brought the spine of his book down on Power's head.
"How dare you attack the great Power?!"
"You tried to hit me first."
"You should be honored! Now face my wrath!" Power said and tried to swat Denji's head repeatedly. He was able to avoid all of her smacks, but when he saw that she wasn't going to give up, he allowed her to smack him in the back of his head.
"Haha! Victory is mine!" Power yelled and laughed.
Denji rolled his eyes and continued on in their patrol. At one point, they came into contact with some local police. At the sight of Power's horns, they tried to question them, but after showing them his Devil Hunter identification, they accepted the fact that a Fiend was out in the open.
After hours of searching and finding nothing, Denji decided it was time for a break and sat down on a wooden box. His eyes were darting back and forth as he read his book.
"It's about time to head back. We'll take another look and begin heading to headquarters if we still fail to find any devils," Denji said as he closed his book and tucked it away in his suit pocket. "Remember that Takoyaki stand a block back? How about we get some?"
Before she could reply, Power sniffed the air and gasped. "Blood! I smell blood!" She said excitedly before dashing away.
Denji squinted his eyes and watched her run off. "She's even crazier than in the original series," he sighed and followed after her, his axe in hand.
"Time to fight! Time to fight! Time to take you out!" Power yelled as she jumped from rooftop to rooftop. Reaching the edge of the rooftop, Power grinned and jumped off the five-story building without a lick of fear.
Beneath the flickering neon lights, a massive, grotesque creature writhed in the shadows, its body composed of a thick, glistening red substance that exuded a repulsive sheen. Long, bulbous fingers jutted out from its amorphous form, clawing at the air as if seeking some elusive escape. This was the Sea Cucumber Devil, a creature of menace, albeit one of relatively low power. Just a few feet away, a civilian Devil Hunter stood, anxiously speaking into a payphone, the tension of the moment palpable in the air around them.
"Yes, that's correct, sir. The scene has been evacuated and blocked. It's the Sea Cucumber Devil. Uh, it's an animal, technically. Listen, what I'm trying to say-" the Devil Hunter said before a loud explosion rocked the area as power brought down a large hammer made from her blood right over the Sea Cucumber Devil.
Blood and entrails splattered all over the area as Power laughed at the center of the scene.
"Mortals behold! The glory of the kill is my own!" Power shouted and released a maniacal laugh.
From the rooftop, Denji rubbed the back of his head as he watched Power laugh her heart out amongst the blood and gore, the civilian Devil Hunter staring at her in disbelief and anger.
"Yup, she's batshit crazy... As expected," Denji muttered.
Everything is going as it did in the story. I'm not sure if I should be relieved or deeply worried. Denji thought, gripping his axe tightly. With Power now here, it won't be long before my first challenge to appear… the Bat Devil.
-=C-S-M=-
As Denji expected, shortly after Power killed the Sea Cucumber Devil, it didn't take long for Makima and a small crew of administrators to arrive and quickly take care of the situation. After he was compensated, the civilian Devil Hunter shot Power one more annoyed look and left.
Now seated on a nearby bench not too far away from the now cordoned off scene full of police and cleanup personnel, Makima faced Power with that ever present cool smile of hers.
A smile that Denji was quickly finding annoying to see.
"Going after a civilian Devil Hunter's target is forcible obstruction of business. Normally, you'd be arrested for it," Makima said. "Listen, Power. You're going to need to think things through more before taking action. Make sure you keep her under control, Denji-kun."
"…Yes, Ma'am," Denji replied curtly, without turning to her. Makima frowned briefly before continuing.
"Good… This entire situation is partly due to Power's inherent tendencies as the Blood Devil. Although she is now a Fiend, her abilities are valuable in battle; they excite her in more ways than one. It seems she may not be suited for Devil Hunter work," Makima said, her final words carrying a menacing tone that sent a shiver down Power's back.
"Yes, perhaps, but as her Buddy, I should have done more to rein her in. If I had been more proactive, this entire situation could have been avoided. For that, I'm sorry, Makima," Denji said, stepping forward and bowing slightly. Power blinked at Denji but remained quiet, relieved that the blame wasn't entirely on her.
Makima tilted her head and stared at Denji. After a moment, she nodded and stood on her feet. "Very well. Since this situation is partly your fault, I will deduct your pay to reflect the check we had to pay the civilian Devil Hunter. Will that be a problem?"
"No, ma'am. I understand," Denji said.
"Good. Now, I'll be heading back to headquarters. I'm happy to see the two of you thriving as a pair. I expect great things from both of you," Makima said before turning to leave.
"…I'm happy you're aware that this was all your fault. Maybe you're not a complete hopeless mortal," Power said, her past boisterous self now back in full swing.
"Sure, whatever you say," Denji said and began to walk away. "Come on, let's go grab a drink."
"A drink?! Will there be blood?!"
"…maybe?"
"Let go forth then!"
-=C-S-M=-
"You lied… There is no blood here!"
"I never said there was," Denji said and opened the lid to his carbonated juice. The two were standing in front of one of Tokyo's many vending machine stations. "I said maybe there was a chance they could have blood."
"Damn humans," Power growled, her anger quickly fading at the sight of a small gray cat. After petting the tiny creature, she picked it up and cradled it in her arms. "This is why I only find joy in the company of cats. I despise humans with every fiber of my being, and it's not due to a personal grievance; hating mankind feels almost like a demonic instinct. Even devils are not exempt! I loathe them too, especially since one took my pet, Nyāko, away. Before I could save Nyāko, Makima caught me and thwarted my plans. Nyāko may already be dead, but I refuse to give up. If it allows me to reclaim what I have lost, I would even stoop so low as to ally with mortals. I doubt you understand such feelings toward a feline."
"I see, so you're here against your will, too," Denji muttered, throwing away the empty can of juice. "Where's that devil who's holding Nyāko right now?"
Not expecting such a reply, Power's eyes grew wide. "That beast is holding Nyāko not too far away from the city."
Denji nodded thoughtfully, then stepped closer to Power, invading her personal space. She flinched slightly, bristling with a mix of defensiveness and curiosity. "I used to have a pet too," he said, his voice softer now, tinged with nostalgia. "He was my closest companion, a true friend. I understand the pain you're feeling right now."
Power's expression shifted as Denji continued, his sincerity breaking through her tough exterior. "I want to help you save your cat," he added, determination in his eyes, "but you'll need to do something for me in return."
Power glared lightly at Denji. "Is that so? What do you wish to attain from me?"
"…make a contract with me," Denji said seriously. "Do that, and I'll save Nyāko for you."
Power's eyes widened, and the cat in her arms jumped away. "You dare to make a contract with me?"
"If you agree to be my ally and keep my best interests in mind, then I'll risk my life to save Nyāko. No matter the cost. Can you agree to that?" Denji said seriously, his words carefully chosen.
Power grimaced and looked away, looking uncomfortable. "I… I don't wish to make such a contract-"
"Do you not want to save Nyāko?" Denji said. "Agree to this, and you'll have your cat back in your arms. My… power isn't something to scoff at. Trust me, I'll defeat the Bat Devil."
Power's frown deepened as her fingers clenched around the fabric of her blue jacket, the vibrant color contrasting sharply with the shadows around her. She squeezed her eyes shut, battling the surge of emotions that overwhelmed her. Her thoughts turned to Nyāko, and a pang of worry twisted in her chest.
How alone and frightened must Nyāko be, trapped beneath the crushing weight of the Bat Devil?
Was she waiting, heart racing, for a glimmer of hope—waiting for Power to come and rescue her?
She had to be!
Determination surged through Power; she couldn't let Nyāko down! Her resolve solidified, igniting a fierce promise to herself: she would not fail Nyāko.
Had Power not been lost in her tumultuous thoughts, she would have noticed Denji's slip-up in knowing what Devil had Nyāko in their clutches.
"Okay! I'll make the contract with you!" Power yelled and pointed at Denji. "But if you fail to save her, I'll drink all your blood until you die! Got it!"
Denji smiled and held out a hand. "You got a deal."
Looking down at his hand with disgust, Power hesitated but ultimately shook his hand.