Pov Narrator.
Upon arriving at Makima's apartment, Isagi couldn't help but notice how quiet the place was from the outside. Calm. Orderly. Makima opened the door without hurry, and as soon as both of them crossed the threshold, they were immediately welcomed.
Several dogs ran toward her, wagging their tails with enthusiasm, surrounding her within seconds. Some barked softly, others simply approached looking for attention, rubbing against her legs.
Seven in total. Isagi observed them carefully. He knew they were Makima's pets, although he only remembered the name of two. Tiramisú and Petisú.
"(I would have named them Solovino and Canelo.)" he reflected internally, with complete seriousness. More god names. "Mmm…"
Without thinking too much, he extended his hand and placed it on the head of one of the white dogs. The animal responded immediately, slightly tilting its head and closing its eyes while Isagi began to pet it gently.
There was something about it. Something simple. But pleasant. Isagi had always had a weak spot for animals. He could watch movies where people died without being too affected. Almost as if it were nothing. They were very zzzzz. But if an animal suffered, that was different. That was when something tightened in his chest.
"(I can't be the only one, right?)" he thought for a moment. "(It's not that strange)." Or at least, he hoped it wasn't.
"Do you like dogs, Isagi?" Makima asked. She had already separated slightly from them, although the animals remained close, attentive to any gesture from her.
"Yes," he replied, without stopping petting the dog. "But I don't have one. I can barely take care of the animal that I am, I couldn't take care of another."
The comment had a light tone. Almost joking. But it wasn't completely far from the truth. Makima observed him in silence for a few seconds before responding.
"Why do you like them?" Her voice was soft. Curious. "I like them because they are loyal, and obedient." She leaned slightly, placing her hand on one of the dogs that looked at her with its tongue out, panting happily. "You can give them the same food over and over again, and they will still be happy." Her smile was small. "And they will give affection to their owner."
The dogs surrounded her, clearly happy, wagging their tails nonstop. The scene was warm. But her words had weight. One that made the atmosphere slightly uncomfortable.
"What about you, Isagi?"
"Well, they say the dog is man's best friend… without any personal taste, I simply like dogs and cats, anything that is cute is welcome." Isagi shrugged, giving a vague but sincere answer, while continuing to pet the dog for a few more seconds before removing his hand.
"Hm, I see." Makima nodded slightly, observing him for a moment longer before stepping away from her pets. "Well, how about we watch that movie, Isagi? If you want, I can bring something to eat for more atmosphere."
"I'd tell you no… but that would be a lie." Isagi closed his eyes with a slight smile, without the slightest trace of shame. "Maybe popcorn and a soda."
"Simple tastes." Said Makima with a slight tone of approval as she headed to the kitchen, her dogs following behind her, as if they were a small living shadow that didn't separate from her.
"(Well… it's not how I expected to spend my night, but maybe this is a good moment to get closer to her)." Thought Isagi while sitting on the sofa, letting himself fall with some comfort, looking at the small coffee table in front of him.
He drummed his fingers against his knee, the silence of the place accompanied only by the ticking of the clock on the wall, marking every second with an almost uncomfortable calm. Narrowing his eyes, Isagi began to get lost in his thoughts, his mind slowly drifting away from the present.
Tomorrow… The attack that Public Safety would receive. Several Devil Hunters would die. But, being honest with himself, he didn't care about all of them. He only cared about changing the fate of one specific group. Aki's.
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After a few minutes, Makima returned with a bowl of popcorn and two glasses filled with soda; she set them gently on the small table, the faint sound of glass touching the surface breaking the silence for a moment. With a small calm smile, she sat beside Isagi, close enough to share the space without discomfort.
"All set, do you want to put the movie on?" she asked, slightly turning her head to look at him.
"I'll do it, I hope you at least brought a tissue, for me…" He murmured that last part quietly as he stood up, taking the DVD with a certain seriousness, as if preparing for something important. "Here we go."
Inhaling deeply, as if he needed to gather courage, he prepared himself to watch the only movie that had ever made him shed crocodile tears. After inserting the DVD into the player, he quickly returned to his place, settling back onto the sofa.
"Don't worry, Makima, I'll stay quiet. I know how annoying it can be when someone spoils the movie for you." Isagi smiled slightly as he sat back down beside her, taking a more relaxed posture.
"I appreciate it, I like to watch movies in silence… it's more immersive when you focus on it." Makima returned her attention to the television screen, her eyes fixed, genuinely interested in discovering what that movie was about.
Isagi took the bowl of popcorn and began to eat slowly, almost by inertia… he would need it for what was coming.
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Some time later...
The light from the television dimly illuminated the room, projecting scenes filled with emotion while the silence grew heavier, denser.
Isagi pressed his trembling lips together, feeling how his chest slowly tightened.
He hated this scene.
An already old Hachi, with slow movements, his body tired, yet still returning to the station, with his last strength, to wait once again for his owner, as if he might appear at any moment.
As if he had never stopped believing.
Isagi clenched his fists on his legs, his fingers tensing as he tried to hold himself back, but it was useless. His eyes began to moisten, his vision slightly blurred as an uncomfortable pressure built up in his throat.
"…"
He said nothing. But he was losing the battle against the tears.
"It's beautiful, he comes back again and again... that loyalty, that love for his owner…" Makima murmured, her voice lower than usual.
Almost as if she were speaking to herself, watching attentively as Hachi waited even under the snow, his small body slowly being covered in white. The sound of the wind, the snow falling, the passage of time… And he was still there.
Waiting.
When the ending arrived, Isagi couldn't hold it anymore. He lowered his head, his hair covering his face while tears began to run down his cheeks uncontrollably, falling one after another. It was simply too much for him.
Hachi already old, dirty, tired. Even so, returning one last time to the station. Even so, waiting. For someone who was already dead. The scenes passed slowly, as if they hurt more. Dreaming of the moments he spent with Parker, playing with the ball, walking beside him, accompanying him every day to the station…
And then… The final moment. He sees him arrive. Hachi reunites with his owner.
"(Damn it, stupid dog, stupid movie…)." Isagi thought, but without a single drop of malice, his internal voice breaking as he covered his face with his arm, uselessly trying to hide the obvious.
He didn't understand why this movie was the only one that could do this to him. Put him like this..Break him in such a simple way. And Makima… Makima stared fixedly at the screen. She wasn't any better.
Her expression remained calm, but her eyes didn't lie. A silent tear slid down her cheek, slowly falling while she watched the reunion between Hachi and his owner.
Without making a sound. Without looking away. But… why?
He died waiting. He waited until the end. That story had touched something deep inside Makima, something that not even she herself could completely ignore.
Such a loyal connection, so absolute, so real. A dog that waited for years… Ten years. Without doubting. Without giving up. With unbreakable loyalty. A reflection of her own desire to find someone Hachi.
Silence… that was what remained when the movie ended.
The sound of the television turning off was the last thing that broke the atmosphere before everything was left in a heavy, almost uncomfortable calm. Isagi was lying back in his place, still with his arm covering his eyes, his breathing already steadier, but without making any joke, without that typical comment he usually threw out to break the tension.
He simply… stayed there.
"(This is why I don't like watching movies like this)." he thought, slowly swallowing, still feeling the weight in his chest. "(now I'm reflecting)."
His mind, almost unwillingly, began to wander, maybe he should appreciate more what he had. His shikigami, especially the divine dogs.
It wasn't something he should take lightly.
Makima, for her part, calmly wiped her cheeks, gently passing her fingers over her skin, removing any trace of tears as if nothing had happened. There was a sense of satisfaction in her.
It had been, without a doubt, one of the best movies she had ever seen. The atmosphere, the story, the message, everything resonated deeply with her.
She slightly turned her head, observing Isagi sunk in his spot, visibly affected, quieter than usual, almost, vulnerable.
"It was definitely a very good movie, Isagi. It's one of those that makes me see things in a different way, you have very good tastes." Makima smiled slightly; it was a small smile, but sincere, something rare in her. That last hour had been worth it. "And it seems it affected you too, did it make you sad to see Hachi dirty and already old?"
Isagi let out a small sigh before answering, without removing his arm from his eyes.
"Yes, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Every man cries when watching this movie, it's impossible for someone not to let at least a little out." he replied reluctantly, his tone slightly rough, as if trying to recover some dignity after the emotional blow. "Only someone without a soul could feel nothing when watching this movie."
His "working Zenin with a 45 arm" facade had completely fallen. And he knew it. But, for once, he didn't care that much.
"(Someone without a soul…)." Makima repeated in her mind, savoring those words while her gaze rested on Isagi.
Who slowly sat up straight again, adjusting himself on the sofa. For a moment, the silence grew deeper.
"Then do I have a soul?" she suddenly asked, her voice soft, almost neutral, but with a nuance difficult to interpret. "The movie made me cry, so does that mean that for you I have a soul, Isagi?"
"Huh? Where did that question come from?" Confused, he turned to look at her, slightly frowning.
But she didn't respond. She only watched him. Waiting. Isagi looked away for a second, thinking about how to answer, before speaking.
"Well, I guess so." he finally said, interlacing his own hands while resting his elbows on his legs. "Just because you're a devil doesn't mean you don't feel anything, I've seen it several times already." He made a small pause, remembering. "Devils can feel fear, hate, pleasure… and even love, or at least I think so, based on what I saw with the bat devil and the leech."
He narrowed his eyes remembering the latter; she had sounded devastated upon learning about the death of her "man"… although that sadness didn't last long.
"I don't know, I'd say they can feel." he continued, slightly shrugging. "I think you can feel too, Makima, you're not that different from us, from people."
Makima did not respond immediately. She simply remained silent. Observing Isagi. But this time, it wasn't like before. She wasn't analyzing his smell. She wasn't measuring his presence. She was, looking at him. His face. His expressions.
As if trying to understand something she couldn't grasp with her usual senses. Her lips curved slightly upward. A small smile.
"Yes, maybe you're right, maybe I do have a soul." she said, closing her eyes for a moment, as if letting those words settle inside her. "It was a very good movie… and night."
"You know, Isagi, maybe from now on I'll start treating my dogs better, they won't be here forever." Makima commented while gently petting the head of one of her dogs sleeping at her feet.
Her fingers moving slowly over its fur, almost carefully, almost affectionately. Isagi opened his mouth to respond, but stopped halfway.
Better not.
He didn't know if Makima was talking about her pets, or about the people she saw as dogs or puppies. And, being honest, he had no intention of finding out.
"Isagi, you can sleep in one of the rooms. Come, I'll show you which one." Makima stood up naturally and turned off the television, leaving the room in dim light.
She turned toward Isagi and gestured with her hand for him to follow. Isagi sighed lightly and stood up with some heaviness, stretching his body a little before beginning to walk after her.
The hallway was silent, barely illuminated. The sound of their footsteps was the only thing breaking the calm. As they walked, Makima moved slightly closer to him, shortening the distance almost imperceptibly.
"Isagi, I really enjoyed this little movie night, I think it was even better than the rookie meeting." she said, turning her head slightly toward him, her voice soft in the silence.
"Really? Well… thanks, I guess." Isagi replied, lightly scratching the back of his neck. "Maybe we could do it again." he suggested naturally. Makima laughed softly. A low, brief laugh.
"A second date? How bold, but I'll grant you that opportunity."
"Who said it was a...?" Isagi stopped for a second, letting out a small resigned sigh. "Forget it, either way I won't complain, it's nice spending time with you." Both stopped in front of a door. Isagi placed his hand on the knob. "Good night, Makima." he said before entering, without looking back. The door closed softly.
Makima, for her part, remained outside for a couple more seconds, in silence, observing the closed door, her eyes slightly narrowed.
"(So he does enjoy spending time with me)."
She thought. Her lips barely curved, a small, almost imperceptible smile. With that last thought, Makima turned around and headed toward her own room, her soft steps fading into the hallway.
Now… With a new understanding of Isagi.
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End of the chapter.