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The cat was a nice surprise.
What was even more of a surprise was that Jinu wanted to meet up and talk.
Rumi was supposed to be focused on getting a nights rest so she could focus on the diss track they had agreed upon making to defeat the Saja Boys and regain their fans back and restore order to protect the Honmoon.
But after she entered her bedroom and saw that demon pigeon with a top hat right outside on her balcony. She should have just minded her business but did she? No
She was then led to go and talk to the demon boy on a rooftop.
“Nice, I was trying to break the ice by bringing the manikin as a decoy thinking it would be funny. But instead you want to just chop my head off” he scoffed.
Rumi lunged forward, swinging her sword but with every movement, he dodged it.
“Whoa! Whoa whoa I just want to talk!” He yelled in his defense, backing away.
Rumi continued pushing
“Talk?” She scoffed, glaring at the boy.
Jinu held his hands up. “About your patterns. But most importantly your pants. What’s up with the trains and teddy bears?”
Rumi looked at him confused. Was he seriously bringing up her pj’s? She rolled her eyes and looked down.
“Not judging” he smirked and held an arm up, going up and down. “Choo- choo” he whispered jokingly.
Rumi did not like his mockery. She lunged forward again, letting out an irritated sigh.
“You were supposed to be dead by now!”
Jinu scrambled on his feet, teleporting from one side of the roof to the other.
“Hey, in my defense I could have told your friends about who you really are but I didn’t” he began to walk and study her. He was going to start making wild but educated guesses.
“Because they don’t know do they”
Rumi looked defeated. He raised an eyebrow, knowing he struck something.
“Ah so I am right. They have no idea” he took a pause.
“You’re a demon, who’s also part hunter, walking around freely in the human world” he stated. Hands in his pockets as he looked at the tiles below him.
“I’m just a hunter, thanks” she spat
“Then how’d you get the patterns?” He glared. Rats
“That’s none of your business” she growled.
“I know what it feels like to have them-“ Rumi cut him off
“Feel? You demons don’t feel anything”
Jinu scoffed, this girl was pissing him off.
“Is that what you think? That’s all we demons do, is nothing but feel things. All our shame, misery and constantly thinking about our mistakes. That’s how Gwi-ma controls all the demons. Do you not hear him? In your head? The voices?”
Clearly nothing is ringing a bell for Rumi.
What is he talking about?
“What the hell are you talking about?” She asked, still keeping a firm grip on her sword. Not letting it go for one second.
Jinu almost felt a ping of envy in his chest. Someone who does constantly hear the demon king? Lucky bastard.
He let a soft “huh”
The two of them looked at each other for a bit. As he approached her slowly. He frowned.
“You have no idea how lucky you are. I came wanting to be nice, you know. I understand what you’re going through as a prisoner of the demon king. I only want to be helpful to you. Demon to demon”
That wasn’t his full honest intention though. He was definitely curious about this hybrid and her backstory. But he had to remember his mission. Find her weakness to take her down and that was getting to know the enemy before you strike.
“I’m nothing like you” she frowned. She raised the sword up to his neck.
“Fine, when you stop being delusional, come and find me. I was once in denial too” he sighed. “See you next time” He disappeared as she swung.
“There won’t be a next time!”
XxxxXx
After several attempts at getting Rumi’s attention.
Rumi finally gave in.
There were several nights where she thought about meeting him, thinking to herself was a little bit on the harsher side. Every time they somehow saw each other at award shows or music bank filmings. She realized that there was still a lot she really didn’t know about her family or herself and why she was the way she was.
As much as her members talk about destroying them with their work in progress diss track. The more she knew in her gut that this was not the way to end things.
What if she was going about this the wrong way?
Would it hurt to talk to him again?
She would lie in her bed with these thoughts in her head not being able to sleep at all.
And so she sent him an invitation letter via his big furry cat.
“Save the date” it read.
Once he had received it, he pursed his lips.
Finally
When the date finally came around to it, he waited what seemed hours at a scenic path walk. He was getting impatient, tapping his foot, looking all around for her but she wasn’t showing up.
“She wants to meet up finally but can't even show up on time?” He sighed, throwing his head back and closing his eyes. Rumi slightly crept up on him, she blew on his face and once he opened his eyes, she was right in front of his face.
Jinu let out a scream and nearly dropped to the floor in the process. Rumi have a slightly smug smile, feeling proud that she scared him.
“Gah! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
“No, you’re so jumpy for a demon” she rolled her eyes. “Come on let’s go”
“Glad you finally decided to talk, but you could have picked a better location for our date”
Rumi’s stopped and looked at him surprised and confused.
“Hah! A date? This isn’t a date”
He deadpanned, holding up the letter.
Rumi wanted to laugh.
“Save the date doesn’t mean this is a a date-“ Rumi rubbed her temples and sighed “god you’re so old, this is just a business meeting”
“Right” he hummed.
“I’ve been thinking about it, over this last week. What if I told you there was a way to save both our asses?” She proposed, walking ahead of the demon boy.
Jinu pursed his lips. He couldn’t really imagine the possibility of that but he figured he’d hear her out.
“Hmm…Go on”
“What if, you help us with the Idol awards? Once we win, we permanently seal the Honmoon, cutting off Gwi-ma and all the demons. They will not longer be able to come through. I will finally get rid of these marks and complete my mission while you get to live here also free from his curse”
Jinu’s eyebrows furrowed. His stomach twisted.
“Rumi I don’t think it’s that simple” he sighed.
“He’ll be cut off Jinu, he won’t have any influence on you any more. Isn’t that what you want?” She sighed. She then stared at him for a moment. His expression was slightly pained. Now Rumi’s expression softened.
Was that too harsh? She wondered.
“Hey, are you okay?” She approached him slowly.
Jinu shrugged it off. He cleared his throat. He didn’t want to get into it now. Not yet with her anyway.
“Nothing, I’m good just forget about it”
Rumi chewed on the inside of her cheek, still unsure if she should let it go but for now she will since she realized she might have struck a nerve. Feeling terrible, Rumi hesitantly reached forward and gently rubbed her hand on the side of his forearm.
“I-I’m sorry, if I said something. Is there something I’m not getting?” She asked. Jinu looked at her astonished. The way the light was hitting her eyes, they glowed beautifully.
Now that the sun was setting. The mood has settled into something almost romantic . But he refused to think like that right now. He figured after all those years in basic hell he wouldn’t feel anything besides pain and shame.
But seeing her was giving him just that flicker of warmth.
“N-no, it’s okay. I just don’t want to get my hopes up” he said finally, the tension dimmed and the mood was lifted once more.
“Right, well I have to have hope. Since I was born, I’ve been a mistake so I have to believe that this will also cure me” she sighed.
An old lady came up and interrupted their conversation.
“A bracelet for your girlfriend?” She said sweetly, holding up the multicolored bracelet to Jinu. His eyes widened and went quick to deny it.
“Oh no, we’re not- she’s not my type” he said to the woman. Her smile fell as the two adults started to bicker.
“Uh-excuse you? I’m everyone’s type” she argued
Jinu scoffed “You can’t even show up on time”
“Are you from the 1900s? Actually you’re probably older than that-“ Rumi chuckled and stopped herself from continuing.
“Aish, here I’ll give this to you for free” she handed Rumi the bracelet. “Go find yourself a better one” she huffed.
A moment of silence. Rumi took a quick glance at her phone. It was almost 10 o clock
“See? Even she thinks we’re hopeless” he smirked. Crossing his arms.
“Ha” she rolled her eyes, “Funny thing about hope, which I’m sure you haven’t thought about for hundreds of years. Is only you can decide how you feel it. No one else makes you. The choice is yours”
She stood right in front of him, one hand on her hip. Her head slightly tilted in a “I-told-you-so” attitude. He stood there, slightly thrown off by how close she was to him.
What the heck is this feeling?
He argued with himself. He tried to convince himself to ignore it. He had a bigger task right now and that was focusing on
one; getting information out of Rumi and two; take them down so the king can set him free.
Everything of course…for selfish reasons. To get himself out of that hell.
Or was he just being fooled into doing someone else’s dirty work. At the end of the day, how would he really know the demon king will set him free?
“Alright well… think about it. I’m going back to my dorm. It’s late” Rumi stated, turning on her heel to head back to where she came from. That snapped him out of whatever little trance he was in. Blinking rapidly, he reached out to Rumi, not wanting her to go and holding onto her wrist.
She blinked, her cheeks lightly dusting pink. She slowly turn around to look at him just as flustered.
“Oh uh, I just trying to get the bracelet”
Rumi’s heart raced. “Oh uh yeah duh” quickly took it off and handed it over.
Not knowing what to do, they stood there awkwardly until Rumi spoke again
“Okay well…bye!” And she hurried off.
“Uh yeah uh, bye” Jinu
xxxXxx
Rumi and the girls finished off another session on figuring out the lyrics to their new song. A long day of composing and figuring out the rhythm really took a toll on them for the day. She just wasn’t in the vibe today.
She trudged back into her room, she slipped into a hoodie and some shorts then took a turn to the kitchen to make some tea. Her voice had still been cracking, so she was trying her hardest to not sing and strain it even more.
Rumi felt a pit settle in the bottom of her stomach. The nerves have just been raging all day every day as the deadline to the idol award show gets closer.
She needed to relax.
Once she went back to her room to finally relax, a familiar cat was sitting on her porch waiting. She knew it had been Jinu.
It had been a couple of days since she last saw or heard from him. The cat slipped out an invitation but this time it read to meet at a nearby park.
She sighed, feeling the aching of her legs. But she decided to go anyway. What harm would it do?
As she arrives, Jinu stood there, in a casual sweater and jeans. She figured they needed to blend in a bit if they were going to be out in public like that. Though compared to him she came severely underdressed. A tank and some baggy sweatpants.
“Hi” she said to get his attention. Jinu looked up and held in a smile.
“Hey, i figured we would talk about this plan of yours again”
“Really? You’ve decided that you’re in?”
Jinu shrugged “I’ll decide once we explore details. Let’s go inside somewhere though, I saw an aquarium not too far from here. Not a lot of people there today” she suggested.
She looked at him amused.
“An aquarium? Why there?”
He shrugged. “I feel like I need a distraction”
Rumi couldn’t argue with that. She was feeling just as stressed out from the long week. It wouldn’t hurt to do something other than writing music.
“Alright” she smiled. “Lead the way”
As they arrived and Jinu payed for the tickets to get inside, much to Rumi’s surprise that he even had money at all, they make their way quietly through all the sites.
“So, what do you propose we do?” He asked.
“Well, I think the Saja Boys should preform first. We go last to end with a banger. The audience should go crazy, strengthening he Honmoon. All we gotta do is keep you from crossing over to the demon realm when it becomes completely sealed. Since you’ll be on our side, maybe the Honmoon will permanently take away your marks and let you be human again. Just like how I’m hoping it’ll do the same for me” she explained.
Jinu tapped his chin in thought. That could work, but since no one’s ever done this sort of thing before, there’s no telling what could happen. What if he just disappeared after it seals off ? Was he willing to risk that?
“What makes you think the Honmoon would decide to let me live?”
The two slightly slowed down their pace. They stood in front of pool full of starfish and different types of plants.
“What do you mean?” She asked curiously.
“I’ll never forget the awful things I did in my past. I was a horrible person, surly I can’t be forgiven for that”
Rumi pursed her lip. “Jinu, that’s just the demon talking-“
“No, Rumi you don’t get it. I’m reminded of it all the time. That’s how Gwi-ma controls you. I’ll never forget the first time I heard him” he sighed, rubbing his temples. “It’s exhausting hearing that voice all the damn time”
“What happened? Im trying to understand where you’re coming from. Otherwise I can’t help” She asked gently. Her eyes fixated on his face, waiting to make eye contact with him and when they did. He continued his story.
“400 years ago. My family, mom and little sister were on the streets. We were poor and miserable. The only thing I had was an old bipa, which I played for money but that never got us much. That’s when I heard him tell me how much of a failure I really was. He said he would help me so he somehow got the king to notice me. I worked in the palace. Got all the food, clothes and riches I ever wanted. But the patterns after he ‘saved me’ just began to consume me. Then I was condemned to the demon world as his prisoner. My family lost it all and yet Gwi-ma never fails to remind me how much I failed them”
He said all in one breath. Rumi was so invested in his story that she forgot they were in a public space for a second. That when she felt it. The guilt of calling him a monster, someone with no feelings. Since she was half human, Gwi-ma’s voice was never there for her.
No wonder he said I was lucky
“ These marks, are a constant reminder of my my shame” he said. Reaching up to touch her neck. The marks faintly glowed.
“It’s a reminder you feel that too. Carry it with you” he finished, frowning. Rumi held up a hand to her throat, subconsciously pulling up her sweater to cover her neck.
“I hate these marks” she sighed. “I hate Gwi-ma, I hate all this…shit” she rolled her eyes, her fist balling.
“Trust me, if hate could make Gwi-ma disappear I would have done it a long time ago”
“But you’re working for him?” Rumi glared.
“It’s only to help myself!” He countered quickly. “If I helped him, he promised to erase those memories and I’d be free from the voices. It was chance I had to take”
Rumi could tell he was desperate to…be free from this curse. Maybe she shouldn’t have been so quick to judge him. Several people walked by, seeing the two of them just stand there wondering if they had been in an argument. Rumi took his arm and gently tugged him along to keep walking seeing the people stare.
He was confused at first but went along with it when he noticed people whispering. They reached room where all the walls were made out of glass. The blue water illuminated brightly and the fish casually cruised by.
“Wow it’s so pretty” Rumi admired looking around. Jinu was simply starting at her, not really paying much attention to the fish.
“Yeah…” he breathed. He blinked, lightly shaking his head.
“Have you always known you were part demon?” He asked curiously. “To be born…it’s something I haven’t fully wrapped my head around if I’m being honest”
Rumi frowned “yeah, all my life basically. My mother fell in love with a demon and then they had me. They both died when I was young. One of my mother’s friends took me in. She taught me the ways of being a demon hunter”
“Oh..” he looked at her, eyes soft.
“See this is why it has to work. I’m a mistake, I shouldn’t have been born. So I’ve tend to try and…hide all of this” she huffed. Her marks slightly glowing under her sweater. “Like I’ve been told to do”
Jinu stuffed his hands in his pockets. Leaning against the glass. He stared at her hair that reached down to her butt. The hair tie that had been at the tip, holding the braided hair together was broken so it was loosening her. Some of her purple hair falls onto her face. She would mess with it, trying to pin in back and away from her face.
He slowly reached up and curled the hair back behind her ear. Rumi looked at him surprised.
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re a mistake” he hummed, his eyes darted in a triangle. Glancing at her eyes down to her lips then right back up to eyes again.
Oh my god is he flirting with me?
Rumi blushed. Looking away and bit her bottom lip.
No way I just folded right now over that look.
Fuck Jinu
She closed her eyes, praying that she regained her composure. Jinu smirked, knowing exactly what he had done.
“T-thanks” she cleared her throat.
“Well, getting back on topic. I’m not sure how much I would be to you Rumi”
“You’ve helped me a lot already actually. I’ve been so ashamed of being what I am, the more I hid this side of me the more it’s been destroying the only I thing I have ; my voice. But since I’ve been talking to you more, you’re really the only one who really understands me” she smiled softly, playing back by giving him a doe eyed but flirty look. “I dont understand it but you’ve healed my voice”
She did the exact same thing back. But this time her eyes lingered a little too long on his lips before she looked back up at him. His heart raced and butterfly’s erupted in his chest.
Fuck why is she so cute
His own cheeks flushed slightly.
Rumi started humming softly.
“I tried to hide, but something broke.
I tried to sing. Couldn't hit the notes.
The words kept catching in my throat. I tried to smile.
I was suffocating though, but here with you I can finally breathe.
You say you're no good, but you're good for me.
I've been hoping to change. Now I know we can change, but I won't if you're not by my side.
Why does it feel right every time I let you in?
Why does it feel like I can tell you anything?
All the secrets that keep me in chains and all the damage that might make me dangerous.
You got a dark side. Guess you're not the only one.
What if we both tried fighting what we're running from?
We can't fix it if we never face it. What if we find a way to escape it? We could be free, free!
We can't fix it if we never face it.
Let the past be the past till it's weightless.
Mesmerized Jinu joined in.
Oh, time goes by, and I lose perspective.
Yeah, hope only hurts so I just forget it.
You're breaking through the dark in me when I thought nobody could.
You're waking up all these parts of me I thought were buried for good.
Between imposter and this monster, I been lost inside my head.
Ain't no choice when all these voices keep me pointing towards no end!
It's just easy when I'm with you. No one sees me the way you do.
I don't trust it, but I want to I keep coming back to-
They both sing their hearts out. Thankfully no one was around. Just them singing their true feelings.
Rumi finishes, not realizing she had gotten dangerously close to Jinu. His hands snaking their way to holding hers and his forehead nearly resting on hers.
Jinu’s eyes widened as he touched his ear.
“I can’t hear the voices” he whispered. The most relief he’s felt in decades.
Geez this girl is really something special.
Rumi smiled, her hair became looser, stands falling a lot more in her face. Her braid was falling apart. One of his hands reaches the top of her head and weaves his fingers in, completely undoing her braid.
Her hair is fully down.
“You should let you’re hair down more often Rumi, and…as far as I’m concerned, you’re even more beautiful with your patterns showing” Jinu’s eyes glanced at her lips again as he held the side of her face. Asking for permission before going in for what he wanted.
Rumi’s cheeks reddened but tears also pooled in her eyes. Pulling lightly on his shirt, she went in for a kiss, standing on hers tippy toes. They locked lips, and his hands pull her up by lifting her at her waist. He deepened the kiss, breathing in deeply and a slight moan coming from her as she approved.
They break apart for a second, Rumi not realizing she was crying. Her cheeks stained with tears. Jinu rubbed them away.
It hit a little too close, hearing someone had finally accepted her for who she was.
“Let’s see the rest of the aquarium now?” She chuckled.
“Depends, let me kiss you again?” Jinu smirked also wiggling his eyebrows. Rumi rolled her eyes and pushed away but held his hand.
“Maybe later” she winked.
XxxxXxx
The Saja boys had just preformed on stage, all of them in their demon form and the crowd was going wild. One thing lead to another, and now the girls were in a battle with the demon king.
Jinu simply stood there, not wanting to move. He felt terrible, even more shameful of what he did to Rumi. Lied to her, used her to get of of the mess he was in. He wanted all the voices to stop, all the horrible memories, but it seems like he was just creating more horrible ones and messing everything up as things went on.
He admitted to her that he actually abandoned his family. Admitted that he caused the scene and make Rumi believe that her friends had actually hated her for being a demon.
But somehow, she still only cared about saving him.
The demon king had the a hold on him with the voices. But he so desperately wanted to help Rumi because she made him feel like he worth something more than just a man who abandoned and killed his family.
Rumi was singing, her beautiful voice echoed all over the stadium. The other two girls snapped out of their trance and began to help Rumi.
Next thing Jinu realized, was the demon king at full force shooting a beam towards Rumi. His heart broke.
No, not her
She held up pretty good, she was strong but she was almost about to give in.
It happened so fast. She felt a familiar warmth, but her body getting tossed to the side, the sword falling and disappearing.
What are you doing Jinu
The voice roared. The demon king was not pleased.
Jinu held Rumi safely in his arms, as they regained their posture his arm out to shield her. He snarled, his fangs popping out.
“I’m not letting you win this time. I’m done with this!” he screamed.
“Rumi!” The girls shouted from the opposite stage. “You leave her alone!” Mira shouted, her long staff ready in hand.
“I-it’s okay Mira!” She reassured.
“Jinu…” she whispered. Jinu glanced behind him. Tears in his eyes
“I’m sorry for everything Rumi” Rumi smiled tearfully. “I’m glad you came around, I knew you there was good in you”
Jinu pulled her in for a kiss. His chest glowed blue, as did the rest of the crowd.
“Thank you for giving me my soul back” he whispered. “Go sing baby” Rumi grinned, now fully confident and determined, her body was now surrounded by an iridescent glow. The other girls continued to sing, Rumi ran towards the demon king, slashing and sending hits.
Your voices cannot defeat me
Mira and Zoey looked just as confident. Their powers stronger than before. The three ran to each other, wrapping themselves into a group hug and together with their voices and the crowds, the Honmoon begins to strengthen and the king was soon defeated.
The whole place glowed an iridescent rainbow glow. The girls landed on stage perfectly and they admired the crowd and the shiny Honmoon that had been created.
The crowd is now out of their trance, no one actually remembering anything with the demons. They all thought it was just an idol awards show per usual.
The three left the stage, and soon greeted by Jinu and the boys. They were all now normal humans since they weren’t already in the underworld.
Rumi’s plan had worked.
Rumi ran up and hopped into Jinu’s arms.
“We did it” she sobbed. He cried along with her. Squeezing her tight, nuzzling his head into her shoulder. “I’m so happy you’re here on this side” she finished.
“Me too” he chuckled, pulling away and drying her tears.
“Okay okay, now that everything is sealed for good. Can we talk about what the hell this is?” Zoey scoffed, and motioned towards Rumi and Jinu. Rumi laughed and blushed. She really hadn’t told them about the aquarium night and what had…happened.
“Yeah since when did this happen? I thought no secrets Rumi” Mira crossed her arms, frowning.
“I’ll explain later guys, let’s just finish up and go home” Rumi groaned.
“Bathhouse trip?” Zoey beamed and clapped.
“Bathhouse trip” Rumi confirmed
Mira and Zoey yelled in excitement fist pumping the air. The staff quickly came and met up with the girls and lead them to another dressing room.
Rumi took a second to look at her marks. Instead of a deep purple they were translucent, shining like beautiful white pearls on a beach.
“I’ll see you later” Jinu smiled, kissing her forehead. “Your marks are beautiful” he gleamed. Rumi looked at him lovingly, kissing his cheek then patting his face gently.
“Thank you, I’ll see you back at our apartment?” He hummed and nodded in agreement.
“Yes, can’t get rid of me anymore” he laughed.
“Wouldn’t dream of it”