Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Many years ago, in southern Korea, demons invaded the land and stole souls to feed their god, Gwi-ma

When the people panicked, when it seemed there was no hope, the hunters appeared.

With voices capable of repelling Gwi-ma and sending the demons back to their realm.

But their voices could do much more.

With them, they created a barrier that would protect the world, the Hoonmoon.

But there was one catch: their voices could unite their people, but not everyone would be willing to listen.

So, they traveled the world, realizing they weren't the only hunters.

In every other country, demons also attacked, so female and male hunters from every region appeared to fight Gwi-ma.

With the help of all the other hunters, they were able to spread the Hoonmoon throughout the world.

And now, every decade, new hunters are chosen to continue the mission and achieve the golden Hoonmoon.

A mission that now belongs to our boys.

"4Town! 4Town! 4Town!" chanted the crowd, anxious and expectant.

—Where the hell are these boys?— Janny, the band's manager, was on the verge of collapse because she couldn't find her stars and the show started in fifteen minutes.

Desperately, she dialed Robaire's number on her phone.

But the boys were having technical difficulties answering.

The truck that was supposed to take them to the stadium had been taken over by demons.

—Can't you leave us alone, not even on our final show?—Tae Young asked sarcastically as he nimbly threw shurikens at a demon.

—Oh, please, Tae—Jesse replied as he plunged his halberd into the chest of another of them. —You know they never leave us alone.—

—Hey, have you ever wondered how they always know where to find us?—Aaron T joined the conversation as he hurriedly drove the truck toward the stadium.

—Sometimes, but I try not to think about it too much—Robaire replied as he slashed three demons in half at once with his sword.

—Can you imagine if they even know when we're in the bathroom?—
—That's disgusting T!—everyone else responded.

—We may be demons, but we respect your privacy—one of them replied while fighting with Aaron Z.

—How nice of you to clarify that, but no one wants to listen to you—the boy told him, then hit him hard with his morningstar.

The truck's stereo blared, displaying the manager's name on the screen.

—Holy crap, Janny's calling!—T shouted, alarmed, glancing briefly at his friends before returning his gaze to the street.

The place was in complete chaos: screams, fights, things falling and breaking. Her manager couldn't hear all the chaos.

—Come help us!—Robaire yelled.
—Janny's going to kill us!—T replied, upset.

—These idiots will kill us if you don't help us! Jesse yelled back.

They didn't understand how so many demons had managed to infiltrate their truck, but they had no choice but to kill them.

—Put this thing in park and come help us quickly!—Robaire ordered.

Aaron T pulled onto the side of the road and quickly applied the brakes. He ran his hand along the Hoonmoon's blue lines, and his urumi appeared in his hand.

—I still wonder why they gave you the urumi
Tae told him as he made more shurikens appear.

—You can ask yourself that after Tae, but for now we have something to do—Aaron Z raised his morningstar into attack position.

—Give my regards to Gwi-ma when you see him again—Robaire told them as he raised his sword.

“I've never met nobody like you”

The boys began to sing, increasing the power of their weapons.

“Had friends, and I've had buddies, it's true
But they don't turn my tummy the way you do”

They nimbly pierced the demons with their weapons.

“I've never met nobody like you”

T's urumi pierced two demons at once.

The stereo started playing again, indicating that Janny was calling them again.

“You're never not on my mind, oh my, oh my.”

—How much time do we have left?—Robaire asked.

“I'm never not by your side, your side, your side.”

—Seven minutes!—Jesse replied as he approached the steering wheel.

“I'm never gon' let you cry, oh, cry, don't cry!”

—Get going!—Tae yelled as he swung his weapon through a demon's neck.

“I'll never not be your ride or die, alright”

Jesse eased off the brakes and slammed the gas pedal to the floor.

“Let's call it what it is, it's a masterpiece.
Got a whole lotta love for them city streets (Glendale)!”

Aaron T and Z fought side by side, protecting each other's backs.

“Tonight is the place to be.
Got a big boom box and a new CD!”

Jesse swatted at a demon that tried to touch the steering wheel and punched it into the back seat.

“C'mon, everybody, let's tear it up
If you want mad skills, you can share with us” 

Tae chanted as he threw shurikens at the approaching demons.

“C’mon, I want everybody to stop and stare.”

The leader of the boys leaped over one of the demons with a flip.

—And you know why, it's me, Robaire—He swung his sword down hard upon landing, causing all the remaining demons to disappear.

The boys breathed a sigh of relief before being interrupted by the truck's sudden movement as Jesse rounded a corner.

—Sorry!— the boy apologized as he abruptly parked.

—We have three minutes!— T shouted as he hurriedly opened the door.

The boys got out, pushing their way through the staff members.
Janny saw them approaching and breathed a sigh of relief.

—We're here!—Robaire shouted as they were handed their microphones and entered the cages to go on stage.

—What took you so long?—Janny asked, signing orders to her team.

—Oh, long story, we'll tell you later—Z replied as he fixed his hair.

—Something tells me they'll never want to tell me— Janny replied, hands at her sides.
—You know us very well—Robaire said, smiling at her.

The staff members finalized the details and closed the cages, then began to raise them toward the stage.

The voices of the audience began to grow louder as they ascended.

The boys put on their headphones to hear the music better.

—One last time, boys—Robaire turned to look at his bandmates, who nodded in response.

—Happy fans...—the dark-haired man began.
—Happy Hoonmoon!— They all concluded at once.

"Presenting the final show of their tour, please welcome 4Town!" Janny's voice sounded over the speakers.

The cages reached the top of the stage, and just as they had rehearsed, the boys began to exit one by one.

—Are you ready Los Angeles?—Robaire asked as he landed on the stage.
The still-blue lines of the Hoonmoon lit up as they all stood together.

Music began to play from the speakers, signaling the start of the show.

☆

—Thank you all so much for coming! You're amazing!— the boys said as they walked off the stage.

The fans screamed, clapped, cried, and chanted their names with joy.

Everyone sighed as their fans were no longer visible.

After a year of touring, they would finally have their well-deserved five months off.

—What a way to close out a tour!—Janny celebrated as the boys stepped off the stage.

—Thank you so much, Janny—Tae said as a staff member handed him a white coat.

—Hey, I've booked you a hotel for your break, but I haven't confirmed how long you'll be there yet— the manager told them as she quickly tapped her phone.

—It won't be necessary, Janny— Jesse replied, yawning.

—What? Why?— the girl asked, confused.

—Well, we're kind of tired of hotels at the moment—Z began as he removed his hairband.

—Also, we're going to visit our Korean girls next week—T finished as he opened a packet of chips.

—Huntrix?—Janny asked, but something in her head clicked. —Oh, right, you have VIP tickets for their last show! How could I forget?—

—Don't worry, Janny. In fact, you should go to the hotel. This tour was exhausting for everyone—Robaire told her as he got into the elevator.

—Oh, not like you think, I couldn't. I'm just kidding. Robe please. See you guys later—the girl said goodbye as she adjusted her robe and put on a cap for her curls.

—Bye, Janny!— the boys replied as they closed the elevator doors.

—It's still blue, right?—Jesse asked, leaning against the glass as they ascended the building's floors.

—Yes, it's still blue, but with the girls' help, it'll soon be golden—Robaire replied with a slight smile.

—I have so many things to tell Zoey!—Tae said excitedly as the elevator doors opened.

—I'm sure Mira has some interesting gossip to share with us—T added as he sat down on his couch after a long time.

—I think we're all excited to see our girls—Z agreed as he took a seat next to T.
—But for now, I won't be getting up from this couch for like two days—

—I'm going to order pizza for dinner—Robaire told them as he searched for the number on his phone.

The boys nodded and fell silent. After a year full of adrenaline and noise, a little silence was nice.

Aaron Z waved his hand through the air, making the Hoonmoon lines appear.
They were getting closer to achieving their goal.

But for now, they deserved a break

Chapter Text

—Are you sure you have everything you need?—Janny asked through the screen. The video showed her sitting on a beach lounge chair.

—I assure you, Janny, we didn't forget anything—Robaire replied, sitting in one of the dining room chairs.

—Besides, the girls already know we're coming, so we'll stay with them—Tae added as he looked through the phone.

—And just in case, we always have these—Aaron T said to Jesse while summoning his urumi and the boys halberd.

—Put that down!—the boy scolded hurriedly.

—What's going on back there?—Janny asked getting closer to the screen.

—Nothing, just that T wants to carry a suitcase full of fries—Z replied,blocking the manager's view of the background.

—Oh T, I already told you that having a private jet doesn't mean you can fill your suitcases with snacks, at least bring some chocolates too— the curly-haired girl said, to which a "Thanks Janny, you're the best" was heard in response.

—Yeah, well, I don't want to hang up on you, but the Zumba class starts soon, so I have to go—
—Goodbye Janny— the boys said.

—Goodbye guys, please don't do anything crazy while I'm gone and always remember to be punctual.— The girl blew them a kiss through the screen and hung up seconds later.

Tae, Robaire, and Z turned around at the same time, glaring at T.

—She didn't even notice it!—T defended himself before being scolded.
—But she could have— Robaire scolded.

—T, bro, I know we're all excited because Hoonmoon is almost sealed, but we can't make mistakes like this—Z consoled him as he put an arm around the other's shoulders.

The elevator door rang, and a staff member appeared with a cart to carry their suitcases.

—Okay, guys, it's time. A twelve-and-a-half-hour flight awaits us—the dark-haired boy said, smiling.

—Korea, here we come!—the others shouted, then put their suitcases on the cart.

When they got off the elevator, a van was waiting to take them to the cargo hold where their plane was.

—Hey, Louis—the boys greeted as they boarded the jet.

Louis has been the boys' official pilot since they started gaining popularity; he had earned their trust, and they wouldn't trust the position to anyone else.

—How's Harry?— Tae asked as he sat by the window.

—Oh, fine. He's at home taking care of the kids— He replied, somewhat embarrassed at the mention of his husband, still not used to the boys asking about it.

—Please send him our regards when you see him—Jesse asked as he opened a pack of M&Ms.

—I'll do it—Louis replied with a smile.
"All set!" a shout came from downstairs as they finished packing their luggage.

—Okay, guys, it's time for takeoff, so I'm off.
Louis said goodbye before entering the cockpit.

When everything was ready and everyone was in their seats, the plane took off, heading to see his girls.

☆

The boys had planned everything exactly to arrive at the show on time.

Although, well, Janny was the one who had really planned the whole day so they wouldn't be late.

The girls' show started at nine, and with the help of her manager's itinerary, the plane landed on time at seven-thirty.

Before getting off the plane, the boys put on their outfits for the concert.

They all had a t-shirt with drawings of the three girls printed on it; what differentiated them was the color and how they styled it.

Tae opened a box where they kept the girls' official lightsticks; there was one for each of them.

—Wait, we're missing something!—T stopped them while searching for something in his backpack.
—What are you...—

The sound of a glitter cannon interrupted the question; now everyone was covered in pink, green, and purple glitter.

—AARON T!—Jesse shouted. —It took me weeks to get these pants completely white!—The blond man was about to lunge at him if Robaire hadn't stopped him.

—Don't do it, Jesse—he said. The man was amazed as T smiled victoriously. —Aaron is going to wash them until they’re sparkling—The smile fell from his face.

—Hey!—He replied.
—Don't complain, T, you know it’s fair—Z replied, patting him on the back.

A van picked up their things and took them to the girls' hotel, while another took them to the stadium.

There were thousands of fans eagerly lining up to get in.

They approached the line to have their tickets checked; some fans recognized them and took pictures.

Once inside the stadium, more people recognized them, but now they asked to take pictures together.

—Hey, I remember you— Aaron Z said to a girl who looked like she was about to burst for excitement.
—Weren't you at our last show the last week?—The fan nodded quickly, feeling her heart about to leap out when the singer recognized her.

Aaron smiled, took off his headband, and handed it to the girl, who happily took it.

The clock struck nine o'clock, and the entire stadium erupted in screams and cheers for the girls, but they still hadn't appeared.

They thought it was something common, maybe a stage error, but ten minutes had passed and they still hadn't appeared.

—Hey, this is weird. They're always so punctual— Jesse commented, puzzled, to which the others nodded.

A silhouette walked around the edge of the stage while quickly typing on its phone.
A second later, the boys recognized him.

—Bobby!—they shouted simultaneously, catching the attention of the girls' manager.

—Oh, but they're my boys from 4Town!—He quickly approached them. —How are you?—

—Fine, thanks for asking—Robaire replied. —Where are the girls?—

—I talked to them two minutes ago, and they said they were eating ramen on the plane!—the desperate manager replied.

The boys remembered Janny's despair when they didn't make it to her show; perhaps the girls were going through a similar situation.

—Don't worry, Bobby, I'm sure they'll be here soon—Tae consoled him.

"Look up!" a fan shouted behind them, causing everyone to look up at the sky.

—Are you serious…—the five spoke simultaneously.

The trio made an entrance that could be considered impossible to top, as they had literally fallen from the sky straight onto the stage.

When they landed, they realized Zoey had thrown one of her weapons at someone, and they had disappeared.

Apparently, the demons had something to do with ruining their final shows.

When it was time for Rumi's high note, it felt like the energy shifted, sending goosebumps down the boys' skin.

It was for a fleeting moment, a very brief one, but they watched as the Hoonmoon turned a little golden.

—It's incredible!—Robaire celebrated, to which the others agreed: they were very close to achieving their goal.

The concert continued, filled with joy and dancing everywhere, as the boys watched the fans' voices join together as they sang.

Not all singers get the chance to see their songs unite their fans and help heal the world.

But that was something they and the girls could do, and boy, did they enjoy it.

When the concert ended, the boys had two options.

The first was to take a car to the girls' building, risking getting stuck in traffic.

Or the second was to use their training and skills to jump from building to building and arrive before them to surprise them.

—I'll never understand why we can't be normal— Tae complained as they jumped from one rooftop to the other.

—We're hunters, Tae. We've never been normal—Jesse replied as he did a flip to land on another rooftop.

—Look, we're here!—T told them as he jumped from the roof to the sidewalk, an action the others imitated.

They were right in front of the building with the large Huntrix logo.

—Let's get in before they get here!—The doorman opened the door, welcoming them to the hunters' home.

He pressed the elevator button and waited until everyone was inside before closing the doors.

When they opened again, the girls' living room came into view, their suitcases positioned in the corner so they wouldn't get in the way.

—Wow, it's just as big as ours—T commented as he sat down on a couch.

—I think ours is bigger because there are more of us—Z told him as he looked out the window.

—And because you have to hog every empty space you see—Robaire pulled up one of the chairs to sit at the dining island.

About five minutes passed when the elevator doors slammed again, causing everyone to stand up.

—Wow, looks like we have company—The girls exited the elevator dressed in white coats.

—Girls!—They technically rushed over to hug and greet each other.

—I'm so happy to see you!—Mira greeted as she placed her arms on T and Z's shoulders, making the boys smile.

—Did you see that the Hoonmoon turn a little golden?—Rumi asked with a big smile.

—We saw it! It's fantastic!—Robaire replied with a smile.

—We're getting closer to achieving it—Jesse added happily.

—How long is your break?—Tae asked Zoey as he followed the girl into the kitchen.

—We have three months—
—That's two months less than us—T said mockingly.

—That's because K-pop is more important in the world than just pop—Mira replied as she headed into the kitchen.

—Hey, more respect for pop!—T retorted as he followed her.

—Well, I guess this break will be fun—Robaire said to Rumi, who had a big smile on her face.

—Oh yes, it will be—The girl pressed a button on her phone and then turned it off.

—I'll be back soon—she said to her companion before walking down a hallway.
Robaire shrugged and sat down on the couch.

—Couch!Couch!Couch!—chanted the girls, who were carrying food with them, along with Tae and T.

—Couch—they said as they sat down.
—Doesn't it feel amazing?—Z commented as he took off his shoes.

—Hey... Have you rested yet?—Rumi asked with a huge smile, one that made it clear she was up to something.

—No, we just sat down—Mira replied.

Everyone in the room turned to look at Rumi, who was wearing a white outfit, a black jacket with sleeves and gold details.

—Why are you wearing the new outfits?—Zoey asked, confused.

—New outfits? For what?—Robaire chimed in, but was ignored.

—Rumi, did you release the song?!—Mira asked, to which the girl just nodded, her smile widening.

—Do we have to promote it tomorrow?—Zoey asked, but Rumi shook her head.

—TONIGHT?!—The girls' hearts seemed like they were going to burst out.

The boys just grimaced while the girls sobbed as Rumi brought their outfits closer to them.

—Looks like someone here doesn't know the meaning of the word break—Z patted Mira on the back.

The girls headed to the locker room and went to change.

—New song?—Jesse asked.
—That's right, one that will definitely seal the Hoonmoon—Rumi replied with a smile.

—Cool, what's it called?—T asked curiously.
—Golden—Rumi answered.

—Wow, how original—Z commented with a laugh.
—Hey!— Rumi complained. —How would you call it?—

—I don't know, something that wouldn't remind us of the pressure we're under—Z laughed with his colleagues.
Rumi just snorted in response.

The girls left wearing their new outfits, heads down and shuffling.

—Girls! Girls! Listen to this!—Bobby rushed in wearing a white coat and a pink mask.
—Oh, and guys too— he added when he saw the others.

—Break is over—Zoey and Mira lamented.
—The new song is a huge hit!—Bobby told them, to which the girls quickly rejoined.

—Your fans are probably going crazy right now—Robaire commented as he poured himself a glass of water.

—Okay, when do you want to perform this song live?—Bobby asked while quickly typing on his phone.

—Tomorrow!—the girls answered simultaneously.
—Didn't you want to take a break?—T asked, confused.

—We'll do that later—Rumi replied, downplaying it.

The boys looked at each other and sighed; after all, who were they to judge?

—Well, looks like we have a concert to attend tomorrow—Robaire told his friends.

—And I don't have anything to wear!—Tae exclaimed, clutching his face in despair.

—We'll find you something to wear—Zoey reassured him.
—Yeah, something that matches—Mira added.

—We don't want out-of-place people at our show—Rumi replied jokingly.

The boys made faces as if they'd been stabbed.
—You're hurting us—they said, to which the girls just laughed.

—Well, get ready then, this is going to be amazing—Bobby said goodbye before disappearing into the elevator again.

It was only the first day of their stay in Korea, and something was already off their radar.

What could happen now?

Chapter Text

The kingdom of Gwi-ma was a dark, gloomy place, and where no sun could shine, not a single ray of sunlight could enter.

Most of the demons there were sent to try to defeat the hunters, which always failed.

Everyone there bore a penalty, a divine punishment for having accepted a deal with Gwi-ma.

A punishment they all deserved.

A blue-haired demon sat, his hands covering his face.

—Baby!—a voice shouted in the distance; the boy decided to ignore it.

—Baby!—was heard again, now louder.
—I'm here!—he finally answered.

It turned out the voice calling him was another demon he knew.

—Here you are, kid!—the voice said as it approached.
—Don't call me kid, Jinu!—he shouted, showing his pupil-less, completely blank eyes.

—Oops, sorry—Jinu apologized. —I just came to propose a little deal, friend.—

—What do you want now?—The punishment imposed by Gwi-ma made it impossible for him to see, but he could feel his presence.

—You know, sometimes I can't distinguish your emotions because I can't read your eyes.—
—Jinu, what you have to say better be important, or I'll kill you—he declared angrily.

—I have a plan to defeat the hunters—
Well, that did sound important.
But also stupid.

—Surprise me, Jinu. Tell me your wonderful plan to overthrow those who have kept us captive here forever—he replied sarcastically.

—Hey!—his companion complained. —It’s a good plan! We'll pretend to be a boy band, and that way we'll steal their fans, and once they're separated from the union of their voices...

—We can take their souls—he concluded.

—Exactly—Jinu agreed.
—But how do you plan to do that?—The moment he asked his question, he felt the boy approach him.

—You're going to help me—he said, standing close to him.
—And why should I?—he asked angrily.

—I'll negotiate with Gwi-ma. In exchange for the souls, he'll erase our memories—Jinu replied. Baby remained silent for a moment.

—Or wouldn't you like to be able to forget everything?—

Baby fell silent, thinking about the proposal he had.

"It's your fault!"
"You asked for it!"
"You deserve that and more!"

He shook his head, trying to ignore the voices.

—Okay, I'll do it—he finally agreed. He could feel Jinu pumping his fists in victory.

—But there's something I don't understand—he called out.
—What?—Jinu asked.

—You said we'd be a boy band, but two people don't make a band—
—Well...actually, we're not just us two...—

Baby felt the atmosphere change, more people approaching.
People he unfortunately knew.

—I'm glad you agreed, Baby!—Romance's voice made him react in time before he lunged at him.

—Get away from me!— he yelled, backing away until he hit something hard.
—Wow, someone woke up violent today—Abby said with a smile.

It turned out that what he had collided with was the taller man's ripped abdomen. Baby quickly moved away.

—So we have these two weirdos too, right? Great, my favorites. Anyone else?—he asked angrily.
—Yeah, me too—Mistery replied timidly.

—Actually, I don't have a problem with you. I like you—The purple-haired man gave him a faint smile.
Smiles he could never see.

—That would be all of us—Jinu said.
Baby sighed. He didn't like working with others, but he'd do anything to forget his past.

—And when are you going to present this plan to Gwi-ma?—he asked as he approached his current group.

—Tonight is the last show for the Korean hunters. I suppose the demons he sent to destroy them will fail again, so it will be at that precise moment when we present our plan.—

—I love this idea—Romance told them.
—You love everything honey— Abby replied.

Baby grimaced in disgust, only because he didn't have pupils to roll his eyes.

—We'll do something with your eyes, Baby. No one will want to see a blind idol— Jinu commented, to which the blue-haired man gave him the middle finger.

—I'm just telling the truth!—he defended himself.
—You're still an idiot even if what you say is true—he replied, still holding his finger up.

Jinu snorted. —Anyway, when Gwi-ma calls us, please be ready—he told them before disappearing.

The others said goodbyes until they left Baby alone in the place where he had initially been.

He put his hands in front of his face; he could feel them, he knew they were there, that they were part of his surroundings.

But he couldn't see them.

"Provocateur!"
"Gold digger!"

The voices kept ringing in his head, growing louder and more constant.
An eternal reminder of his shame.
His divine punishment.

Jinu had better be right about his plan, otherwise he'd be the one to kill him himself.

He made a face of disgust and stood up, then disappeared.

☆

Meetings with Gwi-ma were common in the demon world. Their king liked to remind them of their misfortune, torture and humiliate them, letting them know they would be there forever.

And that they would be there because they themselves had decided it that way.
At first, Baby thought he didn't deserve it,all demons do,but as you listen to Gwi-ma, you realize it was all your fault all along.

And now you're paying your divine punishment.

The demon girl who was sent as the leader of the expedition that was supposed to kill the hunters walked down the long hallway toward the steps that would take her to Gwi-ma.

The moment she set foot on the stairs, her god took control of her body, pulling her to him.

—You failed—Hearing Gwi-ma's voice was something he would never get used to.

—Hunters are very strong—the girl argued nervously.
—Yes, I understand—Gwi-ma replied.

—Really?—
—I understand that you're weak!—He raised the girls and then consumed her with his flames, leaving everyone silent.

—All of you are! A bunch of idiots! The hunters are close to achieving the Golden Hoonmoon, and when that happens, we'll be lost— Jelly, a water demon, burst into tears at what his king was saying.

Baby felt someone approaching him from behind, so he turned around before they could touch him.

—Jinu is calling us—It was Mistery.
It seemed like it was time for the show.

Jinu began to sing a song, which from his perspective sounded like he was mocking Gwi-ma, but he wasn't entirely sure.

—I let you keep your voice, Jinu, but it seems you're just using it to mock me—
It seems he wasn't so wrong.

—It's time for a new strategy, one that will bring down the hunters once and for all—Jinu explained, using his magic to lift all the boys to the stairs near him.

—And what is it?—Gwi-ma asked, not knowing if there was any emotion in his voice at that moment.

—Going for the only thing that gives Hoonmoon its power, the fans—A melody played, and everyone struck a pose that, in Baby's opinion, was completely ridiculous.

Gwi-ma was silent for a moment before bursting into laughter, causing everyone else present to follow suit.

—And how do you intend to do it?—his king questioned.

Jinu snapped his fingers, letting the magic do its work again.
Baby knew they had done something with his eyes, but he didn't know what.

—Oh yeah, of course, it'll work—said some demons at the base of the stairs.

Gwi-ma remained silent before speaking again.

—I know you, Jinu. You never do anything that isn't for your own benefit—Baby felt the black-haired man tense up. —What do you want in return?—

—I want all the band members to be able to forget, to finally let go of our pasts—he replied firmly.

A silence fell between them all.

—Fine, I'll grant you the plan—He paused briefly. —But if you fail me, I'll raise the volume of their voices.—

Making a deal with Gwi-ma was what had led them to this hell in the first place.
Why were they making another deal if they knew how it could end?

—We won't fail—Jinu replied resolutely.

—Why did you change Baby's eyes?—Hearing Gwi-ma say his name sent him into high alert.

—It's for aesthetic reasons—Jinu replied. 
—No one would want a blind idol. Baby can't see anything yet, I just changed the appearance of his eyes.—

Had his eyes changed?
What color were they?
Would they look like the ones he had before being punished?

Questions echoed in his mind, but he would never dare to ask out loud.

—Well, tomorrow they begin their plan, don't let me down—Gwi-ma ordered.
—No, sir—they all answered at once.

He had a chance to forget everything, to finally let it go.

And he wouldn't waste it.

Chapter Text

He jumped from one rooftop to another, chasing something, or, someone.

He didn't know exactly where he was, he only knew that he shouldn't stray too far from the person in front of him.

—Wait!— he shouted, trying to make the silhouette stop, but it didn't.

He continued running after it until the silhouette finally stopped at the corner of a rooftop.

He stood at what he considered a safe distance.
—Who are you?—he asked, his voice echoing.

The silhouette didn't respond; it just turned in his direction, revealing a young man with light skin and bright blue hair.

And completely empty eyes.

The boy extended his hand, indicating that he should take it.

He took a step forward, trying to get a little closer to him, about to take his hand...

—WAKE UP, Z!—Jesse shouted, causing the boy to wake up in fright and fall out of bed.

—Oops, sorry—the blond apologized as he approached to pick him up.

Aaron rubbed the back of his neck; it seemed he hadn't hit himself that hard.
He took the hand Jesse offered him and stood up.

—Why are you so scare, bro?—he asked curiously.
Aaron hesitated whether to share it with him or not. His sexuality wasn't a secret among the boys, but this time he felt different.

Jesse stared at him, waiting for an answer.
Everyone knew they could say anything to Jesse; he was the oldest in the group, so they trusted him a lot.

—I had a strange dream— he finally answered.
—Strange in what way?—the other asked.

He decided he wouldn't give too many details about his dream; anyway, his memory wasn't very clear.

—I don't remember very well. I just know that I was chasing someone until they stopped in front of me—

Jesse put his hand to his chin thoughtfully, trying to make sense of it.

—Maybe your brain is reflecting all the stress of hunting demons—the blond said. —We did it for so long that you've even started dreaming about it—

"But then why did I dream about someone?"
Was what he wanted to ask, but what came out of his mouth was
—Yeah you're right, that must be why.—

Hurrying footsteps were heard down the hallway until they reached the room.

—Are you awake?—asked Robaire, who was wearing black pants, a sleeveless white shirt, and gold necklaces.

—Yes, Captain—Jesse replied.
—What are you wearing?—asked Z. He noticed Jesse was wearing a similar outfit to the dark-haired boy, only that his had a jacket.

Suddenly, he felt out of place because he was wearing pajamas with space designs and thousands of cats all over them.
"Space cats" how he called them.

—Ever since the girls found out we were coming, they sent us to make matching outfits for each of us—Robaire replied as he handed him a hanger with an outfit similar to theirs.

Black pants with a gold chain hanging off them, a white shirt with ripped sleeves, gold necklaces, and a completely gold headband.

—Get changed quickly, I'll see you in the living room in ten minutes—Jesse told him as he left the room and closed the door.

Nine minutes later, Aaron emerged from the room sporting his new outfit. It was comfortable, pretty, not exactly his style, but cool.

Everyone else was already in the living room. T and Tae were eating cereal straight from the box while looking at something on their phones.

—Eat something quick for breakfast so you're ready when the van picks us up—Robaire instructed him as he tossed him an apple.

He caught it and took a bite.
—Good reflexes—the dark-haired man complimented.
Z just shrugged.

—Thank the sports—
It was well known that of all the members of 4Town, Aaron Z was the most athletic. He could play any sport if he put his mind to it, but he had the most passion for basketball.

If I hadn't had the opportunity to be a singer, being a basketball player was an excellent backup plan.

He continued eating his apple as he approached Tae and T.

—What are you watching?— he asked.

—We just found a girl who uploads videos where she checks couples' phones to see if one of them is cheating—Tae replied. T just nodded, his mouth full of cereal.

Z nodded; he wasn't much for gossip, but he'd never refuse to listen to them either.
He reached into the box, pulling out a handful of cereal, and then took a seat next to the guys.

Ten minutes and a full box of cereal later, the truck had arrived.

—Guys...—Robaire began.

—I knew he was cheating! You can't trust someone named Diego!—Tae shouted at the screen.

—Hey...—he called again.

—Right! The Diegos are the worst of the worst—T agreed, throwing the cereal box into the trash.

—Could you please…—

—I can't believe the girl decided to stay with him after knowing everything he has done—Z told them as he angrily grabbed his shoes.

—Hey idiots, the car's here!—The shout puzzled everyone, especially Robaire.
Jesse was the one who had called them, since he'd noticed no one was paying attention to the dark-haired boy.

—I had them under control—Robaire told him jokingly.
—Of course you did—Jesse replied in the same tone.

Everyone entered the elevator to get off and get into the van. The girls had gone ahead of them to rehearse the final details.

When they arrived at the place where they would perform their song for the first time, they were recognized by some fans, who asked for pictures and were excited when they realized their outfits matched the girls.

When they entered, they saw the girls were rehearsing their choreography, so they sat in the seats right in front.

It was funny watching Bobby try to keep up with the choreography only to end up hitting a member of his team.

—Don't laugh— Robaire told them, causing everyone to cover their mouths with their hands to keep from laughing.

Rumi was singing her high note when she suddenly coughed, which puzzled everyone in the room.

—Are you okay, Rumi?—Bobby asked the girl.
—Yeah, sure, I'm fine, right from the start—she said with a smile.

The song repeated itself and the girls started dancing again, but when it was time for the high note, Rumi coughed again, louder this time.

—Are you sure you're okay? Do you need water or anything?—Bobby asked again, now a little worried.

—Five minutes! I'll be right back!—the girl replied, then ran to her dressing room.

—Five minutes? We're on air in ten!—a girl protested, alarmed.

—I have a bad feeling, guys—T said, adjusting her cap.

And they hated to admit it, but they agreed with him: something wasn't going to go well.

Five minutes passed, and Rumi didn't appear. The girls went to find her to get ready, but came back upset.

—Rumi's not here!—Zoey waved her hands exaggeratedly in concern.

—What?!—Bobby asked nervously.
—She wasn't in her dressing room, and wherever she went, she didn't take her phone—Mira explained as she took Rumi's phone out of her pocket.

Okay, that was bad, for several reasons.

Thousands of questions arose, all about the same person.
Where was she? Where had she gone? Why had she run away? How would the press take it?

Was Rumi okay?

—What do we do now?—Tae asked Robaire. If there was a chance to help, they should do it.

—We have to look for her, she couldn't have gone far—he replied.

The thing is, she had gone too far.
They spent most of the afternoon dodging the press, running through the streets, checking every alley, but there was no sign of Rumi anywhere.

—Maybe it's not that relevant, but I'm starving—T said with a grimace.

They had spent the whole afternoon looking for Rumi, having missed lunch, and their breakfast hadn't been the best of all.

—Guys, go home. We'll keep looking for Rumi— a staff member told them as she called a van to take them home.

They didn't entirely agree.
The concert had been canceled, it was getting dark, the fans were furious.

And they were starving.

—I'm sure Rumi has a good reason for this—Jesse comforted as they got into the van.

—It's just that she's never done anything like this before; it's really weird—Zoey said worriedly.

—Besides, she forgot her phone, and she never goes out without it—Mira added, arms crossed.

—Girls, if anyone knows how to take care of themselves, it's Rumi. I'm sure she's fine and she'll explain all this to us—Tae told them as he comforted Zoey.

When they arrived at the building, everyone went to their rooms to change into more comfortable clothes. In the end, the boys hadn't been able to show off their outfits.

A shame for the fashion world

About fifteen minutes after they arrived, the elevator doors rang again, and they turned to see who it was.

Rumi was back.

No one said anything immediately; they just stared at the girl.

They decided it was best to sit at the table, since they were also starving.

—Hey, I'm sorry about what happened—Rumi apologized.

—It's okay, Rumi, it's just that you worried us a lot—Mira replied.

—Yeah, I'm sorry about that. It's just that I couldn't sing at that moment—Rumi said.
—Don't worry, I'm sure Bobby will fix it—Zoey's phone rang, and she answered.

—Hi Bobby!—
—Girls, I can't fix it, there are too many fans!—The manager spoke from the other end of the line. Mira hang up the phone.

—It's okay, I'm sure you'll be able to perform live in a few days,—Robaire commented, to which Rumi shook her head.

—I don't think so. My voice, is having problems—Okay, that was serious.

Not just the fact that the press would be angry and the fans would be disappointed; that was the least of the details.

We're talking about the voice of a hunter, her strongest weapon, the only thing capable of repelling Gwi-ma's magic.
And it was having problems.

—Problems? What kind of problems?—Tae asked.
—Is it bad? Should we call Celine?—Zoey was quite confused.

—It's not worth calling Celine; we know what she'll say—Mira replied, to which Zoey shrugged.

—Rumi, why don't we get some rest? Let's not go to this year to the Idol Awards—
—No! That's where we strengthen the Hoonmoon. We can't miss it, not when I'm so close—Rumi interrupted.

Everyone at the table fell silent. They knew Rumi was stubborn, so there was no point in trying to convince her otherwise.

—It’s okay Rumi. We can do anything together—Zoey comforted.

—Alright, Rumi has to get her voice back in two weeks. Any ideas?—Jesse asked.

—I have an idea!—Zoey replied.
—Just one?—
—Well actually fifty-seven, but let's start with my favorite. Don't worry, it's a hit.—

☆

—It's a magical tonic that cures everything, from sore throats to voice problems—Zoey explained as she led the way through the streets.

They had decided to wear more ordinary clothes so as not to be recognized; they didn't want to attract attention from the people around them.

They arrived at a clinic in a less-visited part of the city. It looked good, something that radiated confidence.

—You guys go in, we'll wait for you outside—the guys told them as the girls entered the clinic.

—You know, Korea is really interesting when you don't have to sing—T said as he gazed at a banderilla stand with loving eyes.

—Let's get something to eat, bro—Z said, as they both separated from the group.

They were so focused on talking to each other that Z didn't notice when he bumped into someone, knocking them to the ground.

—Sorry, I didn't see you!—He apologized, offering his hand to help the person up.

Although his breath nearly caught in his throat when he saw him.

It was the boy of his dreams.

Chapter Text

The human world was... curious.

It had been a long time since he'd been on the surface, and he was sure it was very different from his time.

Even though he couldn't see anything, he felt like things had changed. The streets now felt more crowded.

Noisier.

—It still feels strange to see Baby's eyes with pupils—Romance commented as they walked through the city streets.

—Shut up, idiot—Baby responded furiously.

He had enough with having to walk close to the group if he wanted to avoid falling, without also having to endure ridicule.

—Romance, leave him alone—Jinu urged, to which the pink-haired man snorted.

From the sound of people walking beside him, he knew that times had changed quite a bit.

He was curious to see the buildings, the fountains, the gardens, everything that was happening today.

To see the sun again.

But he had to settle for simply feeling the warmth radiating on his skin, without ever seeing it.

"You won't be leaving until dawn."
The voice pierced his thoughts, a small reminder of the past.

A past he would forget if they managed to complete their mission.

—I hope this works— he said to Jinu, to which the boy turned in his direction.
—Of course it will. It's my plan. It's perfect, just like me—

Baby let out a dry laugh.
—Forgive me if I disagree...—

He couldn't finish his sentence because he abruptly fell to the ground, landing on his palms.

Because he was focused on the plan and his past, he didn't realize he had gotten separated from the group and that he had also forgotten to pay attention to his surroundings, which is why he collided with someone.

Someone who seemed to have too much strength because it had pushed him as if he weighed nothing.

—Sorry, I didn't see you!—
Yeah, me neither.

From the tone of his voice, he recognized it was a man, extending his hand for him to get up.

—Don't worry, it was my fault—he replied without taking the other's hand, a sign that he would get up on his own.

A sign the boy didn't seem to pick up.

Seeing that he had rejected his hand, he took his forearm and helped him get up.

—Sorry if this is weird, but have we met before?—he asked once he was standing.

"I haven't seen anyone for a couple of years" his mind immediately responded.

—I don't think so—he replied simply.

The boy in front of him let out a sigh of what he perceived as disappointment.
Was it so bad not being the person he'd expected?

—Oh, sorry, I confused you—he apologized. —But we can meet. I'm Aaron Z. Nice to meet you—

Aaron Z...
Where had he heard that name before?

He did a quick scan of his mental files and realized where he knew him.

The boy was a hunter.
One of the strongest.

Okay, that was bad. What should he do?
Running away wasn't an option because he'd look suspicious and because he wouldn't know where to go, and fighting him in a public place was risky.

But on the other hand...

He could use this to his advantage.

If the hunter trusted him, he could get information from him and the other hunters, and they'd complete their mission faster.

So it was best to keep acting.

—I'm Baby. Nice to meet you—he finally responded to the greeting.

—Is your name Baby?—Aaron asked.
—Long story—the blue-haired man replied.

And yes, it was a very long story.

—Sorry to interrupt their conversation, but we have to go—Jinu's voice entered the conversation.

—I'm Jinu, Baby's friend, nice to meet you—he greeted politely.
Although "friend" wasn't exactly the word Baby would use to define their relationship.

Don't get him wrong, interacting with other demons is important to avoid falling into madness.

But many of them didn't get together because they liked each other or wanted to be together, but because it was all they had.

Maybe, if they had known each other in their time, they would be good friends, go to school together, and chat after school.

"What a beautiful boy."
"I'll do lots of things with you."
"Behave yourself and I'll reward you."

On second thought, he was grateful that none of them had lived in the past with him.

—Oh, okay, do you have a phone?—Aaron asked.

What the hell is a phone?

—Baby doesn't like social media, so he doesn't have one—Jinu jumped into the conversation to save him from possible humiliation.

—Oh, I understand. Well, I hope to see you again then—the boy said goodbye and then walked away.

—Who was that?—Jinu asked seriously.
—A hunter who ran into me—Baby replied in the same tone.

He noticed the boy was surprised, but he didn't flinch too much. If it weren't for his skill, he might not have noticed.

—Will you see him again?—he asked, a little mockingly at the end.
Idiot.

—Fuck you, I'm only doing it because I know I can get information from him—he replied tersely.

—Okay, Baby, let's see what you can get—

They met up again with the group to head to the place where they were going to perform.

Apparently, today was the day to bump into people.

As they walked down a quiet alley, he noticed the presence of three other people.

Three girls.

One of them bumped into Jinu and fell to the ground. Baby thought his friend would help him up like the boy had a moment ago.

But the girl's disappointed sound made it clear that Jinu had left her on the ground.

It seems his friend wasn't as gentlemanly as he'd thought.

Or as gentlemanly as that hunter had been.

He wasn't very good at guessing, but he wanted to try to give the boy a look using only the memory of his voice.

Tall? Dark-haired? White? Blond?
What color were his eyes?

He'd probably meet him again thanks to his plan. He didn't know exactly what an American hunter was doing in Korea, but he was most likely with the hunters.

It would be like killing two birds with one stone.

They would defeat two groups of hunters at once, leaving two countries without their defenders, making it easier for them to acquire more souls in those countries.

Besides, thinking about it this way, the United States didn't have a group of hunters, so they could tell Gwi-ma to send more groups of demons there right now.

And if he managed to talk to this boy more, he might gain even more information.

It seemed as if the universe had finally conspired in his favor.

And all thanks to a hunter with a beautiful voice.

☆

They performed a performance of a curious song called "Soda Pop."

Don't get him wrong, he really likes music; it was the only thing that kept him sane in his past.

"Stop singing, you horrible boy!"

It was completely different from the lullabies he used to sing,but the good thing is that they left him the rap part.

He liked it.

The hardest part of the performance was to not fall, they had practiced that choreography on Jinu's orders for days.

He fell the first 15 times.

The choreography wasn't that complex, but his poor vision caused him to frequently bump into his classmates and constantly trip over his feet.

Fortunately, he managed to complete the choreography intact during the performance, although he internally prayed not to fall when he jumped.

To avoid suspicion, Gwi-ma had gotten them an apartment; the guys said it was nice and aesthetically pleasing.

He only cared that it was comfortable.

—Mistery, is there anything here to sit on?—he asked the boy as he stood outside the door.

—Yes, there's a couch. Give me your hand, I'll take you there—He extended his hand.
Baby took it carefully, and Mistery guided him to the couch where he sat.

It had been a long time since he'd sat on a couch.
It was so soft, he felt like he might melt and stay there for life.

—Uhh, Jinu, why did Bany's eyes return to their normal state?—Romance asked, half worried and half curious.

Baby grimaced.

—Ah, that's normal. When there are no humans around, his eyes will return to their normal state—Jinu replied.

Okay, at least now he understood how the magic that controlled his eyes worked.

—Anyway, everyone get ready, we have to be on the "Play Game With Us" show in half an hour—Jinu instructed. —Your costumes are in your rooms, don't be late—

He felt Mistery get up from the couch to leave him sitting there.

—Do you want me to help you get dressed?—The boy asked softly.

He didn't expect to still need help getting dressed after his mother stopped doing it.

Oh, his mother.

She might not have been the person on the best conditions to raise him, but she always did her best.

Until he was taken away from her.

—Yes, please—he replied. Mistery nodded at the answer and went to change.

The boy returned ten minutes later, gently taking his arm and helping him up.

—This is the right side of your pants—Mistery told him as he handed him the clothes.

—What color are they?—he asked.
—A pink that you'd probably consider ridiculous—the other replied.

Baby snorted in response. —Something good has to come from not being able to see anything at all—He shrugged.

Once he finished dressing, Mistery led him back to the exit, where the rest of the group was waiting.

—Let's go, we're running late—They all held hands, and Jinu teleported them to the location where the program was being held.

☆

The program was...weird.

They were having a challenge to see who could drink the most bottles of spicy.

The truth is, I hadn't eaten spicy food in a long time, but it was delicious; I missed it.

So much so that I ended up winning the game.

It was time to say goodbye, but something suddenly changed.

—Why say goodbye? If we can welcome our two most beloved groups! Huntrix and 4Town!—Jinu said as he took the microphone from the host.

The hunters were there.

Okay, that was something that could be considered bad.

—We were just stopping by to greet our colleagues for their debut—Robaire greeted with a clearly forced smile.

—And of course, play games with us!—The others suddenly walked away, leaving him standing there.

And just as quickly as they left, they returned.

—Slide! Slide!—the crowd shouted, so he assumed the hunters had to go down said slides.

He didn't understand the problem until he heard their clothes rubbing against the plastic slides.

That was painful to hear.

From their presence, he realized they were three girls and five boys, including the boy he bumped into that morning.

They did see each other again after all.

—It was an honor to be with you—Jinu said as he bowed, an action everyone imitated.

—He's so gentlemanly!—a fan shouted from the audience.

"If only you knew" Baby thought with a laugh.

—Oh no, the honor was all ours—Rumi replied, bowing with her group.

They started a sort of competition to see who could bow the farthest, which they ended up winning because their clothes were more flexible.

When the curtain closed, all he felt was being carried and running away.

From the strength and shape of the body, he knew it was Abby.

—What the hell are you doing?—he asked, angrily.
—I'll help you escape, idiot! You can't run on your own!—he replied in the same tone.

Well that was true, most of the time he teleported away to avoid having to run or walk.

They entered the bathrooms to prepare the next phase of their plan.

Not even a minute passed when the doors were swung open.

—I told you they'd follow usJinu commented with a smile.
—I knew it, they're always looking at me—Abby added as his shirt was lifted up, revealing his abs.

—No, we’re not!— Zoey,Mira and Tae replied, blushing.

—Anyway, we didn't come here to fight, but they did—Demons emerged from the water.
—Ah, water demons, my favorites—Jesse commented sarcastically.

—Kill the hunters and then take all the souls you want—Jinu ordered before the demons began to attack them.

Now Baby had only one thing on his mind: escape.

He felt everyone running in one direction, so he followed them, staying slightly behind to avoid falling.

He wouldn't have had any trouble following them if someone hadn't roughly shoved him into an empty room.

—So you're a demon?—Oh, he recognized that voice.

It was the hunter.

—Sorry to break your expectations—he replied tersely.

He wouldn't go down without a fight, even if the opponent had the advantage.

Aaron lunged at him, trying to hit him with his morningstar, but Baby dodged it by teleporting across the room.

—Wow, looks like someone needs to improve their aim—he mocked him.

The boy growled in anger, but seemed to suddenly calm down.
Or rather, bewildered.

—What happened to your eyes?—

Oh no, there were no humans around, so his eyes had returned to normal.

And now he had seen them.

—Z WE NEED HELP!—came the shout from the room where the fight was taking place.

Baby expected the boy to hit him and send him back to Gwi-ma, where he would surely be humiliated for failing.

But instead, the boy just walked past him, whispering in his ear, invading his personal space.

—This isn't over—The voice gave him a chill.

And of course it wasn't.

This had only just begun.

Chapter Text

"So he's a demon."

Aarón Z's head spun.
He hadn't fully believed when he'd been told the boys who sang in the plaza were demons.

He didn't believe he was one.

But now that he'd seen it with his own eyes, he had no doubts left.
—How did we go from almost golden to this?—Rumi's voice sounded disappointed and astonished at the same time.

He turned his gaze toward the window and had to fight back the sigh that threatened to escape.

The Hoonmoon was riddled with tears that glowed red, indicating it was weakening.

The Hoonmoon, the very thing that protected them from demons, something they'd worked for for generations, was in danger.

All because of a group of boys.

A question swirled in his head: "Why didn't I kill him?"

He was right there in front of him, a simple movement of his weapon and he'd be finished.

But... his eyes.

The bright blue eyes he'd seen in the morning and on the show changed when it was just the two of them in the room.

Now they were completely white, without pupils.

And empty.

How could anyone have eyes like that?

The bewilderment in his gaze and the call from his friends made him abandon the plan to kill the demon.

—Don't worry, no one will remember them tomorrow—T commented, trying to lighten the mood.

The elevator door rang, and everyone quickly pulled out their mirrors to hide their wounds with makeup.

—Hey Bobby!—they all greeted at once.
—Girls! These guys went viral in seconds; they even have their own fan club—He gave them his phone so they could see it.

As he scrolled through the videos, the song the demons had sung, "Soda Pop," played in the background.

Bobby, Zoey, and Tae bobbed their shoulders to the beat.

No one could blame them; the song was good.

—STOP!—Rumi, Mira, and Robaire demanded at the same time, causing the three of them to stop.

—It's catchy—Zoey defended herself.
—You're right Zoey, they're amazing, but they suck. Sorry, I've been too glued to this device—

Hee approached the window.
—I just need to...umm. Relax, Bobby. It's just numbers. It's not the end of the world—

Except it was the end of the world if they didn't find a way to fix the Hoonmoon.

Robaire's phone rang, and the moment he took it out of his pocket, they saw his manager's name.

—Hey, Janny—he greeted,putting the phone to his ear.
—Robaire, what are you doing?—Janny's voice sounded serious.

The boy wasn't going to go through the sermon alone, so he put the phone on speakerphone.
—You're on speakerphone—He informed her.

—How could you go on a talk show without telling me? The record label and the fans were hoping your return to talk shows would be on an American show!—

Well, it's not like they wanted to go on the show; they were going to kill demons.

—We're sorry—Jesse apologized.
—Scold them, Janny!—Mira said as she approached the phone.

—Hi, my girls!—the manager greeted happy.
—Why didn't you say hi to us?—Robaire asked, offended.

—How have you been? How's your performance going? I'm obsessed with Golden—The girl completely ignored the boy's comment and continued talking to the girls.

—It’s fine, we're still deciding when to perform it live—Zoey replied as she approached the phone.

—Why don't they sing it at some event?—

Something clicked in Rumi's head.

—If this is a war for fans, what do you think is the greatest battlefield?—

—The Idol Awards—
—The Fair—
—The Battle of Starlingrad—

Only Mira and Zoey's answers were correct; Bobby's was a little off, but everyone looked at T strangely for his answer.

—According to history, it's the greatest battlefield that has ever existed—the boy argued.

—We need to make a song that exposes the truth about the Saja Boys, Zoey—

—I have 26 notebooks full of insults for demons—
—Make it 30!—Bobby encouraged.

—Mira the choreography—

—Making it hot—
—Background dancers, ready!—

—Can we help them with anything?—Robaire asked.

While it was true that K-pop wasn't their style, this wasn't just about the music, it was about the world.

—We'll see what you can help us with—Rumi replied, smiling.

—Let's send those demons back to the dark hole where they belong!—Zoey shouted, followed by the others in the room.

—Janny, how soon can you come?—Jesse asked through the phone.
—I'm actually on my way there. Thank Louis for being available. I'll see you tomorrow—the manager replied and hung up.

—Let's get to work!—Everyone left the room and headed to their rooms. Tomorrow they would have work to do.

—I love your energy, guys! I don't get this whole thing of calling them demons, they seems like nice people but hey!—

Aaron entered his room and locked it.

He decided he was going to stop the pile of questions flooding his head and start getting answers.

He was going to find that demon.

If there were any fans capable of discovering everything about their idols, it was K-pop fans.
He logged into Twitter from his fake account "livelaughhate4town" and scrolled through tweets until he found one that seemed helpful.

"Alleged apartment where the Saja Boys reside."

Bingo.

It was a quiet street, so he could easily get there.

He took a screenshot of the tweet before it was deleted and opened the window to head to the location.

☆

Once he was where the tweet indicated, he decided that maybe it wasn't such a good idea to go alone.

Five demons against him.

The statistics didn't look too much in his favor.

But he was already there, and he had too much pride to turn back.

He climbed nimbly until he reached the roof of the building, landing carefully so as not to be heard.

He heard a door open, so he pressed his chest to the ground to watch without being noticed.

Baby was leaning against the balcony railing, his face resting against his cheek.

It was now or never.

He carefully got up and jumped onto the balcony. The demon immediately turned around upon sensing someone's presence, but before he could say anything, Aaron covered his mouth with his hand.

—Don't scream— he ordered, seeing his eyes completely empty.

Baby froze. He'd sensed someone else was with him, but he thought he was wrong.

And now he was facing a hunter who could kill him at any moment.

Only, he hadn't done it yet.
Why hadn't he killed him?

—I’d never thought that the guy I met on the street today is trying to steal my friends' fans to destroy the Hoonmoon—Aaron said as he removed his hand from the other guy's mouth.

His first instinct was to scream, but he'd probably be killed before he could finish calling for help.

—What can I say? I'm a very versatile person—the blue-haired man replied.

—I could kill you at any moment, and yet you still decide to act funny? You've got guts—Aaron snorted.

—You could, but you haven’t—he said as he moved closer to him.

—I want to know why your eyes are white—the hunter argued.
—What a gossip guy you turned out to be—Baby replied with a fake smile.

—Listen, I've faced hundreds of demons, and none of them have eyes like yours. Some have only one eye, others have six, but I've never seen anyone like you.—

—It's because I'm unique and different—he replied with amusement.

He could hear the hunter snort in response.
Ah, how he enjoyed making people lose their tempers.
—You're very stubborn, kid—

—Don't call me kid!—He demanded, the nervousness and amusement he'd felt a few moments ago turning into anger, making his demon marks glow brightly.

—Gosh, I'm sorry, I won't do it again—Aaron apologized, disconcerting Baby.

Had he apologized to him?

Baby grimaced.

—I don't understand why you're so interested in knowing about me—he argued, crossing his arms.

—I need answers—Aaron replied.
—Answers to what?—The hunter was silent for a moment, but finally responded.

—I dreamed about you last night—

What the fuck?

—Nothing out of the ordinary, just that I followed you across the rooftops until you stopped, offering me to take your hand—

Baby was just as, if not more, bewildered than the hunter.
—And I'm supposed to have the answer to that? How would I know you dreamed about me?!—

—You didn't manipulate my dream?—Aaron asked doubtfully.
—Demons don't do that, genius—Baby replied.

—Did Gwi-ma do it?—he asked again.
Baby shuddered at the mention of his master.

—It's not part of his powers; he's limited to mental manipulation and torture for eternity, making sinister voices never leave your head—he replied with false amusement.

—What voices?—he asked, approaching him.

Perhaps he got too close, since the distance between them was less than thirty centimeters, entering his opponent's personal space.

Baby froze he has the ability to feel more than anyone else the boy's proximity.

He felt panic invade his body and immediately stepped back, tripping over the flower pots on the balcony.

All he heard was the sound of the clay pots cracking as he fell to the ground.

—Are you okay?—The hunter rushed to take him by the arms and gently lift him up.

He didn't have time to respond when he heard a knock at the door.

—Baby, are you okay?—It was Mistery.
—Get out of here before they see you—the demon demanded hurriedly.

Aaron hesitated for a moment, but then decided to obey.

He jumped onto the roof again, his gaze fixed on the demon.
—Until we meet again—he said goodbye before jumping to the other roof.

—I don't think it'll be soon—he replied, though he wasn't heard.

Baby sighed as he felt the hunter's presence fading.

Mistery cautiously opened the door and poked his head out, seeing Baby's body covered in dirt.

—Don't ask—he demanded in a serious voice. Mistery shrugged and left the room, closing the door again.

Baby stood in the room with thousands of things on his mind.

Every single one of them had to do with the hunter.

He felt his body bend against his will until he landed on solid rock.

—What did that hunter want?—Gwi-ma's voice was serious, perhaps more serious than usual.
—I haven't figured it out yet, but I promise I will—he replied quickly.

—Okay, Baby, I trust you. Don't fail me—he ordered before making him disappear in flames and reappear in the human world.

Of all the people, Gwi-ma was undoubtedly the one who cared least about disappointing.

But not now, not now that he had the chance to have his memories erased.

It seemed that he would have to meet that hunter again soon.

Chapter Text

—This definitely wasn't the break I was expecting for—Janny commented as she got out of the elevator.

—Hey, Janny—everyone greeted as they approached her.
—Hey, guys—she greeted back with a tired sigh.

The girls emerged from a hallway and rushed over to the manager.

—Good to see you!—they greeted cheerfully.
—Good to see you too, girls—she returned the greeting with a smile.

Once they walked away from the girl, she stared at the other manager.
—Hi Bobby—she greeted cheerfully.
—Hey, Janny—they both approached and began to talk about how their work was going.

—Do you think she's really upset?—Robaire asked in a whisper.
—If she was, she would have killed us out by now—Tae replied in a low voice.

—Maybe she's planning on doing it—T chimed in.
—No, she wouldn't, would she?—Z was confused.
—Could you all shut up?—Jesse scolded, raising his voice a little.

Janny turned her attention to the group.

—Since you've decided to make your return to the cameras, the record label has scheduled an interview for you this afternoon—The boys let out a sigh of complaint.
The girls' laughter was heard.

It wasn't that they didn't like interviews, it's just that they asked very... personal questions sometimes.

—No complaints, thanks to Tae's influence, 25% of his fans are from this beautiful country, so you'd better prepare for this interview—

They gave Tae a dirty look, who shrugged instead; it wasn't his fault he was Korean.

—You should thank Tae,because of him some of the people in this country love you. Otherwise, your fans would all be ours—Mira commented mockingly.

—You wish—Jesse replied in the same tone.

—What time is the interview?—T asked, returning to the main topic.
—Six o'clock sharp, so I want you ready by then, do you understand?—She asked just to be sure.

—Yes, Captain!—They all answered at once, making Janny let out a small laugh.
—I don't know what I'm going to do with all of you—

The hours passed quickly, and before he knew it, they were already sitting in the interview chairs.

—Welcome to Where Joy Lives! Today we're joined by the incredible American musical band 4Town—the host greeted, and the cameras focused on them.

He had a strict protocol for interviews.

It was well known that Aaron Z was the least talkative member of 4Town when it came to participating in talk shows, so he always kept a straight face, smiling occasionally, and answered the questions.

It wasn't that he wanted to sell a serious image of himself, but rather that he wanted to avoid awkward questions at all costs.

He'd had experiences before where questions crossed his boundaries.

But sometimes he couldn't avoid them.

—So, Aaron Z, are you romantically interested in anyone right now?—the host asked with a smile.

—Honestly, no, I'm not involved with anyone right now—
—No one? Really?—

—Yes, I'm fine for now—
He didn't like the insistence on that subject.

—But do you have someone in mind?—
He didn't know if it was his mind or his heart that made such an action, but a fleeting memory of his encounter with the demon the night before surfaced.

He shook his head to free himself from the image and the feeling it had caused.

—No one at all—he reaffirmed in a serious voice.

The interviewer seemed to understand, because he changed the subject to ask Tae about his shelters for injured animals.

Although he had dodged the sudden memory, the rest of the program was spent thinking about his encounter with the demon.

He need to see him again.

—You were recently seen on a program welcoming the Saja Boys to the industry. What do you think of them?—The mention of the band brought him back to reality.

—They seem like they're very talented people— Robaire replied with a smile that only his friends knew was fake.

—Exactly, plus they have catchy and pretty good songs—Tae complemented his companion.

—They seem like very kind and nice people. They seem like they're people with pure hearts. I'd like to spend more time with them someday—Z replied, slightly surprising those present by his sudden participation.

And for the compliment to the demons.

Jesse discreetly leaned in his seat to look at him curiously, to which the boy avoided his gaze.

Jesse leaned back in his seat, his instinct telling him there was something wrong, something Z wasn't telling him.

And he had to know.

—Please give 4Town a farewell round of applause!—the host announced, closing the show.

The boys got up from their chairs and walked offstage to the backstage where Janny was waiting for them.

—Great interview, guys—A compliment was given when they arrived. —Concrete, clear, and precise answers, just what the audience wanted—

—Were you the whole audience?—T asked with a laugh, to which Janny rolled her eyes in amusement.

—Hahaha, very funny, T—She checked her phone with a smile.

—Fans have started asking for more collaborations between you and the Saja Boys because of your feedback about them. They want to see you spending time together—

—Is it possible?—Tae asked with concealed discomfort.
Most of them weren't very happy with the idea of ​​sharing the stage with demons.

—It could be, the agency will decide that—Tae grimaced in disgust, crossing his fingers to get them to rule that out as soon as possible.
-
—You're free for the rest of the day, go rest—Janny instructed them before disappearing down a hallway, quickly tapping away on her phone.

—I'm not getting up from that couch for the rest of the day—T quickly climbed into the truck and leaned back on the couch.

—Not even to eat?—Robaire asked playfully.
—There are exceptions— T clarified, pointing at him.

☆

Z was lying on his bed, devising a plan for their night out when the door sounded.

—Can I come in?—Jesse was on the other side of the door.
—Come in—he replied, sitting in the center of the bed.

The blond man stepped in and closed the door behind him.

—What are you doing?—he asked, lying down on his stomach.

—Well, nothing really, just thinking—he replied, lying down with his eyes up at the ceiling.

—Wait, do you think?—He turned his head slightly to ask.
—Hey, if you're going to offend me, you better go!—the dreadlocked man replied, pretending to be offended.

—Okay, I'm sorry—he apologized with a laugh, then switched to a slightly more serious tone. —Are you okay, Z?—

The question took the other guy by surprise.

—Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?—Jesse shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

—It's nothing, it's just that I feel like something's wrong with you. I feel like you're hiding something—the blond man answered honestly.

Jesse always cared about others, maybe sometimes too much.

He didn't like to see people in bad shape and always did everything in his power to get them out of that situation.

And he didn't like secrets.
He tried to be as direct as possible, because finding out someone was hiding something from him was like the end of the world for him.

Although sometimes, worrying too much about others caused him to worry about things that weren't there.

—Jes, I'm fine, nothing's wrong with me, you can rest assured—he clarified with a smile.

—It's fine, but if anything happens, don't hesitate to tell me. You know I'll always be there if you need me—he said with a smile.
—Believe me, I know it very well—Z smiled back.

They remained silent until Jesse went to his room because if he stayed there one more minute, he'd fall asleep.

Z got out of bed and went out onto the balcony to get some fresh air, but a chill behind him made him turn around quickly.

—Hello—Baby greeted in a serious voice.
—Ah!—Z covered his mouth to avoid being heard.

The demon's sudden presence was terrifying.

—How did you get here?—he asked once he calmed down.
—Derpy brought me—he answered as if it were the most casual thing in the world.

—Who's Derpy?—As he finished asking his question, a blue cat the size of a tiger with yellow eyes came out from between the flowerpots, leaving him amazed.

—This is Derpy—Baby extended his hand, and the cat rubbed its head against it.
—He's...cute—Aaron replied hesitantly. The cat was cute but a little scary.

—Why did you come?—he finally asked.
—I didn’t answer your question yesterday—he clarified, petting Derpy.

—What question?—The boy was confused.

Baby sighed, mentally preparing himself before answering. —What are the voices Gwi-ma tortures with—

Chapter Text

When you're not used to being in certain places, it's normal to feel uncomfortable.

It's normal to want to run away and hide, but you usually end up staying.

Baby had been to many different places when he was human, which had taught him to pretend the situation didn't bother him. Most of the time he found himself in those places, it was against his will.

Just like the place he was in now.

On Gwi-ma's orders, he had decided to be the one to visit the hunter this time.
He gave the others a lame excuse and rode off on Derpy toward the Huntrix building.

—What voices?— The hunter's voice reminded him of the reason he was there in the first place.

He let out a sigh.

—Humans make deals with Gwi-ma in exchange for something he gives you, but when you get it, he takes revenge and you become his prisoner—

—Wait, did all demons used to be human?—
What a silly question.

Of course they once were. They were weak and fell to temptation.

Although, not all of them were offered something tempting

—Of course! Do you think Gwi-ma creates his own souls to torture them?—He answered matter-of-factly.

—I wish I had eyes so I could roll them—
—Talking about that—Aaron called out—What's with your eyes? I know I always ask, but I'm actually very curious—

Baby let out a dry laugh that puzzled his companion.

—In case you haven't noticed yet ,I’m blind—he replied seriously.

—Are you serious?—The doubt was palpable in his voice.
—Oh, you think I'm a liar?—He challenged him.

—Hey, I've spent most of my life killing demons. I have the right to doubt what they say—Aaron argued.

—I'm serious. I can't see anything at all—he replied, crossing his arms.
—If you're blind, how do you dance such elaborate choreographies? I certainly don’t think it is possible for a blind person to do something like that—

—Practicing, I fall like twenty times the first times we rehearse, but I have a grasp of the dance from when I was a kid, I loved watching girls dance—

—So you weren't always blind?—
He remained silent for a second before answering.
—No, I wasn't. This is courtesy of Gwi-ma—he replied with false gratitude.

He could feel the boy pacing in his tracks, as if searching for exactly what to ask him.

—If all demons have a past as humans, do you have one too?—
His body tensed at that question.

—Yes, I do—he replied.
—Could you... tell me? Now that I know a little more about demons, I'd like to know about your past—

—It's a very long story—Baby replied, trying to avoid the subject.
—I have time—the hunter replied with a smile.

He didn't know whether to share his personal story with him or keep it to herself.

There were things he'd like to keep to himself.

But suddenly, a deep voice echoed in his mind.

"Speak up, Baby, or I'll turn up the volume."

Gwi-ma

He had sent him a message through his mind.
If he wanted to get out of there alive, he had to tell him.

—I warned you, it's a long story—

☆

Hundreds of years ago, there was a happy couple who lived on the edge of a hill. They had only one beautiful little girl, with fair skin and radiant blue hair, but this girl wasn't like any other girl.

This girl had a quality, a quality most people called a "defect."

The girl suffered from mental retardation, which made her behave like a seven-year-old even though she was sixteen.

Unfortunately, the girl's parents died shortly after she turned sixteen, and due to the lack of family, the girl was left living alone, with some difficulties.

Although honestly, having to learn to survive on her own wasn't the worst of it.

Two months after she turned seventeen, a boy kidnapped her and forcibly took her home, then left her lying unconscious on the street.

When the girl woke up, her brain couldn't understand what had happened, so she got up and walked home.

Months later, the girl was vomiting constantly.
One of her neighbors suspected she had some contagious disease, so she called a doctor to check her out.

It was that day that it was determined the girl was pregnant.

When the baby was born, the girl was in a state of complete shock, not only because the child was identical to her, same skin, same hair.

But the shock was also because she still couldn't process what had just happened.

"What are you going to name the baby?" a doctor asked her as she lay with the baby in her arms.
"Baby?" the girl asked, hoping to be reassured that she had heard correctly.

"A strange name, but somehow original," he replied as he wrote down the child's name to send to the civil registry.

The girl waited for an answer.

Days later, she returned home with the baby, and although she didn't know exactly how, she did her best to raise him.

The neighbor who had notified the doctor came to her house every day to help her take care of her son.

"My little angel," his mother used to call him.

The boy lived to be six years old with impeccable health, indomitable energy, and a radiant smile.

But without a doubt, the most beautiful thing about the child was his eyes.

They were large eyes, a blue that easily rivaled the beauty of the sky, filled with curiosity to discover the world.

Although he had to discover a not very pleasant one.

One day, as he was walking hand in hand with his mother, two men blocked their path.

"Excuse me," the girl asked politely, but neither of them moved.
"Excuse me, we need to go through," she asked again, but was ignored like the first time.

The men whispered something to each other, and then things happened so fast that defining exactly what happened is complicated.

One of them grabbed Baby by the torso and yanked him away from his mother, while the other held the girl down on the ground.

"Mom! Mommy!" the boy shouted, waiting for some kind of signal.
But the girl didn't respond.

"MOM!" The boy cried loudly, trying to understand why his mother wasn't responding.
"Silence" one of the men demanded, placing a hand over his mouth to silence him.

"He has beautiful eyes and skin; we'll do well with him," the other said with a smile.

Baby didn't understand what was happening; he just wanted to go to his home with his mother.

But one of those two things no longer existed.

The place they'd taken him to was a large house, maybe big enough for fifty people.

"Who has such a big family?" he wondered in his mind, puzzled, still shaken by the crying.

But most of the rooms weren't exactly suitable for living.

A door opened, revealing a bunch of children, some his age, some older.

"How old is he?" an older girl, maybe sixteen, asked in alarm.
She had long green hair; she looked just like his mother.

"Six, show him what to do" one of the man who brought him replied, and with a shove, they made him fall to his knees in front of the girl.

"He's just a kid." A boy, who looked about the girl's age, approached her.
“We all were. It's a shame he has to be here, but you know what will happen if we refuse.” The boy nodded with a grimace.

“What's your name?” She asked in a gentle tone.
“Baby,” he replied between sobs.

“Well, Baby, I'm Sayuri, and I'm so sorry you're here, but I'll teach you how to cope it, count on me” the girl told him with a kind smile.

The door opened again, revealing the same men as before, but now accompanied by a third man.

He was wearing expensive-looking clothes and wore rings on each hand.

"Him" he pointed at him with a smile.

What did that mean?

"He just arrived, you can't do that. Baby is just a child!" the girl demanded, but she was slapped.

"Shut up, Sayuri."

They led him to a room with the man. "Do everything he asks" Sayuri instructed before they were separated.

"Take off your clothes," the man ordered as soon as they entered the room.
He wasn't used to undressing unless he was going to bathe, but the man's intimidating gaze made him obey.

The man also undressed, making him look even more terrifying. He grabbed him tightly by the shoulders.

"What a beautiful boy."

He would like to say he doesn't remember what happened next, but he does.

That day was the first time he worked at that company.
The first time he was abused.

When he returned to the room with the other children, he was in pain and crying loudly.

"Baby, my boy, I'm so sorry about this" Sayuri rushed to hug him.

She held him in her arms until he calmed down and stopped crying.

"Sayuri, they're calling you" The same boy from before approached her. The girl swallowed, gently moved Baby, and stood up.

"Please stay with him for now, he needs us" she instructed him as she straightened her dress and left the room.

"Hey kid, don't cry. I can't promise things will get better, but we'll always be here for you."

Liars

Ten years had passed since they'd taken him to that place, and things hadn't improved at all.

For him, everything was going downhill.

Most people asked for him because of his looks.
His thin, fragile figure, his pale skin, and his blue eyes.

He spent more time in rooms with people he didn't know, doing things he didn't like, than in the company of others.

Although time had passed, he didn't understand why a fifty-year-old man could find attractive in a sixteen-year-old boy.

When Sayuri turned twenty-six, people stopped asking for her, since, according to their logic, the girl was losing her beauty as she grew older.

The thought that perhaps she was losing it because the constant abuse wore her down didn't exist.

And in these people's minds, what wears out and is no longer useful is discarded.

One night when he returned to the room after being with a woman, Sayuri wasn't there.

Everyone thought maybe he was working night shifts, as they used to let her.

But she didn't show up the next morning either.
Nor the next.

A whole week went by, and Sayuri didn't return.

“Where is Sayuri?” he asked one of the men as they led him into a room.
“Oh, that old magpie, she's dead.”

The words pierced his chest like a knife.
Sayuri…
She was dead.

They had murdered her.

He was scolded for not pleasing his client with his crying, but it was inevitable for him.

Sayuri was the only girl who remained kind despite the situation they were living in.

The only one who welcomed the children and tried to defend them even if she was beaten for it, the one who hugged every child and stayed up late if it was necessary.

The only one who cared about them.

And now, she was gone.

He looked at himself in the bathroom mirror, and that was when he heard it for the first time.

"They brought you here by force, separated you from the one you loved most, and took from you the one you considered your sister. You have nothing left.
But I can make sure you have something.
I can give you back your freedom and ensure these people never come looking for you again."

Gwi-ma's voice echoed in his head, and between the situation and his emotions, he accepted the deal.

When he woke up, he almost screamed in fright.

He wasn't in his shared room anymore; he was in a house, his house.

"Mom!" He hurried out of bed, searching every room, but couldn't find her.

Oh, right, mom wasn't here anymore.

He sat on the kitchen floor, hugging his knees and staying there silently, doing nothing.

He stared at his hands, watching them begin to adorn themselves with marks that glowed magenta.

After an hour, he left his house, seeing that the place hadn't changed at all.

He approached the house of his neighbor who had babysat him.
There was a crowd outside, which made him wonder why.

The neighbor who babysat him had been appointed mayor of the town four years ago.

Maybe if he told her everything he'd been through, she'd find a way to save all his mates.

To save every child who was taken there.

But the moment he presented the situation to the mayor, his hopes were shattered.

They began to insult him.

"You're a whore!"
"Gold digger!"
"You must have asked for it!"

How can they believe someone decided to be abused?
He would never understand people who defend the abuser instead of the victim.

Disappointed in people, he ran home, where he locked himself in, never to come out again.

The marks on his arms spread all over his body at a surprising speed.
When he came to, he found himself in a dark and gloomy place, in front of a huge wall of fire.

"Welcome, Baby" greeted the voice, which was the same one that had offered him the deal the first time.

"Where am I?" he asked, confused.
"You're in my kingdom. I'm Gwi-ma, and you belong to me now."

Many customers had told him the same thing: that he belonged to them. They made him feel like an object anyone could buy.

"Don't worry, I won't make you go through what you did when you were a child. Not even I'm that heartless."

"I'll give you a small gift. Consider yourself lucky; few get one."

Little by little, his vision blurred until he was unable to see.

"Your eyes have seen too much at your young age, Baby. They deserve a break at least."

He didn't consider it a gift at all. He tripped daily, fell constantly, sometimes colliding with people if he couldn't sense them in time.

But in a way, he thanked Gwi-ma for that.

He spent his entire human life wishing he was incapable to see the situation he was in; losing his sight wasn't the worst of it.

Most of the demons were there because of acts of selfishness, envy, or something else.
Baby was there because he put his survival before anything else.

Which was why the voices that tormented him were those of his clients and the villagers.

In a way, it was okay, because he didn't think he could bear to be reminded of his mother's or Sayuri's voice.

☆

When the boy finished telling his story, the room fell completely silent.

So silent that he feared the hunter would have left, if not for the fact that he could feel it.

Aaron took the demon's hands in his own and squeezed them lightly.

—I'm so sorry about what happened to you, Baby. None of it was your fault—he said in a calm voice.

Baby thought for a moment about what he was going to do. It was something he hadn't done in centuries, but he felt the need to do it.

He took his hands from the hunter's and, taking a running start, rushed to hug him.

It was obvious he'd taken the boy by surprise, but he was equally surprised when he hugged him back.

His fragile, cold body was a stark contrast to the heat radiating from the hunter's body.

For a moment, he forgot he was there to extract information from the hunter and take advantage of the situation.

Because in that moment, he was more focused on absorbing as much warmth as possible for his eternal cold.

Chapter Text

The days had been intense. The girls had nominations and music awards shows to attend almost daily, where they constantly competed with the Saja Boys.

The boys attended various television and game shows as part of their schedule, reviewed and authorized by Janny.

But not even all the shows or award shows in the world could take away the time they had at nightfall.

Clandestine meetings became a common thing among them.
Perhaps a little more than they would admit.

Sometimes Aaron was the one who sneaked out, telling his friends he was going to bed early when he was actually going to visit the demon at his apartment.

Other times, Baby appeared with Derpy among the flowerpots on the hunter's balcony.

Sometimes they were accompanied by a curious three-eyed black bird.
"Maboki" the demon answered when Aaron asked its name.

Aaron had many pets throughout his childhood, so it wasn't much of a surprise when Derpy quickly took to him.

Although the feline sometimes acted...strange.
When he brought Baby to the balcony, he would sometimes disappear and only return when the demon wanted to retreat.

They didn't explain exactly where he went, but it wasn't as if they were ever going to find out.

They also didn't understand exactly why they kept seeing each other.

Aaron told himself it was out of curiosity and a desire to better understand the demons he had spent his entire life hunting.

Baby argued it was to get the information Gwi-ma had asked for and be able to escape his punishment more quickly.

But neither of them was completely convinced by that answer.

—So, you don't have the slightest idea of what I look like?—Aaron asked.

They were in the hunter's room, Aaron sitting on the bed and Baby lying on the floor using a Derpy as a support.

—Well... I have theories—the demon replied.
—What theories?—The emotion in the boy's voice amazed Baby.

—Well... you're taller than me, that's obvious... and clearly much stronger than me in every way—

—And how did you determine that?—Both theories were true, and Aaron was certainly amazed at how the boy managed to figure that out without even seeing him.

He didn't know if the demon was aware of the act, but his cheeks had colored slightly.

—... From the times you've bumped into me or hugged me, I've noticed that—he replied, a little embarrassed by his attention to detail, sinking into Derpy as if trying to hide.

Though you couldn't blame him.
If he wasn't attentive to details, he could kill himself.

Aaron thought for a moment; the occasions he mentioned had happened, albeit only once in the entire time they had known each other.

—Well, your theories are correct, that is what I look like—

Baby let out a small laugh.
—It's amazing how I can guess what you look like, but I have no idea what I actually look like—

—You look beautiful—

He didn't know if it was his brain or his heart that spoke, nor the exact moment or reason, but by the time he came to, the words were already out of his mouth.

—Yeah, probably—Baby replied, trying to sound sarcastic even though Aaron could see his flushed cheeks.

Didn't Baby think he was beautiful?
Those people had really distorted reality for him.

—I'm serious. Your blue hair is radiant, your smile, which you rarely show, is dazzling—

He got off the bed and leaned a little closer to him, trying not to invade his space too much.
—And your eyes...—

—They're completely empty—Baby interrupted with a fake laugh.

Aaron shook his head.
—They're the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen—

Baby had received many compliments throughout his life, but never one that felt so sincere.

After a moment of silence, the demon finally spoke, changing the distance between him and the hunter.

—I think I should go. I don't know how long Mistery will think I've been asleep—

—Is his name really Mistery?—It's not that he didn't believe the boys, it's just that their names were a bit... odd.

Although, well, the boy's name was Baby, and he had a whole story behind it.

—As crazy as it sounds—he got up and waved Derpy to leave, but the feline refused.

—So what's wrong with you now?—he asked, confused; it wasn't usual.
The feline purred in response and lay back down.
The blue-haired one let out a defeated sigh.

—I guess I'll go back alone. I'll wait for you there, Derpy—He stroked her head.
—Meet you soon—he said before disappearing in magenta flashes.

—Goodbye—he replied, although it was clear he hadn't been heard.

Derpy got up from the floor and approached the boy.
—Why did you stay here today, huh?—He asked, stroking the tiger's chin.

The door slammed, and hiss instincts fully awakened.
He didn't know how to get Derpy to return home, and he had to find a way to hide him.

—Hey Z, I know you're asleep, but...—Rumi was interrupted when she saw the scene in the room.

He had clumsily hidden the tiger among pillows, trying to pass it off as a stuffed animal.

Although he hadn't counted on the feline recognizing the girl and coming out of hiding to be petted.

—Derpy?—The girl was clearly confused, staring at the rapper.

Aaron was equally confused, as he had recognized the feline and hadn't been scared by its presence.

—How do you know him? What's he doing here?—they asked simultaneously.

—You answer first—Rumi demanded, pointing at Aaron. The boy was going to refuse if Rumi's gaze didn't terrify him a little.

—Well... he came here because there's a tiny, tiny possibility that...—He trailed off.

—Of what?—Rumi asked in a serious voice.
—That I have been seeing me...with a demon...—

Rumi's face was one of total surprise.
—Are you crazy!? How could you even think of seeing Z demons?!"

—Hey, hey, hey!—He stopped the girl before she could continue scolding him. —You answer now! How do you know Derpy?—

—I don't know—the girl defended herself, but her argument was shattered when the tiger rubbed himself against her affectionately.

—Oh, yeah—he replied in a tone that made it clear he didn't believe her.

—Well... maybe I've been seeing some demon too...—
Now he was the one who was surprised.

—Really!? Who? Were you the one Derpy was going to visit when she came to bring Baby?" he asked hurriedly.

—Is Baby the demon?—The girl's question made him realize he might have said too much.

—...Yes—he finally answered. —Which demon have you been talking to?—

Rumi ignored the question, but she wasn't going to get away with it that easily.

—Rumi...—He said her name, emphasizing the letter "i," something he knew drove the girl crazy.

—It's Jinu, okay!—She finally admitted, sitting down on the bed.

Knowing that there was another hunter who talked to demons like he did made me feel like he shared some kind of custody, as he sat down next to the girl.

When they sat down on the bed, Derpy decided it was time to go, so he disappeared through a blue portal, leaving the boys alone.

—We're screwed—Aaron said as he sat down.

—The others will go crazy when they find out—Rumi commented, her face in her hands.

—They don't have to know—Aaron consoled; he had no problem keeping secrets.

—They'll find out eventually. We're celebrities. Nothing stays a secret for too long—

She was right about that. While they might be cautious, the press always found a way to expose their secrets.

—So—Rumi called to her attention—Baby, huh? He doesn't look like your type—

He felt heat rush to his face.

—It has nothing to do with this!—
—And why are you blushing?—

—Because you are embarrassing me!—
—Yeah, sure—she laughed softly. —I'm just saying, I never thought athletic rapper Aaron Z would have his eye on the Saja Boys' maknae—

—But hello! I wouldn't believe Jinu is your ideal guy either, and look where we are—
Rumi didn't respond; she just put her hand on his face and gently pushed him back playfully.

They continued to annoy each other until Rumi decided it was time to go back to her room.

—Be on time tomorrow; we have an autograph signing, and Janny has invited you to attend—

Before the girl left, he gave her a hug.

—I promise to keep your secret, Rumi—
—And I'll keep yours, Z—

The girl left the room and closed the door, leaving Z alone in the room, thinking about a specific topic.

Would Rumi understand Jinu as much as he understood Baby?

☆

—ARE YOU FOR REAL?!—Romance's furious shouts filled the entire apartment.

—This wasn't part of the deal, Jinu!—Abby reproached furiously.

—What's going on here?— Coming from the quiet hunter's room to the noisy demon apartment was a stark contrast.

—We'll sleep on the street all night!—Romance shouted angrily.

—What the fuck?—He was bewildered.

It certainly wasn't in his plans to stay up all night and sleep on the street.

—Why would we do that?—He asked accusingly, in the direction where he felt Jinu.

—I'm further to the left, Baby—the blue-haired man growled at the comment.

—The Huntrix are holding an autograph signing tomorrow. We can prove to them we're stealing their fans by showing up out of nowhere and invading their event—

—I still don't understand why we have to sleep on the street—he commented, hoping to hear Jinu's answer.

—Or to make it up—

—To have all the fans available, we have to be the first to line up, which means camping outside the studio—

—This was never in the plan—he replied, followed by complaints from Abby and Romance.

Mistery just watched in silence, as if waiting for them to make a decision only to have it executed.

—It's not up for discussion, we'll do it—

Amidst wailing, complaining, and sobbing, they slept outside the venue where the event would be held.

Although he believes no one saw it, everyone noticed that Jinu was the only one who slept in a chair, leaving everyone else to sleep on the pavement.

Maybe Gwi-ma was right about that, he always looked out for himself first.

Chapter Text

The girls were having a fan signing event that Bobby had been organizing for a week.

He didn't understand exactly in what part of the equation 4Town came into.

—The fans like seeing them—Bobby explained. —Besides, they've proven themselves good friends with the Huntrix several times—

—And many of our listeners met them through the girls—Janny added.

Both managers left them alone for a moment while they finalized details.

The girls smiled satisfactorily and turned to their friends.

—See? Without us, you'd be nothing—Mira said, hands on her hips.

—Oh, yeah, you wish—Jesse argued, holding the same position.

—But Janny literally said that. You need us—Zoey commented, making a sad face.
—Filthy girls—T insulted, crossing his arms.

—What did you call me?—Rumi asked, shocked.
—Filthy girl— T repeated louder.

—Come here!—Rumi lunged at the other, and they began a series of shoves that ended as quickly as it began.

—Dogs can last longer fighting than you do—Tae told them, to which T and Rumi just looked at each other.

With a silent signal, they both lunged at Tae, causing him to fall to the ground.

—Get off me!—he yelled, trying to push them so he could get to his feet.

But he couldn't.

He wasn't strong enough.

He never was.

He wasn't as tall as Robaire or Jesse, and he wasn't as athletic as T or Z.

If Celine were asked to point out the weakest hunter, she'd probably point to him.

He knew that the important thing to be a hunter wasn't your strength, but your voice, but he couldn't help wishing he was a little more like the others.

—Guys, leave Tae alone!—Janny nearly had a heart attack when she saw one of her stars lying on the floor with two of his friends on top of him.

Rumi and T stood up laughing and quickly helped Tae up.

—Behave yourselves, kids—Janny scolded, but let out a small smile.

The staff arranged the tables where they would sit; the managers had already decided how to sit them 

—Okay, we've got your seating ready—Janny said.

—Starting with Mira in the corner, followed by Jesse and T, then Zoey, Z in the middle, and finally Tae, Rumi, and Robaire—While Bobby explained, they took their seats wherever they were told.

Once there, the girls were given large posters of themselves, and they were given postcards to give away.

I looked at the postcard to see what kind of Photoshop they used.
Well, it wasn't bad, eh?

It was one of those advertisements for a clothing brand; in his case, he had been modeling the sportswear.

The shirt they gave him that day was a little tight for his liking, but they didn't give him a larger size, so that's why his muscles were more noticeable in the photo.

—I know the internet has been saying “Saja, Saja, Saja” all week. But with this, we'll make them say “Huntrix, Huntrix, Huntrix”—Bobby explained.

—The fans slept on the sidewalk since the night before for this event!—He pointed out enthusiastically.

—Happy fans...—Rumi began, holding her pen like a wand.
—Happy Honmoon—the others concluded, raising their pens.

The crowd began to enter the room, letting out excited whispers and murmurs.

The first few in line were wrapped in sleeping bags, obscuring their faces.

—This is for?—Rumi asked with a smile.

—To your biggest fans—the fan replied, removing his sleeping bag, revealing it to be the Saja Boys.

His eyes immediately searched for Baby among the group, who had a fake lost look in his eyes.

"It's the Saja Boys!" the crowd cheered softly.

—It's an honor to have you here. Another table now!—Janny requested, as the staff members quickly arranged one.

Half the fans moved to the other table to make ends meet.

—We lost halfway—Robaire told Rumi, worried. The girl thought for a second and got up from her seat.

—The Saja Boys will sit with us!—the girl declared.
—No, Rumi, no—Everyone else at the table vehemently refused the idea.

The staff arranged the boys' table next to the one everyone else was sitting in.

—Awesome—Bobby acknowledged, looking proudly at the girl.

—We need as many fans as possible—Rumi explained as she settled into her seat.

—We meet again—Abby and Romance greeted Mira, who was looking at Jesse as if she were asking for help.

—I am not sitting with no Saja Boy...hehehe wassup—the moment Mistery sat down next to Zoey, she got completely nervous.

Z realized Baby was going to sit next to him, so he quickly pulled out his chair to help him sit down.

—Thanks, but I think I can sit alone—the blue-haired man said, although he really appreciated it.

—It's okey—the other man replied.

Fans started coming up for their autographs.

—How do you sign if you can't see?—he whispered to his companion as he signed—Thanks for coming!—He handed the postcard to a boy who jumped up and down in excitement.

—I'm just making a doodle. People will love it anyway—he replied in the same tone of voice. —Thank you so much!—He thanked the fan, making a heart with his fingers.

Unlike the others, Baby handed out the posters by leaving them on the table; he couldn't risk picking them up and missing the person hand.

—How are the photos?—he asked curiously.
—They're not that bad, maybe you'd like them—the boy replied.

Z took one of the postcards and placed it in his hand.

—You know I'll never be able to see it, right?—Baby reminded him.

It might sound pointless, but somehow, Baby's fake eyes felt emptier than when they were completely white.

He stared at them perhaps too long, because Baby cleared his throat slightly.

He quickly came back to reality.
—Yeah, I know. I just want you to have it—he replied, closing his opponent's hand around the postcard.

The rest of the table... was controlled chaos.
Mira and Jesse glared at the pink-haired demons with disguised hatred.

T cursed under his breath to avoid being overheard.

Zoey was a nervous wreck next to Mistery.

Jinu and Rumi were having a conversation so quietly that no one else could hear them.

And then there was Robaire, who was talking to the fans, occasionally glancing at his friends.

After a few minutes of this same dynamic, something changed.

—Uh, Jinu everybody!—Rumi stood up and asked the fans to applaud for Jinu.

Something that baffled absolutely everyone sitting at that table.

He didn't know where they had come from, but someone had thrown bouquets of flowers to the Saja Boys, who appreciated the gesture.

—We'd love to stay, but the Saja Boys must leave—Jinu announced, causing the group to stand.

—See you—He whispered to Baby before he left.

The fans slowly began to leave the room until it was completely empty.

—Guys! This was a huge hit! It's all over the internet, and the internet is never wrong!—Bobby mentioned as he flipped through recent internet stories.

—Rujinu! Zoeystery!—He showed his phone screen where people were shipping the idols.

—Miromance?—Mira asked angrily.
—You’re cute together!—Zoey admitted, making Mira even more furious.

—Yeah, you should get married—Jesse mocked with a laugh.

—But you guys weren't far behind either—Janny showed her phone screen, which showed the official Korean fan club account.

The account featured a story where they shipped Jesse and Abby, and another one with a photo of Z and Baby together, at the exact moment he takes the demon's hand to give him the postcard.

Aaron felt his heart sink to his feet.

—Oh mon Dieu, ça ne peut pas être réel, ils sont devenus fous!(Oh my God, this can't be real, they've gone crazy!)—Jesse exclaimed angrily in French.

—Now who should get married?—Mira asked, taking advantage of her moment of revenge.

Jesse continued to insult the in French while Z remained frozen in place, staring at the screen.

Rumi approached him and shoved him with her shoulder.
When Z turned around, the girl raised a mocking eyebrow at him, making the boy blush even more.

Rumi just laughed and hugged the boy by the shoulders, like a sister making fun of her little brother.

☆

That night, Z had just gotten out of the shower when he heard a knock on the door.

—Can I?—It was Rumi.
—Give me a second!—He replied, quickly putting on his pajamas.

He opened the door and let the girl in.
—Have you seen your boyfriend today?—Was the first thing she said upon entering.

—Baby isn't my boyfriend!—He argued, his face red.
—I never mentioned Baby—Rumi replied with a sly smile.

Aaron realized he had given himself away and snorted.

—No, I haven't seen him—the boy replied. —Why?—

While they both already knew each other's secret, it was still strange to talk about it so naturally and without a reason.

—I think I have the secret to saving the demons—

The words echoed in his mind.

"Save the demons."

If they succeeded, it could give Baby the chance to see that the world isn't as cruel as he had been forced to live in, to give him the chance to rebuild his life.

—I'm listening—he replied after a few seconds, making Rumi smile.

Chapter Text

Z and Rumi were sitting in the boy's room, waiting for the demon to show up.

—How long will this take?—Rumi asked desperately, lying down on the bed.

Aaron shrugged; he had a sense of time, but he didn't know exactly when it would arrive.

Minutes later, the familiar sound of moving flowerpots made itself felt, causing Aaron to get up and hurriedly open the window.

—Hi—the demon greeted when he was in front of him.
—Hi—he greeted back, nervous about Rumi's presence, who at that moment was completely silent.

The girl expected to see the demon, but it was still impressive to have it so close to her and not react violently.

Derpy pushed Baby away from him sharply and happily approached Rumi.

The push made Baby stagger; Aaron held his arms to keep him from falling.

Baby slowly sat up and, using his senses, realized there was another presence in the room.

—Is anyone else here?—he asked slowly and quietly, trying not to sound alarmed.

Aaron didn't respond immediately; he took the boy's hand and led him into the room.

—I don't think I need to introduce you, but this is Rumi—

The boy's posture changed completely.

The first thought that invaded his head was that he had been tricked.

He had been manipulated to gain information, to lead him to another hunter, and then to kill him.

It's not like he wasn't getting information from the hunter, it's just...

It felt like there had been something more between them.

He broke away from the taller man's hands and began to back away until he tripped over the trash can and fell backward onto the floor.

—Calm down! Rumi isn't going to do anything to you! —Z clarified as he approached to pick him up but Baby took his hands away.

—Do you expect me to believe you?—he asked angrily.
—He's telling the truth. I don't mean to hurt you—Rumi intervened, approaching—I want to help—

—Help who?—he questioned, not believing a single word.
—You, all of you—Rumi replied. —Jinu...—

—Have you spoken to Jinu?—Baby asked incredulously.

He would have a lot to talk to his friend about when he returned to the apartment.

—Yes, and I think I've found a way to get you on this side and free you from your marks, your memories, and the voices," Rumi commented firmly.

Baby thought about the girl's words.

To free himself from his past.

They had started this mission with the same goal and reward from Gwi-ma. He wouldn't believe there was any other way to solve it.

If Jinu, the mastermind of the plan, had been meeting with the hunter and hadn't been killed yet, there must be a reason.

—Hey,trust her—Aaron told him as he moved closer to him.
Baby turned in the direction where he felt the boy's presence.

Finally, he accepted the hand the boy offered and stood up.

—Okay, what's your plan?—he asked the hunter.

—Tomorrow we'll meet with Jinu at a specific point in the city. Derpy will take care of delivering the note—The feline nodded.

—Do you send notes?—Z asked curiously.
—Sometimes—Rumi replied, surprising the demon.

Who would have thought Jinu would be such a romantic?

As he went to put his hands in his pants pockets, he realized one of them was still holding Aaron's hand tightly.

The moment he noticed, he immediately let go, trying to act as if nothing had happened.

Although of course, everyone except him noticed he was blushing.

—Then I'll see you tomorrow with Jinu, so I think it's time to go—Baby commented as he turned to leave.

—Wait, one more question—Rumi stopped him as he handed the note to Derpy.

Baby turned in the direction where he felt the girl's presence, waiting for the question.

—What happened to your eyes?—
True, not everyone knew about that.
But it's not like he'd give away details.

—I'm blind—he replied before disappearing with Derpy.

The room fell silent for a moment until Rumi spoke.

—Did he mean it or just to annoy me?—she asked Z, confused.
The boy let out a light laugh.

—No, he's actually blind—he replied, as Rumi began to bombard him with questions about how that was possible.

—It's a long story, but sit down. We have time—he instructed as they sat on his bed.

They spent about half an hour together while Aaron answered questions about the demon and discussed tomorrow's plan.

☆

—She wants to see me and she’s late?—Jinu complained as he waited for the hunter at the place they had agreed to meet.

When he turned to his side, he didn't expect to find her squatting next to him.

And he certainly didn't expect her to have someone with her.

—Follow me—Rumi instructed as she jumped to the ground.

Aaron jumped in as well, standing right in front of Jinu.
—Hello—he greeted in a friendly but firm tone.

—Hello—Jinu greeted back in a serious voice, assessing the unexpected companion.

—Can you move?—a voice behind them caught their attention.

Baby was standing with his arms crossed, tapping his foot on the ground several times.

—You're here!—the blue-haired man greeted cheerfully, disconcerting Jinu.
—Do you know each other?—he asked with a raised eyebrow.

—Something like that—Baby replied, ending the conversation.

—Were you really supposed to invite them on our date, Rumi?—The question left everyone frozen in place.

—Date? This isn't a date! What makes you think it is?—Rumi asked, completely bewildered.

Jinu held up the card Rumi had sent him with Derpy the night before.

—Save the date—was written on the note.

Z let out a light laugh at what her friend's carelessness had caused. Baby just stood there, confused.

—Oh, you're so old-fashioned! This is strictly a business meeting—she clarified, snatching the note from his hands.

—And was it necessary to invite them too?—he asked, pointing at the two boys accompanying them.

—They're part of the plan—she explained.
—Plan for what?—He asked, confused.

—To free you, when the Hoonmoon is sealed, they could stay on this side and be free of Gwi-ma forever—Rumi jumped up and stood on the small stone wall.

—Free from the marks, the voices, and their memories—She turned around to look at them.

—So what should we do?—Baby asked.
—Help us win the Idol Awards. Only then will we be able to seal the Hoonmoon—Rumi explained.

—I don't have a problem with that, but maybe Gwi-ma does—Baby argued, arms crossed.
—But once the Hoonmoon is golden, Gwi-ma will no longer have control over you—Aaron told him as he approached him.

—You might even get your sight back—That simple sentence was what finally convinced Baby.

If Gwi-ma erased his memory, it wouldn't give him back his sight, but here, he could get it back.

—I accept—he concluded bluntly.
—I don't yet. What makes you think it will work?—Jinu asked Rumi seriously.

—You must have hope!—she replied seriously.
The situation seemed more private than they would admit, so they decided to give them space.

—We'll go ahead—Z declared as he walked ahead with Baby, leaving the other two behind, talking.

—Do you think it will work?—the demon asked, hands at his sides.
—I know—he replied, stopping his walk.

—Would you like your sight back?—he asked, perhaps a silly question, but he did it anyway.

—More than anything—he replied with a slight smile.

For a moment, they stood face to face.
Aaron stared at Baby, and the demon focused all his attention on the hunter's presence.

—A bracelet for your handsome boyfriend?—A saleswoman's voice snapped them out of their trance.

The word boyfriend made them both blush up to their ears.

Baby stood frozen in place, completely silent.

—Were not… us... I'll take it—Aaron replied, taking the bracelet the lady offered him and paying her.

—What a lovely couple you are! Have a nice day!—The lady said goodbye and continued on her way.

They went from standing face to face to not even looking at each other.

The word "couple" swirled around in both of their heads.

Were they so sweet that people might actually mistake them for the idea of ​​a couple?

Did he dislike the idea of ​​being a couple?

—Here, I'll give it to you—A begrudging Aaron handed Baby the bracelet to put on.
—Thanks—replied Baby, completely red-faced.

—What? Excuse me! I'm everyone's type!—Rumi's voice sounded behind them.

It seemed that his friend Jinu and his lack of chivalry had offended the girl, causing the woman to end up giving him the bracelet.

—Oh Jinu, really so stupid—Baby complained as he ran his hand over the bracelet, trying to decipher the pattern.

—Okay, bye!—Rumi said, taking short but hurried steps away from the demon.
—Walk!—she asked as he passed her.

He turned to Baby before leaving.
—I'll see you soon—he said, giving him a kiss on the hand before following Rumi.
—Goodbye...—The demon replied. He couldn't see himself, but from his face, he knew he was completely flushed.

—Well, well, Baby, something you want to tell me?—Jinu appeared in a mocking tone.
—Or rather, do you have something to tell me?—he asked, crossing his arms
—How about telling me about your lack of chivalry?—

As they headed to their respective homes, each had one thing on their mind.

But there were two of them who agreed on the same thought.

Would we make a nice couple?

Aaron lay down on the bed and sank between the sheets.

Baby lay face down on his mattress and fell asleep.

They say the symptoms of love and fever are exactly the same.

Both leave you feeling exhausted, powerless, and completely exhausted.

However, love is much more beautiful than fever.

Chapter Text

The situation at the hunters' home has become...kinda tense.

The girls had started working on the new song, the one they were sure would defeat the Saja Boys.

They had agreed that even though the boys wouldn't sing at all, they would help out as background dancers in the second half of the song and perform backing vocals.

Everything was perfect: the rhythm, the choreography, the melody, the rhymes.
But...

The meaning of the lyrics was the problem.

Most of them didn't see it that way, accustomed to the cruel and false idea of ​​demons, but Z and Rumi found it difficult to adapt.

Zoey's lyrics were fantastic as always, and the others offered ideas to complement them, but all those lyrics were filled with hate.

They couldn't blame them; they had no idea how demons lived.
But that didn't take away from the fact that the lyrics were cruel.

“When your patterns start to show
It makes the hatred wanna grow outta my veins”

Z sat in his room, trying to convince himself that the song was the right one.

He let out a sigh and repeated the verse

“When your patterns start to show
It makes the… hatred wanna grow outta my veins”

But he didn't.

When he saw Baby, when he saw his patterns, the last feeling that appeared was hatred.

He crumpled the sheet of paper and threw it forcefully into a corner of the room.

He didn't want to read that verse anymore.
He lay back in bed and stared at the ceiling.

His hatred of demons was instilled in him from the moment he was recruited along with Robaire.

He still remembered that moment perfectly.

The generation before him, known as the supergroup "Backstreet Boys," was to blame.

He and Robaire had been fans of them since they were children; they cooperated to buy the  records, listened to their music together, and sang late into the night in the garage.

Several times their mothers had to pick them up to do their homework.
Their mothers were friends from high school, so they trusted each other to take care of them.

They lived close by, studied together, ate together, and sometimes slept at each other's houses.
They did everything together.

Once, when they were in high school, their school got the group to be judges at a school event.

It was there that they both decided to participate, singing a duet.

They won second place.

I'd say it was a bit unfair, but the girl who juggled lit torches while standing on one foot deserved first place.

Once the event was over, a classmate told them that someone was looking for them in an art room.
Their minds raced with all the pranks they'd gotten up to at school that they might have heard about.

They nearly had a heart attack when they saw the group in front of them.

—That was amazing, guys!—Nick Carter congratulated them while giving them a fist bump.

They both responded slowly and nervously.

—Don't be nervous, guys. You didn't do anything wrong—Kevin explained, approaching them. —How long have you been singing?—

They both looked at each other before Robaire spoke.
—Since we were kids—he replied with a shrug. —Although it's the first time we've done it in front of an audience—

It wasn't a lie at all; it was the first time they'd sung on stage.
But they'd already had small events; their neighbors sometimes hired them for children's parties.

—Do you know what hunters are?—Nick asked, approaching them.
—The ones who hunts deer?—Aaron replied.

The man shook his head.
—Not that kind exactly; they're more complex—
The boys were confused. What hunters were they talking about?

The group looked at each other, as if having a telepathic conversation.
—Please follow us—Brian asked.

The kids were nervous, but none of them wanted to miss the experience of hanging out with their favorite band, so they obeyed.

They arrived at the schoolyard where there were three other kids.
One of them had brown hair and a backwards cap, another was a blond boy with Asian features who was holding a squirrel in his hands, and the last was a blond boy who looked a year or two older.

—Come closer, guys!—Howie asked with a smile.
The three kids approached to where they were.

—These are Aaron and Robaire—AJ presented them 

—Hey! My name's Aaron too, bro!—the boy with the cap greeted enthusiastically.

—We'll see how to differentiate them—the older boy replied—I'm Jesse by the way, nice to meet you—he greeted them with a smile.

The other boy took a moment, but greeted as soon as he looked up from his squirrel.
—I'm Tae Young, this little one is Violette, nice to meet you—

—The pleasure's ours—they both answered simultaneously, but they had the same question in mind.

"What the heck does all this mean?"

—Now guys, let me tell you a story—Nick called out before beginning his tale.

He told the story of Gwi-ma, where and how the hunters came to be, and how their presence is needed all over the world.
How they were needed to seal the Hoonmoon forever.

—Your voices have the strength to help us with our task. We need successors for the new generations. You are the most suitable—Kevin explained.

—So? Do you agree?—

The story was unreal; it might seem illogical if they weren't shown their weapons.

After thinking about it for a few minutes (56 seconds, to be honest), they decided to agree.

They had almost daily rehearsals; sometimes they were singing, sometimes they were practicing to better handle their weapons.

The weapon assignment was perhaps the funniest thing to watch.

While Robaire, Jesse, and Z were smiling at each other and admiring their weapons, Tae was angrily complaining.

—Why do I have to have the shurikens? I have terrible aim!—Tae complained, to which the others just laughed.

—I thought ninjas were taller—T mocked, earning a smack on the head from Tae.

—Just because you have the urumi doesn't mean you're better than me!—
The argument continued until the boys separated them.

When they met the girls, it was perhaps one of the most eventful days of their lives.

Convincing their mothers was a challenge. They had agreed to the "singing academy" they'd been told about, but they were hesitant to give them permission to travel to Korea.

Fortunately, the group explained to them that they wouldn't have to worry and that the boys would be safe.

—Why did we come to Korea?—Jesse asked curiously.
—The first female hunters emerged here. It's time for you to meet the next generation—Howie replied.

—It's a good thing we have a Korean man among us to translate for us—T spoke as he put his arm around Tae's shoulders.

—너는 바보야  (You're an idiot)—the boy replied, trying to break away but failing.
—Love you too, bro—

Korea was dazzling; the streets, the architecture, the lights—everything was magnificent.

Once they arrived, they were greeted by a tall, black-haired woman. She had a tired look on her face, but she seemed determined.

—Hi Celine—Nick greeted the woman.
They exchanged greetings until they were interrupted by the sound of doors opening.

Three girls hurried in.
—They're here—Celine told them as soon as she saw them.

Nick turned to the band.
—Guys, these are the new generation of hunters. It's important to get along with the successors of the first hunters legacy, so go say hello—

The boys approached them, and Tae indicated that they should bow to them.

—Oh, you don’t need to do that—one of them said, indicating that they should stand up.
—I'm Rumi, they are Mira and Zoey—

Rumi was the leader of the group. She had her hair in a long braid and inspired confidence.

Mira was the dancer. Her hair was up in two small pigtails that fell free, and to be honest, she looked a little scary.

The youngest of all, Zoey, was the rapper of the group, and her smile made anyone feel welcome around her.

They were supposed to meet that day to show respect and learn more about each other's cultures.

But it didn't end that way.

They ended up eating ramen at a restaurant while talking about their daily lives, their hobbies, their training, their weapons, and their pasts.

At the end of the night, everyone exchanged phone numbers, creating a WhatsApp group where they would text from time to time.

Looking back, he realized there were things that differentiated his training from the Huntrix's.

There were different methods, different rhythms, different melodies.

But they both had the same ideology.

"Demons are evil."
"Demons don't feel anything."
"All demons deserve to die."

Have you ever taken the opportunity to meet a demon?
To ask them about their past?
What led them to make that decision?
How many times had they done it to try to free themselves like Baby did?
How many times were they punished without valid reasons?

Or were they simply killed without hesitation?

Changing an ideology that has been considered difficult for many years, even more so if most people continue to insist it's true.

But just because something is difficult doesn't mean it's impossible.

It just means it's a little more complicated than expected.

Z got out of bed, grabbed his things, and climbed out the window, straight to a certain demon's apartment.

Rules were made to be broken.

And if he had to break his most important rule,

He would do it.

He would do it all.

He would do it all for him.

Chapter Text

Baby stood on his bedroom balcony, leaning completely against the railing, his arms dangling over the void.

The others were busy planning a "choreography."

Normally, he wasn't included in the choreography planning, since it wouldn't be helpful to have someone who would keep falling.

He was included in the rehearsals once the choreographies were finished.

It had been a while since he'd been summoned to Gwi-ma, and the information he provided about the hunters didn't seem to surprise his god.

This made him doubt.

If Gwi-ma already knew everything about the hunters, observing them daily…

Why was he so obsessed with him continuing to talk to the hunter?

What could he possibly gain from the situation?

If you asked him, he'd deny it, but spending time with Aaron had become part of his routine, if he passed a day without seen him, his world would break down

He usually felt the atmosphere around him was heavy, but a scent that seemed to move with the breeze made him feel lighter.

He sharpened his senses, alert to wherever the hunter's scent might be coming from.

It wasn't like he had dedicated a great deal of time to memorizing his scent so he could sense him approaching at any moment.

Not at all.
This was a complete coincidence.

The scent was there, motionless, neither moving away nor getting closer.

—I know you're there—he spoke to the air, knowing Aaron would hear him perfectly.

—I have something to tell you, but I couldn't find the right words—he replied from beneath the balcony, a hint of doubt in his voice—Would you mind if I sang it to you?—

It was an unexpected question; he had never been in a situation like this before, so after a moment's thought, he agreed.

—Absolutely, you can—he said with a laugh.

He certainly hadn't expected the boy to bring a guitar.

The first notes filled the air; the melody was soft and sweet, like someone about to confess something very delicate.

It was the boy's voice that sent shivers down his spine.

“I love you too much, to live without you loving me back
I love you too much, heaven's my witness and this is a fact
I know I belong, when I sing this song
There's love above love and it's ours
'Cause I love you too much”

He listened attentively to the lyrics of the song, feeling his heart leap with every word.

“I live for your touch, I whisper your name night after night
I love you too much, there's only one feeling and I know it's right
I know I belong, when I sing this song
There's love above love and it's ours
'Cause I love you too much”

He remembered every night they spent together, simply keeping each other company.
But now, that company what’s something more 

“Heaven knows your name I've been praying
To have you come here by my side
Without you a part of me's missing
Just to make you my home, I will fight”

Could it be true?
Would the hunter really fight  everyone for him?

The sound of the guitar notes grew louder, as did the emotion in the hunter's voice.

“I know I belong
When I sing this song
There's love above love and it's ours
'Cause I love you too much”

Ours.
He hadn't had anything of his own in centuries, and now at last it wasn't just something he owned, but something he could share.

He felt like his heart was going to burst at any moment.

“I love you too much!
I love you too much
Heaven's my witness and this is a fact”

The only forms of love he knew, the ways in which people had shown they “loved” him were forced, ways he mostly refused.

But, for the first time…

He was accepting to be loved

“You live in my soul
Your heart is my goal”

He doesn’t have a soul, but, he wouldn’t mind being part of another one

He might have lacked sight, but that allowed him something more: to know that not everything is defined by how a person physically appears.

To know what they are truly like, their spirit, their curiosity, their kindness, their compassion, their way of acting and reacting to each situation.

He knew that Aaron wasn't like the other hunters. The others would have killed him the moment they had the chance, but he didn't. He stayed, listened, and understood him.

“There's love above love and it's mine 'cause I love you”

The voice grew louder, and the scent drew closer.

“There's love above love and it's yours 'cause I love you”

Aaron was on the balcony a short distance from Baby; a few more steps and they would be face to face.

“There's love above love and it's ours”

His voice sounded so full of emotion that he wished he could see him, just to make sure he was as excited as he sounded.

“If you love me as much”

The melody faded, the lyrics stopped, and the song ended.

They stood face to face, just inches apart, so close that if one of them leaned forward even slightly…

And he did.

Gathering the courage he had once kept hidden during his mission, the feelings he had suppressed in every meeting, and the confession that had imprisoned his heart

He took Aaron by the nape of his neck, careful not to be rough, and pulled him close to kiss him.

It was the first time he had kissed someone because he wanted to, not because he was forced to.

It wasn't a desperate kiss, nor a snatched one; it was a kiss of confession.

One to let the other know he was there, that their feelings were reciprocated, that his heart raced at the mere thought of him drawing near.

Aaron remained motionless at first, astonished that it was the demon who had initiated the kiss.

Couples usually held each other's waists when they kissed, but he wasn't sure if that would make him uncomfortable, so he took hold of his sides, just below his shoulders, and pulled him closer.

When they separated, he was grateful that Baby was blind, because he would surely have seen him with a lovestruck, dazed expression.

The demon was so flushed he looked like a tomato.

A very sweet view from Aaron's perspective

—I…—Baby began before being interrupted by Romance's loud, exhausted shouts coming from the front door.

The boys were back.

—You have to leave!—he rushed to tell him as Aaron positioned himself on the side of the railing that jutted out into the void.

—Did you like my song?—he asked. It wasn't a question, just a confirmation of what he already knew.

Baby blushed even more, if that was even possible. He should start carrying a camera around; the boy was going to kill him with cuteness one day.

—It's not the only thing I liked—he said decisively, making Aaron's heart race.

When he left his room that night, he was determined to confess.

"If you don’t risk, you don’t win" he kept repeating to himself to stay motivated.

Falling in love with a demon broke all the rules ever imposed on the hunters, shattered all the traditions and expectations they had for him.

But what's the point of fulfilling expectations, respecting rules and traditions, if they make you unhappy?

He had prepared himself for a possible rejection from the demon, accepting the outcome in advance.

But the answer he received was a thousand times better than the one his mind was conjuring up.

—I'll see you tomorrow at the Idol Awards—he said before saying goodbye.

The scent faded further and further away until there was no trace of it left.

Baby sighed and entered the room where Mistery was.

—Why are you blushing?—he asked, confused.

—It's too hot outside—Baby replied, downplaying it and trying to sound casual.

Mistery pondered his friend's answer. "It's 10 degrees..." he thought to himself.

He hadn't had time to tell Aaron, but from the moment their lips touched, the voices of Gwi-ma, from his past, all disappeared completely.

It seemed that the possibility of being free without having to follow Gwi-ma's orders was getting closer and closer.

The door nocked, and when Mistery opened it, he realized it was Jinu, who had asked the purple-haired boy to step aside for a moment.

From what he could tell, he was both annoyed and stressed. Like a tiger in a cage desperate to escape.

—What's wrong now? Did Rumi stand you up?—he asked, trying to sound funny.

The mention of the girl's name intensified his emotions. Okay, sensitive topic.

—The Idol Awards plan is canceled—He felt like he'd been stabbed in the gut.

He had just told Aaron that the plan was still on and was only just starting to believe he'd finally get his freedom, only to receive this news.

—What do you mean? This is good for everyone!Rumi trusts you, Jinu!—

—I lied to her!—the older man shouted, silencing Baby in shock.

—What did you lie to her about?—he asked cautiously, but inside he was seething.

—I lied about my past. If she knew the truth, she never would have trusted me—

Demons had small acts of dignity among themselves, however minimal.

One of them was telling their story truthfully, no matter how disastrous. They had to be honest when telling it; it was the only thing they had left of the human world, and they had to carry that memory with them wherever they went.

Baby ran his hand over the bracelet on his wrist before Jinu walked away toward the door.

—Apologize to your boyfriend for me—he said before closing the door behind him.

Baby let out a groan filled with despair, not minding about being heard. 

This have gone from being the best night to the worst night of his entire existence.

He couldn't betray Aaron.
Not after this.

Not before, not now, not ever.

He’d find a way to fix it.