Recap: The true identity of Izumi is shockingly revealed to be a lady named Nanase. Chisaki gets to know the truth about his kidnapping from Kuino, eventually patching up with Dan and Naomi. However Kuino and Asagi have escaped, followed by Hikaru offering their side an advantage to win the Hermit's Death Match.

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

In the rave bar, the sounds of chitchats filled with conflicts and agreements alike mix in with the loud electronic music.
Sayato: "Some place opposite the Kurogahara forest, huh? Well the Kurogahara forest just so happens to be in the backyard of our place."
Dan: "Huh? How are you so sure that it won't be a mirage?"
Koshiro: "He's actually right! I can sniff some wilderness."
Sayato: "You must've fallen victim to Hikaru's hallucination ability. His ability is quite deceiving if you're witnessing it the very first time."
Matsumi: "We should go, but we can't really trust an enemy Saint. I mean why would a sworn enemy himself want us to survive and win this crazy ordeal?"
Sayato: "He has a soft corner for me, I've sort of seen that."
Dan: "I think we should take the risk then. After all, he has the watch artifact along with the kidnapping queen and the Hyena girl."
Naomi makes hand signs.
Dan: "Yeah it's true! Chisaki won't shut up unless we manage to save that Hyena girl."
Koshiro: "Our doubts are traitors,
and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt."
Matsumi: "Maybe you're right! But things have yet to make sense......Goddamn it! I'm talking like this Cat guy now."
Wendy giggles while Jerry is lost in his own state of drunkenness.
Wendy: "BIG BROTHER! We're discussing something important here."
Jerry: "Hmm....huh? Ohhh damn! Sorry I didn't know there was a meeting going on here."
Sayato: "Do you really think we don't know any safer routes while avoiding the forest?"
Everyone looks at Sayato.
Sayato: "There is a mysterious underground passage that used to serve as a pathway for our rave parties. It's slightly risky and messy, but if you don't wanna be mauled by bears or chased by a leopard - take that route only."
Koshiro: "Do you realize that I'm here?"
Sayato: "Ohh sorry cat boy! I forgot that you were even here."

Koshiro: "HUH?"
Koshiro glares at Sayato in annoyance.
Dan: "So we'll all be taking the underground route then, huh?"
Koshiro: "Nope! Not all of us."
Everyone is confused.
Koshiro: "Dan and Naomi! You're going through the forest."
Dan: "What? Why Koshiro?"
Matsumi: "Honesty I kind of agree with cat guy here."
Naomi makes hand signs.
Dan: "What's the deal here?"
Sayato: "You're definitely not gonna like what you'll hear. But it's something you'll have to do."
Koshiro stares at both Dan and Naomi.
Koshiro: "You've both been extremely useless so far!"
Dan and Naomi gasp, but the intensity of their astonishment was miniscule.
Koshiro: "You have abilities besides self-healing. Dan can summon an invisible shield, Naomi can commit arson...yet you two haven't done a thing here."
Dan: "Dude! Can you stop bringing that up?"
Matsumi: "I have to go with them on this here. I too feel sick of it, having to retrieve you after every goddamn enemy encounter."
Naomi makes hand signs, slightly sad.
Dan: "But.....can't we.....?"
Sayato places in front of Dan the very palm of his hand, indicating him to cease anymore words.
Sayato: "We're going with this plan! You and Naomi will be crossing through the forest, we'll all be taking the secret path."
Dan and Naomi feel shocked yet guilty, as they knew that what was being said here wasn't false.
Dan: "I see then! S-Sorry for being such a pain."
They both go back to their room. However after they leave, Matsumi looks down in disappointment and guilt.
Matsumi: "We don't have any other option after all, do we?"
Sayato: "It's sad but.....we have to make them do this."
Koshiro: "In time we hate that which we often fear."
Downstairs, Dan and Naomi contemplate on their decision.
Dan: "I guess even they're sick of us now, huh?"
Naomi lays on her back in bed, to Dan's shocker removing her clothes and giving out a sad sigh as her bare back faces him. He however, is surprised at her behavior.
Dan: "Naomi! Are you okay? You normally don't behave like this."
He massages her back gently trying to relax her, while she sighs in contentment.
Dan: "Ohh Naomi! Are you fatigued?"
Naomi stares down at the pillow with a cold, emotionless face as she gets several visions and starts hearing sounds. She tries to convince herself that things would be okay, but a deeply unsettling feeling isn't letting her.
Dan: *thinks* "Ironic to say, you've been quite open yet slightly secretive. Naomi! I really hope you aren't hiding anything from me."
Dan then turns off the lights, sleeping next to her. He gets more similar wet dreams of himself, naked and paralyzed in bed next to an anonymous naked lady.
Dan: *thinks* "Ohh so warm! So moist and soft, I wanna....."
Suddenly upon waking up 3 hours later, he hears the sound of running water in the bathroom.
Dan: "Naomi! You're having a bath at 4am? That's very unusual."
He walks towards the bathroom, only to see that the door is locked. He knocks several times.
Dan: "Naomi! Naomi are you okay in there? Just make a sound ok? A simple "HMM" would be fine too."
He keeps on knocking, only to get no response. Now the creeps run down his spine, making him extremely scared.
Dan: "NAOMI! ARE YOU IN THERE?"
He then subconsciously spawns his shield ability, projecting it to the door.
Dan: "I'M COMING IN!"
Dan's shield upon touching the door manages to destroy part of the wall. However in the bathroom, all that was seen to Dan was pure horror. It was a trail of blood, a broken mirror and several shards of glass on the floor.
Dan: "WHAT THE?"
He looks at the bathtub, only to be horrified further seeing that it was overflowing, and to find a strip-naked Naomi tied-up inside and drowning.
Dan: "NAOMI! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE?"
Dan rushes to her aid, pulls her out and unties her. He then puts a robe around her and then pumps out excessive water from her, however her chances seemed low to him.
Dan: *sobs* "Don't do this please! I've never ever given up on you no matter what."
He sees a note near the bathtub, it says
"I'm sorry Dan! I tried carving myself out with shards of the mirror, but it didn't work because of the regeneration, and only made a mess. By the time you read this, I'll probably be underwater. It might work, might not work and I know you're in disbelief how this all happened so suddenly. I'm sick of being the way I am, and I'm sure if I go with this further then we'll lose Matsumi, Chisaki and just everyone. I'm finally explaining everything to you that I've hidden, leaving no secrets or facts behind. It would take far too many emotions to relive what I've been through, so here's the truth....."
Dan continues reading the letter, only to be extremely shocked after reading the entire "truth".
Dan: *sobs* "So this is how it is? That's the reality of it, huh?"
He sits in despair and recalls the memories he had with Naomi during the time he tried searching for his true origins, and tearfully looks down.
He however resolves not to give up and keeps pumping water out of her.
Dan: *sobs* "It doesn't matter! I promise I'll bring you back! I promise, I promise, I...."
In a miraculous turn of events, Naomi coughs out excessive water and opens her misty eyes very very slowly. She looks at Dan, shocked and trembling.
He hugs her gently, however she is in disbelief and still trembling. She pushes him away and tells him to go. Then Dan slaps her hard, and it was the first time he had ever laid a hand on her.
Dan: "NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, DON'T EVER DO SUCH A HORRIBLE THING EVER AGAIN, NAOMI! EVEN IF THIS ENTIRE WORLD TURNS AGAINST US, I'LL NEVER EVER LEAVE YOU."
Naomi's trembling stops, she snaps out of her melancholic state and gives him a pleasant smile. It was as if his slap was magical - one that could fix even the deepest, darkest sorrows. They both hug each other tightly, and sleep together in bed.
Dan: "Let's get married once I find my true memories, okay? So just let this entire Guardian Angel ordeal be over."
Naomi cuddles Dan tightly, not letting go even for a moment.

TO BE CONTINUED.......