Running from the chamber

A noise so loud and clear

Veering closer

Enter night

Nigh is the end

I closed the notebook and sighed. I've gotten in more trouble with Reiji. I'd been seen by Kanato with Poe out of his cage in the hallway. He was perched on my shoulder as I was walking back to my room. Reiji had gotten furious and slapped me. It hadn't ended well. Now I'm stuck in my room with a caged Poe, rubbing my cheek.

I'm sorry

"Don't be sorry, Poe."

It's my fault tight-ass Reiji slapped you.

"Haha yeah. It's ok. I'll only have a bruise there for a little while. No big whoop." The caged raven's eyes became watery and he looked up at me.

You're not mad?

His little amethyst eyes shone and I could tell he felt really bad.

"It's fine."

~~~

I jolted upright. A loud crash echoed through the house.

"And here I thought I could nap." I grumbled and rubbed my eyes. Poe was awake now as well. He preened his feathers, fluffing them up. A new noise roused me even more. A loud scream pierced the night air. Poe raised his head.

That sounded like Yui.

Reiji had said I could have Poe out in an emergency, so I opened the cage. Poe flew out and fluttered around the ceiling. I telescoped the cage into a little cube and shoved it into my pocket. We ran (and flew) to Yui's room. Gripping the silver dagger in my pocket, I entered the room.

"Liu! Help!" She called to me. I found her laying on the floor, held there by Kou. Ruki and Yuma were guarding her. Azusa was nowhere in sight.

"Poe!" I drew the dagger, and Poe squawked. His body rippled with purple energy, and he fell to the floor. His wings turned into limbs, his body bulged, and he stood upright. He had transformed. From his hips up, he was a relatively feathered human. His eyes were still a vibrant amethyst, and fangs jutted from his mouth. Big sharp horns framed his face. His eyes were like those of a hurt animal: sharp and angry. Below his hips, he had the feathered legs of a raven. His scaly ankles were bent backwards like a cat's. The claws on his feet looked like they could slice you in half. He grinned and looked at me.

"I can talk for real now!" He turned back to the Mukamis, who were frozen in shock and terror at the bird demon. Yui was also just staring at Poe.

"I'll explain later." I dove at Kou, who dodged with the utmost ease. Poe began to fight with Yuma and Ruki.

"Fuhu~ You'll never change, Liu." He drew a dagger of his own and charged at me. "Do you like it? I borrowed it from Azusa." He sliced at me, and I was so close to being cut to ribbons by his frantic movements. I dove out of the way and my blade caught his leg. "Shit!" He bent down to grasp the wound and I nailed him with a kick to the back. He flew against the wall and lay still. Poe had pinned Yuma and Ruki, both at the same time. The claws on his taloned foot was holding around Ruki's throat so that if he moved an inch, he'd die. He was holding Yuma against the wall in a choke hold, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Yuma was just dangling from his hand.

~~~

Reiji walked in once we finished fighting, and gave Poe a dirty look. Poe returned the favor and began to morph back. His arms sprouted giant feathers, and became his wings once more. His nose and mouth phased into a sharp black beak. After he was a giant bird, he shrunk to his original size, about a foot and a half tall. He flew onto my shoulder and perched there.

"Good job, Poe." I smiled at the bird.

~~~

"Who was that!?" Yui voiced her confusion

"He's my bird." I gestured to Poe, who was pointedly preening again.

"I don't understand..." Damn mortal girl.

"He's a bird demon. His name's Poe. Poe, please talk to Yui here."

Sup

Yui froze. She blinked her ruby eyes and her head darted around, looking for the source of the voice.

"Poe? Is that you?"

Yeah.

"It's just as I feared. I'm going crazy." Yui pinched the bridge of her nose.

"You're not. Poe, let's take Yui to my room. Is there any way you can take the form you were in before?"

A gentler version, yes.

"Okay, let's go."

~~~

Poe began his transformation again. He grew into a giant bird. Yui and I watched as the feathers on his wings melted into his skin. This time, however, his eyes were doe-like and kind looking, much unlike the form I had seen before. He had no claws on his feet, but had retained his bird-like lower body and tail. His face and chest weren't covered in feathers. He was revealed to be quite handsome, with rippling abs, a cheery smile, and skin white like porcelain. Two short curled horns framed his face. He no longer had long fangs, but on his back were two black wings. He smiled, showing us his white but sharp canines.

"Oh my goodness! It IS you!" Yui's eyes were wide with wonder.

"Whew! It's been a long time since I've used this form." Poe's voice sounded almost like Ayato-kun's, cheery, yet confident. He stretched his arms and cracked his knuckles. I walked over to him.

"I have an order, Poe."

"Yeah."

"I want you to protect Yui at all costs. Many bad people will come looking for her. And if I die, you will serve her in my place." Poe looked dumbfounded, but nodded his understanding. Yui was covering her face and soon blood dripped out from between her fingers.

"He's...so...hot~" She was blushing and having a massive nosebleed. I laughed.

~~~

A/N: I wanted Liu to have a pet. This kinda got out of control.