“Earlier today I asked you to guard against the cold climate using hoshi. But I never explained exactly what hoshi was.”

“Gee thanks, genius. Don't you think that would have been helpful hours ago?” Tenshi asked in sarcasm.

*Clock

Instinctively she was already pointing a gun straight to his head and like the devil himself, she wore a bright smile while doing so. Tenshi didn't just take it as an empty threat as he quickly shut his mouth.

The gun faded into the air, and she lowered her hand as she resumed her explanation:

“In our bodies, there are particles known as 'starlites'. They exist everywhere in the universe, including inside inanimate objects. These starlites all have their own unique type. Hoshi is the ability to take those particles and exert them in one of two ways. Either Connection Arts, or Constellation Arts. I’ll start with the Connection Arts since that’s the one I’m most proficient in:

Connection Arts is the practice of linking your soul with different mediums to exert or amplify your soul’s type. For example. My soul type is Vitalize. Anything that comes in contact with my soul’s type is Vitalized. And by connecting my soul to my Tamashi, I am able to shoot starlites coated with my soul’s type. Of course I can shoot regular attacks too.”

That sudden note made them remember the image of a bazooka flying at them and roasting them alive.

“The second practice is called Constellation Arts. I don’t know much about it, but what I do know is that by using your starlites to draw the images of shapes, you can produce a multitude of effects. Though I’ve never used it myself, and only seen them done by Grandpa… Did you guys get all of that?”

“Yes ma’am.” Tenshi reassured with a sarcastic wink.

Akuma on the other hand was deep in thought. “I have a question?” He asked.

“Hmm? What’s up?”

“I understand that you link your soul to your Tamashi to vitalize things, but what exactly is a Tamashi?”

“Great question, Student Akuma. Tenshi you can learn to be as studious as this one.”

“Bite me.”

“Do you remember when I said all things have souls, even inanimate objects? Well, that includes weapons too.”

“Woow!” They went in unison. It was kind of fun seeing her get all happy from feeling like a teacher.

“There are two types of weapons:

Tamashi – A weapon made specifically for someone to use. By incorporating a portion of their soul in the forging process, you can create a weapon that has the exact same soul type as you.

And Tamazen – A weapon that was already made that chooses to be wielded by someone. Of course, this case is rare since the weapon’s soul type and the person’s soul type have to be compatible.

Naturally, you can use the Empower technique without one of these, but I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“Hmm? Why’s that?”

“Using the Empower technique takes a toll on your soul and those weapons are used to alleviate that toll. A Tamashi’s and Tamezen’s souls can regenerate, so they’re almost never destroyed… But…” For some reason, her attitude shifted causing an intense feeling of dread in the air. You could see the misery in her eyes as she stared at the floor. Then she continued, “It... It isn’t infinite. The soul has a limit, and if you overwork it then you could end up damaging your soul beyond repair. And…” She clenched her fist tightly to the point that her nails started to bleed as she forced herself to say this last bit. “And if that happens, you could end up destroying your soul. And be erased from existence…”

The last part was extra heavy on them. Hearing the despair in her voice as she said “erased from existence” caused them to gulp in the moment. Akuma in particular could tell there was a story behind it. But neither him nor Tenshi had the courage to ask her. Actually, it sparked a memory in Akuma. It was the image of a woman telling him goodbye. But for his life, he couldn’t pinpoint that memory to an exact date.

“Don’t worry too much about it. It isn't impossible to increase your max capacity. We probably won’t be able to do it though.” She reached her hand inside her habit and fiddled around her chest as if she were looking for something. Akuma tried to look away from the sight in embarrassment, but he was helpless to his desires. However, this was nothing compared to the beast beside him. With absolutely zero restraint, he stared her down with the eyes of a hunter. From her chest, Rin pulled out two black items and planted them on the table. They looked like two keys of an iron material, but upon further examination, these keys were a bit odd. The bow was shaped like a 4-pointed star, and there was no bit to speak of. Just a lengthy line that extended from the star bow. “As you’ve probably already guessed, these are keys. To give a brief explanation, no matter what door you open with it, you’ll end up here. Do. Not. Lose. Them.”

“Aye sir!” the two said in unison.

She rose from her chair and walked back to the entrance of the hideout. “Akuma, it’s getting late. You should head back home.”

“And what about Tenshi?”

She responded to his question as she opened the door and welcomed the freezing elements. “That grown ass man? He’ll be spending the night with me. And he’ll keep doing so until he can use hoshi properly.”

“Y’know I’m still here, rig-”

*Clock

“And?”

He sighed as he limped his way to the entrance. It seems he would have to tangle with the frost yet again.

“Since I'm already here, how do I get back home exactly?” Akuma asked before she shut the door.

“Oh, if you're already here, the key brings you back to the last place it was used.” With those words, she slammed the door, giving him no time to ask where that could possibly be.

He used the key on the closest door to me, the pantry door. Like how anyone would use one, he shoved the key into the holder, and gave it a good turn. Nothing seemed to have happened.

(This thing must be broken.)

Expecting to see nothing but supplies, he grabbed the handle and opened the pantry door. But to his surprise, he saw the priest’s decorations and riches on the other side. This sight sort of tripped him out. Imagin shooting two different coordinates with a portal gun and gazing through them.

He stepped through the frame and ended up back at the church, inside the room where all this madness started. He pulled the key from the holder and clenched it tightly in his hand. He’d have put it in a pocket, but he was still wearing a bodysuit.

This was the moment he realized just how desperate his current situation truly was. Here, he stood in the Church of Michael, ways from home, with no source of transportation. Tenshi was still training his hoshi with Rin, and even if he wasn’t, he still couldn’t drive him home since that demon blew the car to smithereens. His only choice was to ask a pastor for a ride home. Not only were they all strangers, but there's no way I didn't look like a clown with this suit on.

There was no point in thinking about it any longer. If he got laughed at, then so be it. And so, he navigated through the halls of the church asking around for the pastor that led him and Tenshi to Finral the last time. Pastor John to be specific. He found him hanging around the entrance area, and so he convinced him to help a friend out.

Akuma completely ignored the fact that he was wearing a strange outfit, and the pastor looked as if he was trying his best to ignore it as well.