Chapter 01 [Lucifer POV]

I sat in the white bed, resting my head in the wall. I needed time to think. As the leader of the Illuminati, I was not sure about what to do after Gedoin's death. It's not like he mattered to me, but he was quite useful. What was I going to do now? What were we going to do?

I sighed, searching for an answer in my head. Well, that death wasn't going to affect that much our plans. We would recover in no time from that. Yes, for our goals, some sacrifices were necessary. But that didn't change the fact we needed to do something and search a new member for the group.

I had some candidates in mind, but no one seemed to fit or to be worth joining. Except of one... Yukio Okumura. I found him interesting from the first time I heard of him. His feelings, his thoughts. He was just too interesting. How he wanted to know more about himself, and tried to improve.

It was decided. I would go talk with him. I needed to check... some things. But before that, I needed to get some sleep. How much nights did I skip? My body was getting even more sick because of that, and in my actual state I couldn't go anywhere.

So I closed my eyes and fell asleep right after that.

I woke up a few hours later. I was still in a bad shape, but at least I could stand on my own. Without waiting a single second, I left the white, boring room. Where could Yukio Okumura be? That was a silly question. I was pretty sure he was around the academy since the classes ended just some minutes ago.

Since I couldn't just go there and say ''hello'', I tried the best to disguise as a student so anyone would notice I am Lucifer, a demon. It was a little embarrassing, but I endured it and searched for the youngest Okumura twin. It took me no time to find him: he was sitting in a bench reading a book about exorcism. He didn't know what ''free time'' was, right? Well, I didn't too.

I stood in front of him, and he looked at me with a puzzled expression. He seemed to recognize me. Just what I'd expect from him. He was really sharp.

''Good morning, Yukio Okumura'', I saluted him, ''I think this is the first time I talk to you face to face, perhaps?''

Yukio swallowed and closed his book slowly.

''Lucifer... right?''

''Glad you remember my name.''

''How couldn't I?''

I got closer to him, lowering so our faces were at the same level. His eyes were truly beautiful, and the way he tried to pretend being calm when his heart was racing like crazy. He was so obvious.

''Yukio Okumura... Would you like to join the Illuminati?''

''What?''

''I think you are a very interesting person. What do you think?''

I got even closer to look him in his eyes, only some centimeters of distance between us. Yukio looked away with a faint blush in his cheeks, making me a little confused. ''Did he blush right now?'', I thought. Thinking that I made him blush made me kind of happy, but I didn't understand why.

''I will never join you.'', he said.

''Really? By your expression I wouldn't say so.''

Yukio knitted his brows. I didn't like the fact he didn't want to meet my gaze. I really liked his eyes, so blue, beautiful but doubtful, and I wanted him to look at my eyes too. I felt that was the only way he would give me a proper answer.

I asked myself what to do next. I did some research before about human communication and stuff, but I really didn't know how to apply it. Only one thing came to my mind: ''kissing''. I saw some humans doing that, and it seemed to be quite embarrassing. But if that could made Yukio change his mind it was worth it.

While worrying a bit about if I would be able to do it or not, I rested my hands in Yukio's shoulders, making him (at last) look at me directly. He seemed surprise and confused, but still beautiful. Handsome, if I needed to shorten it in one word.

Now motivated by the sight, I embraced myself and pressed my lips against Yukio's, my eyes still concentrated in his. Uneasy, he tried to get away, but it was obvious I had more force than him in my hands. A few seconds later I moved away, also freeing his shoulders.

''What are you doing!?'', he really seemed uncomfortable.

''Did you dislike it that much? I thought humans liked this.''

''Not with you!''

Yukio got up, greatly blushed.

''Doesn't people blush when they are flustered?''

''Cut it off.''

Yukio started to walk, driving away, and I left him go by the moment. He surely needed to think a bit before giving me a serious reply. I also felt kind of... insecure, strangely.

I returned to the base of the Illuminati, and to my personal room. I sat in a chair with my arms crossed. That kiss. Even if I was the one who did it, it just didn't feel right. Were all the kisses like that? So... strange? It was the first time I felt this way. So puzzled, so weird. What happened to me? I just hoped a thing like that wasn't going to stop my plans. By the moment, I couldn't think about anything but Yukio, and the unstoppable tingling in my stomach.

Yukio blushed when I kissed him, too. Was he so nervous about it?

Without realizing, I fell asleep again. When I woke up, I didn't know how many hours passed, and I felt my body somehow heavy. Before I could do anything, someone entered the room. It was Homare Toudou.

''Commander, how are you feeling?''

''Tired, but not so bad.''

''I heard you went out. Where did you go? You should take care of yourself. Your body is very weak.''

''I know that already. I had some things to take care of. Nothing important.''

''Really?''

I looked at her, sighing.

''Do I need to repeat myself?''

''N-no, commander. I was just...''

''You do not need to worry about me. I'm alright.''

''Okay... If you say so.''

Everyone in the Illuminati cared a lot about me, because I was their leader. They felt those things for me because they needed me. But I didn't need Yukio, and he wasn't indispensable for my plans. Then, why did I care about him so much? What made him different from the other ones? I had to understand those feelings to move forward, so I decided to ask Homare about it. She maybe knew the reason of my uneasiness.

''Homare... I've got something I want to ask you.''

''Huh? What is it?''

She sat in the bed, crossing her legs and waiting for me to formulate my question. I thought a bit before talking; I didn't want to sound ridiculous.

''In fact, I went out so I could meet Yukio Okumura. I asked him if he would like to join us.''

''And what did he reply?''

''He denied... for the moment. But that wasn't what I wanted to talk about. In fact... I did something so I could get his attention.''

''What did you do?''

Homare looked a bit worried now. I looked away while playing with my hair, a little embarrassed.

''I kissed him.''

''YOU DID WHAT!?''

Homare almost fainted right there, and this surprised me. Was it something so strange after all? Did I do something wrong?

''Oh my god...'', Homare rested her head in her hands, quite desperate.

''What? Is it really something that bad?''

''...It is. I mean... Not only the fact you kissed a human of the True Cross Academy, but he is a man.''

''Is it wrong that he's a man?''

''Well, I guess it's not but...''

''Then why does it bother you?''

''Commander, are you in love with him?''

''In lo...!?''

My body paralyzed in confusion. Did she just say ''love''? I didn't realize my heart started pounding really fast in that moment.

''You are supposed to kiss the one you love.'', she explained to me.

''R-really? I didn't know that.''

''Yes.''

''But I don't really understand what love means... And I can't understand the strange feeling I keep resenting since then either...''

''Strange feeling?''

''Yes... I keep feeling something really odd. Like... I started to only think about him, and I can't even concentrate on other things. He's really important for me suddenly.''

Homare sighed again, and I felt a little ashamed of what I was asking.

''You really are in love with him.''

''What!?''

I couldn't help but stand up in surprise. I was a demon, and he was a human. How could I fall in love with him? That was just… wrong.

''What should I do…''

Even before I noticed, some tears were falling from my eyes. Worried, Homare approached me and touched my arm softly.

''Are you okay!?''

''Yes… I just… Can't accept that. I mean… I am your Commander. I can't let something like this change our plans.''

''I know… Don't worry, Commander. Everything will be okay.''

She hugged me gently, doubting a bit, but I let her do so and I received the hug.

''What should I do? I really do not understand any of this.''

''Commander… I can't believe… I'm too surprised. Sorry.''

''It's okay…''

''But…''

Homare broke the hug and looked at me with a very worried expression.

''Maybe you will feel better if Yukio joined us, right?''

''Well… I think so, yes. But…''

''It's okay. We will do anything for you, Commander.''

Homare smiled very determinately, and I could do nothing but trust her. In the end, that was our way to do things. They would force Yukio to join. But I didn't want that. I really wanted Yukio to be in our side, soul and flesh. Not only as an obligation, but because he wanted to do so.

''No… Leave this to me.'', I ordered.

''Are you sure?''

''Yes. Please.''

''Okay... If you insist.''

Homare crossed her arms and smiled, kind of sadden.

''Still, I can't believe it. Commander, you fell in love... This was completely unexpected.''

''I apologize...''

''No need to do so. It's not your fault. Love is a selfish emotion.''

''It is?''

''I think it is. You can't choose who you fall in love with, and once you do it, no one can stop that love. I also experienced that so... I can tell.''

''I see. Who was that person for you?''

Homare smiled again and sighed.

''That doesn't matter, Commander.''

I understood she didn't want to say it, so I didn't question anything more. That conversation really made me realize a lot of things.

''Thank you, Homare.''

''You are always welcome, Commander.''

I smiled briefly and gazed towards the door.

''I will go see Yukio again.''

''Okay... I wish you the best of lucks.''

I started to walk off the room while Homare remained there. Now, I didn't know where Yukio was, but I had to find him. I needed to find and talk with him. So I started searching by the Real Cross Academy's surroundings, but there was no trace of him anywhere. Still dressed as a student, I entered the school, not very comfortable, and asked some random person for the teacher Okumura. They told me he was surely in the dormitories.

The only problem was his brother, who lived with him. How could I get rid of that burden? I only needed Yukio, not Rin Okumura. Then I saw Shima, our spy. I called him and he looked at me very confused.

''C-Commander!?''

''Lower your voice.''

''I-I'm sorry. What the heck are you doing here?''

''I am searching someone, and I need you to do something for me.''

''Just what is it...?''

He seemed to be pretty annoyed for my orders, but he still listened to my request and accept. He waved his hand when he walked off and I waited silently in a corner. Once I saw him leave the school with Rin Okumura, I realized my moment came.

I went to the dormitory zone and searched for the Okumura one. Once I find it, I opened the door without asking for permission, to see a Yukio with his hair soaked and his hands also wet. I blushed a bit at this; he looked truly beautiful. I looked away and closed the door behind me.

''Lucifer, w-what are you doing here?''

He sounded nervous too, just as I was.

''I wanted to talk with you.''

I sat in a empty bed while Yukio sat in his own bed.

''I won't force you join the Illuminati. But... I really want you to do so...''

I looked sadly at my hands, which were resting in my lap. Yukio was quietly listening to me, and I could feel his gaze in my eyes, which made me somehow flustered.

''This isn't an order. I'm asking you... Would you come with me?''

I rose my head, meeting his green eyes. He was really thinking about it.

''Can you... give me some time to decide it?''

''I... Yes.''

He smiled sadly and I drew closer to him, so I could sit next to Yukio.

''Lucifer?''

''In fact... There is something more I wanted to ask you. I...''

I bit my lip, trying to find the exact words I wanted to say.

''I may be in love with you.''

Yukio blushed hard and I gently touched his hand to warp it between mines.

''I still don't fully understand but... My chest won't stop pounding fast. Do you... fell this way too?''

''I...''

He doubted for a second, and shook his head.

''I don't know...''

I nod, accepting that answer, only to get closer once more and kiss him softly.

Again that sensation. Butterflies in my stomach. My cheeks becoming hotter. I really... really loved it. Loved him. His lips were soft, yet good...

I stopped kissing him and looked at his agitated expression. Was him feeling as I did? I hoped he was.

''Yukio...''

''Sorry. Please... leave me alone.''

His eyes showed some faint tears, and I understood I needed to leave, so I left him alone, there. I sighed once out. What a... strangely wonderful day.