"Nah, you have until tomorrow Almaz, that should bring you to your next stage in your demon transformation." Mao chuckled, taking a few steps closer to the blue-haired hero "M-Mao! What are you doing!" Almaz studdered, the way Mao approached him, sent shivers down his spine.
"Almaz, let me check your progress thusfar." Mao chuckled, as Almaz backed into the corner, "Not an examination, a check-up."
"Are you okay Lord Mao?" Almaz asked, hoping by using that name, Mao would maybe back off "I'm fine." Mao said grabbing Almaz's shoulders, looking heartlessly into his eyes, feeling Almaz shake in fear "Almaz? Where did your 'trust' go? Do you not trust me anymore?" Mao said, hope in his eyes "No, no, I trust you Mao." Almaz re-assured, seeing the joy in Mao's face instantly disappear.
Mao turned Almaz around, removing his coat and lifting his shirt, seeing a faint outline of wings on his back "You're getting your wings in Almaz." Mao said smiling as he quickly traced the area with his finger, not even hesitating to try to check for tail growth, before he heard Almaz shout and try to escape.
"Mao! No! I don't care if I grow a tail or not! Just, stop!" Almaz shouts pulling his shirt down, and trying to grab his coat from Mao, who threw it behind him carelessly"Almaz! So long as you're MY servant, you'll obey MY rules, you understand? Or, would you rather me find a better experiment? Like, turning your insides to gears, and making you an obidient robot?" Mao shouts, his face turning red as he turns Almaz back around, nudging his pants down enough to see the outline of a tail, which he also traced quickly before Almaz yelped and turned back around.
"Mao! What are you..." Almaz was muffled by a hand to his mouth "Do you want to alarm the entire school! Are you an idiot Almaz?" Mao whispers before handing Almaz his coat back, removing his grip on Almaz's mouth as well.
Almaz instantly grabbed his coat, wrapping it protectively around himself as he fell to his knees in the corner.
Seeing Almaz so scared even sent a tinge of guilt through the rock heart of the young Dean himself, as Mao knelt down, getting a quick hold of himself "Are you a damned girl Almaz?" Mao said, extending a hand to Almaz "L-lord Mao?" Almaz asks nervously, hesitating to grab Mao's hand, of course, Mao would probably snap if he didn't, saying that he was Almaz's master, so he grabbed his hand, flinching as he thought Mao would hurt him for trusting him, either way he would have been trapped.
Mao however, remained quiet as he grabbed Almaz's other hand, turning a slight red as he helped him up, an innocent smile on his face, Almaz stood with him, his face flushed red as well "Mao?" Almaz asks as he looked carefully at Mao's face, moving his now freed hands towards his face, seeing if it was a simple illusion, or a dream. Of course, Mao flinched upon contact, smacking Almaz's hands away.
"DON'T take that the wrong way fake hero, for the help, I'm either going to experiment, or perform an extra examination!"
Almaz chuckled lightly, it wasn't an illusion, and though Mao was threatening him, he was blushing, for Almaz, seeing Almaz's comfort around him made Mao angry "Did you HEAR me Fake Hero!"
"Yeah, yeah." Almaz said half heartedly, smiling more seeing Mao just becoming redder and redder, this lack of fear was just making Mao upset, angry, and something he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"ALMAZ!" Mao shouted, taking Almaz out of his daze "I choose NOW!"
"Lord Mao! Not today! You have an examination tomorrow, pace yourself, please." Almaz begged, being at the mercy of the merciless Overlord Mao looked at him awkwardly, seeing the pure fear in Almaz's eyes, part of him smiled, the other, wanted to help, his True Heart was butting in, a part of him he locked in the Heart Bank when Almaz came back to life after being cursed by Aurum, remembering Almaz's past love of the Princess made Mao feel something he had never experienced before "Is this... the infamous jealousy I've read about?"
"What?"
"N-nothing, you're spared for today Almaz." Mao scoffs, turning his back to the younger hero Almaz's eyes lit up, as a smile appeared on his face, he jumped up and wrapped his arms thankfully around Mao, who jumped at the sudden contact "ALMAZ, what the hell do you think you're doing!"
"Thank you Lord Mao!" Almaz shouted, not even thinking to release his grip on Mao, who was actually slightly scared by the arms wrapped so lovingly around him.
Almaz opened his eyes, seeing the reddened glow Mao was giving off, his eyes widened, his breaths shortened and shallow "Lord Mao?" Almaz asked before releasing his grip, looking at the petrified Dean before walking around in front of him, to see his eyes were now shut tightly as his face became redder than before, Almaz couldn't help but blush a little himself, seeing what such a small gesture could do to someone as cold as Mao. "Lord Mao? Mao-sama?" Almaz spoke again, Mao refused to reply, his eyes still tightly shut, Almaz began to worry he had done some actual damage to Mao. He was about to ask again, as he got closer, before he had the chance to ask, Mao wrapped his arms around Almaz, much fiercer and harsher than Almaz had. "Lord Mao! What are you doing!" a responce of nothing more than a dead silence as Mao slightly loosened his grip, making the gesture more affectionate than anything else, Mao refused to let go it seemed, as his eyes slightly opened, a less than cold look in his eyes, Almaz has never seen anything like it from him.
"Is this, the Love you were talking about Almaz?" Mao asked, "The source of a hero's power?"
"W-what? Are you okay Mao?" Almaz asked for what seemed like the millionth time "I'm... fine Almaz..." Mao said, still not letting go of the poor hero.
Almaz smiled warmly as he wrapped his arms around Mao, who's eyes opened wider when he felt the gesture, he wanted to pull away, but something held him back, Almaz wanted to ask him what he felt, but thought it would be too awkward to ask at the time. Mao didn't seem to be making any sort of awkward movement to try to shuffle away, which further surprised Almaz, who felt a little nervous if anything. "Almaz, this is wrong in the Human World right?" Mao asked, looking up at Almaz, who remained silent, a look on his face showing his deep thought.
"I-I guess." Almaz said looking down at Mao curiously, who smiled, drool began dripping down his face, making Almaz release his grip as Mao did as well "Fascinating!" Mao chuckled, looking at Almaz curiously "Is it wrong to YOU Fake Hero?"
Back to the Fake Hero title already, which kind of bummed Almaz out, quickly recovering when he realized Mao addressed him, his tip being Mao's intent, angered stare at him "No, not really, at all Mao... I'm totally fine with it." Almaz said with a small smile on his face, his first thought would be the Princess' reaction to this. Mao's reaction was a warmed frown, a mixture of happiness, anger, and depression, Almaz was fine with it, which made him content, but then, it didn't feel like what an Honour Student should be doing if it was okay with someone.
"Almaz, is what I'm feeling, this horrible 'love' emotion?"
"Knowing you, Lord Mao, probably not." Almaz reassured, hoping that would end the topic "Almaz, I've... you know what, I'm going to try an experiment on you." Mao chuckled, his glasses fogging up "But, Lord Mao! You said I was spared for the day!" Almaz shouts, noticing the menacing smile plastered across Mao's face, as he got closer to Almaz "Lord Mao!"
"Don't you worry Almaz, it won't physically hurt you." Mao laughed "Physi..." Almaz was muffled again as Mao pressed himself up against him, a harsh kiss planted on him, Almaz's face flared red as his eyes widened in shock, Mao's arms wrapped harshly around him, the force making him desperate for air, but he couldn't bring himself to move, Mao backed away, looking Almaz straight in the eye "Now, what was that?" Almaz remained quiet, trying to catch his breath and regain his thoughts, Mao grew impatient "Almaz!"
"Hmm?" Almaz muttered "What was that to YOU?"
"What, do you mean Lord Mao?" Almaz asked nervously "What I just did! What did you think of that?"
"I...I just, don't know." Almaz continued, studdering to try to find the right words "Do I have to try again?" Mao asked, his maniacal look fading "This is an important experiment Almaz, I need your full participation."
"Lord Mao, it's, hard to find the right words. I keep thinking of the Princess everytime this hits my mind, what is she going to say to this."
"That petty PRINCESS of yours!" Mao scoffs, the hurt just echoed through him, he never would have guessed something could have hurt him that badly, like a sword pierced through him. "I'm... going to the heart bank."
"Mao?" Almaz asks, noticing Mao's hurt expression as he turned around and began to leave the room, Almaz reluctantly followed like he usually did "ALMAZ! JUST... leave me alone..." Mao shouts, not even wanting to face Almaz at this point, as he slammed the door into Almaz, causing him to fall to the floor unconscious.
Mao stormed through the halls, a pure rage about him as he approached the heart bank, not even addressing the lady as he walked towards the hearts. Stopping upon seeing a new heart there "Almaz V.A. Adamant?" Mao said, a demonic smile across his face, he was out to do some snooping, entering the heart, to find the only information was all the stuff Mao was there for "So much for research..." he scoffed, before entering his own heart. Immediately he deposited his emotions to the heart bank, trying to find where his emotion towards Almaz was.
"Nnnn?" Almaz groaned, standing up slowly, the pulsing pain in his head blurring his vision each time his heart beat "Owwwww." Almaz groaned, grabbing at the bump on his head, "Where'd... oh, yeah, the Heart Bank!" Almaz yelled, determined to find Mao as he got over his throbbing head and ran off in Mao's direction, the Heart Bank being a lot closer than he remembered "I'd... like to enter the Dean's heart please." Almaz said with a guilty smile on his face, the lady smiled and nodded, pointing him in the direction, though he had been there enough times to know where it was. "Thank you." He said walking off in the direction of Mao's heart.
Not even ten seconds after entering did he hear a frustrated scream coming from an area deeper in the heart, he ran towards it "Let me in!" a familiar voice shouted, he saw Mao arguing with his True Heart nearby "I can't let you destroy something so precious." the True Heart said calmly "This isn't the time to be so ignorant!" Mao shouted back "I should be saying that to you Mao, it's not everyday you feel emotions this strong. Even you find this more precious than the Hero's title."
"Almaz, precious! Are you stupid!"
Almaz wasn't sure how to feel at this, he stepped out, True Heart noticing him "I thought I felt you nearby Almaz." He said, a gentle smile on his face "Almaz! How the hell did you get in my heart!" Mao shouted "What were you doing Mao?" Almaz asked, getting closer, Mao drew his sword, an intense rage evident "None of you damn business Almaz!"
"Mao, I want to know. Is this because I mentioned the Princess?" Almaz asked "...I could care less about that stupid human!"
"Is that all I am to you too Mao?" Almaz asked, pretending to be angry "...No, it's not, Almaz, if you don't want to suffer a horrible death, I recommend you fully participate in the experiment!" Mao shouted, angry, hurt, embarrassed.
"Mao..." Almaz sighed, stepping up to Mao
Mao crossed him arms stubbornly "Will you?"
"...Yeah, I am your fr... servant after all."
Mao frowned at that, but took that as a yes, he tried to kiss Almaz one last time, the True Heart not even phased "Now, was that love, or was it something else."
"I don't need to answer, your True Heart will." Almaz smiled, looking at the True Heart "Well?"
A loud clank was heard nearby, Almaz turned around, seeing the lock to the Heart's Vault had fallen, and the door swung wide open "You've opened his heart Almaz... I'm pretty sure that would be Love."
"The source of a Hero's power? I've unlocked it!" Mao said excitedly Almaz was surprised, Mao actually felt love, and towards him of all people "Lord Mao? Are you ready to leave?"
"Y-yeah... I have no more use here."
"Thank you, Hero Almaz." the True Heart said with an innocent smile on his face, Almaz waved before joining Mao on the way out of the heart
Returning to the room, Mao sat on his bed, looking at the floor with a blank stare, obviously trying to recollect what he just experienced "Mao?" Almaz asked, walking up to him, a small blush on his face, he grabbed Mao's hands and got him to stand up, a small blush appeared on his face too "Almaz... for an experiment, you're causing a lot of trouble." Mao chuckled, Almaz laughed a little too Suddenly, a flash snapped them both out of it, as Mao turned to see Kyoko flee with a camera in hand "That damn deliquent!" Mao shouted walking over to a box in the corner of his room, after rustling around for a little bit, he seemed to find what he was looking for, he smiled grabbing a sword, which he quickly hid in the sleeve of his coat "Mao! What are you planning to do!"
"That picture... it'll ruin BOTH of us! I have to destroy it at any cost!" Mao shouts, his face had flared a red Almaz had never seen before "She's going to run that straight to Beryl!"
"So? Beryl seems nice, she's quite innocent for a demon."
"Do you realize? Rivals can never be trusted, neither can demons." Mao scoffed, angered at Almaz's stupidity, he stormed out the door and marched towards Beryl's room "Mao! Think of what you're doing! It's just a picture!"
"Do you EVER shut up Almaz! Keep it up and I WILL modify you!"
"But Mao! They're DELIQUENTS aren't they? They'll keep it a secret! They're our FRIENDS Mao!"
Mao cringed at those words as he stopped, "They aren't friends..." he whispered quietly "How do you trust demons Almaz?"
"They're FRIENDS Mao. Whether you agree or not." Almaz said with a warm smile Mao opened the door quietly, his face flustered with embarassment, he stepped in bravely about to ask Kyoko for the picture back, when Almaz piped up seeing the Princess "Princess? You saw it too?"
"Well of course Almaz! I'm a friend too you know!" Sapphire shouted happily, obviously trying to hold back laughter "Well, yeah, but... that was kind of private." Almaz says quietly, shifting behind Mao "What are you talking about? I was trying to coax you into letting me modify you!" Mao shouted, looking at Almaz in a way Almaz could see right through him, a lie at it's worst "Mao, we aren't going to show it to anyone! Why are you so worried? Kyoko was going to put it in a scrapbook for one of the 46 affection skills." Beryl said smiling "Who's going to see the scrapbook?" Almaz asked, nervously eyeing the picture, and the Princess who was laughing quietly "Just us four, and you and Mao if you two are interested." Kyoko added Almaz thought it over, weighing the possibilities of what could possibly happen, smiling, he came to his conclusion "Lord Mao, I don't see any harm in it. Let them keep it." "What! Are you INSANE Fake Hero! These are DEMONS we're talking about! None of us can be trusted!" Mao snapped, turning on Almaz ready to draw his sword "But, you know I trust you Mao." Almaz replied nervously, standing brave to remain strong in front of his Princess "Almaz... fine, keep them, but if I catch them ANYWHERE in the school you're ALL being experimented on! Got that?" Mao shouted, taking his hand away from the sleeve of his coat, turning around and motioning Almaz to follow.
"Almaz, if anything happens, remember it'll be you I'm experimenting on, not them." Mao said quietly as he entered his room