"C-come back!" The young blue haired demon called out, tripping over his tail, running after the demon teenager, who was running off towards class. "D-damn it, he's not going to be happy..." The younger sighed, grabbing at his hair, before walking back towards his room. Being tripped by an older demon to fall once more "Gh, he's, not going to be happy at all..."
"Who's not going to be happy?" The young Dean asked, extending his ringed hand down to the fallen other
"M-Mao!" The younger shouted nervously, before graciously accepting the helping hand the older was offering "S-she ran off to class again."
"Is she seriously that angry about the immortality formula? I told her if she wanted it she could use it." Mao sighed "I can't have you looking more like a demon, Fake Hero. You know the older we get, the more demonic you'll become. I had to freeze our ages."
"M-Mao, I really wish you'd think of me as more than a Fake Hero now..." The younger sighed, looking sorrowed at the other
Mao growled "Almaz! I'll call you whatever I damn well please!"
"Lord Mao?" Almaz whined, looking angrily at Mao "Why do you always get so angry when she leaves?"
"I'm just, disappointed she turned out so near delinquency." Mao sighed, running a hand through his hair "I've tried so hard, to get her to follow the path of an honour student. Hey, Fake Hero. I'm going to take the day to finish Geoffrey for her."
"Mao... what if someone catches her in class? It's kind of out in the open that she's..."
"I know Almaz." Mao grunted, wrapping an arm carelessly around the young Hero "Come on, let's go train, you're almost Baal material."
"What about Geoffrey?" Almaz laughed
"Let's doesn't mean us, it means you, and the strongest members of my team. Call me over the PA if you need help." Mao smiled, handing Almaz a PA Microphone "Don't hesitate, I'll be there in an instant!"
"Thanks Mao." Almaz chuckled, before walking off towards the dimensional gate
"Fake Hero!" Mao growled "What have I told you about those manners!"
"S-Sorry!" Almaz whined
The Dean seemed to have been returning to normal slower and slower. Almaz looked down at his own hand, the small gold band shining back at him. Though he was happy to have Mao back to normal, they were married now, he wished he could show at least a little more sympathy towards him. He was teleported to a battle the second he hit the dimensional gate. Sending himself out first, he noticed a wide range of enemies. He couldn't look somewhere without seeing one "C-crap..." He whispered, shaking slightly as an enemy approached him. He drew his sword, swinging it as quickly as he possibly could. Looking at the slight cut across his chest, he looked back at Almaz, whipping him across the field "Someone! Get out here!"
In an instant, a Warrior and an overly familiar Cleric took to the fight, who made her small wings take her to the young Hero "Almaz, it's been a while." She smiled, placing a tomahawk above his head, making him flinch, as he began glowing green "Spouse of Overlord Mao eh? We can't have you perishing on us."
"T-thanks Steve." Almaz smiled, before lunging forwards, taking out a few weakened enemies
"Lord Almaz!" The Warrior shouted "Get off the coloured area!"
Nodding quickly, Almaz leaped back to where he was before, as the warrior attacked a strange block, having a chain reaction taking out a few others, heavily weakening the enemies.
The others backed off, allowing Almaz to take out the bulk of the enemies.
They repeated this quite a few times, Almaz was quickly levelling, gaining on Mao's level.
"Not bad, for a past human." One said, as both Steve, and the young Warrior got hit by a fire spell, and disappeared in a pink explosion, leaving Almaz alone
"W-where are you! Who are you!" Almaz screamed, holding his sword shakily, as someone jumped down in front of him "M-Makora!"
"Who would have guessed we'd be against each other." Makora snickered, seeing Almaz stumble for the PA Microphone
"L-Lord Mao! We have a problem!" Almaz stuttered, backing away from the younger demon, as Mao immediately ran through the base
"One enemy Almaz!" Mao growled "You're kidding ri... Makora?"
"Oh, hello dad." Makora smirked, drawing a Battle Axe to Almaz "I guess it's you and Almaz, against me. One team has to perish."
"We're not fighting you Makora!" Mao shouted, placing a hand on the axe she held so dangerously, backing Almaz back a little "Bring us back to the school!" Mao shouted.
The area around them turned white, Makora's battle axe disappeared, and the centre of the school was their greeting "Makora, if you want to fight, just fight for us."
"I thought you didn't want me to fight!" Makora growled
"I never said not to fight! It's only natural for demons to have the desire to fight. Just, don't fight against us!" Mao commanded, grabbing Makora "We've tried too hard with you."
"Dad..." Makora sighed "I, I'm sorry..."
"You're a demon, never apologize." Mao sighed
"Dad, when did you become so soft?" Makora growled, looking angrily at Mao, who sighed miserably
"I've been working on that Makora! Since last time you asked!"
"Last time I asked was on your wedding day!"
Almaz blushed "H-he has been reminding me of his older self, just a little bit."
"Fake Hero! You're not helping at all!" Mao growled
"M-Mao..." Almaz sighed, before delicately wrapping his arms around the Dean "Makora, is it because of his immortality formula?"
"What? No! It was because I thought he didn't want me to fight! I've been, pretending to go to class everyday for a year now, so I could go train..."
"Makora, you ingenious devil you." Mao laughed "You definitely got your intellegence from me."
"Oh come on Mao..." Almaz sighed, releasing the Dean who seemed completely unaffected by both the contact, and the loss of it
"Almaz, be quiet!" Makora shouted, looking miserably at the Hero
"Makora, what have I told you about calling me Almaz?" Almaz growled
"What am I supposed to call you! My Mother? My other Father? Almaz, it's truly awkward to have two male parents."
Freezing, the young Hero put some thought into it, he had truly never thought of Makora's side of all this "Makora..."
The younger demon glared at the two older "Am I adopted?"
"What! Makora no!" Almaz shouted, wrapping his arms tightly around her
"I don't believe you, maybe I'll ask Raspberyl! She'd tell me the truth!" shouted Makora, who broke free from the Hero's grip "Or maybe Sapphire!"
Mao nodded "Feel free. We'll come with you."
Makora growled at her father, before storming towards Beryl's classroom, Almaz grabbed Mao's hand, which Mao quickly took back "What have I told you, Fake Hero!"
"I'm sorry, Lord Mao.." Almaz whined, pulling the offending hand close to him "M-Mao I..."
"Don't speak unless spoken to!" Mao growled, before placing a hand on the back of his own neck
Almaz stopped right where he was, seeing Mao and Makora continue walking on without him "Damn it Mao... sometimes recently, I just can't stand you..." Almaz growled, walking in the other direction, back towards the Dean's room
Almaz stopped, the young Delinquent's room "Kyoko, Asuka?" Almaz asked, knocking on the door "Are either of you in here?"
"Sir Hero?" Asuka asked, opening the door "Is something wrong?"
"Your scrapbook, may I borrow it?"
"Of our forty six affection skills? We might have to ask our Lady. Kyoko, could you, please? The Hero seems upset." Asuka smiled at the other, who nodded before walking calmly out of the room "What's wrong Hero?"
"C-call me Almaz..." Almaz sighed, ask Asuka pulled him into the room, and sat him on her own bed, of the three in the room
"What's wrong, He...Almaz?" Asuka asked, taking the scrapbook and placing it on her lap
"Mao's being so cruel recently... I just don't understand it." Almaz muttered, looking sadly at the delinquent
Asuka placed her hand on the Hero's shoulder "He's just stubborn, he loves you a lot."
"I-I don't think he does anymore..." Almaz whimpers, allowing a tear to fall before gasping slightly, rubbing his eyes quickly
"Almaz? He does care, he married you didn't he?" Asuka giggled
"Y-yeah but, he's just, so cruel recently, I can't stand him anymore..." Almaz cried, fighting back tears, hearing footsteps coming from down the hall
"Our Lady said he could borrow it for a little bit, but asked me if I could ask for it's return when he's done with it." Kyoko announced, entering the room happily
"Kyoko! How did you get back so quick? Did you run in the halls!"
"The Dean's daughter started chasing me..." Kyoko sighed "I had to run to get away."
"Ahh! I'm so sorry Kyoko!" Almaz jumped, standing up quickly
"W-why are you sorry Hero?" Kyoko asked, looking at the Hero nervously
"I've been trying so hard to discipline her, but it never works... she's turning into a hardcore honour student."
"You're trying to discipline her? But why?" Kyoko questioned
"I'm, technically, her mother..." Almaz blushed deeply, as Asuka handed Almaz the scrapbook "T-thank you Asuka."
"You're Makora's mother?" Kyoko asked, a petrified look across her face
"Y-yeah... t-thanks again you two!" Almaz stuttered, running quickly out of the room, once he was out of their sight, he walked quietly to his own room. Walking in before closing the door, the Slaystation Portable rested on the table, untouched since Makora's birth. Almaz sat miserably on the bed, before opening the small scrapbook, the book had been filled with past pictures Beryl, Kyoko, and Asuka had taken of him and Mao. Almaz placed his hand delicately on a picture of him and Mao hand in hand blushing, the oldest picture in the book. His hand traced the pages to hover over their wedding photo. Almaz couldn't help but put the book aside, placing his head in his hands as tears involuntarily fell from his eyes. Standing up, he decided to head down to the Human World, spend the day with his parents. He picked up the book, and walked out of the room
"Fake Hero!" Mao shouted, as Almaz passed him, eyes glued to the bloodstained floor "Fake Hero! Answer me!"
Almaz had very well heard Mao calling after him, but chose to ignore him
"Fake Hero!" Mao continued shouting, walking up to Almaz, before pinning him to a wall "You dare ignore me!"
"Go away Mao..." Almaz whispered, looking away from Mao, who snatched the book from his hands "That's Ms Beryl's book! Give it back!"
Mao opened the book carelessly, the various pictures made his gaze soften "W-what is this?"
"Beryl's scrapbook of the forty six affection skills." Almaz sighed, averting his gaze from the Dean
Mao looked at Almaz, a look mixed with confusion and disgust "Why would you take this?"
"Don't worry about it." Almaz whimpered, holding back tears
"Fake Hero!" Mao growled, making a move to tear the book "Tell me or the book gets it! I'll blame it's destruction on you!"
Almaz's anger rose, and suddenly exploded out of him "It's just, ever since we got married, you've been becoming more and more cruel! Recently, I've found that I just can't stand to be around you!"
The Dean jumped at both the tone, and all around meaning of Almaz's last statement, before dropping the book "..."
"Notice that the most recent picture, is our wedding photo Mao! We've grown apart since the wedding! Was that just your way of saying now that I now belong to you!"
"Almaz..." Mao sighed, walking up to the Hero, who was shaking violently. Mao wrapped his arms preciously around the Hero, who quickly broke free
"I don't belong to you Mao! I'm not just going to do whatever the hell you want me to!" Almaz screamed, tears falling from his eyes.
Mao just approached the Hero again, wrapping his arms around him, and when the Hero struggled, he held him tighter, not letting go, before whispering "Almaz, you need to listen to me... I'm trying to uphold a strong image around Makora is all, be a good father."
"So you're teaching her, it's okay to abuse, neglect, and order your spouse!" Almaz sobbed, finally breaking down into the Dean's shoulder, who picked him, and the scrapbook up before walking back towards his room.
Mao opened the door, closing it carefully "A-Almaz, just stay here a second." Mao sighed, as he placed Almaz on the bed. Mao walked across the room, opening the door to Makora's room, seeing her sound asleep. He quickly closed the door, locking it before walking back to Almaz, sitting beside him before wrapping his arms tightly around the young Hero
"M-Mao, get away from me..." Almaz stuttered, as Mao pulled Almaz closer
"No way Almaz." Mao refused, turning Almaz to face him "Tell me what to do."
"Get away from me! That's what!" Almaz shouted, feeling Mao make no movement to let go
"Almaz, I'm..." Mao paused, seeing the moon rising behind him, he picked Almaz up, and walked out of the door "This isn't where I should say this..."
"Mao! Put me down..." Almaz whined, squirming nervously
Mao stopped, placing the Hero on his feet, in the centre of the school before gently kissing him, wrapping his arms around him preciously. Almaz tried struggling, before finally giving in, allowing tears to fall from his eyes once again
"M-Mao..." Almaz whispered, wiping his eyes dry
Mao grabbed his hand delicately, walking to the front doors of the school, bringing the Hero out. Almaz shivered at the sudden chill of a Netherworld night. Mao brought him closer, wrapping his arms around him as they both looked out, towards the risen moon "Almaz?"
"Y-yes Mao?" Almaz hummed
Mao stuttered, looking out to the sky, before looking over at Almaz "I'm, sorry..."
Almaz jumped, looking at Mao cautiously. There must be a catch "M-Mao?"
Mao hid his face from Almaz, allowing tears to slip down his cheeks
"Mao? Did you really mean that?" Almaz asked, walking to face Mao "A-are you, crying?"
"No, I'm not crying!" Mao screamed, wrapping his arms around Almaz "The bitter midnight winds sting my eyes, they were just dry..."
Almaz smiled, feeling Mao begin shivering, Almaz smiled, taking his scarf from around his neck, and placed it around Mao's. "It was irritating my wings anyways."
Mao blushed, feeling the soft scarf wrapped around him so lovingly "Al...maz, I..."
"Don't worry about it Mao." Almaz giggled, much to the discomfort of Mao, who looked nervously at the girlish Hero
"Almaz, tha..." Mao started laughing hysterically "Almaz, that damned laugh!"
Almaz blushed deeply "M-Mao! That was mean..."
He tried to stop laughing, before quickly wrapping his arms around the Hero "You've made my day, Hero."
The Hero smiled, grabbing the Dean's hand before walking inside "Let's walk around the school."
Mao nodded, suddenly jumping "Crap! Makora's still locked in her room! Let's let her out first!"
Almaz smiled, breaking into a slow run "Come on then!"
Mao laughed, his hand still in the Hero's. He broke out into a run as the Hero's arm extended all the way "Almaz! What do you think you're doing?" Mao chuckled, seeing the Hero blushing strongly
Almaz started laughing, running into the school, feeling Mao try to stop "A-Almaz!"
"Hmm?" Almaz asked, as a demon towered over him, with Makora standing in front of him
"You two locked me in my room, and for what!"
"I thought we were going to get this settled in our room Makora! I couldn't have you walking in!" Mao sighed, walking in front of Almaz "I'm trying to teach you how to be an honour student! You're the only one to take the title of Overlord."
"You're immortal now! Just let me do what I want!" Makora shouted
Mao froze "Shoot..." Mao sighed "Makora, I'm trying to set a good example as a demon's father."
"Dad, you were setting a good example, I'm over fifteen hundred years old though, I don't need your help anymore."
"Makora, by human standards, you're fifteen. Most parents help their children until they're at least eighteen years old. You'll need us, by a demon's standard, until you're at least eighteen hundred." Almaz smiled
"S-shut up!" Makora screamed, drawing a sword to Almaz's neck
"Gh..." Almaz choked, holding his breath to avoid being cut
Makora!" Mao yelped, drawing his own sword to her, knocking it away from Almaz "I don't want to hurt you!"
"Dad! Just get out of the way!" Makora growled
Almaz jumped between them, wrapping both arms around Makora "Stop this Makora! It's not needed. Let's, the three of us, take a walk around the school!"
"Why would I want to do that?" Makora growled
"Because if you don't, I'll be alone with your father." Almaz smirked, as she jumped
"F-fine! Just, no making out while I'm around!"
Almaz laughed, grabbing Mao's hand, as Makora stood on Mao's other side
The three just chatted like friends, though the tension between Almaz and Makora was intense. "Makora." Almaz sighed
"Y-yeah?"
"You know, from day one I've loved you, I wish you didn't hate me so much." Almaz muttered
"Almaz... I don't hate you, I just can't trust you." Makora admitted
"What do you mean can't trust me?"
"You claim you gave birth to me. You're a man, it, just doesn't make sense."
"Makora, I have to be honest." Mao began "I experimented on Almaz before you were born, and gave him the ability. When he says he's your mother, he's telling you the truth."
"You mean, you're gay?" Makora asked, looking at Mao, who nodded nervously "I-I didn't..."
"Not many people did Makora..." Mao admitted, hearing the teenage demon yawn "Go on to bed Makora, we'll be heading back soon ourselves."
Makora nodded as she ran off
Though, the entire night, the two demons travelled the school talking, until the following morning, when they finally found it warm enough to just lay in the grass
"Mao?" Almaz asked, looking at the Dean, who stared intently at the clouds
"Oh, hmm? What is it Almaz?"
"Thanks for sticking by me yesterday." Almaz blushed, cuddling up to the Dean
"Y-yeah sure, no problem I guess." Mao chuckled, quickly falling asleep, as was the young Hero
The two couldn't bring themselves to move "Nnn, Almaz?" Mao yawned, replied with silence, and a small snore from the Hero, as the Dean too fell asleep