Three days after the funeral, Kirsten returned to school. Not wanting her father to be alone, she brought him along.
The teacher stared at the two as they walked in. "K-Kirsten, who is this?"
Kirsten looked up at Beelzemon, who was staring at the floor through dull eyes. "This is my dad. I decided to bring him with me today. He's really upset because Mom passed away a few days ago. Can he stay?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss. Of course he can stay. I'll even give him a seat next to you."
"Thank you." Kirsten said as she walked to her seat, pulling her father along with her.
Everyone stared at Beelzemon. They had never believed Kirsten before when she explained that her father was a Digimon, which was why she had slitted eyes, now they did.
Beelzemon sat with his head on his folded arms, staring at the wall.
All through class, Kirsten kept glancing at her father, who hadn't moved since he sat down. Poor, Dad. He's so upset. Suddenly she saw tears ooze down his face. She immediately got up and hugged him.
Beelzemon pressed his face in her arm.
When lunchtime came, Beelzemon didn't eat, but stared at the tabletop.
"Dad. Dad. Dad!"
"Hm?" Beelzemon looked down at Kirsten.
"Daddy, you need to eat something. You haven't had anything for days! I don't want you to wither away and die on me too."
Beelzemon looked back at the table and sighed. "I'm sorry, honey. It's just really hard..."
Kirsten pushed her tray to her father. "I know, Daddy. But please eat something."
"Alright."
Kirsten sighed in relief as she watched Beelzemon slowly eat what was left of her pizza.
Valeri had managed to convince Diana to let her return to Earth. Now she sat on her tombstone, flute in hand.
There was a light drizzle, just the mood for how she felt. It had been a week since her burial and neither Beelzemon nor Kirsten had come to visit her grave. This fact rather saddened Valeri. She sighed.
Valeri looked up suddenly when she heard footsteps. Her heart leapt to her throat when she saw that it was Beelzemon. She leapt to her feet. "Beelzemon!" She ran towards him.
"Wait!" Diana called.
Valeri halted and turned sideways to look at her. "What?"
"He can't hear or see you. And-" She was cut off by Valeri squeaking in surprise as Beelzemon passed right through her. "You can't touch him." she finished sadly.
Tears spilled down Valeri's cheeks as she watched her husband. "I can't even touch him..."
Beelzemon knelt down at Valeri's grave, setting down a bouquet of roses. He ran his hand across the engraved letters. "I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner, Val. I've been busy taking care of Kirsten and…it's been really hard to try to come here. God, I miss you. I would never've thought that after all you did ta get me ta stay that you'd be the one to leave me. And in sucha way that I couldn't get ya back," Tears slid down his face to mix with the rain. "I'd do anything ta have ya back, anything. I need you, Val. I can't raise Kirsten by myself. I can't live without you."
Valeri was touched by his words. She walked up to stand beside him. "Oh, Beelzemon. I wish I could tell you I'm here. I'm here for you, I always will be." She knelt down and reached out tentatively to touch his shoulder, only to have her fingers pass right on through. She pulled her hand back and stared at it.
Using his foreclaw, Beelzemon scribbled something on the gravestone. "I promise that every chance I get, I'll come back ta talk to ya, Val. I swear on my life I will. 'Cause no matter where you are, I still love you with all of my heart. And I will forever more."
Valeri covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her sob. "Oh beloved…." She looked at the gravestone to see what he had engraved.
"I love you always, Your Loving Husband-Beelzemon" was barely legible because of his bad penmanship, but it was still there.
Valeri smiled sadly. She watched as Beelzemon got to his feet and started walking away. She raised her flute to her lips and began to play a low beautiful song.
Beelzemon halted when he heard the distant sound of music, his eyes widening. He turned around. "Val?" Suddenly feeling heartsick, he took off at full speed for home.
Diana looked at Valeri in surprise. Normally mortals could not hear the dead. But Beelzemon had heard Valeri's song. They must be very close for him to have heard her. Very, very close.
Valeri continued to play for a while longer before she sat back on her gravestone to await her husband's return.
Beelzemon lay on the couch staring at the ceiling. He barely payed attention to Kirsten as she went back and forth through the living room, straightening up the house.
Kirsten set a glass of tea on the coffee table and picked up the empty beer cans, then went off to the kitchen to put them in the trash.
Beelzemon turned on his side and sat up. He picked up the glass and took a long draught before setting it back down and returning to his previous position.