Our Precious Immortal Days

by XxDamned ForeverXx

Sebastian's secret past involving undertaker. becoming one hell of a demon through rape, violence, fatherhood, and living for perfection.

4. a Vacation

Our Precious Immortal Days3

The demon flipped through the pages of the book opened to him on the grand library table that seemed to stretch on for eternity. The yellowed parchment crackled softly under his careful use as his eyes scoured the script for the answers he sought. An undying flame flickered briefly, but did not go out, when he let a deep sigh fall from his lips that stirred his black fringes. Nothing. He closed the book silently and picked up the bookmark to return it to the rightful spot on the endless shelves of infinite volumes of history and knowledge stored up since the universe began.
Yes, he was in the forbidden Shinigami Library browsing the known history of demons.
Surprisingly, there was very little information available on his race. Obviously hostility was well pronounced between the two, shinigami and demons, because of long years of debate over their place in this world. The shinigami believed that demons belonged out of sight and had no right to dwell upon the earth and consume the souls of the humans whilst the demons maintained that they could roam the planes of existence simply because they could. One tidbit of information that he had found detailed the superficial end of the argument as the 'noble and dutiful' shinigami donning glasses to distinguish between the two races as a result of early religions getting them confused because of their similar activities involving human souls. The raven snorted inwardly, it hadn't been a noticed change since the humans had yet to glimpse either and live on in sanity.
He brought forth another book and laid it out before him, The Complete Detailment of a Vile Occasion. One would have to be stupid not to be even faintly offended by this title, he thought, but it was surely a vile encounter for both sides. The first page revealed an inked portrait of a red herring in flight across the moon, a strange depiction for a book like this. He turned each page easily and quickly as he scanned, memorized, and stored all the new information. It wasn't long before he reached the final chapter and paused for a moment. This was it. The volume he had was written by a management class officer about the shinigami's run in with a violent rogue crimson eyed herring demon that had been taking out nomadic tribes across the Eurasian half of the known world. The ordeal had gotten out of control and the dispatch squad had been sent out to deal with the menace. The demon caused grievous losses on the opposing side during their encounter but it had been wounded badly in the process. Why wasn't he reading on? The next chapter was The Death Unknown; this could be what he was searching for!
His eyes hungrily scanned the following pages and widened slightly. Finally he could cut out the middle man between him and home. The undertaker had withheld information from him for two years and now he didn't need the abusive idiot anymore to get what he wanted, what he craved; his own death, the ride back to where he had come from. It was his escape-
"mister? What are you doing?" came a little voice from behind the demon. He whirled around and grabbed the source before it had time to blink. "Wha-?"
The demon blinked twice, it was a little boy with wild yellow-blonde hair and bright huge emerald eyes that were gazing curiously up at him completely oblivious to the strong hold the demon had on his neck. The kid couldn't have been much older than aiko's age by human comparison, he looked about ten. He released the little kid and instead placed his hand firmly on his shoulder. "What are you doing here? This is a restricted place" he chastised quickly putting up a calm authoritative facade.
The boy titled his head a little and didn't change his expression as he spoke. "Why are you here? You're not wearing glasses, you are not even shinigami, and you do not belong." the child stated adamantly.
Damn, he knows, the demon cursed gripping down hard. The blonde winced a little knowing his still thin shoulder was going to be severely bruised down to the bone by tomorrow. Good, the demon mused, he could even use the broken neck i might give him if he doesn't silence his tongue. "Little boy, what is your name? İt is disrespectful to speak to your elders this way. İ am simply taking a break from my glasses" the raven inwardly faltered a moment before letting a fake smile get plastered on his face. He had to lie quick and who better to emulate than the king of lies himself, the undertaker.
The boy looked up at him defiantly, his tousled blonde hair falling over his eyes. "Eric-" he introduced himself before letting out a huge roar that couldn't have come from someone his size. The demon shoved him out of the way as inquiring voices were roused and he knew it was time to go. İf he could only get out of here he could end this suffering quickly.
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"little kitty, can you hand me that?" the silver haired idiot asked without bothering to turn around from his work, much less point out what he wanted the demon to get for him. The dark haired raven scowled and stayed put on his perch upon the dwindling pile of wood in the corner. That annoying shinigami assumed he would jump to his whims like a mangy dog looking for a treat. The undertaker's hobbies were not his concern. İt mattered not to him what he did. He still hadn't given the raven the secret sweet kiss of death. The retired man turned to smile at him. "The bowl of sand, my dear, please give it to me." he said more specifically this time.
Begrudgingly the dark haired demon pushed off his seat and picked up the bowl of sand the other man had asked for. He held it in one hand surveying the bowl a moment. Taking a few steps he tilted his wrist back and launched the simple pottery across the room at the silver head.
Of course, without looking, the shinigami ducked fluidly and the bowl smashed against the wall above the rough coffin. İncedentally, most of the sand fell into the open belly while the pottery pieces were quickly sliced out of the descending mix and flung back at him. İt didnt even faze the demon as he side stepped angrily, irritated that his little rebellion wasnt noticed in the least.
Undertaker kept on with his work as if the creation of the coffin consumed him entirely. As if there was no room left for anything else. As if the demon wasnt good enough for his time- wait, he stopped his angry thoughts before they could progress into something else. Why was he thinking like that?
It had been a fairly quiet stretch of time since he began his hobby. Each day the dark haired demon would be ignored except for the occasional request as just the one that only just occurred moments ago. Each day he would go out to feed on some poor unfortunate soul he happened to come across in the streets. He would lure his victim back to the alleys and usually surprise them in order to see their final panicked expression as he descended upon them in his true form. That part was always delightful. After that, after the meal was the problem. It seemed London was full of poor quality souls. Never before had this bothered him, partaking in a myriad of qualities was a luxury he had not had the pleasure of having many times in his past. Sitting in this stable of a shop all day and night made him want to get out and desperately feed to ward off boredom. These low life souls did nothing for him. He would still be craving more immediately after devouring a soul, something not common. Many vulgar souls day in and day out like this was killing him. Sadly, it was not physically either.
He let out a frustrated sigh and turned to quickly alight upon the stack of wood again. Why? He needed something to distract his thoughts. There was nothing to do today since he had already gone out and he found no reason to bother trying to satiate his body despite his lingering hunger. Scanning the room he found it exceedingly fitting that the shinigami had become an undertaker. A god of death would be most comfortable in the world of the dead and dying. Obsessions befit a man such as him. Someone that would work ten and six hours a day, seven days a week, to meticulously create beds for humans to lay their deceased in. He had already made many coffins but only three, or rather two and a half, for the third was very small, were here after his first sale. Admittedly, they looked very nice. Made you wonder why the living humans did not get one of their own. He had finished that child size coffin while the demon was out feeding earlier today so he didn't know what the inside looked like. But for some reason he felt something was off. What it was, he couldn't quite place. There was something different in the air was all.
His eyes flicked over to the busy long silver haired man wondering about what it might be. Undertaker was busily working with nothing amiss seeming to come from him. Not him, then. Maybe it was himself... The way he was actually put off by the shinigami's lack of attention. No, it wasn't that, it was something physical. That and he wasn't going back into that and admitting it any more than he already had, even if it had only been in his head. The other man hadn't made any moves towards him since the last fight they had gotten into a while back. He wished to keep it that way. It was in no manner pleasing to him to have that idiot lay hands on his person.
His eyes were drawn back to the coffins as if by a great force, he couldn't get them off his mind. He studied them carefully for the first time. Each was adorned with painstakingly intricate fine details, each corner and surface sanded down devotedly to an almost soft seamless edge. He had to admit, they were beautiful. But it was the coffins that were off. A sudden inner silence fell.
Breathing. Shallow breathing... The dead and damned didn't breathe.
There was a living person in one of the coffins.
The sound of sanding stopped and a small chuckle filled the air. "I am surprised it took you this long to notice, kitty. İ thought demons were supposed to be bright" a high trill of laughter escaped the undertaker's lips replacing the sedated chuckle as he spun around with this wide excited smile across his face. İt was so big and goofy it should have split his face in half if it hadn't been so incredibly creepy. "I guess you are distracted with other things though, hm? Well, want to meet her?" he pranced over nearly tripping over his own robe and stopped before the small child's coffin.
"Her? You have a little girl in there?" he asked trying to mask his utter disbelief. What was this? The little coffin's lid was engraved with a pretty round face completely fringed by great locks of wavy hair. How had he not guessed?
The undertaker tapped his long finger nails against the ornate top and giggled. "Time to wake up, aiko." the mischievous grin was directed toward the on looking demon. "There is someone very important for you to meet. Daddy needs you to get up now" he cooed and the demon was only further interested by the shinigami referring to himself as 'daddy'. İt was not conceivable what was happening.
The lid wobbled a little bit and the undertaker removed it carefully. The demon leaned in to see who it was. A thin delicate hand gripped the rim bringing forth a head of dark wavy lengths pulled half back with a crimson ribbon. The undertaker gently stroked the hidden face with the back of his fingers as not to touch her with his nails. Was he being careful with her? Smiling, he took her hand and pulled her up and out of the casket like a proper gentleman. She stepped daintily out with his help minding to not step on any stray crafting appliances. The short scrawny girl was wearing a long red simple child's dress with black trimmings about the puffed sleeves, a splash of colour in the dark room that only knew black, silver, and moon light. He was transfixed by the sight. "Aiko, this man is an angel sent for you." the undertaker said gesturing with a wave of his pale hand up to where the demon sat avidly awaiting the chance to see her face. The little girl slowly turned around to look where 'daddy' was intending and gasped when she saw the demon.
He, likewise, was in awe of her. She looked nine at most, but her thick black lashes fringing dark chocolate eyes and well sculpted features made her seem like a small woman. Her lightly tanned and foreign skin glowed in the dim light. İt was surprising to say the least. "He is very important to you, aiko" the undertaker continued gleefully "you have to keep him content. İf he does anything but smile, many people will die around you. But if you make him happy, he will bless you with a good life." the little girl nodded too busy taking in the sight of the pale and feminine features of her angel. His shabby clothes and long dark fringes captivated her. She curtsied and smiled warmly at him. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Angel. Thank you for taking me under your wing." she said with a gratuous expression, as if he had just saved her life. Genuine gratitude from a human. She also seemed to have an outlandish accent to her words as if she had not lived in London long.
A dark shadow fell over his face. "Undertaker, what is this?" he asked. İt had finally donned on him. The hatted man had brought a young Middle Eastern girl into their home, filled her with lies about the demon being her guardian angel, and he expected him not to question it? He had no idea what he had going on in that screw loose head of his.
The shinigami tilted his silver head to the side and smiled hugely. "Why, you needed a new child to keep your wings, remember? And that if you were to be angry or displeased by anything the entire city would suffer a great death, causing you to wait even longer to get back to heaven. We wouldn't want that" he said jovially as if he was reminding the demon of something he had forgotten. "You already hurt the city during the vacancy of her position. Go on, have him accept you" he prodded the child onwards.
The little girl came forward until she was right between his dangling feet and opened her hands in an imploring gesture. "Please, angel, he told me that the sickness came from you because you were unhappy. I know you cannot stop it like this so please let me help you" her wide chocolate eyes shone prettily with the utter desperation she seemed to be in. She was so pretty and hapless looking. "I promise to be good and make you really happy. I work hard and i won't let you down even if it's hard. Please?" she pleaded. She just looked so honest.
The demon slid off of once more, landed right in front of her, and looked her in the eye. She was a pawn of the undertaker. Glancing up to the man he knew he was playing a game, and making his task harder. He wanted him to have to deal with this little girl for some sick reason so he had kidnapped her off the streets and lied to her. I'm not an angel in any regard, he thought, but he said it without saying it, he'll take longer to kill me if i don't deal with her. He did not want to babysit a deluded kid. Then again, did he not say himself that he had nothing to do? It would be tedious and likely end up bad... Though she is nice looking and sweet. Finally deciding on going with it for his own sake, he let his eyes fall back to the pretty child. "Aiko, where are you from?"
A smile crossed her features. "Nepal" she replied brightening up now that he seemed to relax. That was the accent then.
"Are there girls named aiko in Nepal? Where is your family?" he asked.
"No, my old name was saksi. Daddy said aiko was my new name so i could serve you, he said it meant a loved or blessed child." she paused for a moment because her smile was too much to contain. "And my family is well, they are working many jobs. So this is the least their girl-child can do." her smile really couldn't get any bigger, could it? Was she that eager to abandon her family on the word of the town undertaker? Almost glaring at him again, the demon held back thinking he had used some strange force to lure this girl. If undertaker could enchant her, then surely he could do it better, demon he be.
A small smile, starting as a quirk of the lip then on to a polite grin, spread across his features. It almost hurt actually acting happy and smiling like a human. "Then, aiko, i would like to welcome you to my service. Thank you. You shall do great things for London" he said sweetly holding out his hands to take hers gently and kiss them. Just like in the ancient halls of chivalry since it became a kind practice. Her light brown cheeks blushed deeply. Yes, she was rather cute. She made such adorable faces, it made him want her. Not like undertaker expressed want, no. The demon wanted her soul, the things she held dear, everything. This mortal that blushed so openly in the hands of the damned and damnors. Such innocence thrown like a sweet treat to the evil rabid hounds of hell. Oh, she looked delicious, utterly desirable, and cravable. Acting capriciously, he bent down and laid a kiss on the corner of her little lips. "This angel is very grateful to you."
He couldn't help but notice the undertaker's stupid smile stretching out seeming to reach the bangs that concealed his eyes.
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"angel, are you finished?" aiko asked the demon quietly. She was always a little nervous not being next to him out on the streets.
The tall handsome dark haired man walked out of the alley with his now customary smile. His little girl was always like that when he wouldn't let her follow because he was feeding. She didn't need to see him in his true form, no mortal did. It was something very intimate and frightening and, for some strange reason, he didn't want to scare her away. Twelve months living with her had gotten him accustomed to her little charms and human ways. She had taught him how to make many different types of teas, largely çay from the area around Nepal and India, although a few were more local brews she had begun to learn around town.
Life was looking strangely bright. The undertaker left him alone a lot to be with aiko even though he and the child were quite close as well. The hatted reaper was always fluffing her child size coffin to be more comfortable. He had even bought her a small stove and an eastern double teapot set for her interesting culinary skill. She was beginning to like sweets and wanted to test those out too pretty soon. The demon had agreed to help her, of course. "Yes, little aiko, i have finished." he smiled almost genuinely if not for the inhuman saturation that consumed him as he assimilated the soul into his body. "Are you ready to leave?" the demon asked her with a tone of adoring tolerance parents have for small impatient cute children. She nodded and let his smile inspire her own more real one.
He took her arm and led her away from the back alley so that they could get away from his last meal and walk the main boulevard. Secretly, he was showing her off. Even though he now wore a non-tattered version of his normal button up and slacks ensemble, both he and undertaker bought/stole her respectable red dresses that were in fashion. It was always red. No other colour would do for her beauty. She had turned twelve last month and both men were waiting for her to blossom into a true woman soon. Then they would get her grander things. It had never been a conscious thing for them. She was everything they had been reconciled to and an idol of what that could be. Aiko was their project. Their foil. As the world outside died of plague they were untouched showering gifts on her.
"Angel?" she smiled softer with a certain glow to her beautifully paling skin that seemed ivory now. Beautiful child.
"Yes, aiko?" he questioned guiding her through the streets noting how out of hand the plague had gotten. It pleased him to no end, he thought minding not to smirk around her.
She kept her head looking down at the cobblestone road. They were nearly back to Pudding Street. "Life is... Kind with daddy and my angel... I do not understand how you could have caused all this" she gestured to the almost empty street where the only inhabitants hacked and wheezed. "But yet i think you are happy..." she trailed off.
"Aiko," he started. A smart girl, but she questions her fortune because of the pain of others. "Are you trying to ask why it has not ended with my sorrow?" the dark haired raven asked slowly.
The little Nepali girl looked up, the confirmation of his question foremost in her eyes. What could he say that would be feasible? For some reason, some inexplicable reason, he wanted to console her and tell her it would end. But he knew that was a lie... And he couldn't lie to her as easily as he might have wanted. Choosing to ignore her question he resumed their walk back to the house. If he had to explain himself he could possibly say...
Possibly say that he had formed an attachment to her.
Opening the door to their pudding street dwelling, he nearly frowned stepping inside with the undertaker nowhere in sight. Don't get him wrong, it was somewhat pleasant not to have him around but it was entirely unsettling. Where would that shinigami have to go? This was the first time since their big fight before aiko came that he was not here while the demon was. It was too strange for him to change that.
Aiko daintily went to sit on her relatively new coffin (she was to get a new one each year to match her growth) and remained silent. Her face was calm and serene; nothing was cause to worry. Surely even though she was a human she would notice, the demon thought.
Not much longer and a familiar chuckle filled the room as the undertaker stepped out of the shadows as he was shoving something into his pocket as quick as he could. "Oh my, am i late?" he chuckled with a probably supposed to be surprised look, the effect was lost since all that was visible was his huge smile.
"And where have you been?" the demon asked coolly since the girl was in sight. His only reply was a tilt of the head and a wag of a long thin finger.
Undertaker simply turned back to his work and went about his day as usual and they went about theirs, as if nothing had been amiss. "today we're going to learn about angel food cake, angel, is that not cute?" aiko smiled sweetly.
"Yes, incredibly so. I'm sure it will be perfect with you as the head chef" he smiled complimenting her easily. "An angel couldn't make it any better, trust me" and she trusted him blindly smiling away. Just like every day.
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"aiko, child, lets visit the market today. We need to work on our tea blends" the demon called out stepping over his latest meal. İn a few minutes he would wake up soulless and it was never something he appreciated seeing. But it was good that he could get out with aiko afterwards. İt always seemed to lift his sated mood. A perfect combo. He came to the end of the back street and almost smiled assured that she was always there awaiting his return.
But Aiko wasn't the one waiting for him at the end of the alley. "Aiko went to the market already. İ told her you might be awhile so she should go on" the undertaker smiled hugely at him walking up to take his arm in his, the cloth clinging to his hat dancing behind him from the movement. "And that daddy wanted to walk the angel home today." he said pulling him out to the streets.
The demon let himself frown at the black robed shinigami. He didn't like that the man was leading him out to the main streets the way he usually walked with aiko. İt didn't feel right and he didn't want to walk in front of humans without her now. Apparently the undertaker took humoured offence when the dark haired man redirected them to the lesser populated route back to Pudding Street. "Oh, why don't you take us the same way as when you are with aiko? Don't want to be seen with me?" he chuckled.
"I prefer to be seen with a lovely young lady, not a garish undertaker" the demon informed him icily. Had he been following them every day or something of that manner? How had he not noticed?
The silver haired undertaker smiled and pulled him into a shadow so that they stepped into the house in a matter of seconds. "But it's only aiko, so I'm hurt" he sobbed sarcastically before giggling.
This man got on his last nerve; he was too happy all of the time. "So why did you want to escort me back?" he asked brusquely.
The shinigami smiled and gestured him over to an open coffin. "Well, kitty, i thought that we have not spent much time together. So i wanted to ask you about my newest coffin!" he said keeping up his smile and pointing into the fluffed innards of the casket. "Look and tell me what you think!"
The demon narrowed his eyes but complied looking it over. "I do not see much of a difference, undertaker." he said. The undertaker prodded him to look again by pushing him closer telling him to feel the interior. Suspicious and confused, he complied once more and found the cloth to be a soft silk with downy stuffing. İt was a bed fit for a king. "What is this for?" he asked quietly.
"Not 'what' but 'who', my dear" the man giggled.
"Then who" he corrected "is this for?"
His answer was a swift attack and suddenly his back was sinking into the soft bedding and undertaker was on top of him, his black robe pooling around them. "Us" he smiled and leaned down to kiss the demon underneath him.
Oh, he thought, so this is how he plans on spending time with me? İmmeasurable strength tried to push the elder off him to no avail. İt must have taken inconceivable power to hold off an angry and flustered demon, but the undertaker was going on with his task unfazed. Like he was restraining a mere child.
The silver haired man shushed him and ran his fingers down the demon's pale soft skin. "Shh, I've missed you, kitty. Don't squirm too much" he cooed sweetly. A hand had snaked down- tearing open his shirt along the way- and started to grind into his groin harshly but with a practiced edge. The demon gasped at the welling sensation coming up from inside him to spread over his skin as if it were thin fire dancing across his immortal flesh. İt made a ball rise up in his throat. He couldn't stand it. İt wasn't right... Right?
Deciding of his body's volition to stop thinking when the shinigami started sucking on his bared neck, he arched a little to meet him. How he hated this feeling! Moments later and he was aware his pants were around his ankles and he was being pumped expertly. Lips were trailing down to his chest finding a pert nipple to suckle on as the other was stimulated by nimble fingers. He couldn't help but whine wantonly. How he hated this damned feeling! Something was nagging at him but his mind was too fuzzy to register it. Until it pounded into him. Literally.
İn one swift motion, the undertaker had entered him after serrupticiously preparing him for a second. İt shouldn't hurt a demon too much, he probably thought, if indeed he thought about anything. The demon reached up to claw at the undertaker's neck but was instead cought in an overwhelming kiss. For a moment he struggled until he moved his hips just so and his perfect vision blurred in a wave of pleasure. Another thrust and he was sucking on the shinigami's tongue and running his nails down the man's back. İt unnerved him feeling fabric instead of the other man's body. The robe was quickly discarded as their kiss deepened further, both immortals moving in sync with each other, the undertaker merely the initial force in the hot passion filling them.
Every thrust of the shinigami's hips brought a new slam of feeling, hitting that mark each and every time. The demon had never known that kind of intense sensation. Pain was fleeting and meaningless to him, women were cards, and fire was useless. Only this seemed to really get him to the core.
The pale lips left his and started travelling down to bite into his neck as their movements quickened. The bite drew cursed inhuman blood that he lapped up greedily with his hot tongue. Everything was too much. The demon was pushing up to meet his assailant's engorged organ with a brute force that would have killed any mortal but simply pleased the undertaker.
A few minutes later a resounding crack went through their madly flailing bodies and they both orgasmic as the coffin broke apart from the exertion. The shinigami kept on thrusting, riding out the orgasm for all it was worth, letting his demon milk the last few drops out. When it was all over the demon looked up at the disheveled silver hair through his tousled bangs and froze a moment. Those eyes. For the first time he could see those beautiful pools. With the undertaker leaning forward over him just enough to where he could glimpse those bright orbs. They were defined, gorgeous, with thick dark lashes. Then the colour! From what he could glimpse they were a pure silver glint of moonlight. Completely... Beautiful.
The undertaker noticed his exposure and quickly resumed an upright position whilst throwing a smile on his face. "Woops! İ guess i slipped up a little and broke the bed! Oh my, my, my, i thought i reinforced it to perfection." he lamented light heartedly "i suppose two men such as we are too much, don't you think? İ'll have to clean that up later before aiko gets home" the man giggled and quickly got up and left, it was almost as if he was embarrassed that the demon had seen his eyes.
Shaking away his thoughts the dark haired demon's eyes fell upon a small object fluttering to the ground in the direction undertaker had taken off to the shadows. Curiously he climbed to his feet and made his way over to pick it up. A bookmark? Memories of the undertaker stuffing something like this into his pocket flashed through his thoughts. İt must be something important. A little tidbit he didn't want the demon to discover. A smirk crossed the raven's lips. He had left it behind in his half proper haste. What a pity. The demon turned to redress and tuck the item away where it would be out of sight. He would get even for this... This Uncalled for encounter.
"Angel? Are you home yet?" the little girl called out before entering the dark room. Her wide chocolate eyes looked around worriedly before her angel stepped out of the shadows to greet her with a smile. No need to worry her, he thought. "Ah! Angel, i bought all of the new teas we wanted and some tapers as well. İ even picked up some treats for daddy shaped like bones, don't you think that's funny giving them to him?" she beamed stepping in further to lay out all of her finds on a coffin lid. "Where is daddy?" she asked noting his absence innocently.
The demon smiled warmly "he stepped out for a bit but I'm sure he will enjoy the treats you so kindly procured for him. Are you ready to try a new mixture, aiko?" he asked kneeling besides her bringing their tea leaves containers with him. She smiled happily nodding her pretty little head yes.
Aiko quickly tied her hair back with a red silk ribbon and readied their selections to be chosen prudently and specially for their week's tea supply and lit a few tapers to see by. The demon let his eyes wander over her lively youthful body starting at her face. Her soft ivory skin and big childlike chocolate eyes were the first things you noticed, then her pink little lips that had yet to fill out yet. İt was young yet very hard and defined which had given him his first impression of her being older yet younger than her true age. Traveling down as he talked over the proper proportions with aiko he noticed her thin long neck and small proud shoulders. The demon had dressed her in a red lengthy dress and poufy shouldered knee length coat. İt was gorgeous on her. Those little bumps where her breasts were beginning to form, her slender shape, her fragile arms and tiny fingers carefully separating the perfect amounts under his care. Her happy disposition, her smiles, her all-encompassing love. She was perfect, he mused, hardly human by human standards, but so mortal by theirs.
By the time the first pot was finished steeping the undertaker had returned with a more familiar calm smile to have a cup before cleaning up his 'minor demeanor' that occurred because of a nasty flaw in the wood that cracked when he sat on it. Aiko fawned over him like a daughter would check her father for injuries, of course. She was kind and believed any lie. Her whole pretty life was one at the moment.
"Daddy! İ have a special surprise for you!" she giggled squinting her eyes with an adorable look.
The undertaker opened his mouth in a dramatic surprised gasp waving his pale hand around by his head. "Oh! You shouldn't have! My dear aiko, so thoughtful and caring!" he sang out setting down his tea cup gingerly.
She giggled again light and gay before pulling a jar out of her market basket to hand him. "I hope you like them, daddy, i got them just for you." aiko blushed excitedly.
İnterested and wanting to please the little girl, the silver haired man opened the washed out jar and pulled out a hand sized bone shaped biscuit. Glancing at aiko's eager face he placed it to his lips and bit in. Suddenly his face totally changed. "Ahhh~!" he gasped pleasantly. His face seemed euphoric as he gobbled up the rest of the treat and took out two more causing aiko to squeal in delight. Apparently they were pretty good. "Oh, ki-angel, you must try these!" the man exclaimed almost slipping up in front of aiko. They must be some bakery, the demon thought.
"No thank you, they are for you, undertaker. İ would not want to impede on aiko's generous gift to you." he declined politely. For a moment the undertaker pouted then grinned mischievously.
"Oh, but you must!" he grinned.
"No, thank you"
"i insist, I'm sure aiko would be honoured." the little girl nodded smiling.
Getting a bit annoyed he smiled again "no, I'm really not that hungry at the moment. Aiko would know-" his sentence was cut off by a large black bulk plopping into his lap and sticking the bone biscuit into his mouth without warning. Abstaining from letting his irritation show, he ate the forced treat and did not throw the undertaker through a wall. İt was almost lost even with the weight of little aiko's presence when the undertaker leaned in eerily close asking if he liked it with a creepy smile. "Of course, it was delicious simply because it was from aiko." he stated almost icily annoyed.
The retired shinigami smiled knowingly and leaned into his ear to whisper "hmm she does a better job of taming you than i do." then louder as he got up to twirl around and kiss aiko on the forehead. "What a wondrous gift, my darling! Even the angel adores it! Oh how i couldn't ask for a better little girl in my old age! İts so perfect!" he laughed picking her up in his arms and spinning around merrily. Her increasingly worried face replaced with a delighted childlike one as she flew through the air in her 'daddy's' arms. İn the weak candle light they looked like a grim little family. The father and daughter laughing and dancing together while their guardian angel smiled over them.
The demon paused a moment in his thoughts. How did it get like this? Two years ago he was ransacking towns and devouring the souls of entire nomadic communities. But now he was playing house with a retired shinigami of some prestige and a little Nepali human-girl. What was happening to him...? İt was them. Undertaker had taken advantage of his desire for death to domesticate him, but then he was still a formidable animal on a thin leash. He still growled and snarled and fought ferociously under his oppression. Then aiko had come along. That sweet human that looked up to him as if he was pure and holy, as if he was something good. He hated sweets and foods, he had no need for them nor did they taste pleasant like they did to humans. Yet he learned to bake treats and brew teas better than a professional, because he wanted to share something with her to make her happy. He had never smiled without malice or ill intent before she was around. Why is it that i am so susceptible to her will?, he asked himself frustrated. Why, why? He should break free of this and stop acting like a domestic animal, a house cat! He was a free raven. He should-
"angel, daddy says we should make a cake to celebrate!" aiko smiled running up to him from the undertaker's arms. With a quick tug of the sleeve the demon submitted to her once again thoughtlessly and followed her to the little stove.
He smiled at her and gently embraced her before starting up the stove fire. "How about a two layer cake, aiko? With frosting and everything." he asked happily. Why couldn't he just refuse the collar? He could only say he had grown an attachment for her. As strange and unheard of as that was, he could not accept it.
Later that night when aiko was curled up in her coffin while the demon looked over her the undertaker got up to pace the room, thinking the demon was too busy to notice. He was trying to keep his head down as if thinking seriously but his purpose was belied by his furtive glances around the room. Honestly, he seemed not to be able to act seriously at all. His attempts just made him more suspicious. He checked behind the coffins and piles of timber, everywhere.
"Looking for something?" the demon asked appearing behind the preoccupied undertaker causing him to minutely jump. "Maybe i can be of some assistance" he volunteered already knowing what he was searching for.
The older man laughed uneasily waving his arms around in a flurry of robes. "Oh! Kitty, i was just thinking, what would happen if i put a bell inside of my coffins? People are commonly buried alive and shinigami have to step in to end their suffering. What if they could be saved by the bell so we wouldn't have to bother sending anyone out?" he blurted covering up his true intent. "Well, 'them' since I'm no longer one of them. İ was management class, you know. İ even judged robin hood!" he began to ramble off going back to his work.
The demon smirked. The bookmark was certainly of importance to the shinigami, but what was it? İt couldn't be of much use on its own. So it could possibly be a key. To what, then? He was not getting any hints from the undertaker. He was adamant not to let on he so much as lost something.
The importance was confirmed a week later when William dropped by on their way out for his feeding wanting to speak to the undertaker.
The short haired man shifted uncomfortably but seemed to have better control than he had last time they encountered. Then again, no one was naked this time. "I thought i would ask you if he was available to avoid inconveniencing the sir." he said tightly choosing to not comment on the demon's young human companion he was walking about the streets with.
The demon smiled at him. "Is there something that you wish to speak with him about? As his secretary i can always pass along the message." he noted the googley eyed Grell shadowing the reaper once again. Could this be an opportunity to find out about the bookmark?
Will was taken aback by the sugar coated sarcasm. The demon had drastically changed since they last met. He dressed human and exchanged pleasantries like one, but still imposed his perfection in everything. The girl was a testimony to that. "N-no-No, i would like to speak in private with him about these matters." he recovered.
"Very well, will." he agreed. "But he is very busy during the day and does not appreciate much intrusion, as you know. İ think it would be best if you left Grill out and went in with my permission. But even with that, be careful, state your business quickly and nothing else. His kind welcomes wear out quickly" he told the shinigami in an upbeat honest tone. İf he parted from Grill he could certainly obtain information seeing as he was young and naïve, and was sickeningly infatuated with the demon.
William glanced at the red head thinking it over for a good minute before turning to the teen. "Grill, stay out here. This is important and we cannot risk having the sir upset with us again." he ordered and returned his attention to the demon. "I will follow your advice." he said tersely to him before backing up into an alleyway and disappearing.
"Angel, are they daddy's friends?" aiko said looking shyly at what she thought was a redheaded girl a little over her age staring off after the older man.
The demon smiled reassuringly down at her. "Yes, that was William, An old friend of daddy's. And this," he gestured to the red clad teen "is Grill Sutcliff, his apprentice. Grill! This is aiko" he barked catching the red head's attention.
"Oh!" he exclaimed bending over to give a messy bow. When he came back up he looked the younger human over and looked longingly at the demon. "Is that what you like? You like little girls?" he said heart broken.
The demon sighed with a forced smile since aiko seemed confused and flustered. "No, i prefer beautiful women. Aiko is like a daughter to the undertaker and me" he clarified feeling uncomfortable with the boy as always. Such a vulgar child.
Aiko perked up with a winsome beaming smile when a silence fell. "Angel and i were on our way out into town. Since your master is on business with daddy, would you like to join us?" she invited him on their walk, what a good child. Now the demon could inquire as to what the bookmark's significance was.
"O-of course! Thank you" Grill grinned happily moving to take the demon's left hand so that he was flanked on either side by smiling youths.
Aiko lead them out to the main streets like she would have any other day and walked in front of the shops. The demon waited for a while before speaking "so, Grill, what was so important that William would risk so much to ask undertaker about?" the demon asked casually leaning down to whisper into his ear as aiko stepped up to window shop at a meager toy store, put out of proper business by the black death.
Grill blushed hugely and tossed his head side to side. "Oh, well, you do live with him..." he reasoned with himself for a moment before looking down at the cobblestone. "We need his death bookmark back since he's retired but we have been putting it off because the sir didn't want to be disturbed. The management class members wouldn't let us procrastinate any longer so we had to come fetch it for them." he spilled willingly.
The demon smirked inwardly as he watched aiko ogle the little doll in the window. "The death bookmark? What is so important about that?" he pressed on quite pleased with his successful encounter.
Grill paused, biting his lip, debating about telling him all about it. The dark haired man serrupticiously ran a hand down the shinigami apprentice's spine and assured him it was ok to speak with him on matters regaurding the undertaker. "It's the key into the library!" he quickly said moving away with an embarrassed-and extremely excited- expression. "The forbidden shinigami library that only the management class shinigami have access to the bookmark opens the door and all the books there is a huge penalty for anyone who isn't management class that goes in there without being escorted." Grill hurriedly said in one shaky breath. İt certainly didn't help the bright red blush engulfing his features, the demon noted amusedly.
He smiled handsomely at the inhuman teen that had just put his search to rest and given him a great gift. "Then i am glad i could assist you in accomplishing such an important retrieval." he said setting the boy at ease.
The girly young boy looked up at him with big pleading eyes, forcing himself to make eye contact and not look away. "Can i ask...? Can i ask what...? Y-your relationship with the sir is?" he asked hesitantly.
İt was a simple question with a simple answer. "Nothing. We merely reside together and take care of aiko." at least that was what he wanted to believe, what he was telling himself every day. Memories of the other night flashed through his mind. Yes, that had only been the undertaker's boredom peaking, nothing more. Then, if that was so, why had it felt so good? The heat was better than that of any woman's doing. İt had been mind blowing... But it meant nothing.
"Angel! Angel come see!" aiko called out from across the street. How had she gotten that far without him noting and following her? He should pay better attention next time even if he is working. Damn.
The two men rushed across the street to where she was excitedly pointing to something in a music shop window. "What is it, aiko?" he asked indulgently trying not to let his frustration over losing track of her leak into his calm voice.
She smiled again at him. "It's beautiful, look!" her little finger touched the glass pointing to a violin shining regally on a wooden stand near the back of the store.
The thin raven nodded his head appreciatively. "It's a gorgeous violin; it seems well made and maintained. They have a nice sound when an expert caresses the strings." he commented holding up his arms in a playing position.
The little girl looked at him with a look of surprise and pure hope. "Can you play it, angel?" she asked earnestly.
He dropped his hands and smiled as if he were embarrassed. The closest thing he had done to playing a violin was watching a skilled street gypsy in Paris playing for money. "Would you like me to?" he said. Both of the kids looked shocked and delighted.
"Yes, please!" aiko giggled joyfully.
"Oh! Yes, yes!" Grill jumped up and down like a child.
The demon smiled and opened the shop door to let them in. İt was extremely dusty, there wasn't much time for recreational activities when you were dying from the plague, and there was no shopkeeper in sight. Strangely, all of the instruments were clean wiped and pristine as if untouched by the filth around them. Aiko brought the black haired demon the violin and bow. İt was beautiful, certainly just as perfect as it looked from the street. He glanced at his audience of two and pictured that French street performer from so long ago.
"I am a bit rusty, mind you. İ apologize if it is not fitting for such an instrument of beauty." he said raising it up to the playing position.
The bow slid lightly across the strings and a small harsh note sprung forth causing them to cringe. The demon frowned and brought it back up fluidly fixing the pressure. İt was somewhat sweeter sounding that time. Once more and it sounded like a beautiful woman's voice. Light and lilting, a gentle soul seeming to beg you to listen to her soft whispers of comfort. All traces of doubt washed off their faces, replaced with wonder. Slowly the simple notes turned into the French gypsy's song. Distressed and pianissimo, accompanied by the demon's gentle humming of forgotten lyrics. The effect was a heart wrenching story told without words. He was hurting inside, a long held pain, yet there was something there for him. There should only be despair, yet there was something hidden. The tempo retarded until each note was like a cry to the gathered before accelerating back to its original pace. İt was a tortuous melody that carried you along with its teary tale. İf one would attempt to describe it, they could say it seemed to entice you to jump into oblivion, to throw yourself wholeheartedly into obsession; it called out to the depths of your soul.
The ditty went on for a little while longer, seeming to imprint upon their minds. İt slowed back down to the main melody that repeated until it got so quiet you had to strain to hear the high sweet notes it sang out. Before they knew it, the man was standing with the bow and violin in one hand with his left hand extended to the back of the store beyond the youths. "Have we disturbed you, madam? İ do apologize for the ruckus."
The two younger ones turned to see a young woman in an austere blue dress with blonde spikey short hair standing behind the purchase desk. Her eyes were closed. "you didn't resin the bow before playing." she stated simply not opening her eyes.
"It was already rosined, my lady. İ did not assume to do it once again. İ am sorry if i assumed wrongly" the demon replied to her comment.
She opened her eyes slowly revealing bright blue skies that locked with the demon's red ones. "Please keep that violin; you have done its beauty justice. İt has been a long time since i have visited my home and you have reminded me of its nostalgia. İ think i shall return soon thanks to your song, sir, thank you." she insisted firmly. The demon did not have the chance to refuse before she disappeared into the back room where she had probably come from initially.
Aiko rushed up to hug him snugly as did Grill, though it was less endearing coming from the latter, and he quickly put a smile on his bewildered face. "It was amazing, angel! İt was so perfect that nice lady gave it to you for free! You will teach me, won't you, angel?" she pleaded with her big eyes.
"Of course i will" he smiled petting her pretty dark head. "What kind of angel would i be if i did not teach my dearest?" he asked rhetorically.
Grill popped his head up. "You'll teach me too, right?" he asked happily. The demon tried to speak up but the apprentice reaper kept going. "I can already sing to accompany it, want to see?" he went on.
The demon tried once more to inform him he couldn't teach him how since they would not be allowed. But once again he was interrupted. The red boy spun away to the middle of the room and started to raise his arms above his waist as if readying to embrace the sky and opened his mouth. "Te amo, amore mio infinito. Te amo che me so' rincoionito. Te amo, piu' della mia vita~~" he sang out in a rich baritone that surprised everyone. İt was gorgeous, the Italian was even fluently pronounced. "So cotto de te so' nnamorato. Amore mio er core tu mai arubato- uwahhh!" the sound was abruptly cut off when William threw his garden shears looking scythe at his apprentice. The teen narrowly escaped it; İt merely caught his vest in its sharp clutch rather than his little neck.
"Shinigami don't sing on the job, Grill. İ hate overtime, so come along." the short haired straight laced man commanded turning out of the shop dragging a sobbing Grill behind him.
A small chuckle came from the corner. "hoho, quite an impressive show from you two. İ had no idea you played the violin." the undertaker laughed stepping out from the shadows. "We didn't expect to walk in on such an interesting performance."
"Daddy!" aiko squealed running into his arms. "Angel said he would teach me how to play the violin! Was he not amazing?" she gushed proudly as he scooped her up in his arms like a small child.
The undertaker smiled in his direction a moment. "Oh yes, he certainly was. I'm sure after you learn you can beat him though" he teased.
"Daddy! İ could never!" she blushed at his apparent blasphemy. He must be havering, she probably thought. İt made the demon smile that she thought so highly of him.
The undertaker laughed again. "Well, he can't teach you here at any rate. Why don't we return home?" he suggested setting her down. She nodded taking up his hand and reached out for the demon's. They walked home in that manner, two commonly dressed men and an adorable well-dressed young woman. A sight for anyone well enough to see.

"Kitty, kitty! İ just had an amazing idea!" the shinigami exclaimed bolting from his bed coffin in the middle of the night. Luckily he didn't wake little aiko up so the demon merely fixed him with a stare from atop his wood pile where he had been thinking over the day's events. The shinigami jumped up to kneel next to the sitting demon.
"And what could possibly merit your excitement at a time like this when you and aiko should be sleeping?" he asked a bit irritated. The demon didn't need sleep like the shinigami and humans did but it was nice to close his eyes and rest every once in a while. İt seems the undertaker just didn't want him to be in peace tonight.
Smiling stupidly he shook his head "nonsense, she hasn't woken up yet." he waved away the comment with a twitch of his wrist and put his hands on the demon's shoulders "besides, we'll have all the time in the world to sleep once we're on the move!"
The demon mentally face palmed. "Just where do you think we would be going...?" he inquired almost not wanting to ask. What you don't know cannot hurt you, as naïve as it was he wanted to believe that.
"We're going on a holiday to Schönbrunn Palace in Austria!" he exclaimed and the demon looked at him doubtfully. İt was very like him to come up with strange and stupid ideas. İt threw a rock under his proverbial carriage, so to speak. This new development could delay his plans to use the bookmark.
He sighed and removed the untrimmed hands from his shoulders calmly. "We cannot. That is a high class human establishment dealing in the arts. İt is not for us, an undertaker and two unemployed citizens. You have to have a high ranking human occupation to reside there even if you're on holiday." he tried to crush the older man's plans with reason. "Aiko is the only one even dressed appropriately for that sort of place."
"Then we'll steal the clothes. That has never been a problem, as you know. Humans have no way of verifying our titles so if we look the part of gentlemen we can be granted entrance." he pouted slyly and moved to push the demon down under him. "They can teach aiko all sorts of things. Human Professionals from all over the world gather there to be seen by the upper-class nobles and exchange ideas. The widow that owns the palace loves things like that; she supports all forms of art. Culinary, musical, painting, architecture, and all the others. Such a place would make little aiko so happy... But i suppose you don't want her to be happy since you refuse to let us go." he said in a lamenting fashion lowering his body on the demon's. A single pale finger stroked his soft lips as the dark haired man unclenched his teeth. Was he trying to guilt trip him using aiko to go on this whimsical trip? He couldn't argue, the palace was famous for the fine arts and aiko would enjoy herself immensely there. What choice did he have since aiko was involved? He resentfully agreed and the undertaker leaned down to kiss him happily so that the demon had to push him away.
"When is this proposed holiday to take place?" he asked when the shinigami chuckled and jumped down to pull something out of one of the many coffins.
He twirled around in a flurry of cloth with an ear splitting grin of his face. "Tonight!" he exclaimed quietly as to not wake up aiko. Presenting two outfits, one of which he tossed up to the demon, he began to strip down and change. The new wardrobe was an expensive looking black suit and purple sash, but he didn't bother taking off his black hat.
The demon twitched inwardly. "Tonight? No planning or any preparation?" he asked not expecting the immediateness of the capricious holiday. He looked down at his new ensemble; a shiny black tail coat and black ribbon to tie his hair back with. Changing quickly while the shinigami was occupied with pulling a large lacy red dress and corset out of a random coffin he descended to open aiko's coffin quietly. The undertaker wordlessly handed him her new dress to get her changed and left to pack away a few extra never before noticed dresses for her to wear.
The raven carefully dressed her and pulled her up into his arms to carry her sleeping form. He already had an idea how the undertaker was going to transport them. When the reaper was finished packing his biscuits he joined him at the corner where he took the demon's hand that was not carrying aiko and guided them through the shadows.
Two minutes later they stood before the large palace wall with a pocket full of stolen notes and a sleeping aiko. Tapers were burning brightly throughout the establishment and merry voices floated to them on the chilly wind, indicators a large party was coming to an end. They had to wait for many carriages to take away the multitudes of wealthy party goers before they could step out of the shadows. All of which aiko slept through as if under a spell. The demon decided not to ask not wanting to wake her up if he got angry for whatever method the undertaker might have used to induce such a state. Besides, there was a more pressing matter. They were not wearing wigs, baggy half pants, and long coats. "You idiot," the dark haired demon said softly but obviously displeased. "Did you see all of those humans? We are not even remotely dressed like that. How do you propose we get in?"
The undertaker shrugged with an apologetic smile. "How was i supposed to know what 'fashion' is these days outside of my territory? İ cater to the guests of London, not Vienna." a large teasing grin flashed across his lower exposed face "poor aiko, if only someone here could quickly put together a believable disguise for us. İts too bad no one here has the super speed to do it in the next three hours. Oh woe, she will be so disappointed waking up in Vienna with no hope of going to the apex of its being" he said stroking his chin with an overgrown nail.
The demon huffed heavily. He was using aiko against him again. "Fine, let us find a tailor's shop and i will see what i can do." he acquiesced to an outrageous idea of undertaker's for the second time that night. Of course, another problem arose once they went back into town.
"Kitty, you wouldn't happen to know what tailor is in German, would you?" the retired shinigami laughed hysterically in the early hours of the morning.
The demon looked around at the German shop titles and shook his head. "I only speak English, French, Japanese, and a little of old Latin. İts been a while since i visited any Germanic communities." he stared hard at each sign in turn trying to remember something of value.
"I'm sure the romans loved the you back then, my kitten" the shinigami sniggered turning to pet aiko's cheek affectionately.
Markt, café... Schneider? İt rang a bell, the demon thought ignoring the snarky remark. Good times, he missed raiding Rome with them. "i think it's the one that reads Schneider." he pointed "hopefully the Austrian German is not that far off from what i know"
Undertaker set a hand on his shoulder and moved them through the shadows so that they were standing in the corner of the tailor's back room filled with bolts of cloth and fitting dolls.
The demon looked about, lighting a taper as he surveyed the fabrics, and fretted about where to start. "Undertaker, set aiko in the scrap basket over there (make sure there are NO pins!) And find us two periwigs and some women's powder." he ordered handing aiko over to the silver haired man. "I will be finished by the time you are back"
The strange reaper smiled and did as he was told leaving the demon to do his work. Luckily there were some unfinished items lying on the work table that he quickly studied the patterns and needle work of. Within moments he had the patterns for one dress and two full male's court attire like he had seen the many upper-class patrons sporting on the way out of the party. So many pieces, he complained, too flaunty. Quickly stitching each layer together with speed greater than a viper's strike and precision far superior to an eagle's, the demon finished the first drafts. "No... This will not do at all!" he whispered to himself tearing the clothes to pieces and tossing them aside. The shoulders on the dress were wrong and it disrupted the flow of maturity for her. The men's attire was too stupid appearing though it was like the others.
With minor mental pattern adjustments made to both his sewing and the shaped pieces he attempted again. Wrong. Now it was too different, they could only afford to deviate looks so far before being considered out of fashion. He couldn't let that happen to aiko at such an important place. The second set was torn apart. The third time he became more careful and finally nodded his approval. Taking out more coloured thread he set a twisting design of tiny thorny red roses across the chest of the dress for aiko. He finished the intricate design and held it up against the light. Perfect.
"I'm impressed, to think my pet cat can do so much in an hour!" the undertaker praised with a chuckle appearing behind him to run his hands over the almost invisible rose garden pattern.
The demon shook his head. "Human fashion is such a tedious triviality. İ had to make two before this somewhat acceptable set" he said gesturing to the shreds of expensive fabric all over the ground. Setting down the dress, he picked up one of the suits and handed it to the undertaker. "this is yours, I'm sure it will fit your sense of humour. Especially the pants, they might just be big enough for that abysmal wit of yours" he joked pushing him away to change himself. They would take these clothes with them to wear on outings to the town, but not to their grand entrance to the Schönbrunn palace.
The demon finished in a blink of an eye but the shinigami hadn't moved to dress himself. He asked what the undertaker was waiting for. "You always dress aiko. Please?" he pleaded with the raven, holding out his clothes.
The demon glanced out the window. The sun was rising in this part of the world already. "Did you get the things i asked for?" the silver haired man nodded in response. "very well, but it will have to be quickly because i have to get her dressed and find a coach to drive us there in high regards." he agreed taking the clothes from his elder.
The shinigami looked disappointed when he was redressed in a matter of seconds, leaving to attend to aiko immediately after the last button was hooked. They both felt strange in their puffy black breeches secured tightly above their calves, knee length black coats, and frilly white cravats tied about the nape of their necks. Two darkly covered peacocks if ever there were such before. The demon had spared them some of the finer details and cut down on the surfeit of cloth to less baggy but, a required style was a required style.
The dark haired raven gently supported aiko as he stripped her down at a normal yet methodical careful pace. İt wouldn't do for her to wake up just yet. She slipped snugly into the under skirt, semi tight laced corset (he would tighten it when she woke up), and red petticoat. Lastly he put her over dress on and pinned it up behind her hips like the other women he saw. İt looked quite nice on her actually; the straight line of the neck across her chest exemplified her delicate shoulder line. There were only a few things missing. How would they curl her hair at such short notice?
His vision went dark as something hairy was dropped on his head. "Here is your periwig, kitty. Though i think it doesn't really fit your cute image like the rest of the clothes do. Then again, all clothes really do not befit you since you look best without wearing anything" the demon shook the black curly mane out of his eyes and looked up at the grinning man holding out a strip of straight cut red velvet with a threaded needle through it and two small diamonds. "Thought you might want these for her, many of the women wore these 'eardrops' so i found these. Her ears are already pierced so it should be fine. İ also found these" he grinned holding up a red hair ribbon and two curlers he most likely stole.
The demon could not help but feel inadequate that he was not the one to think of those. Setting her down, he sewed the close fitting cloth around the base of her neck as a tight necklace. "The face powder?" he asked threading the diamonds through the holes in her little ears. Good. He wrapped aiko's hair around the cylinders tightly to leave a good curl and left the back to be done when she had finished a decent period of rest. The shinigami handed him the puffball and white dusty substance to powder over her exposed skin to make her an almost European white as opposed to her beautiful ivory. Both men sighed over the temporary loss until the undertaker patted the demon's shoulder to pick her up.
He did as expected and turned to see the undertaker flinging the pile of black and red scraps into the bin behind him. When the room bore no real evidence of their presence undertaker shouldered their bag and they set off through the shadows to manifest in the shadow of a high end stable just outside of town. The demon passed aiko off to the curly white wigged undertaker and went in to commandeer an eccentric carriage to take them to the palace. A page would also be sent ahead of them to give a letter to the widow stating that two gentlemen and their daughter would be visiting from a faraway place. İt turned out to be a difficult task with the demon's atrocious broken German but he managed to get the vague point across when he pulled out handful of notes and said the name of the palace. Money was an instigator of many things for humans; he thought dourly when the Austrian man nodded at the familiar incentive of money. A sizable carriage was brought out for them to wait in until the page returned to confirm that they were accepted. The page had seen their nice clothes so hopefully he would convey their veneer wealth.
They had been waiting in the plush carriage for an hour when aiko finally woke up in her daddy's arms. "Good mor

ing, aiko" the two men greeted with smiles when she sleepily covered her eyes. She was quite unused to waking up with any sort of light, even the dim morning rays filtering in through the drawn blinds in the carriage.
"Where are we?" she asked looking around hazily before her eyes settled on the demon. "And why are you wearing that silly outfit, angel?" her confused face was just too cute with her scrunched up nose.
The demon chuckled. "Daddy decided to take you on a special trip." he paused with a small smile when she waited in suspense. Dramatic affect was rather well used. "We are in Vienna, Austria about to be guests at Schönbrunn palace. That is why WE are dressed like this" he corrected.
She looked at the undertaker dressed identical to her angel and giggled before looking down at herself. "Ah!" she gasped jumping out of the man's lap in ecstatic glee. She twirled around experimentally and felt the cloth. She seemed to find it very acceptable because she embraced both of them tightly. "Thank you! This is amazing!" she giggled posing like a stereotypical rich lady. The undertaker smirked at the demon who glared at him fleetingly before they both smiled as she looked back at them. She seemed to be very pleased indeed.
Beckoning her with a finger the demon chuckled. "Come here, i have yet to finish the unpleasant part of the dress. İ have to tighten your corset." he said and she rolled her eyes playfully before stepping in front with her back turned to him. Mercifully he used his fastest speed to undo her over dress and tighten the corset just so as to not kill her but keep in check with the female dress policy of the rich. Before she could gasp he was redoing the clasps on her red over dress and pulling her hair into a tight bun letting the curlers fall out to let her face be framed perfectly by dark curls. "Are you well, aiko? İt did not hurt too much i hope" he asked turning her around to get a good look.
She was perfect, just as she had been when he first held her in his sights. A beautiful little woman. She smiled hugely catching her breath. "It's all well, i see the rich women like this all the time. Now i am a lady too!" she said happily throwing her arms around him again. When she released him she was still smiling. "How did you do this?" she asked.
"We spared no expense." the undertaker spoke up holding out his hands to indicate everything. "A first class tailor, a first class speedy carriage, and a first class holiday. All for our little aiko." he added on slyly "now all we need is a first class laugh, right, angel?"
The demon bit back a remark on his sanity when the carriage door opened to the driver averting his eyes. "Lady von Gonzaga has accepted your request to journey to her palace. We will be leaving now, sirs and madam." he informed them shutting the door with a bow.
Little aiko made a funny face. "What is it, aiko?" the demon asked with a touch of humour.
"Why wouldn't he look at us?" she asked puzzled.
Both men chuckled at her innocent inquiry. İt was a moment before the demon could speak much to the undertaker's amusement. "Humans put themselves into separate classes defined by their amounts of monetary wealth. These social classes are treated somewhat as a hierarchy of different species. We passed into the upper trophy class and that man is now below us according to these social standards. Therefore, he treats us as his betters. Beautiful roses we are" he explained with a humoured smile on his face that was very real. She was so innocent to the human ways still because of living with inhuman guardians. İt was very endearing.
The carriage started up and she was forced to sit down. "But why is that, angel? Money does not make someone better or more beautiful!" she pressed on.
"In an egalitarian sense, yes. But humans are not very logical creatures until you think as they do. You will understand one day" the undertaker soberly answered for him cutting off the conversation.
As aiko was, she immediately obeyed her father and quieted down. Though it was obvious she was not satisfied with their answers, she would not keep speaking when it would make them unhappy. The demon was interested too but because of the undertaker's wording. İt was true that eventually the demon would leave them for hell but his tone just seemed so sad and more immediately impending than that. What could he mean?
"I forgot to mention, our names are-"
"sieur eclair, sieur fette, ach lady aiko" the German announcer clearly had trouble pronouncing their French aliases. "Our lady, von Gonzaga!" he introduced and they bowed to the late emperor's widow; an older woman wearing a cap to conceal her thinning hair.
The demon smiles and led his party in a short formal bow. "Please tell her it is an honour to meet the beautiful lady of this great household" he said looking at the rich noblewoman in possession of the palace and its lands.
The very bad translator that was sent out for attempted to understand and more than likely made up formalities for them that suited the situation and made him look good. The woman smiled a politician smile and waved them away, having approved of them as far as fashion went.
They bowed and thanked the translator before making their way to the kitchen. İt was common knowledge that aiko would want to indulge in the chef's department first and foremost. İn fact, she would most likely remain there all during their holiday except when they played violin if a fellow violinist could be found.
Aiko let out a gasp when undertaker 'fette' opened the doors to many men of culinary skill showing off their cooking skills and avidly explaining their methods. She immediately made her way through quite a few surprised men and started questioning the current chef showcasing his flambé.
"Aiko! Be careful with the flames and knives, understood?" the demon called out to her and she nodded quickly returning to her inquisitions. İt looked like she would be well here, he thought. Undertaker wandered off without a word leaving the demon to watch from the sidelines memorizing every step, ingredient, and detail of the on goings. The cooks seemed to enjoy her enthusiasm and knowledge of herbs they used. When they actually understood her questions they also were impressed on how observative she was. She would ask about certain variation of mixtures and temperatures using her hands and gestures to communicate without words. İt was even helpful that she was wringing out countless tips and secrets from each one of them that he did not have to move a finger to learn. He knew that later he would pretend to have her teach him to make her feel special though.
Around midday the assembled all left to take a break with samples of their work out for anyone to taste and the demon took aiko by the hand to go look for their next interest. Musical talents were in a different part of the palace but they found their way easily from the drifting sound of instruments playing. Sure enough, they found a lone violinist who seemed happy when the undertaker appeared to hand the demon his violin and bow. The German gestured for them both to play and the demon nodded taking up his violin to air stroke the notes as the other man played the melody once for him to hear. He twirled his hand for the black clad Frenchman to play it back. The replication was perfect right away so the German added in a second part. Aiko stood transfixed by her angel playing a tune so beautifully with a foreigner that he had just learned on the spot by ear. He was perfect.
When they finished, the demon spotted a viola and smiled. He pointed to aiko and the miniature violin and mimed playing it. Then he pointed to him and her and gestured that she did not know how to play. The German man smiled in understanding. He handed the viola to the delighted young girl and held her arms in the proper start position. She grinned up at him and plucked her first note with an awful screech. Her face fell but the dark wigged man merely smiled and encouraged her to keep going, to try again. The demon sat down in a chair behind them and watched as her strokes became purer and surer. They still were not incredibly pleasant, but it seemed to be made up for by the sound of her laughter. The sun had shifted quite a bit before she retired and curtsied to the man after she returned his viola.
Undertaker came up and praised her for her good work and told her it was time to get ready for dinner. The demon almost followed when the man stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. He gestured to himself and said "ich bin Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber." he bowed his head slightly in greeting. Then he pointed to the demon.
He was introducing himself. "Ich bin sieur éclair" he emulated the introduction he received. Biber smiled a little and held up one finger for a moment before pointing to the demon's violin. One more song? He put his hand on his chest in question and the man nodded so he raised his violin to position. Biber made no move to join him so he figured it was a solo this time. Perhaps a test of skill, he supposed. İf that was the case, he would not have himself leave a bad impression. He listened for a moment to pick up the melody of the moment and began playing. A legato first note followed by many short staccato trills proceeded by another painfully long high note. He kept on this melody raising it an octave every other time until it was a cry once more.
As he came down faster than an avalanche biber's own voice was added in. Strong willed and highly emotional. Not the sweet cries the demon portrayed but pure human emotion. Not one that beckoned but reflected the human's soul. The demon smirked and started an andante rhythm with intricate repeated notes going all over the scale. Franz Biber kept up a few beats behind him. Without realizing it, the raven began purposely creating a two part canon with his fellow violinist. Both dark wigged musicians were bearing down on their mediums until it finally ended in a low drawn out C.
Neither had noticed the small crowd that assembled in silence until they began respectfully clapping and the men bowed to the gathered audience. The raven quickly shook hands with Franz Biber and bowed his head in apology as he left to find aiko and the undertaker.
They were waiting for him beyond the doorway in the corridor. "When did you get so talented, hmm? You will never catch up to aiko, you know" the undertaker joked returning the instrument to a coffin shaped case in his satchel.
"Of course, but i can only hope to measure up next to her" he lamented with a small smile knowing it would make her laugh. She thought it was amusing that she could so much as be compared to her angel. But it was nice seeing that smile.
She took up his hand. "The translator tried to find us but we hid since we can't speak French. You should find him to see what he wanted" she suggested walking with them to the dining hall.
"Aiko, i don't think he can either." he confided kissing her little hand. "But i will try to talk to him" he promised.
İt turned out that the bad translator was inviting sieur éclair to play for dinner after getting word that he was talented. So the demon made up sweet songs for the four hours it took the dazed listeners to eat the food the guest chefs had prepared all day. At the end of the extremely long dinner the translator said something about the lady offering a room and handed them a key. Soon after a servant found them and led them up to a room and none too soon; aiko had already fallen asleep in the undertaker's arms. İt was improper so it was fortunate that they had a bed to lay her on in a private room. The undertaker stripped her to her chemise and tucked her in, letting her have one of the two adjacent bedrooms they had gotten. Blowing out all the tapers in both the rooms and shutting her door the undertaker joined the demon in the double bed front room after the miniature foyer.
The raven had already removed his bothersome clothing and the silver haired man followed suit setting his wig next to the black one. He settled on the bed and laid a hand on the demon's chest and kissed him softly. "I don't like my name, lord confection. Are you trying to say i need to lose weight? İ have not been retired that long" he teased.
"Who is the one wearing a silver wig the same colour as your inhuman hair?" he volleyed back. The retired reaper smiled and snuggled in close under the covers. Unusually sweet for him.
"I like my hair..." he pretended to yawn "and aiko had fun. You did well letting us come here. So remember to actually sleep tonight, i know you don't need to but it feels good. Or so i hear" he said softly.
The demon let out a feathery sigh. "What is with you suddenly, may i ask?" he said restraining his impulsive urge to pet the head of silver hair buried in his bare chest.
The older man reached up and kissed him again, deeper and warmer this time, but just as slow and gentle. The demon melted into the kiss and wrapped his arm around him tightly. He even kissed back of his own volition before the shinigami pulled away. "No, you may not" the man whispered softly and claimed his lips again but for a moment before snuggling back in his arms and falling asleep. Things were getting very... Domestic, the demon nearly shivered at the word. He could only hope it wasn't something bad before he let himself drift off to sleep for the first time in decades.
The next several days were much the same as the first. Aiko shared her herbal knowledge with the high class cooks and they showed her many different desserts, even they could see how her face lit up at the mention of sweets. Chocolate had been one of her favorites. She loved the smooth sweet taste of it so much that she had cajoled one of the younger Germans to go over the production of toblarone many times until she had it memorized down to the way he moved his arms. Many of the men had taken to giving her recipes and small gifts before she left at midday to visit the music wing.
Franz Biber was an exemplary tutor for the violin. He was able to make aiko wring out a decent melody in a week, huge progress when juxtaposed with other human minors. She also worked very hard and did her best to please the man. On the third day, after he had seen her fast learning skills, he allowed her to borrow the viola overnight so that the demon could oversee her extra practices in their private rooms. Both he and the raven had played a game of one upping the other on the violin and had grown friendly. Franz Biber would sit across from them at meals and have half understood conversations translated by the raven haired man who was improving rapidly but was still nowhere near fluent. Listening to the cooks speaks to aiko and each other helped him refresh some of his German.
The undertaker was jovial as ever when he checked up on them periodically after disappearing off to somewhere for long hours at a time. He would always quiz aiko over what she learned and call her a genius when everything was done. He called her perfect when she practiced an hour after her evening meal daily. Everyone in the palace spoiled her wherever she went. The demon thought that she was what humans called a multitalented social butterfly. He was also deeply pleased every time she smiled, giggled, and acceled in her activities. Everything about her made him deeply hungry.
On their seventh day the undertaker insisted she take a break and sleep in just this once. So they left little aiko in the locked room with a pot of tea promising to retrieve her when it was time to share their midday meal. The raven made his rounds to apologize to her 'friends' and inform them she was fatigued that day from all the excitement and needed to rest. "What a nice gentleman, kitty" the undertaker giggled when he was finished. "I have a few things you might find interesting... Come along!" taking the demon's arm he bounced away to the drawing room where a dozen men sat around arguing over designs and measurements.
Their talk seemed to stem from the large pile of blueprints on the table at the center of the dissonant circle. A few glances revealed that a group of supports were circled because they were off. From what he could discern, they were debating over how best to support the building in a safe yet fashionable way. Fashion again, he sighed. He let his eyes roam over the papers taking in every angle and curve. One or two of the men cast interested looks his way when he came in but everyone gasped when he picked up the drawing pencil and sketched in a wide pillar with arching supports across the outer edges and smaller supports that rippled out the rest of the way.
For a moment everyone was in an uproar. At first it was anger at the foreign stranger for barging in and scribbling over their work, then it turned incredulous when they began looking it over. İt was a flawless balance of weight throughout the building. The undertaker chuckled and led the demon out as the architects began questioning him. "Well, you surpassed their fancy architects." he said tickled bringing him to the next room. "Can you do this?"
Here many noblemen were long sword sparring with each other in fair combat overseen by a peer referee. It seemed to be a rather brutish double handed side swipe of the thin but somewhat wide blade that could be blocked with the flat of your weapon. Also use of hands and legs were not banned from use in certain situations as long as it was not violent, as observed when the referee reprimanded one of the duelists for butting too hard. Entirely simple. The shinigami prodded him to step up when the current round was finished. The demon signaled the winner and expressed his desire to be his next opponent.
A few of the Austrians laughed behind their hands at the scrawny foreigner but the man accepted indulgently. His conquered fellow handed over the long sword and padded chest cover to sieur éclair with an amused expression. Apparently this man was good at his sport and no one thought the thin stranger could win over him, especially since he didn't seem to have any previous encounters despite being here for a few days. Most wrote him off as a curious amateur before he even took his spread legged stance sword clutched as if to swing a cricket bat. The referee nodded to both in turn after a confused greeting and commenced the sparring duel.
The overconfident Austrian came at him swiftly from above and the demon caught it on the flat easily. He was a little faster than most humans, but not enough to adequately surprise a demon. Bewildered that the new face had reacted so quickly he couldn't help but falter giving the dark haired man an opening. The raven dealt a soft blow to his side and both stepped away. Onlookers fell silent when the referee held up a finger for the amateur Frenchman. The second attack was signaled and conversation struck into full force with questions and restrained displays of interest. No matter what the master swordsman did, the stranger blocked and retaliated effectively. In no time at all the score was settled 10-00 with the black wigged stranger taking victory.
The undertaker let out a startling cackle of laughter as the demon returned the equipment to an awestruck bystander and happily thanked his defeated opponent for the invigorating duel. Again the retired reaper led him out to another room. "All right, i promise this is the last one and we will head back to retrieve aiko for our midday meal." he compromised with a giggle when the demon attempted to walk back to the guest residence hall. Something was tickling him an awful lot, the raven noted irately. He could do anything the fool could throw at him.
He almost cursed fate when he saw the next challenge: poetry. Lady von Gonzaga and many others were gathered at a large table with feather quill pens and parchment writing German lyrics and reciting old ones. His German was just incomplete enough to where any attempt at poetry would be poor. He could tell undertaker was inwardly sniggering at his disability. The hypocrite, he couldn't even speak enough German to ask where the latrines were. The lady invited him to the chair across from her with a look of interest so that he was obliged to follow her request. So with feather in hand and shinigami hanging over his shoulder, he fumed over his choices before settling down. No one specified what language it had to be in. There was not an English or French speaking soul around to hear it. All eyes furtively watched him as he began writing.

'I am the false angel, a dark prophet,
watching over the pure being of love.
Black of night blinding
the naïve good.

I wait for death
yet it escapes into
my own dark veil.
When will it find me worthy?

Pouring out lies into the night
letting you worship me.
I am your angel, pure one,
your one and only.

One day,
when it is time,
your being i will steal
for it is mined already.'

He wrote it in long elegant strokes so that it looked official and beautiful. Small black ravens flew about a smiling young girl penned with delicate curves and sweet features. The lady asked to see it and, after realizing it was not written in German, asked him to read it out loud. Thankfully undertaker kept a straight face as he read it to the assembled writers as if it were a tender love poem. Embellishments were made to make it sound affectionate and confident; the demon's sultry voice coveted most of their attention. When he was done with the short script he had won the hearts of all the women of the room with the caring expressions on his handsome angular face and his emotional voice. It amused him but not as much as the arrogant knowledge that he had foiled the other man's plans to see him fail.
This time he was forced to wait an hour or two before leaving since he was to remain to hear out the other's poetry. It was no surprise that most of the ladies wrote about a beautiful stranger luring you into love. It almost bore him to death (how he wished even now with aiko that was so!) with how many unnecessary references and praises were directed at their god. They would talk about being seduced then suddenly god was giving them a marriage just from meeting, then thank him for things he had nothing to do with. As a demon he knew of no god beyond the shinigami nor heard any shinigami so much as hint that there was a higher being somewhere. He supposed it was just another one of humanity's strange qualities. They devoted themselves to unseen things they had no way of confirming. He politely commended the lady von Gonzaga on her poem and excused himself to prepare for the communal midday meal. The women longingly watched him go as they exited quickly to get away from the quiet boredom.
"Has your curiosity been sated, undertaker?" he asked evenly though it was obvious to the other man that his real tone was haughty. It was in the subtle movements and nuances, perfect though he was, that usually gave away his true feelings to the man he had spent much time with.
The coffin maker smiled innocently. "I was merely taking you around, kitten. I have no idea what you mean." he grinned feigning ignorance. The demon felt good about him at the moment since it seemed he had put the man off his little game. He was too perfect to lose.
"Of course, of course, you merely seemed interested in the subjects and i thought that you wanted to see if i liked them" he explained fakely. "You chose some very interesting places. I'm sure you excel in them" he said sarcastically.
"Where have you two been? I have been waiting for you to come back, i have been so lonely!" aiko exclaimed running up to embrace her daddy and angel before they had barely stepped into the room. It made the demon want to smile seeing her worried and melodramatically destitute show of affection. She was too cute at times for her own good, he thought remembering how much he had wanted her from the very beginning. If only she did not look so deliciously tasty.
The retired shinigami pushed her back a step to fix her tousled apparel before smiling comfortingly in his creepy way. "Angel was showing off to all of the nobles in your stead, little daughter. You left them wanting more with your amazing talent so much that he could barely appease them with his mediocre skills." he tittered making her blush with the compliment. Undertaker never got tired of that ploy no matter how many times he used it to flatter aiko at the expense of the raven's mood. It was not the repetitive use but the fact that he did it more for the latter of the two results than the former.
The demon smiled. "Unless you want to stay alone here longer, we need to get you properly dressed for the meal." he commented on her night shift appearance. "Unless you are going for romantic negligence which i might say is looked down upon by these people."
The little girl giggled happily and allowed him to dress her and tighten her corset so that they could eat after skipping breakfast that morning. Not that either immortal was hungry, it was simply for aiko's and form's sake. At the table Franz Biber was waiting for them as was custom lately. Aiko warmly greeted him and they all sat down.
Most of the conversation was about composers and the usual until Franz Biber mentioned something interesting. "You are truly departing from us after this week's end party?" the demon clarified a little sadly.
The Austrian nodded regretfully saying he was only here for a small trip and that no one knew he was at the palace, He had to return to his employer before too long or else it would be noticed that he was missing. The raven remembered that, a party in four days' time. He would miss the violinist but he had to think of a new grander dress for aiko to wear on the occasion. He apologized for his sudden news and the demon told him it would be a lonely place for music without him. It seemed to strike him as funny because he began laughing and said something about violins not needing an orchestra to be happy. The dark haired man laughed with him though he himself did not get the humour.
At the end of the day, not a second after aiko was tucked away and dreaming, the demon pulled a large quantity of rich red and black out from under the bed and set to work. Undertaker stifled a laugh as to not wake the child and teased his pet. "I never even saw you leave to acquire that. Are you trying to turn into an old woman on me?" he snickered undressing himself.
The demon let out a bothered sigh instead of giving the shinigami the pleasure of his attention. His mind was running through all of the various fashions he had seen on the women since their arrival. It would be wondrous if their style was more diverse, that way he would have a myriad of choices rather than his pittance of options. The most room for divergence and personalization stemmed from the austentacious decorations on the petticoat. That would be what he would focus on then.
He was so engrossed carefully cutting each piece to perfectly fit his design that he did not notice undertaker's arms wrapping around his neck from behind. The other man's bare body was pressed snugly against his clothed back as he gently undid the buttons of the demon's long black coat. The raven eventually threw the piece of clothing aside after much prodding from the other man and soon after his shirt and cravat followed. When he set aside his admittedly stolen scissors and picked up the threaded needle to start stitching together the over dress he started finding the silver haired man exceedingly annoying. Undertaker removed the wigs and tossed them onto the oak dresser across the room. The demon could feel by the tensed muscles pressed against his back that he was not very happy about his kitty's current silent treatment. The impatient man could at least wait for him to finish the first piece of the dress before he attempted to molest him.
The last stitch was put in the overdress and he held it up for inspection. It looked eye-catching even without the designs he was going to embroider on the chest to match the petticoat, with its long close fitted sleeves that slitted starting at the elbow and drape like straight neck. It would fit beautifully when the time came for aiko to wear it. "can you not hurry, kitty? I want to sleep sometime tonight!" the shinigami groaned into his ear as his hands roamed down to stroke the demon's covered crotch.
"You can go to sleep whenever you like, i am not deterring you from rest." he replied coldly removing the intruding hands from his body. Setting the dress in his lap he reached for the scissors that were supposed to be next to him. When his hand didn't meet with the metal he turned to see a huge grin. "Where did you put the scissors?"
The man kept grinning as if something was terribly funny. "Would you like them back?" he asked running a long nail down the dark haired man's spine.
"I need to keep working, so yes, i would." he answered suspiciously. He could never trust that smile.
Too late he regretted his words. "Here, you can have your precious scissors back." undertaker giggled shoving them into his back. Whether by bad luck or ill precise intent, it lodged into his heart. Blood poured out from his mouth and he hurriedly tossed aside the dress to protect it from being stained. The retired shinigami snorted derisively behind him. "i don't want to go to sleep until after I'm satisfied, kitty."
"You know well that this will not stop me for very long, shinigami." already the pain was fading and as soon as the weapon was removed blood would be the only indicator of violence dealt to him. He had merely served to forestall the completion of the dress.
"Which is why i am doing this." he giggled and turned it side ways to pull open the scissors inside of him. The demon gasped as the pain flared back up in his heart and more blood seeped out his lips. He was hapless but to comply when the shinigami snapped them shut again and pushed him down to his knees facing him as the undertaker sat on the edge of the bed. "A master doesn't like being ignored by his pet. It is time you made it up to me for this week, kitty."
The demon's eyes widened immediately understanding the situation by his subservient position before undertaker, whom was sporting a full erection already. "undertaker-" his plea was cut off when the scissors twisted snapping at his inner organ.
Undertaker pulled him harshly down on him by his black fringes. "Suck, pet" he commanded highly. Another rip in his heart and the demon's hesitation was forgotten. He took the thick organ into his mouth and proceeded to such him off. The reaper's precum mixed with his own blood and the demon was grateful he did not possess a gag reflex. He slid his tongue up the underside of the shaft and tongued the slit at the tip. Slowly working down seemed to frustrate the shinigami because he twisted the scissors and forced the dark haired man to deep throat him without warning. The demon kept his teeth in check as the undertaker clutched his hair tighter and started thrusting into his mouth with a brute force. He was sure a human's skull would have been crushed with the sheer power he was using. It almost hurt as much the internal wound if not in a different way. It angered him more than anything when he discharged in his mouth leaving him with little option but to swallow his seed.
Even with his orgasm, the undertaker was not finished it seemed. He used the shank to force him up by pulling on a rib until it cracked a little. "Take off your pants, kitty. Then i want you to come here" he ordered watching gleefully as the demon did as he was told. When the younger was stark naked he took a moment to look over the lean inhuman body. "I never get tired of seeing you in red and white, my kitten~" he cooed pulling him into his lap. The penetration was immediate and unduled by pleasure. It hurt very much this time but unlike his previous experience, pleasure did not take over. The undertaker was not aiming for his prostate but thrusting into him with a sense of sick abandon. He pulled himself to climax many times but kept the demon at bay with a restraining grip. The cursed raven's neck and shoulders were littered with bleeding bite marks.
Many hours later, the shinigami kissed the top of his head and absconded under the sheets to fall asleep. "Goodnight, kitty, i can't wait to take aiko out for a special surprise in the morning." he yawned with a satisfied giggle.
It was fairly obvious that it was a threat. Fuming, the demon picked up the needle and started to furiously embroider the red overdress. Too early he finished the design that had gotten more convoluted then he would have wanted. It was a mettle of tortuous roses with thorns springing from tight knots in the vines. Damn it all, he cursed running outside.
His body rippled as a host of dark feathers enveloped his form. He could feel his body slimming and his raven hair growing out to his true form. It felt good running this way, his heeled boots giving him the familiarity necessary to truly run as himself. It would have been perfect if not for the fading ache in his body. He reached back and pulled the scissors out from his back as he jumped onto the rooftop of a thatch house. It was imperfect, tainted, loathsome. It made him sick to have this slight flaw. He wanted to be that perfect pitch black darkness.
He lept on the first lone person he saw; a raggy street whore. She screamed as he wrapped one lithe black hand around her neck to hold her. A finger to her lips hushed her. He was hungry. He was angry. Tears were streaming down her unfortunate features. It would be so easy.
He left her passed out on the street untouched, still hungry.
*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*
little whisperings of awe and approval went through the party goers when the three French nobles entered the ball room. Women were asking where aiko had gotten her dress made and commenting on how mature and beautiful it made her appear. The demon stifled an angry retort when a few went as far as to enquire why she always wore red and tell her young ladies should wear more white and pearls. Both men laughed fakely and the demon told them that in France, red were a royal colour and they would have her adorned in nothing less. He then went on to tell them that though he would not dress aiko like them, Austrian women such as them looked gorgeous in pearl and pastel. In return, the ladies fawned over them and their alluring foreign ways. This of course caused a bit of jealousy on the part of their lord husbands who eventually used the music as an excuse to tear them away.
The undertaker cackled next to him and the demon casually led aiko onto the dance floor to get away from him. He had touched him every available chance he had when aiko was not with them every minute for the last four days. The raven could do nothing but pretend to smile when aiko returned. Every second had been a lie in his heart; even if the little girl was doing things he would normally get a genuine smile watching. "It was really nice of daddy to find a dance tutor for us, was it not, angel?" she asked happily twirling in her new dress. She seemed to love every eye on her in the gown her angel had gotten her.
"Yes, he is a kind man" a flash of an agreeable smile with his lie. "How do you like your new dress? Does it suit you?" he asked changing the subject as he led her in the dance.
She nodded grinning youthfully. "i love it, thank you, angel" they spun to the side letting the preponderance of skirts fan out a little as if dancing in its own right.
"If i could not make a beautiful dress for a beautiful aiko, i would not be much of an angel. It is the least i can do for you." he smiled softly back at her. The way that smooth ivory skin blushed prettily to match her dress made him feel very hungry. It was a good feeling. This adorable child he sashayed through the wealthy hall with in the midst of human lords and ladies. For a moment he was king of time.
The song ended and he felt a tap on his shoulder. He let go of one of aiko's hands to face a young flustered Austrian noble. Fifteen if he had to guess. The boy almost pulled off sounding confidant when he asked to dance with her. Many people were watching to see the tall foreigner's reaction to the request; no one had ever seen the young red clad girl without her shadow in all their stay at the palace. The demon would have refused if undertaker had not stepped in to place the teenager's hand over aiko's and translate the request. To his anger, she blushed a deeper red when he led her away for the next song.
The shinigami brassily took him by the hand to steer him to the side skirts of the hall when he would not move, transfixed by the sight of his little girl walking away from him. "Oh~ has someone gotten attached? My, i never thought demons could have feelings of affection. Did you think she would be ours forever?" undertaker chuckled quietly in his ear under the royal chamber orchestra playing behind some wall. The demon fought the overwhelming urge to throw him into the ground with his guests, remembering the crowd of people. This was important to aiko. "She is a human after all, so fleetingly fickle and sweet while whilst it lasts. Maybe we should give her away now to lessen the pain, hm? Since you are leaving us as well eventually. We would not want anything holding you back~..."
The last year clicked in his mind as the retired shinigami walked off laughing like a circus freak had just shown him a very funny trick that he just had to tell someone at the dessert table about. That bastard! That sly, conniving, deceiving, sadistic, and vile bastard! That had been his plan since the beginning. It was not to annoy, burden, or distract him. Aiko was supposed to lure him into a tie with this world. An anchor to debar him from departing back to his own world. She had seduced him into the realm of humanity rather than vice versa. He was right on only one original account, that she was undertaker's pawn with a specific goal in mind. But everything just blew him away. The worst, the very thing that made him nearly lose his impeccable composure, was humiliating and enraging.
He had helplessly fallen for it.
He looked up sharply when the room fell silent. Von Gonzaga was calling a toast to Austria and its nobles. She thanked them for spending their first Sunday of September with her in Schönbrunn palace. The rest of her speech faded into the night as the irate demon disappeared unnoticed from the window. He lept the wall with a small amount of extra force that landed him on a nearby roof top instead of the ground. He could not stand being used anymore.
Removing his wig and austentacious sash the demon pulled out the death bookmark. He would see how the undertaker liked being duped for once when the demon got all he wanted, leaving the silver haired fool behind blabbering in disbelief. No, shame and disgrace. The torturer deserved the entire shinigami race turned against him for letting a demon into their sacred files. It was a victory that lay ahead of him no matter how he looked at it. The time had come to begin his journey home.
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the demon in his true form ran faster than he had ever bothered to before. If the shinigami could use the shadows to immediately catch up to him when they grasped the situation, then it would be prudent to get back to London as fast as possible. He could not allow anyone else to see his face for fear it would get back to William. No matter his self-depletory intentions, he did not want them to bother aiko when he was gone. It was useless being mad at her; she was too pure to feel anger towards. She had not known of anything. His child had only done what both of the men had encouraged in her. It was not her fault the undertaker had twisted her into their tortuous lives.
He fingered the bookmark and exited the shinigami realm, manifesting within the shadows of his house of Pudding Street. Heaving a sigh of relief with his eyes closed in a slightly relaxed manner he ran a hand through his bangs. A new record, surely, one minute between two dimensions and most of a continent. Now he only had to find where the ex-shinigami kept his-
"there you are. You have been a very bad kitty, haven't you~?" the demon's muscles strung up tight in surprise, much like in the moments the bullet would graze his skin lovingly before entering his skull when he used to shoot himself. It was almost a welcome feeling had it not been inspired by the man he had just been thinking of. "Would you like to tell me where you have been, hmm? I really think it would be better for aiko if you came clean, so to speak" the shinigami chuckled.
The raven's eyes flew open and a feral hiss issued from his inhuman lips. Aiko was asleep in her under garments on the undertaker's lap, her dark haired head resting soundly on his shoulder. He sat on his work bench petting her head with one hand and holding his scythe to her neck with the other. His face was calm and giggly as if he were merely holding their dear aiko that had passed out during the ball back in Austria. He looked as if his death wielding hand had a mind of its own defying the will of the rest of the body. "I did not want aiko to see her angel in such a state so i bade her good night so that we could await your return like a good family." undertaker grinned.
A cacophony of thoughts was racing through his mind. Questions, uncontrollable hate, anger, helplessness, and conviction. In no time at all he went with the strongest impulse; lunging at the elegant scythe as the undertaker's smile morphed into a surprised grimace.

MADAM RED; PFFFT THAT WAS LONG