AmaimonXShima Rating: M

Chapter 9

Nothing but dead silence filled the house, as the Earth King stared down at the picture in his hand and ran a hand over his face. A blank look on his features, as he found the willpower to tear his eyes away from the picture in his hand and his eyes fell on the floor. An image of the younger begging him to kill him flashing through his head, before the male let out a harsh growl and roughly messed up his hair. Of everything in the world the teen could've begged him for he had to choose the choice to kill him. He'd do anything for the younger, but killing him wasn't possible on any terms. He had to protect him, keep him safe, and as long as he acted like that he was going to get nowhere. Shima was everything to him, even if the teen didn't know it.

Yet when his eyes fell back on the picture in his hand he felt his chest tighten. His heart beat speeding up and palms sweating, before he pulled his eyes away from the photo once more. Behemoth scurrying into the living room and jumping onto the couch beside him, before he curled up beside him and his big eyes fell on him.

"Is Shima okay?" Amaimon asked, as he looked at his battling partner.

"Yeah, he's fast asleep." Behemoth announced, as he set his paws on the older demon's thigh and noticed the photo in his hand. "You thinking about Temui?"

"No." The Earth King responded, as his eyes fell back on the picture. "I'm worried about Shima. He's nothing like Temui was. He wouldn't have asked me to kill him, and he's too reserved for a teenager his age."

"Maybe he's just troubled." Behemoth spoke, as he climbed into the Earth King's lap and curled up in it. "He seemed really scared when he woke up."

"That's not what bothers me, though." Amaimon spoke, as he ran a hand through his hair. "He may be Temui in spirit, but he's too timid for a demon. He said he's had bad experiences with demons, but I didn't think it'd get to the point where he'd be afraid of being a demon himself. Or even have the thought of killing himself."

"Maybe something traumatic happened to him." Behemoth announced, as he looked up at him. "He didn't specify what really happened to him in the past. Maybe someone really important to him died."

"I-I wanna be with Hikamaru. I don't want to be here. Kill me. Please kill me."

"Who's Hikamaru?" The Earth King spoke out loud, as Behemoth blinked up at him. "He's mentioned him several times and he always gets a traumatized look on his face whenever he says his name."

"Maybe Hikamaru is the one that died and the memory traumatizes Shima!" Behemoth spoke happily at his conclusion, as he bounced up and down in his lap. "Maybe we can help him get over the memory!"

"I doubt it would help, Behemoth." Amaimon spoke, as the little demon's excited expression faded. "If Hikamaru was someone special to Shima then I doubt he'd get over him easily."

"Still-"

"HIKAMARU!"

In an instant the older felt his blood run cold. His body reacting before his mind could catch up, as he swiftly got off the couch and rushed out of the living room. The Earth King not even paying any mind to his battling partner blinking after him in confusion and worry, as the male found himself in the young demon's room the next. The youngling thrashing under the sheets and a distressed look on his features, as he clawed at the mattress and his tail lashed out against the bed. The Earth King rushing over to the younger demon's side and grasping his shoulders, before he saw the tears rolling down his face. His first reaction causing him to roughly shake the teen awake, as the youngling's eyes flew open and he let out a harsh gasp. Fear flaring in his eyes, as he tired desperately to free himself from the Earth King's grip and get away. An action the older male wouldn't allow, as he pulled the teen to his chest and held him tightly against him. His fingers gently threading through the younger's hair and his cheek gently resting against the male's head, as a gentle humming filled the air. Behemoth's head popping in the doorway and his big eyes meeting the Earth King gently holding the young demon against him, as a soft demonic lullaby filled the air. The fear in the younger's eyes slowly fading and his rapid breathing gradually slowing, as his fingers tightly grasped the older male's shirt and buried his face into it. The teen finally calm, as the Earth King gently rubbed the younger's back and looked down at him.

"Are you alright now?" Amaimon quietly asked, as the younger slowly unburied his head from the male's shirt and nodded.

"Wh-what were you humming? It was really nice."

"A demonic lullaby."

"C-can you hum it again?" The young hybrid hesitantly asked, as the Earth King gave him a nod and held him close.

The demonic lullaby slowly filling the air once more, as Behemoth scurried over and hopped onto the bed. The little Hobgoblin curling up beside the two, as the Earth King opened his mouth and started to sing the words. The Gehenna lyrics gradually pulling the young demon back into his dreams, as the Earth laid him back on the bed and pulled the sheets over him. His eyes falling closed and his breathing softly filling the air, as Amaimon's song came to a close and he gently brushed the bangs out of the younger's face. His battling partner asleep beside him, as he gently ran his fingers through the little demon's fur and looked between the two demons fast asleep. A single thought reaching his mind.

The three of them finally looked just like a family.

"How are you feeling, now?" Amaimon's sudden question asked, as the young demon jumped in his seat at the table. The male turning back to look at the older and managing not to swallow the toast whole.

"Better, thanks to you." Shima nervously spoke, as he rubbed his aching hip and turned back to his breakfast.

The older demon's eyes following his hand rubbing his wounded side, before the Earth King walked up to his side and gently placed a hand on it. The young hybrid instantly flinching and nearly falling off the chair in surprise, as the Earth King managed to grab his shoulder to keep him on the stool and looked him in the eyes. Bright green orbs instantly telling him everything would be okay, as the male started speaking a language he couldn't quite understand and a faint green glow came from his palm. The pain in his hip diminishing the next moment, as the young demon stared down at the older's hand in surprise and Amaimon removed his hand a few moments later. The pain half of what it was, as the older male walked over to the fridge like nothing happened and fished out a sandwich.

"How'd you do that?" Shima asked, as he touched his hip and was surprised at the little pain he felt.

"A simple healing enchantment." The Earth King replied, as the younger looked up at him. "It's a low level enchantment any demon can learn. Even Incubi can."

"Then what language were you speaking?" The pink-haired hybrid demanded, as Amaimon tore the seranewrap off his sandwich and took a bite out of it.

"The Gehenna language." Was his simple reply as he chewed. "That is one thing I don't have to teach you. It's already hardwired into your brain. You're just not focusing hard enough."

"I am too." Shima frowned, as he angrily munched on his toast and his expression staying blank.

"If you were you would've realize it was a healing spell." The older pointed out, as Shima glared at him slightly. "Although I'm not trying to rub it in your face, you do have to at least know how to heal yourself."

"I think I'll pass for today." Shima bit out, as he dropped his half eaten toast on the plate in front of him and grabbed his jacket hanging off the hook on the wall. "If you need me I'm taking Behemoth outside with me so I don't get kidnapped again."

"I though you didn't like demons." Amaimon spoke, as the teen stopped for a moment and a still silence filled the room.

"I-I just don't want to be put through that again." The pink-haired teen muttered, as fear took over his gaze and his fingers tightened around his jacket. "I don't want to be put through that pain again."

In the silence that followed, the Earth King walked over to the younger and carefully reached out. His fingers gently brushing against the younger's cheek and making him jump slightly, as golden eyes met his blue ones and his other arm reached out to pull the teen close. The young hybrid colliding with his chest, as the male held him close and refused to let him go.

"Amai-"

"You're safe now, Shima. They won't come after you anymore." The Earth King spoke, as the youngling in his arms tensed slightly. "They think you're mine and they won't touch anyone close to me. They won't touch you, alright?"

"A-alright." The teen softly spoke, as the Earth King messed up his hair.

"Now put your coat on, we're going out." Amaimon spoke, as the younger gave him a weird look. "It's about time I take you somewhere else other than campus."

"C-can I go home?" The teen asked, as his eyes lit up and he quickly pulled on his coat.

"Brother said I couldn't, but I have a place in mind you'll enjoy." The older spoke, as the teen's happy look dropped and the Earth King walked to the front door to shove a key in the lock. "Trust me, you'll like it."

Pure silence passed between them, as the Earth King pulled open the door and gestured the younger through it. A pause and a bit of fear taking over the young hybrid, before he had to remind himself the demon in front of him would never hurt him, and walked though it. His feet stepping off hard wood floors one moment and onto soft grass the next, as the teen found himself in a huge botanical garden surrounded by a multitude of plants and flowers. Some he didn't even believe existed, as the soft moonlight illuminated a small path of stones and a hand touched his shoulder. The younger jumping slightly and looking over his shoulder to see Amaimon now beside him, before the older demon turned and looked out at the scene just like the younger did.

"He may not seem like it, but brother built this for me." Amaimon's voice spoke, as the younger looked up at him. "I've wanted to come to Assiah for so long and he promised me he'd bring me here, but I was hesitant at first. I heard all the bad stories from other demons that had been exorcized and sent back to Gehenna, and I was afraid they'd do the same to me, but when I got here brother had built this for me. It's my own personal garden."

"I-It looks really nice." Shima managed to mumble out, as the Earth King suddenly grabbed his hand and gently led him forward.

Their footsteps crunching against hard gravel, as flowers started softly radiating light with each step they took. The soft glow captivating the younger, as he glanced from side to side at all the flowers and unknown plants to him. The Earth King's hand slowly tightening around his, before his voice reached him and the younger found his eyes on the older once more.

"I know life hasn't been easy on you throughout your life, but I want you to know you're not alone." The older spoke, as he glanced down at him for a moment as they walked. "Back in Gehenna I got pushed around a lot. I'm not the strongest of the eight Princes' of hell, but I'm not completely weak. I think brother said I was second weakest, but I don't need his opinion. He's the second strongest after all."

A moment of silence passed, before the Earth King's gaze moved ahead of them and the teen found himself once more captivated by the scenery.

"Anyway, besides the point, I got picked on when I was younger." Amaimon continued, as he reached up above his head and picked a leaf off a plant over their heads. "The other demons my age were stronger than me, and liked to pick fights. Father said I shouldn't fight back, because it would stain our name. Back then we were royalty and royalty was supposed to be automatically given, along with respect, so I went along with it. The other demons beat me up day after day and I had no friends, because no demon wanted to be friends with one of the sons of Satan. So father brought me Behemoth and said he would be my playmate."

With a gentle motion, the older demon placed the leaf behind the younger's ear and brushed his fingers against it. The green foliage instantly catching a green light, before it morphed into a beautiful white and soft pink lily. The younger reaching up and touching the flower, before he blushed and instantly found his eyes on the ground.

"I got caught up with Behemoth for some time and we easily became very close. I believe humans would call it best friends, but on any note we were very close to one another. It was awhile before I took Behemoth to where I used to play and those demons were there. We tried our best to ignore them and spend the time with one another, but it ended when one of them started bullying Behemoth. They were immature back then and they were kicking my partner around like a ball. At the time Behemoth was half the size he was now, and he couldn't protect himself as well. When I saw my partner being bullied like that I snapped and attacked the demons. To say the least they got what they deserved and Behemoth recovered from it, but father wasn't all too pleased with me. Although the rain of loyalty trickled off not too long after that so it wasn't entirely my fault. Loyalty has to be earned and so does trust. That's why I fought the Vatican for you."

It was then they stopped at a small and nicely sized pond within the garden. Koi fish swimming around in the clear water, as the Earth King came to a stop. His palm gently resting against the teen's cheek and the younger's eyes meeting his, before he spoke once more.

"For some reason you're very special to me, Shima." Amaimon softly spoke, as the younger's golden honey eyes stared up at him. "Something draws me toward you and if you're not close I feel a harsh tug on my chest, but when I heard they took you- Damn it, I couldn't take it. I couldn't take the fact that they had you, in a place I had never seen, and they had the intentions of hurting you. You had no idea how painful it was when the clock chime went off and the curtains closed… a-and when I saw you chained up like that, and all that blood, I could control myself anymore. I snapped before I could calm down and I could've put you in even more danger, but what matters is that you're okay. That's all I want."

A harsh moment of silence passed, as the younger's honey eyes fell to the ground and his fingers gently wrapped around the older's hand. His grip tightening slightly, before he leaned forward and his forehead collided with the demon's chest.

"Shima-"

"I'm going to give up being human." The younger's voice spoke, as the older's eyes widened slightly in worry. "There's no point to wish for something I can't have anymore."

If anything the teen didn't have to look up to know the older had a worried look in his eyes. The male's hand already tightening on his cheek and his other hand hesitantly resting on his shoulder telling him it all. Amaimon was afraid he was going to kill himself, especially after all he shared, and all he did for the younger, but that wasn't the point to his announcement.

"It's good you're moving on." Amaimon's voice reached him, a small bit of strain clearly hidden in it.

That bit of strain telling him all he needed, as the teen lifted his head back up and their eyes met. Golden honey meeting soft blue, before the teen hesitantly leaned forward and their lips met. A small jolt of surprise coming for the older demon, as his eyes grew wide in seconds, before the teen pulled away and the older's wide eyes watched him curiously.

"And I want to move on with you."

Scarlett: *sleepily waves to* hey everyone. Just stopping by to leave this with you before i force myself to work on my design project for another hour and go to bed. Just a cute little chapter full of feels and fluff.

Amaimon: *protectively holding Shima and glaring at Scarlett*

Shima: *cuddled into Amaimon's chest and asleep*

Scarlett: Honestly, I ain't going to hurt him anymore! Quit glaring at me! *eye involuntary twitches and rubs eye* Damn defective muscle

Amaimon: How can I trust you with Shima's life? You almost had him killed.

Scarlett: *sighs and rubs hand over face* I'm not answering that one, it's way to obvious *Turns to camera and rubs eyes* Enjoy your chapter my cute little fans. Next update will be sometime next week when I'm not flooded with projects *gets up and sulks away*

Shima: *opens eyes and turns to watch Scarlett leave* She looks like shit

Amaimon: *pat's Shima's head* Just leave it at that, youngling. *Shima gives him a nod and curls back up in his lap*

I would like to deeply thank Leah Potts5, my collaborator for this fic, for helping me start/create this fic. You helped me unscramble my messed up ideas and thoughts, as well as help create the entire plot of the fic with me. You have also been looking over my work the entire time and making sure i stayed within character. Thank you very much, hun. Let's work to the end of the fic together!

Now, thy reviews answered!

Hartanna: Lol, not quite hun. But I'm glad you like this version of Amaimon and Shima.

blackirishawk: I know, poor Shima. :( But don't worry! He'll be up and better in no time...for awhile *quickly runs away before Amaimon can attack her*

For more information and Updates about my fanfictions, coming straight from me, visit my author page and look under theProgression and Important Information section. I have updates about my current Ao no Exorcist fanfictions and a new ones that are going to be posted in the future. I am also giving out offers to the fans. So stop by my profile page and check it out!

Amaimon and Shima do not belong to me.

These characters belong to Kazue Kato.