Disclaimer: I do not own Hana to Akuma or any of the characters therein.

Chapter 14: To Inveigle a Witch in the Demon World

Tsubaki woke up to the gentle sound of a whispered spell. As she slowly opened her eyes, she focused on a shiny, silvery white curtain. When she fully regained her senses she realized that it was not fabric that was draped in front of her but hair. She then realized that on her ear she could feel the tender caress of a warm breath. Pulling back sharply, she shrieked, "Gilbert!"Being so close to him and feeling his breath on her skin made her blush instantly and her heart beat sped up. Calm down! She chastised herself. He was simply waking me up with another enchantment

Slowly he raised his head from alongside hers and standing to his full height, he said in a calm voice, "There is no need to shout, Tsubaki-sama. I am right here." He looked down at her with brilliantly flashing eyes and she realized that he was annoyed. "Please refrain from screaming. We demons have very sensitive ears."

"I'm sorry, Gilbert. I did not mean to scream. I was just startled." She really was sorry that she might have hurt his ears. She placed her hand and began to rub her eyes. She then noticed a back and silver bracelet fastened on her wrist. "What is this?" she asked holding her wrist out towards him.

"It is a bracelet that seals your powers. I want no surprises. You were holding back, this morning. For some reason you do not wish for me to witness your true power.

Tch! So the bastard knew! He's a sharp one. I'll have to be careful of him! She thought. She looked around and realized that she was lying in a lavish four poster bed. There were black draperies, with gold thread mapping out blooming flowers, along two sides of the bed so that she could see nothing. But on the side at which Gilbert stood and directly in front of her the curtains were drawn and she could see that she was in a high ceiling room. The walls were white and decorated with a number of paintings that were partially shrouded in shadow. The walls met the ceiling with a beautiful and broad rope moulding and a single chandelier was the room's only source of light.

Tsubaki looked back to Gilbert whose features were softened by the room's soft and dim light. His hair was impeccably combed and on either side of the short path on the top of his head, his needle-straight hair arched away. Along his cheek two long tendrils of hair flowed down and the rest of his hair lay obediently on down his back. Her attention was then drawn to his green eyes and she realized that he was regarding her intently. Looking away, she blushed as she realized that she was staring at him. He really is a good looking devil!

As soon as she did, he took one of the chairs alongside her bed and he asked, "From where do you originate? It has been centuries since I have encountered or even heard of a witch of your ability."

"Would you answer me a question before I answer yours, Gilbert?" she was still looking away from him.

"I may... However, it depends on the nature of the question." He said in a level voice.

"Where am I and where is Hana?"

"That is two questions, Tsubaki-sama." He sounded like he was teasing her and so she looked up at him. But his face was expressionless. "I shall answer one question and then you must answer one of mine. We shall trade questions and answers." Pausing shortly he said, "You are in the demon world, in my castle. Now, answer my question." He commanded.

"You carried me here?"

"That is a third question, Tsubaki-sama. Answer my question before asking another."

"I am from ***town, where you met me. Now answer my second question."

"Not yet. That answer is unsatisfactory. I do not need to know where you reside. I want to know where from where you and your power originate."

Tsubaki breathed out noisily through her mouth. I wonder if he would be able to determine whether or not I am telling the truth. Her hesitation made him remark. "Please also refrain from lying. It is extremely difficult to deceive me."

So if I don't tell him the truth, then I won't be able to learn about Hana-chan. I also risk angering him and my powers have been sealed. Twisting her lips she replied grudgingly, "I am the reincarnation of a powerful witch. One who first walked the Earth ten centuries ago."

He raised one of his eyebrows minutely. He was impressed. "Hana-sama is in another room, not unlike this one. She is currently being attended to for she has to get ready for the birthday party."

"What is your true name?" He asked her. She looked up at him. His gaze was so intense that it seemed that he was peering straight into her soul.

Looking away again she begged, "Please, do not ask me that! If you were to know my name, then you will also know of my shameful birth."

"Do you really believe that I care how you were born? That is of no consequence!" his voice was grave and she thought that he was speaking the truth. "It is not the fault of a child, how it is born. What is your true name?"

"I... I" she turned away. His words made her feel a little better, but it did not change her heritage. Her mother was an enchantress that ensnared her father to learn his spells and secrets. Tsubaki was ashamed that she was part of a brazen ploy to acquire more power. There was no love in her mother's act, and her mother had shown no love to her. Her birth was simply a way in which her mother kept her father enslaved until she learnt all his magic; finally entombing him in a cave until his death. "I was once called Nimue."

"You are the daughter of Merlin and The Lady of the Lake?" His eyes widened in astonishment. It was the most emotion she has ever seen him display. She nodded to indicate that he was correct. Holding back a smile, Gilbert commented almost to himself, "Amazing that you should appear on Earth at this time."

Hoping to get away from the subject of being on Earth, she hastily asked again, "Will you answer another question?"

"Yes."

"Will you, please let me go to Hana-chan?" she asked desperately.

"That sounds more like a request than a question." He sounded amused, but again he was expressionless. All trace of his earlier astonishment was gone.

"Gilbert, please. Please take me to her. I must know that she is alright!"

"I will take you to her, on the condition that you answer my next question." Tsubaki swallowed a lump that had risen in her throat. She knew what was coming. "Why have you been reborn at this time? What is your purpose?"

"How could I possibly know that, Gilbert?" she evaded the question.

"In the same way that you knew of your previous lives." He stated mater-of-factly. "You have many talents and skills, Nimue. One of them lies in the ability to draw on the past. Hence you can recall all your past lives. Another one of your the gifts is that of prophecy. What is it that you do not wish to tell me?"

"You sure do know tons about me!" she said angrily.

"Answer my question," he threatened, "or you will not see your precious friend ever again." His tone was dark and dangerous.

"Only on the condition that you do not tell your master."

He was about to protest when she added, "At least not yet. It is imperative that he does not know. I will tell him, but now is not the time!" Pausing she continued gently, "Please, Gilbert... I mean you and your Lord no harm."

Gilbert sighed heavily. "You risk much. My station requires me to tell Lucifer-sama everything I learn. If I am to withhold information from him..."

"Then give me your word, then. Your word that what I tell you shall not be shared until the appropriate time." Tsubaki pleaded. "I know that you will not break your word."

Gilbert almost laughed. Almost. How many years had it been since he wanted to laugh. What an interesting little specimen. "You believe that a demon would keep his word? How preposterous!" He turned away from her.

"No, Gilbert. I know that you will keep your word." Teasingly she added, "As you said, I have many skills. Despite what you want people to believe, you will keep your word when it is given."

"Hmph! Now you think you know a ton about me."

"No... I cannot claim that. But I did read your aura the first time I saw you. You are a demon, but I was surprised. A demon who believes in order and honour." She complimented on a smile, "You really are unparallel."

He looked back at her then to see her smiling warmly at him. "And so are you, Tsubaki. To even think of trusting a demon and smiling at me like that. You too are very unusual. But, of course, you have lived many times over and retain all your memories, so I suppose you fear little or nothing." Pausing to seriously consider her proposition he then said, "You have my word. I will not share what you are about to tell me."

Taking a deep breath, Tsubaki replied. "During the end of my last reincarnation, I foresaw something. A time of great cataclysm is nearly upon us. If left on its own, the World of the Angels, the Demon World and the Earth that is caught in between will all be affected. It could potentially destroy us all. The key to stopping this event lies with Hana and Vivi. I came back to Earth with another to guard her and guide her to her destiny.

"Were you sent by the World of the Angels?"

This demon is too sharp! This is exactly why I said came back and not sent back. But I have already told him so much that I might as well continue. "Yes... but I myself am not an angel. I have angel like powers. I was bestowed with increased strength and an extremely long lifetime, but I am not an angel. I am at the core, and always will be a sorceress."

Getting up from his chair, he said, "I will take you to see Hana-sama. However, first you must shower and change. You will be allowed to attend the party with her. I will send someone with clothes from which you can choose whatever catches your fancy."

"Gilbert... What will you do now that I have told you this?" She moved to get up off the bed.

"Seeing that I gave you my word and that you did not disclose the entire story to me, I will keep this between us for now."

"Hmph!" she said indignantly. "So you knew that there is more! You really are something else!" she said as she stood up.

"I too was a user of magic, Nimue. I was once a gentleman magician and alchemist who sold my soul to Lucifer-sama for more power and knowledge and so was reborn here in the Demon World."

"You were Faust?" It was a question stated it like a fact. "I guess not all fiction is fiction."

"Yes... Well, I could say the same of you."

Tsubaki looked down at her clothes and frowned. I'm all messed up! Then she saw a patch of blood on her side. Gilbert... Oh yeah, he hurt his hand!

"Gilbert, y-your hand. Let me see it... Are you still hurt?" she asked, her voice full of concern.

"That is unnecessary. It has already healed."

"Really?"

"Demons have great regenerative abilities."

"Oh... of course!" she was a little disappointed that she could not do anything to help him.

"I will send someone to help you prepare." He paused and then he said, "You should wear your hair naturally and down for the party."

"What?" she asked. "My natural hair?"

"Yes, you cast a spell on it right? That short black crop you wear is not your real hair is it?"

"You really are a piece of work." she said, but with a slight smile.

"Lift, the spell." He commanded.

"You sealed my powers, mister!" she replied hotly.

"Then allow me to." He approached and she backed away from him.

"No, please don't! I... I don't want you..." She left the sentence unfinished.

"Why ever not? Do you not like your natural hair?"

Tsubaki turned away from him and said sadly, "No, I hate it! The colour is awful and I am always teased because of how curly it is!"

Gilbert sighed inaudibly and approaching again he said, "Look at me, Tsubaki." When she did as bidden, he crossed his hands above her head and uncrossing them, he passed it over her hair, lightly touching it. Instantly her hair regained its natural form and hue. She had bright auburn red hair that coiled in large, lush spiral curls down to her waist. Taking one of the shorter curls that hung near her face, he gently tugged at it. It straightened and then he released it so that it bounced back into place. "This hair suits you, Tsubaki-sama. Look at the way it moves. It is as if it has a life of its own. It is alive... As alive as you are. Besides," he added dropping his voice to an almost seductive tone, "It really is quite beautiful."

"Gilbert..." was all she could manage. He did not think that her hair was ugly. Instead he complimented her and she blushed brightly. She felt her cheeks grow hot and she turned away from him embarrassed.

"Now you match your hair." He sounded amused again, but his face gave nothing away. Looking at her for another brief moment as her blush deepened, he said again, "I will send someone to help you get ready." He turned away then and exited, closing the door softly behind him. As he walked down the corridor leading to Hana-sama's room he thought about what he had just learned. To think that I have caught the great Nimue... Hmmm.... That story of hers. She spoke the truth but I know not what to make of it. I will not break my promise yet... I shall gain her trust and inveigle her slowly. I am a little out of practice, but all women adore compliments. Judging from her reactions, she already finds me attractive. I do not know why though! No other woman I know shows me any interest. There is much more that I have to learn. When I have a clear understanding of what is truly going on, I will report to Lucifer-sama. Deep down Gilbert did not like using her attraction for him as a way to gain Tsubaki's trust and deceive her. He was, betrayed and abandoned by the woman he loved. But it was so many years ago and for the good of Lucifer-sama, he was prepared to do anything.

THANKS FOR READING! I wanted to give Tsubaki her own chapter, so I apologize for not having Hana and Vivi in it.

ANYWAY... I would love to hear what you guys think so take a couple of minutes, and please comment. Next time: the whole gang will be back in Party in the Demon World.