Mairimashita! Iruma-kun: Shadows of the Past, part 3

That night, Robin stared at his ceiling, unable to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Victoria. She was invading his mind and it made his marked eye ache. Balam had promised to create some medicinal eyedrops for him, but had yet to acquire the needed herbs from Suzy. He took a deep breath, assuring himself everything would be fine. There was no way Kalego would be so easily beaten, but he needed answers. He'd have to seek out Balam in the morning.

The next day, Robin waited until lunch to find his senpai. Balam was hard at work, studying records when he heard Robin call from the door. Inviting him in, he closed away the research. "How is your eye? I'm sorry the drops are taking so long", said Balam. "It's okay", replied Robin, clearly more concerned with his thoughts. Balam didn't need to ask. He knew what this was about. Offering a seat to his kouhai, he listened.

"I know Kalego-senpai doesn't want to talk about it, but…", trailed Robin. "You have a right to know. It concerns you, too", said Balam, understanding. Robin finally sat across from him, meeting his gaze with determination. Balam glanced aside, unsure of where to start. He decided on, "Has she been calling out to you?". Robin nodded in response. Balam leaned forward, staring straight into his eyes. "Whatever you do, don't give in. You absolutely cannot respond to her, even if it hurts. Do you understand?" Robin wasn't positive he could simply ignore the intrusive thoughts, but agreed. He knew it was for own good.

Relaxing faintly, Balam still seemed troubled. "First - know you're not alone", he stated. Before Robin could ask what was meant, Balam had removed one of his gloves and showed the back of his bare hand. It, too, bore the dark mark. Robin shivered, his sharp eyes quivering in recognition. "When did - ?", he uttered. Replacing his glove, Balam replied, "A long time ago."

"Ai has been collecting servants most of her life. She really has her sights locked on Kalego-kun…", he trailed. Demons were greedy and loved a good challenge, thus Robin didn't need to ask why she was so fixated. His senpai was a rank 8 demon. Yet, it seemed she had her hooks in him long before that.

Balam stared at one of the notebooks he had previously closed. He knew Kalego wouldn't be keen to share the past with Robin, but he decided to show Robin a photo anyway. After all, the past only dies when we cease to pass it onto others. The young teacher held it in hands excitedly. He looked at it closely. "Is this senpai?", he asked. Balam nodded with a hidden grin. "That's me next to him", he stated with a point. Robin gaped. "But you were so small!", he uttered without thought. Balam didn't take any offense. The photo was from their first year at Babylus. He had grown a lot since then. They all had. Everyone, except…

Robin recognized Opera in the background of the photo, pleased to learn more about all of them, but one face was a mystery. "This girl, who is she?", he asked carefully. He glanced up without an answer. Balam was shying his gaze with an intensely sad look in his eyes. Robin looked at the photo again. The girl was lovely. She had dark skin and hair with vivid pink eyes, and ribbons tied in her hair. Not too serious, but not overly outgoing, either. She had a demure smile beside her colleagues. Everyone looked happy. Even the young Kalego was managing a slight smile.

"Her name was Pandora", stated Balam quietly. 'Was'. That word stuck out. At first, Robin had wondered why the photo had been suddenly produced. Now he thought he knew. "Victoria cursed her, too, didn't she?", he inquired. Another silent pause. Balam inadvertently crossed his arms over his chest, still bearing the pain. "No… She killed her", he weakly replied. Robin looked over the photo closely. He knew he'd ever see either of his senpai with that sense of happy innocence ever again.

Handing the photo back, he apologized for their loss. Balam tucked it away with care. "Ai was jealous. Pandora was on the student council. She was brilliant and well respected, she had great manners, and she never looked down on anyone", he uttered, nostalgically. Robin allowed himself a small grin. He could see why Kalego and Balam would have liked her.

"Her parents were just as kind. They treated and trained animals for their livelihood. There was always something new to study", said Balam. "And pet", thought Robin, knowing his nature, but only politely listened. "She sounds really wonderful", he ventured with a supportive grin. "She was", said Balam meekly. Robin understood. It was clear his senpai had loved that demon in the picture.

Babylus hallways, the past.

"Will there really be something so rare next week?", asked Shichiro keenly. Pandora nodded with a grin. "You should come, too, Kalego-kun", she stated. Their companion wasn't nearly as interested in beasts as they were, but he went along with it, anyway. "If you insist", he ceded. From the side of her eye, she could see Shichiro grinning excitedly. He was looking forward to getting his hands on the creature in question.

Knowing that and understanding that he never got much physical contact from others, she followed her habit of staying close in the halls. During their first year, she was taller and thus she'd pet the top of his head his head. Their second year, she often touched his shoulder with care, and during their third year, being closer in height, she would sometimes link arms. She was never once afraid of the strange boy. Even when others stared and whispered or were speaking to her, she always stayed close. Kalego sometimes teased him about it when Pandora wasn't around, grinning at his best friend's shy discomfort, but some of Balam's best memories were of the times they privately studied in the school courtyard where she allowed him to rest his head in her lap as they compared notes.

Presently -

"There was a formal dance coming up for the school. It was our third year... Our reputations and Victoria had scared most everyone away from us, but not her. Pandora wanted the three of us to go together, like we had the years before, but - " Balam fidgeted shyly. "I really liked her, but thought she had eyes for Kalego-kun", he said wistfully.

Robin could tell Balam was smiling from the softness of his eyes. "He convinced me to ask her that year. She accepted", he grinned to himself. Recalling it like it was yesterday, he could see her surprise, followed by a blushing warm smile. "I'd be honored to go with you, Shichiro-kun!" He'd never seen her smile so wide before. Lost to the memory, his eyes misted up.

The past -

The trio had stuck together for most of the dance, watching over the other students and preventing trouble. When the music slowed, the shy, young Balam accepted Pandora's extended hand. Taking their positions, he was really happy. They were roughly the same height now, but she politely made sure to wear flat shoes anyway. Shichiro froze as she reached for his mask. She gave him an encouraging smile and removed it with care. No one besides Kalego was watching them anyway. "There you are", she beamed. His face reddened. He already knew she fully accepted his appearance, but here she was proudly showing the world. When the dance ended, she bowed formally before softly kissing his cheek, just beside his scar and thanked him for the dance.

Some female students ran off with her when the lights came back up, leaving the stunned bird demon with his mask in his hands. The young Kalego stepped close with a smirk. "How long are you going to space out like that?", he teased with a friendly jeer. Shichiro smiled softly to himself and replaced his mask. He wasn't going to let his friend ruin such a perfect feeling of joy.

Babylus, the present.

Balam was a caring demon and he held his friends very dear. Robin hated to see that happiness fall away so easily. Balam took a moment to gather his nerves, then continued, "Ai made a scene the week before the ball, demanding Kalego go with her despite the many boys begging for her hand. He refused, of course." Robin could picture it all as clearly as if he had been there.

The halls of Babylus, years earlier.

"Don't push me away, Naberius. You'll regret it", spat the feisty Victoria Ai. Several bystanders watched with interest. Kalego ignored her threats, unimpressed. She smirked, coming up with a devious plan. "Does Pandora know about your neck? Have you told her?", she asked smugly, thinking he was interested in the girl. He inadvertently placed his hand over his mark, annoyed he couldn't get rid of it. Her talent for curses really was obnoxious. The faculty had tried a few times to rid him of it, but to no avail. It simply came back the next day. Victoria had been reprimanded for several recent attacks involving such curses, but she didn't care.

The crowd of demons parted as the student council approached. "Victoria, I see you're making another scene", smirked the president, adjusting his glasses. Behind him, Pandora looked to her friend with a supportive smile. "Go to the principal's office at once." Ai was hardly worried, but she didn't feel like dealing with the bothersome intrusion. Besides, it was all an act. The president also bore her mark in secret, one of her favorite puppets. Turning to leave, Victoria glared at Pandora, repeating, "You'll regret it."

In the present, Robin already knew the story didn't have a happy ending. Balam absently touched his marked hand as he remembered it all. "And Pandora?", asked Robin, afraid to find out. Balam met his gaze with eyes full of sorrow.

"A few days after the dance, we went to pick her up. I was too nervous to go alone, so Kalego-kun thankfully came, too… When we got to her house, the gate was open and so was the front door. We didn't see anyone", he explained. "As soon as we looked inside, we knew something bad had happened. It was dark and silent. Kalego called for help while I stared transfixed at the pool of blood creeping toward me. He shook me out of it and we waited outside for the adults to arrive… A while later, they came out and told us to go home. They didn't say why, but none of them would look us in the eye, either. My mother dragged me off in a hurry. The last thing I remember seeing was Kalego getting whispered to by his uncle."

"He didn't come to school the next day. Neither did Pandora… There were a lot of rumors swirling about, but no one really knew anything. When I was called to the principal's office and saw my parents waiting for me - … I knew." Robin sat in silence. How horrible it must have been. "I stayed home several days after that. I tried calling Kalego-kun, but he wouldn't answer. I was crushed, but also worried about him, so I eventually went to his house, but he wouldn't come out, so I climbed in through his window… He looked terrible. The fool had tried to carve Victoria's mark from his neck. He was passed out against the wall with blood all down his arm and the knife still in his hand… I slapped him hard, probably harder than I meant to, but he opened his eyes. Thankfully, the wound he'd caused wasn't too deep. I got him cleaned up and we sat in silence for hours."

Naberius residence, years ago.

After treatment, Kalego stared at the wall as Balam waited for him to open up. Eventually, he shifted his head to look at him. "It was her", he stated. Balam didn't want to jump to conclusions, but deep down, he knew what that meant. Touching his bandaged neck, Kalego said, "This damned mark was drawn on their wall in blood over her parents' bodies… They said it had to have been several strong demons attacking together to take them over… Damn that clan." His hands clenched tightly. The Victoria clan was well known for pulling such raids amongst the underworld, but Pandora's family were honest folks. They had no such connections.

"My uncle said that even the servants had been slain", said Kalego, staring into nothingness darkly. "Pandora…", uttered Balam, once again overcome. Grabbing his friend, he shook Kalego's shoulders. "Tell me you're lying!", he pleaded. Kalego's hollow eyes stared back with nothing to say. Balam faltered. He inherently knew whether or not someone was lying with his 'buzzer' family trait. Slowly releasing his friend, he crumpled forward, barely catching himself before hitting the floor. The tears he'd holding back began to fall.

"Tell me we're both wrong...and Pandora's just missing...please…", he uttered helplessly. With no response, he looked up to see his friend with tears streaming quietly down his face. Kalego reached out just as Shichiro fell into a complete breakdown. The duo spent hours grieving and trying to comfort one another.

Babylus, Balam's study, the present.

Letting a stray tear fall, Balam took a deep breath. "They never identified her body", he said darkly. "Couldn't that mean - ?", offered Robin, hopeful. Balam slowly shook his head. "No. They found a girl's body in her room, but it was so thoroughly mutilated, they couldn't say who it was." Robin shivered to his core. How could someone so young be so cruel? Then it dawned on him just how powerful the Victoria clan was and Ai's curses were nothing to ignore.

Balam excused himself to calm his nerves. Resuminghis seat, he turned back to Robin. "This is why you have to be careful. Victoria has hundreds of enslaved demons at her disposal and she won't hesitate to use them", stated Balam. Robin spent the rest of the meal period asking questions about the curse itself and how it worked. As the bell rang, he paused in thought before excusing himself.

"If a demon is strong enough willed, can they overcome the third mark?", he inquired. Balam glanced toward his piled notes. "I can't say for certain, but it does seem possible", he replied. Robin grinned faintly. There was hope. "Then senpai is going to be okay, isn't he?", he asked with a forced grin. Balam smiled to himself in response. Robin had faith in Kalego and so did he. "Yeah", he nodded.

To be continued...