It felt like his head was seconds away from bursting.
Not that the rest of him felt any better, to be honest. Every part of him ached and no matter how much he shifted around, Egyn just couldn't get comfortable. He swore it was the fumes. Sage, Centella, Kigelia, and about a dozen other healing and demon-repelling herbs permeating the air with an odor so foul it was a continuous battle not to gag.
Not that all of them were terrible. There was a clump of small, yellow flowers by the kettle, ready to be incorporated into the next brew that was actually rather nice looking. If you were into that sort of thing.
Arnebia, weren't they? Egyn could vaguely recalled seeing them back in Greece, splashes of color amidst the sun-baked limestone.
Ah, those had been good times. No worries or duties back then. No Father telling them what to do. Just leisurely days spent lounging on idyllic beaches and living it up with the townsfolk every night. A perfect life.
He really should drop by again before this little family trip ended and Iblis dragged him back to Gehenna. It must have been centuries since his last visit.
Egyn frowned, the cup of sake the old innkeeper had given him pressed against his lips.
When was that again? And why did he stop going?
It was nice there, from what he remembered; warm and far enough removed from his siblings' preferred territory that he could avoid interacting with them altogether. Really, with the food and the company it was like existence became a never-ending party. In fact, he was pretty sure the last time he went, there was some sort of festival going on—
"ACHOOO!"
The noise wrenched the King from his thoughts, grabbing his attention just in time to see Sword brat — a teenager, practically an adult by human standards — wiping the snot hanging from his nose away with his sleeve like an actual, honest-to-god toddler.
No. Just no. Egyn refused to accept that he was related to that! The kid was worse than Astaroth, the literal embodiment of rot and decay.
Glasses seemed to be thinking along similar lines, staring at his twin with a look of utter defeat.
"Really, Nii-san?" he asked with dismay.
"It smells funny!" the brat whined, looking somewhat embarrassed although not nearly enough in Egyn's opinion. "You're sitting next to the stuff, doesn't it bother you?"
"No," Glasses deadpanned. "It doesn't."
No surprise there. Despite also being the son of Satan, the guy didn't seem to have even a single drop of demonic blood in his body. The herbs probably smelled very pleasant to his pitiful human nose. But to demons…
Reclined against the wall furthest from the room's other occupants, the King squeezed his eyes shut in a feeble attempt to block out the incessant throbbing at his temples.
Shit. It was definitely getting worse and that just didn't make any bloody sense! He wasn't due for another vessel for a couple decades so why the hell did it feel like there was shrapnel rattling around in his skull?
The sight of those pretty, yellow flowers seemed to be burned on his eyelids, achingly familiar.
Coming to Hokkaido had been a mistake. No, answering Samael was where he screwed up. He should have let the damn phone go to voicemail and feigned ignorance; consequences be dammed. At least then he wouldn't be sitting in a smelly room with a bunch of half-breed brats, feeling like utter shit, while waiting for the reincarnated version of his friend's dead lover to wake up so he could hand her over to his Machiavellian brother for who the fuck knows why.
He reached for the flask, throat dry and desperate to fix it, nearly crushing the ceramic when all he got was a few measly drops.
xXx
"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Rin demanded, watching the Demon King skulk across the room.
"To get a drink," the other bit out, glaring over his shoulder with more venom than the teen was expecting. "What, you want me to stay and play doctor with you two or some shit?"
"Hah?! What the hell is your problem?!"
"Stop it, both of you!"
"In case you two forgot," Yukio continued harshly, gesturing at Shura's unconscious form. "This isn't the time or the place to fight."
Rin grimaced while the blue haired demon just scoffed.
"She's fine. You already slapped some bandages on her, all you're doing now is pointless fussing." He reached for the door. "Let me know when you call in. And keep that idiot twin of yours in line or I'll do it myself."
The door slid shut and the room once again descended into silence.
"Nii-san," Yukio muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"That wasn't my fault!" Rin insisted. "I told you, that Smurf-bastard was picking a fight before too. And don't you think he's acting super shady! He won't tell us where he found Shura or why she was injured. I mean, how do we know he wasn't the one who attacked her in the first place?!"
"Because if it was him, what would be the point of bringing her here?"
"I- I don't know. To throw us off?!"
Yukio sighed, rubbing his eyes.
"Look," he said, "once I'm sure she's stable we'll call Sir Pheles and find out the truth. Until then, I'd appreciate it if you didn't pick any fights with Shura incapacitated like this."
"Got it," Rin mumbled, sitting down on the opposite side of the futon. "How's she doing, anyway?"
"I treated her wounds and her temperature is back to normal," Yukio said, swapping out the cloth on her forehead for a fresh one. "The bleeding also stopped. It shouldn't be much longer before she wakes up."
Rin just hoped he was right.
xXx
The floorboards creaked and moaned beneath his feet as Egyn wandered down the main hall to the front desk where the old innkeeper was.
"Obaa-san~" he called, doing his best to keep his emotions in check, "got any more delicious sake for me?"
"Oh dearie…," she murmured, bones creaking very much like the floor had, rising from her seat. "I think we do...Follow me."
She began her shuffle to the kitchen, Egyn falling into step behind her.
Small steps.
Small, infinitely slow steps.
There was a moment where Egyn thought about killing her, wondering if her bones would crumble in his hands like dust. Whether silver hair dyed with blood would look as red as 'Tatsuko's'.
No. Stop that. Deep breaths. In an out. His mind was a well devoid of imperfections, or something like that.
Now, when Iblis first mentioned the methods Azazel had taught her for controlling ones temper Egyn had laughed in her face. His sister punished him for it, of course, and then a second time when he pointed out that, see, they must not be working very well.
And did he feel silly vividly imagining himself getting pampered by some scantily clad hunk - yes, he did - but he still did it, and by the time they reached the kitchen the demon grudgingly admitted that he did feel a lot more like himself.
And very much craving some company.
He found a spot by the stove, content to watch the old woman putter around, gathering what she needed. "Ne, obaa-san, are you the only one working here?"
"Oh, yes…," she murmured, reaching for Egyn's flask. "Most of the time..."
"That must be very difficult." Although it did simplify the matter of witnesses if things went sideways with Hachiro. Not that they would but Egyn figured there was no harm in covering his bases.
Sunken eyes turned his way, looking genuinely perplexed.
"Don't be silly…," she wheezed, pumping a tiny, wrinkled fist in the air. "Why, I'm as spry as a slice of young ginger!"
Considering how much the limb trembled, Egyn sincerely doubted the validity of that statement. Still, only a fool insults the person preparing their meal so he just smiled amicably, nodding along.
"I see, I see. But no family?" The sweet aroma of sake was starting to permeate, soothing away any lingering irritation from earlier.
"Oh, they're off living their own lives. They still help out, mind you. Such sweet kids... But we don't get as many visitors as we used to, these days. Oh, but when I was little we would have such wonderful harvest festivals. People would come from all over to eat our apples... And see the sights, of course..."
"It's a lovely place," Egyn agreed quietly, eyes drifting to the window. The sun was setting already, and snow had once more begun to fall.
"It is," the innkeeper beamed, sunken is eyes beaming with pride. She poured the sake carefully into the flask. "Oh, and the temple... When your friend is well you should take her to see Hachirotarō Ookami and get his blessing."
Egyn smiled thinly.
"Somehow I don't think she'd enjoy that, but thank you for the suggestion."
xXx
By the time he made it back a third of the sake was gone and 'Tatsuko' was awake.
Egyn lingered outside the room, sipping his drink as he listened to her share her ancestors' tale along with the conditions of her contract.
Honestly, it wasn't a bad deal in Egyn's opinion. Sure, she'd handed over the lives of her descendants like they were nothing, but the original Tatsuko had gotten everything she wanted with minimal sacrifice to herself. Besides the reduced lifespan that is, but back then thirty years wasn't anything to scoff at, for a human anyway. Besides, while humans liked to give demons grief over offering deals, it wasn't like they ever forced anyone to accept them. They didn't need to.
The voices started getting louder. Or rather, Sword Brat's did.
"Just kick Hachiro's ass! We'll help you!"
Egyn rolled his eyes, gently swishing his sake around inside the flask as 'Tatsuko' shot down his 'plan'.
"Then…We'll threaten him! What's his weakness?"
Selfish redheads, Egyn thought as he took another sip.
Honestly, the only way out of the contract he could think of was to have Hachiro dissolve it willingly and short of Egyn or another King forcing him to, or killing him properly, that just wasn't gonna happen.
…Well, there was one more way but based on how fussy Sword Brat was getting over all this Egyn doubted he'd like that particular option. Plus, he wouldn't be able to uphold his end of the bargain and then Samael would just keep him on a leash until he thought up another way for Egyn to repay his debt.
Hachiro hadn't been a fan either, apparently bitter enough to still hold a grudge centuries later.
Seriously, all Egyn had done was explain to that Tatsuko what her options were. It wasn't like he forced her to off herself but did Hachi see it that way? Nope. And he still got a replacement so what the hell did he have to complain about?
"So don't say it!"
Sighing, Egyn reached for the door handle.
"If you guys are done yapping and being sappy," he snarked, leaning against the doorframe, "we can get on with that phone call."
xXx
Samael answered after just a single ring. Almost as if he'd been anticipating the call.
Glasses hadn't put the call on speaker, preferring to keep his eyes on Egyn as he held the phone to his ear. Not that the demon couldn't hear what was being said on the other end but it was still rude.
{ "Okumura-sensei, how good of you to call~"}
"Sir Pheles, we-"
"What the hell are you up to, you clown-faced jerk?!"
Egyn couldn't help but crack a small grin, very easily imaging the irritated expression on Samael's face as Sword brat snatched the phone from his twin and yelled into the receiver.
"Stop it, Nii-san! You're not helping!"
The two continued bickering, with Glasses trying to steal the phone back whilst Sword brat threw what could be only be described as a massive hissy fit. There were even some jabs about Egyn thrown in there but he very graciously didn't eviscerate the piece of shit on the spot, aware that a pair of green eyes were watching him very closely.
Tatsuko the Youngest hadn't said anything to him since his arrival, though he had no doubt she knew who he was. But whether that only pertained to the basic stuff like his status as a demon King, he had no clue. Did Hachiro ever talk about him? And if so, was it just a cautionary tale?
Perhaps he should have been more lenient with him in the past. Bad enough that his friend was trapped by that bothersome seal, worse that Egyn wasn't allowed to get rid of it, or at least not without undoing every treaty between man- and demonkind. He had known Hachiro was lonely, he just hadn't thought the hydra had reached the point of desperation.
Because that's what Tatsuko had been, hadn't she? A desperate attempt to not be alone anymore.
Well, that settled things then, didn't it? Egyn was more than aware of his own flaws, thank you very much. He knew he was far from a considerate friend but he could at least make sure Hachi got to keep his beloved, even if she was nothing but a pretty lie.
Which meant the contract would need to be fulfilled, soon, and that came with an entirely different set of problems.
"Understood," Glasses said, having wrestled his phone back from his brother and finished his report. He tapped a button, "It's on speaker now, sir."
Egyn didn't give him a chance to start.
"You going senile, Brother? You never mentioned I had to babysit any brats."
{ "Oh, don't be like that, Egyn. Can't you see what a wonderful opportunity this is to bond with our younger siblings."}
"I'll pass," Egyn deadpanned. "Got enough younger siblings as it is, can't say I like any of them."
{ "I understand the sentiment completely~"}
Asshole.
"Our deal,Samael?"
"Oh, it still stands. You are to handle the situation with her contractor and escort Miss Kirigakure safely back to True Cross Academy. Do that and I'll consider your debt paid."
"...Fine," Egyn grit out, wishing he had more sake to wash away the bitter taste of compliance.
{ "Good. Now play nice with our little siblings like a good big brother, won't you?"}
"Fuck you," Egyn snapped, reaching the end of his patience for Samael's bullshit, just as Sword brat yelled, "Shut up already!"
{ "See, you're already getting along so well. Toodles~"}
xXx
Everything was going according to Samael's plan.
His pieces were in position. Renzou Shima was en route but with no hope of arriving in time. If Egyn was smart, he'd secure a perimeter before dealing with Hachirotarō and then the Illuminati would lose any chance of acquiring their target.
Yes, things were going very well indeed. Now if only a certain someone would stop boring holes in the back of his head, then his day would be perfect.
"Something not to your liking, Iblis?" Samael asked, lowering his phone and spinning his chair back around to face his sister.
The King of Time could count on a single hand the number of times Iblis had been genuinely pleased with one of his decisions. Not that today would be one of those, if her expression was any indication, but Samael occasionally liked to remind himself that miracles do exist.
"Why are you doing this?"
"I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific than 'this', my dear."
"Why send him to that place?" she asked tersely. "Do you want them to fail?"
Ah, the second sibling to question his plans in as many days. Irksome brats, the lot of them.
"I think you give Egyn too little credit. He might be a fool but he isn't completely useless. Besides, Hachirotarō is one of his. I thought you would appreciate the courtesy in allowing him to deal with his own."
"Courtesy which was not extended to me when you knew Karura was being targeted," she noted, disdain giving way to anger. Not that he could blame her, exactly. Iblis viewed her kin, especially the higher-ranking ones, as close companions. It must have been disturbing to find out one was essentially being used for parts.
Nevertheless…
"The order was not aware of the Illuminati's plan at the time," Samael countered succinctly and Iblis scoffed.
"Remind me what exactly you are king of again?"
Ah yes. Irksome, thoughtless brats.
"Your complaints are duly noted," Samael said coldly. "However, might I suggest you take them to Lucifer directly. After all, the Illuminati was acting on his orders. Or perhaps you should involve Father directly. It's for his sake that all of this is happening in the first place. Unless of course you don't feel up to the task."
"You need to call it off," Iblis said, ignoring his comments entirely. "Sending him there will achieve nothing but make him miserable."
"Your point being?"
"That you are going to break something we both know you have no intention of fixing!"
"Don't you think you've coddled him enough," Samael sighed, tired of beating around the bush. "At some point Egyn will need to wake up."
The sooner the better. Assiah was running out of time and while Samael was doing his utmost to prevent the worst, absolutely everyone - from his wretched siblings to the fools in the Order - seemed hellbent on getting in his way.
"And I am telling you to consider the consequences of your actions!" Iblis snarled. "Stop treating us like pawns!"
"You believe Lucifer to be any different?!" he demanded, pausing when he noticed Belial's presence just outside his office, more than likely alerted by the oppressive energy that steeped the room. Sighing, Samael reigned in his powers. No point in drawing any more unwanted attention.
"Lucifer is angry because you promised him a body, then failed to deliver," Iblis muttered, following his example.
Samael pinched the bridge of his nose, bone tired with the whole situation. "And pray tell, Sister, how was I to know Father would take it before Lucifer could?"
"The point is," Iblis ground out, "that instead of wasting time and resources on fighting a battle you haven't the slightest hope of winning, you should concentrate your efforts on fulfilling the original agreement."
The demoness rose, too dignified to stomp towards the door but only just.
"And in the mean time I suggest that, for once in your life, you try treating us like family instead of objects you can manipulate."
Thanks for reading~