They will see, we'll fight until eternity.
Come with me, we'll stand and fight together.
Are you happy?
Ever since he settled down in Inazuma as a consort to the shogun, he's asked himself this from time to time. Sure, she was a beautiful woman, a skillful martial artist that could keep up with him.
But, was it really worth giving up his pursuit of power for marital bliss? To halt any progression of becoming power absolute, for the sake of living a peaceful life with a woman who loved him dearly?
Okay, any sane person would choose a life of peace and love over the pursuit of power. But to be fair to the half-demon, power was the only thing he ever knew, ever since that day.
That memory was forever burned in his mind: his helplessness, his inability to do anything, all while his home and his mother were burned by the hands of demonkind.
He didn't want to lose it a second time, and he was certain that he would run the Yamato through fate's neck if it decided to do it again.
"There you are, I was beginning to think you had disappeared" a soft voice giggled, belonging to the aforementioned woman he had sworn devotion to. Ei approached the half-demon that stood before her, cupping his left cheek as her lips moved to meet his.
That woman
She was fierce like a booming thunderstorm, yet calm like an open sky. Whether it was from the adrenaline of their duels or because of their ever-growing respect they have for one another, he did not know. But whatever was the reason, she ended up developing feelings for the devil in a blue coat.
Sometimes he wondered how things came to be like this, but then again: if a human can capture a demon's heart, then many things are possible.
As they broke apart from the kiss, her expression turned somber: "You always seem to wander off without warning, is everything alright?" She asked, her warm gaze slowly turning into an inquisitive one.
To an extent, she understood and empathized with him on his upbringing, as they both suffered losses that caused them to pursue ideas that were normally beyond the reach of many. But with the lack of communication under that category, it's difficult for her to process what he's feeling.
"I am fine, just remembering old things" he reassured, then shifted into a different topic. "That aside, is there something important that I should know about hence why you were searching for me?"
"If I could, may I talk to you somewhere private?" She asked, only for the half-demon to nod in response. Quickly as she could, she led him straight into her dwelling. Once she knew the coast was clear, she closed the door and turned to her consort.
"What is the reason behind its importance that it needs to be kept between us only?" Vergil asked, now that they got their privacy.
"I... noticed a couple of irregularities in my normal day to day cycle" she spoke, a hint of hesitance was visible in her voice. "At first, I paid no mind to it. But after a couple weeks had passed, those irregularities still stayed, only then I realized what was wrong"
"What are you trying to say?" the half-demon asked again, only for Ei to answer in four words:
"I am with child"
Present day
She felt something warm embracing her body, an all too familiar warmth she loved dearly. She always loved it whenever he held her, as it brings her a sense of comfort and a peace of mind.
As she slowly shifted her eyes open, she turned out to be half correct: the warmth was the same one she was familiar with, but it wasn't from him. Instead, it belong to his coat that was draping over her.
She found herself resting under a tree, all while her husband was standing meters away from it. And like the perfectionist he is, he was hellbent on improving his technique.
Subconsciously putting on her beloved's coat, she watches as he moved with such elegance and lethality: his cuts were clean and precise, and his movements were as if he had full control over the field of battle.
Her mind then shifted back to earlier today, when their blades sang as they clashed against one another: the details regarding the outcome, she could not remember clearly, but whatever had happened caused her to pass out.
"Finally awake, I see?" A voice called out, causing the almighty shogun to snap out of her thoughts. She saw an outstretched hand in front of her, the half-demon already finished with refining his technique. "Let's us return home, before the night takes hold."
As the half-demon pulled her back up, he then began the journey back home. But after a while, he stopped and gave her a sideways glance.
"You... look nice in that" he suddenly said, before resuming his gaze back forward. His words didn't make sense to her at first, until she was reminded of the second layer of fabric that caused her to fluster a shade of pink.
She had forgotten that she was wearing his coat.
It was quiet
Upon finally returning to Tenshukaku, it was far too quiet: the normal peals of joy and laughter that would've lasted dawn till dusk, and the loud tapping sounds of little feet was nowhere to be heard. Stranger as it was, even the guards who were normally at their posts should even create the slightest of noise.
The stillness of silence was something Ei was most familiar with, and yet it now gave off a rather unsettling atmosphere. Her husband confirmed that he could not sense any malicious intent from around them; however, he also couldn't sensed anything else from even the guards that were stationed there...
It was as if they're... lifeless...
At that point, investigating the guards wasn't the top priority. Like a lightning flash, she ran in search for her child.
"Nero?!" She called out, only to be met with silence. As she continued to run across the hallway, she then went for one particular room: the room that belonged to her child.
Slamming the door open, she was greeting by nothing but the ambient silence of an empty room. Her eyes darted around the aforementioned room with any clues of what may have happened, only for them to stop directly on a stain in the floor: to many, it would look like just an odd stain. But those within her family would know what it was, and why she nearly broke down if it weren't for her strong will.
The odd stain took the silhouette of a wolf pup.
Elsewhere
Nero once complained about how the sun would attack his eyes, and now he cannot see anything other than the perpetual darkness. He once complained about how his arms and legs would grow tired after while, and now they are bounded together tightly.
If he had complained about how things were too loud, no doubt they would've plugged his ears with a strange device. So he didn't complain, and now he wished he did.
He would often hear the footsteps of his kidnappers, no doubt they were watching the area that surrounded him as they chatted idly:
"Remind me again, why is the child so important?"
"Again? *sighs* It's because he's related to that man"
"Right... and the significance of his relation to his father is important... why?"
"I swear on the Tsaritsa's name, are you this stupid?! It's because our intel speculates that his father may have originated from the abyss!"
The abyss? Tsaritsa? Just what are they on about?
"The abyss? How did it conclude to that?"
"Apparently from what the spies gathered, his magic doesn't utilize any of the elements here in Teyvat. In fact, the magic itself seems to be infernal by nature"
"So, what's the plan they got for the child?"
"From what I heard, they're planning to groom him into a Harbinger. And if that doesn't work, they'll just harvest abyssal delusions out of him"
It took a lot of willpower to keep himself from screaming, holding back the choked sobs in between his breaths. Even though it was purely by accident, he had once overheard his parents discussing about the creation of aforementioned delusions, and how they were made from the remains of gods and other beings.
"Really? To the kid?"
"Something wrong?"
"I know it's exciting and all to wield abyssal energies but just... wow..."
All those days of being harassed by these people, this was their plan: he held a power not many could wield, a cursed power that would've chased him out of home if it weren't for his parents shielding him.
As his demonic arm glowed a blazing orange, the rope that bounded his arms together had dispersed into flames. Tearing off the cloths that dismissed him of his sight and speaking, he had to make his escape.
Listening as the sound of footsteps began to fade, he slowly peeked his head out of the tent where he was held captive: he saw several other tents outside, all with other guards patrolling around the premises. He needed a distraction, and he had the perfect idea on what can be it...
"Hey" an agent called out to one of his party members, "I've heard that you've been seeing someone lately, is that true?"
"Yeah, what about it?" His comrade replied, "are you here to make fun of my life again?"
"No no" the agent shook his hands defensively, "though that being said... who's the unlucky woman that you managed to sweep off her feet?"
"Oh har har" his comrade mocked, before moving on with the topic. "well if you must know, it's Yuri"
"Yuri?! That cicin mage?!" The agent exclaimed in surprise, "I... wow... I didn't know that was possible, who knew?"
"Jeez, stop making it sound like I've entered Celestia and achieved godhood" his friend remarked, "but yeah, we've been seeing each other for a couple years now"
"Well, either way, I give you both my congratulations" the agent replied, "but... are you ever planning to progress that relationship further?"
"Well..." his friend began, scratching the back of his head sheepishly "I've been thinking... of giving her this..."
The agent watches as his friend pulled out a small, ornate box, opening it to reveal a copper ring.
"I... don't really earn much in this job..." his friend admitted, "but... I hope she accepts it"
"You sly dog..." the agent chuckled, before turning his attention to the rest of the group. "Everyone! Come over here, let's celebrate not only for the birth of a new harbinger, but because our friend here will get married soon!"
As the whole group then gathered around to give their friend their praise, they weren't aware of a certain white-haired child making his escape
The heavens must be pitying him, giving an opportunity like that.
He ran as fast as he could, feeling the warmth of the camp's lights fading as the distance grew farther apart. Without any of sense of direction nor knowledge of where he was, Nero ran aimlessly through the plains, hoping that the direction he picked was the correct one.
How long was he running, he had already forgotten. But he was sure that his kidnappers would find out he escaped sooner or later, so taking a break was a risk he wasn't willing to take.
And it seems luck had favoured him once again: Even under the pale moon, he was able to make out familiar shades of purple and white. And without hesitation he cried out to them.
"Mama! Papa!"
They didn't respond, so he cried out even louder.
"Mama! Papa!"
His mother was the first to recognize his voice, turning to see her child running towards them and quickly alerted his father. Even when the distance is far apart, he was able to sense relief from both of them.
With newfound determination, he slowly began to pick up even more speed. They were here! He was safe! He was finally... numb?
His body began to grow numb, and the air was becoming harder to breathe. As the young child attempted to regain his senses, he notices three things: the look of anguish from his father, the look of despair from his mother...
And a bloody dagger embedded on the ground.
"Mama... Papa..." the young child choked out, "why does it feel so... cold?"
AN: there goes another story I've left on a cliffhanger
Anyways, for those who are waiting for an update on my other fic: don't worry, I haven't abandoned it, I am just having difficulties in writing another chapter.