Chapter 36

Her words hung in the air and it was then that they knew she was serious, she would pack up and leave before she let herself be what came between them, it made them all feel a sense of panic settle in their stomachs.

Kagome cleared her throat, it was dry from hours of talking and she hadn't even reached the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. Part of her wanted to stop for the night, to give herself and them more time to digest everything. The other part knew this had to be done like a Band-Aid, ripped off quickly and efficiently. Yes, it would hurt like a son of a bitch but only for a bit and then it would be over and the healing process would be over, leaving behind fully healed skin.

Daivolo frowned, giving a small flare of his aura he let his barrier shift as Barbatos slipped inside of it. "Please prepare some tea." Barbatos nodded, slipping back out through the barrier using his own magic.

Kagome shivered. "I hate feeling him do that, it reminds me of the magic of the well and my time in the void..." Her voice was light, more a grumbling to herself as she turned to give Diavolo a small smile in thanks. "Though I won't lie. He makes the best tea I've ever had."

"Thank you Ms. Kagome, you have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that." She was hard pressed to not jump at his voice as he set a tray of tea and Demonus on the table between the four of them before righting himself to gaze at his lord. "Will that be all my lord?"

It wasn't hard to read between the lines, 'would you like me to leave or stay'.

Diavolo merely turned to look at Kagome, as if asking her what she wanted. It made her heart skip a beat, he was leaving the choice up to her. Giving his hand another tender squeeze she let it go in order to grab the cup of tea to bring it to her lips to take a sip.

The warm liquid soothed her dry scratching throat, settling in the pit of her stomach as she placed the cup back down on the table. "He can stay, I don't mind. He probably needs to hear this as well. Besides I know he's been lurking around since we came in here." She shot him a knowing look, ignoring the small embarrassed flush that dusted his cheeks for being caught.

"Ah, I apologize for eavesdropping Ms. Kagome." Kagome waved him off. While it was a bit annoying he thought she didn't notice she understood why he did it. It was clear to see he was wholly and truly dedicated to Diavolo and his well being, of course he would make her business his business since it involved his beloved lord and his livelihood.

"It's fine, you're an excellent retainer. One of the very best I've had the privilege of meeting. I would expect nothing less of you." Shifting, she groaned a bit as her stomach clenched, reminding her she hadn't eaten since this morning. "Anyway you can bring us something to snack on...I'm hungry..." A light flush dusted her cheeks, feeling embarrassed for asking when things had been so tense not that long ago.

Barbatos nodded, "Of course Ms. Kagome I shall return with food as quickly as I can. Is there anything you need my lord?" Daivolo shook his head, "No, I assume you alerted the teachers to my change in plans for the day, made an excuse and gathered any work I will need to do later?"

Barbatos nodded, "Indeed. It's on your desk in your study." With that he let his magic move him back to the castle to put together a spread for those in the library, wanting to return quickly so that they could keep discussing what needed to be addressed.

The future shifting and turning over and over, possibilities ever changing and fading from one to the other. The only constant was the fact that this needed to happen and it needed to happen now in order for any sliver of a favorable outcome for all involved.

It was a fine line he walked, knowing what had happened and could happen. Seeing all the realms of possibilities, all the could be's and maybe's separated by small almost meaningless choices. His powers were a curse, something he hated until his lord had taught him to have pride in them, to hone them and use them to his advantage.

He had vowed to only use his powers for the benefit of his lord and while that promise had been made eons ago he would keep it until his dying breath and that was why he was so hard pressed to shift through each and every possible outcome that involved his lord and the woman who had without even meaning to, had entrapped his heart.