After learning about his origins, Sig begins to worry about his demonic heritage. As he scopes out the sunflower field, he comes across a new demon who changes his mind. Requested by a tumblr anon!

Strange Sense of Self

While he put on a neutral face, Sig wondered about himself. Ever since his encounter with that strange being who possessed Klug, he knew they were connected. He didn't exactly delve into his history, but Akuma was kind enough to fill him in after noticing the stricken look crossing his features.

He wondered if he should have done more. Evidently, the evil half of his ancestor was sealed inside Klug's tome and subsequently controlled him, pushing his spirit into the tome. Perhaps if he had learned more about himself, then he would have been able to rescue Klug much faster instead of listening to the whims of a royal child.

Still, after learning about himself, he quietly understood certain things. Why he was monotonous or flat, Akuma attributed that to having half a soul. He wasn't fully sure about his reasoning, the thought leaving him almost anxious. He knew who he was, a boy who loved bugs and his friends with a strange claw, but the new information about himself left him feeling like something was twisting in his stomach to the point of making him nauseous.

He needed time by himself. A place to breathe, a place to care for bugs, he traveled to his favorite sunflower field on the outskirts of Primp Town. Lovely bugs soared around him from bumblebees to butterflies, and hardworking insects crawled along the dirt like beetles and ants. They provided their comfort simply by existing and giving Sig something else to focus on as he gently scooped up a ladybug, letting it crawl along his claw.

Seeing it trek to the edge of his hand, with its pointed nails as sharp as a knife, left him pale. He swallowed, wondering if he could ever hurt such an innocent bug. Seeing how his other half so cruelly took over Klug without a care in the world for his safety left him sick to his stomach, and a cloying taste clung to the roof of his mouth, drying his throat and leaving him almost parched.

"Why, hellooo there!"

Anyone else would have flinched, but Sig simply cocked his head. He looked over his shoulder and found someone entirely new, someone who didn't exactly fit in with the regulars of Primp. With her wild pink hair, purple horns, and odd clothing, he figured she was someone from Arle's world.

"You look-" She cut herself off, her attention transfixed on his arm. "Oh, are you a demon, too? I didn't think I'd find any in a nice place like this."

Eyes widening, Sig lowered his arm. The ladybug fluttered around his head before resting on his hair.

"Hm, now that I look at you, you seem really young." She stuck her tongue out and lightly bonked herself on the head. "My bad, my bad, I didn't mean to come off so strongly." Approaching him, she gripped her hips and stared down at his arm. "Anyway, are you a demon? I don't think I've ever met a human-looking demon with an arm like that."

"'Human-looking?'" He furrowed his brow. "I'm human."

"Not with that arm." She smirked. "Unless you're a changeling. I haven't seen one in a while, but the last time I met one, she was-" She cut herself off, noticing his eyes crinkling into a squint. She followed his gaze to the ground, catching sight of a scarlet butterfly nestling on the stem of a particularly long sunflower. "Are you a fan of bugs?"

"Yeah." He sidestepped around her, offering his claw to the butterfly.

It sniffed his hand and recoiled, its wings flapping faster than before. It sped off, leaving them behind, and a bit of pollen dusted Sig's nose from its ascent. His eyes shot open, baffled. No insect had ever rejected him before. All of them seemed to enjoy the soothing warmth of his palm, and all he could do was vacantly gaze a hole through his hand.

"Hey, kid, you okay?" She itched through her scalp. "Um, it's just a butterfly. There's plenty more around."

He glared back at her, rare anger burning in his chest, but a sigh exhaled it all away. Hunching forward, he turned around and headed back on the path.

Rolling her eyes, Succubus wondered what she had come across. She knew he was a demon, at least partially, but he certainly wasn't like the rest of her brood. Satan was a jerk, Incubus was a critic, Demon Servant was haughty, and even that odd rock star, Hed or whatever, was far too ear-grating.

"Come on, don't go just yet." She skipped after him, easily towering over him with her heels. Chuckling, she drummed her fingers on her hip. "One measly butterfly doesn't want to sit on your palm, and you get all sad. Well, from what I saw, those other bugs liked you, right? Isn't that good enough?"

"No."

Groaning, she huffed, "Well, it should! You seem like a decent kid if a bit...dull."

"Because my other demonic half made me emotionally disconnected...or something like that."

Succubus' lips formed a tight purse. She certainly hadn't been expecting that answer. Twirling a a lock of her hair, she said, "Okay, well, look at it this way. Maybe you can find pride in your origins."

"Huh?" Sig's half-lidded gaze seemed to look right through her.

"When I was watching you-"

"Why were you watching me?"

"Don't interrupt. When I was watching you, all those other bugs really liked being around you. They came to you, didn't they? Bugs usually stay away from people but not you. Isn't that something to be happy about?" She snickered. "Not only that, but if you're partly demonic, then you must have some hidden abilities. Me? I'm Succubus, and my talent is seducing handsome men with an almost one hundred percent success rate."

"Why not a hundred percent?"

"Because Schezo Wegey can't see beauty if it hits him in the face. Anyway!" She gripped his shoulders, grinning wide enough to show her small fangs. "You should be proud to be a demon! Even if you had some bad experiences or whatever, I can sense power within you. It's strong, bold, and warm, and even if you say you're dull, I don't think that whatsoever."

"Even if we just met?"

"Yes. In my line of work, I know good people from bad people." She winked, not a hint of flirtation to be found. "And I know a good kid like you when I see one. A boy like you probably has a lot of friends, right?"

Sig hummed, a small smile appearing on his face. He was friends with everyone in his class. He befriended people others would either fight with or be irritated by like Feli or Salde. He had hundreds of friends with the insects roaming throughout Primp, and when he looked over his shoulder, the little blue spirit that hung around smiled back at him.

"Yeah. I think so." He nodded, his antennae-like hair bobbing, causing his ladybug to fly off onto his shoulder.

"Oh, come on! Say it like a true half-demon! Be bold!" Succubus ordered.

He closed his eyes, her abrasiveness a bit unwelcoming. "I...know so."

"There we go." She released his shoulders and turned him around. "Now, march on back to town like a proud half-demon."

"But I'm not done with the bugs."

"But I say you are, so show me what a real half-demon would do in this situation!"

"Puyo battle."

She blinked. Even though she was so used to having problems settled with Puyo battles, she expected a more wild response. The calm, confident look burning in his heterochromatic eyes, however, gave her the answer she needed.

"Fine, fine, let's Puyo battle, kiddo!" she barked back with a haughty chortle, and Sig smiled, summoning his board as his worries faded away to the back of his mind.