Mairimashita! Iruma-kun: Shadows of the Past, part 13
Late in the day, everyone except Henri waited solemnly in Sullivan's office. (He was watching over Pandora.) Balam, Kalego, Robin, and the principal awaited their guest.
Lady Nene, the Purifier, had come just in time. She had managed to interrupt the prisoner exchange with Victoria Ai, allowing both Shichiro and Pandora their freedom after Katlego's plan fell apart. She had spent most of the night treating the recovered demon. Now, the group eagerly awaited her report. Her insight would be invaluable, then Pandora's friends would allowed near her patient more freely.
The door opened and a regal figure strode in. She was older and petite, but her powerful aura commanded respect. Nene wore her hair in a traditional manner, signifying her nobility, and the sleeves of her fine clothes were lined with countless tiny bells, causing a rhythmic twinkling sound as she walked. Most impressive were her large feathered wings. It seemed she was unable to store them in her back like other demons, but it was clear the feathers had darkened significantly during Pandora's treatment. Robin held his breath, both hopeful she could help and awed by her glamor.
"Nene-chan, thank you for coming", offered Sullivan, breaking the ice with a pleasant smile. Gracefully turning her eyes toward him as she reached his desk, she grinned faintly. "The patient will recover, but her mind took extra work. I hope you're willing to compensate me appropriately", said the striking demon. Everyone stared at the palpable tension. Then, without warning, Nene's true colors showed themselves.
"Sa-chan, you're so mean, ignoring me for so long!", she whined, grabbing onto him and crushing his face into her bosom. The others held their shocked silence, unsure if they should intervene despite his flailing arms. Seeing someone so highly ranked being treated so was unexpected. This was the great Purifier?
"And what's this I hear about a grandson? Don't tell me you've had a secret love child all these years!", she said, throttling him by his collar. "You know I offered", she stated, staring him angrily in the eye, dead serious. Robin gawked in shock. Was this woman for real?
Finally breaking free, Sullivan straightened his glasses. "Now, Nene, you're going to give everyone the wrong idea", he said, regaining his composure. She took on an odd expression at his chiding, as if offended. "Nonsense! We raised a child together... sort of", she argued.
Looking over the faces before her, she slipped back into her alter ego. An unladylike expression crossed her face as she took attendance. "Wah! Sa-chan, where is our child?!", she demanded, shaking the chair demon mercilessly but the shoulders.
The door opened again and Opera entered with Iruma. Politely raising their hand, Opera calmly stated, "Here I am", sparkles behind them. Nene's focus pivoted instantly. In the blink of an eye, she was now crushing Opera's ribs in a smothering hug. Sullivan weakly leaned over his desk near tears, thankful for their sacrifice.
"Opera-chan! Have you missed Mummy?", she cooed, nuzzling happily into their arm. "Of course", they replied, patting her head without real emotion. "I'm so sorry I didn't get to visit with you last night! I hope you're not upset!", she said, snuggling them close. Iruma stared with wide eyes, clearly confused.
"Eeehhhh?! Opera-san, this your mother?!", he gaped. Kalego smirked, amused by his senpai's distress, and Balam grinned to himself at the scene. "Nene-sama considers everyone younger her child", he explained.
Her sights settled over Iruma, a wicked smile on her face. Swallowing hard, he felt like he should run, but there was no time. As the next victim of her attention, Nene looked him over quickly from all angles before approving. "He's adorable", she said to Sullivan with a thumbs up before returning her focus to the boy.
"You can call me Granny. After all, your grandpa and I are basically married", she decreed with a grin, pinching his cheek. "S-sure", uttered Iruma nervously. Sullivan lifted one finger and started to say, "Nene, that's not really tr-", but before he could finish the last word, she glared daggers at him, an intense aura around her, as if daring him to finish. With Iruma now crushed into her chest, he gave up the argument.
Who was this strange woman and why was she there? Iruma was finally released and bashfully tried to catch his breath. He glanced at Sullivan who was still recovering from her previous attack.
Iruma had been kept mostly in the dark about everything going on as not to worry him, but he knew something was up the way everyone was acting. He hoped he would soon have answers now that everyone had gathered.
Dragging Opera along by the hand, Nene sat on the edge of Sullivan's desk. "Now then", she began as she played with Opera's cat ears, "What took you so long to ask for my help? Ai is no trifle to play with." Iruma looked at the faces surrounding him. He knew that name. He remembered her voice and the look of bloodlust in her eyes when she had told him that she knew his secret. They all looked tense at the mention as well.
Sullivan's voice caught his attention. "Iruma-kun, come sit by Grandpa. This concerns you, too", he said. Iruma did so, still unsure what was going on, but Robin-sensei wouldn't look him in the eye, averting his face each time their gazes met.
"Bars-kun, come here", said Nene, finally releasing Opera as she beckoned. Robin took his place in front of her, staring at the floor in guilt. "Please forgive me", he uttered sincerely. Nene looked him over, mentally cataloging the nuances of his active curses. Her wings spread out behind her, their black feathers quivering in anticipation. Placing her hand over his marked eye, she concentrated.
"Hmm...So that was the order", she uttered in thought. Withdrawing her hand, she looked at Robin with sadness in her eyes. "It was hard holding it in, wasn't it?", she ventured. Somehow her words dredged up everything that had been suppressed. Tears rolled down his face. "Yes", he managed in a cracked voice. Dropping to the floor, he visibly shook in relief. There was finally help.
Iruma watched as the feathers in her wings got a little darker. Sliding off the desk, she knelt by the broken demon and held him tight. "Shh, there, there. Mummy's here", she said, gently patting his hair. Robin slowly calmed as if his anguish had somehow been relieved. Helping him to his feet, she offered a kind smile as she wiped away his tears. "You should be able to tell them now", she stated.
Robin thought it over. Victoria's plan was now clear in his mind and the horrid will to hide it was gone. Robin looked to Nene in deep thanks then to Iruma and Sullivan. "Her plan… Victoria ordered me to kill two students", he stated. His eyes opened wide, a little surprised he could finally articulate the words. The tension in the room thickened instantly. Nene's magic was powerful indeed.
Kalego grit his teeth angrily. "Students?", he repeated, not having anticipated the revelation of multiple targets. Iruma shivered, recalling the day Robin-sensei had been taken from the tower. He had been told little by Opera at first, but he knew his grandpa was being far more protective than usual since then. It dawned on him that he may have been the target, but Robin-sensei couldn't have possibly intended to follow through. There was no way… Right?
Sullivan's sharp eyes focused over Robin as Balam took it all in. He looked particularly worried. "Who are the targets?", asked the principal, expecting Iruma to be one of them. Robin stared at the floor in frustration, fists clenched tightly at his sides. He hated that he had gotten so close to obeying Victoria. "Valac and Asmodeus", he stated, unable to meet the gazes staring at him.
Sullivan's eyes grew dark, angry that Victoria had nearly gotten her way with his school yet again. Iruma was obviously shaken. "Sensei...you were going to kill them?", he uttered in disbelief. Robin looked up, his face reddened in shame and tears in his eyes. "I didn't want to… Please believe me", he pleaded, apologetically. Iruma barely noticed his grandpa grasping his hand. He slowly looked up to his face as the old demon's fingers curled around his own.
"Iruma-kun, please understand he was under a puppet curse. His body was not his own", said Sullivan gently. "That doesn't excuse it", said Kalego, a little harshly. "Kalego-kun, go easy on him. It wasn't his fault", ventured Balam. Kalego turned his gaze with an annoyed 'hmph'. He was more protective of his students than he let on.
Nene was the next to touch Iruma, setting a warm hand on his shoulder. He looked to her pleading eyes and understood. Swallowing his anxiety, he looked back to Robin. "Sensei, I know you would never hurt any of us… I'm sorry I doubted you", he said.
Robin smiled meekly. He was so grateful, but he knew it would take work to regain everyone's trust. Looking back to Nene, his pleading eyes cut deep into her heart. The feathers on her wings quivered as she thought it over. How soon could remove his curses?
"Mummy", ventured Opera, getting her attention. She smiled with amusement at the title while Iruma tried to keep a straight face. This was all pretty weird still.
"Yes, dear?", she asked. Opera sent her a stern look. "Don't over do it so soon", he chided. Noting Iruma's confusion, Balam-sensei explained her magic. "Her bloodline let's her essentially digest dark magic. It takes time to break down, though, so if she consumes too much at once, it can trigger a wicked cycle."
Iruma's eyes widened before nodding in understanding. Beside him, Sullivan looked tense. "The chair demon is the only one who has ever been able to reign her in when that happens", added Kalego. Both Robin and Iruma watched Sullivan fight off a chill. Apparently those were bad memories.
Clapping her hands briefly for attention, Nene smiled at her gathered 'children'. "Don't panic", she assured. Patting Robin's head, she said, "I'm sure Robin-kun will be just fine for a few more days while I decompress." Robin nodded, determined not to let Victoria control him again.
"Then it's decided. I'll watch over Pandora while my mana recharges and Robin can stay with Bachiko-chan until then. I know she'll keep a close eye on him", she stated with a grin.
The group nodded in agreement. Knowing the meeting was coming to an end for now, Balam glanced at Kalego, eager to return to Pandora's side. Once everyone had been stabilized and treated, then they would make a plan to defeat Victoria Ai once and for all.
As the room calmed and those gathered started to file out, Kalego froze at a stern tug of his sleeve. He looked at Lady Nene in question. What could she possibly want with him? Balam watched briefly near the door, but left after only a brief hesitation. There was clearly something she had to say in private.
Once Nene and Kalego were alone, she smiled gently. "Kalego-kun, it's been a while", she said. He mentally braced himself for an invasive hug, but it thankfully never came. Nene released his sleeve and stared soulfully until she had his full attention. As their eyes met, she said, "My assistant won't be far behind me", eying his reaction carefully. The connection didn't seem to register, so she sighed, ready to try again.
"I don't think you two have spoken since the incident?", she ventured. That did it. Kalego stiffened visibly. Shying his gaze with pink tinged cheeks, he asked, "Why are you telling me this?". With a pained look, he inadvertently touched the curse over his heart and muttered, "She'll never forgive me." Everything from the distant past up through his near defeat the night before played in his mind.
Nene smiled gently. "You won't know if you don't ask", she said cheerfully. "Besides, she asked to come… Lamya-chan knows Babylus is your assigned post to guard. She wouldn't come if she didn't want to see you", she explained. Kalego's eyes softened as he looked to his hand, clenched across his heart.
"Lamya Persephone… I never thought I'd hear that name again", he uttered. A faint grin crossed his lips. A lot of 'never's were happening lately. Victoria had returned, Pandora was alive, he'd actually been relieved to see Robin come back, and now this.
Nene watched him carefully. She knew he had been through a lot recently and she hoped just maybe he would take a chance to patch up one more relationship while Pandora recovered.
"Kalego-kun, she's not coming to stir up trouble. She's coming for Pan-chan just as much as she is for you. After all this, do you really want me to go back to the front lines and tell Narnia-kun you decided to wuss out?", she teased. She grinned at the sudden shift in his posture.
Gritting his teeth, he silently cursed this crazy woman. "You would use my brother against me", he grumbled. "Pitting siblings against one another to help them grow is what moms do best", she said with a proud smile, almost twinkling.
Fending off an eye twitch, he collected himself. He already had a lot to deal with; He didn't have time for this right now. A playful poke to the ribs caused an unamused glare as Nene dragged him from his thoughts.
"Come on. What do you say?", she taunted. Begrudgingly, he bowed to her. "Thank you", he managed, forcing the words. "Hmm? Thank you, what?", she said, innocently cupping a hand around her ear. Kalego's body shuddered. He hated having to please someone so frustrating, but at least with his time at Babylus, he had practice.
"Thank you...Mum", he said distastefully. He may have to humor her rank, but he would never stoop to calling her 'Mummy'. Elatedly petting his lowered head, she glowed with pride. "There's my good boy", she grinned, victorious.
Resuming his natural stature over her, he hid a tiny grin. He wasn't exactly ready to face Persephone again, but it was past the time to do so. Still, he planned on keeping her pending arrival to himself for a while. Shichiro was already preoccupied and getting Pandora back to health was their top priority.
As he turned to leave, he paused as Nene called his name. Glancing across his shoulder, he could see how serious she was when she promised, "This time, I'll take both marks for good. It's the least I can do."
Smiling faintly, Kalego said, "Don't worry about trying to fix me right now. Focus on her." He glanced toward Pandora's room as he spoke and Nene knew exactly what he meant. She also had Robin to deal with first. Kalego had decades of practice dealing with his curses; He could wait a while longer.
"Very well. I suppose you would be happier if Ai removed them herself anyway", she grinned. Taking his leave, Kalego smirked to himself, sure that would never happen. Then again, 'never' seemed to be running out of luck these days.
Still, he had his students to worry about now and Shichiro to support as well as helping Pandora return to the living. The last concern on his list was himself. Then he remembered his own words to Iruma about self sacrifice. His actions the night before pinged through his head. Annoyed with himself, he departed to find his friends. He knew they would keep him grounded.
To be continued...