Mairimashita! Iruma-kun: Shadows of the Past, part 27
That evening, everyone gathered at the main table. It was time to talk business. Iruma watched nervously as Kalego argued about his presence. "He doesn't need to be any further involved", stated his sensei. Sullivan smiled nonetheless.
"I think Iruma-kun is mature enough to handle the situation", he replied almost cheerfully. "He was instrumental in unlocking Pandora's magic", added Opera. She smiled as Balam nodded in agreement. "All in favor?", asked Sullivan. All hands went up besides Kalego's. Grumbling in defeat, he slowly raised his, too. He was clearly outnumbered.
"I think a fresh set of eyes will be helpful. This situation has gone on for far too many years already", stated Nene. Agreeing, Sullivan said, "Now that that's settled, who has an idea? Let me remind you that Levi-chan and Belial-kun have entrusted us with this task."
The table grew quiet as everyone thought it over. Iruma kept his silence, knowing his desire to try talking it out with Victoria would be useless. He thought back to when he'd stopped Kiriwo-senpai. This situation was just as dire if not more.
Babylus was in danger again and, not only that, but those he cared for were all intimately involved this time. Countless innocents were also on the line. He knew Ai would never be satisfied with the amount of power she held in her hands.
Comments and suggestions passed back and forth with no real progress. Finally, Iruma spoke up. "How did you stop Victoria before?", he asked, his eyes on his homeroom teacher. Kalego stared momentarily, then simply uttered, "Each time was different."
He didn't seem keen to discuss it. Iruma had little idea just how painful it had all been for him after Pandora's supposed murder and he was completely clueless as to Persephone's near death experience. His sensei had reasons for being so gloomy.
The talk continued for over an hour and the group had unanimously agreed that it was too dangerous for Kalego to hunt down Victoria alone. Thus a task force was being planned. He would be in charge, but Robin and Bachiko would be invaluable when it came time to take her down. Meanwhile, the healers would split up among the field and the base teams where Balam and Opera could guard operations when not being utilized.
Now they needed someone with information, someone who could easily get inside Victoria's mansion. Nene shared a knowing look with Sullivan. With a brief nod, he was on the same page.
"There is one demon perfect for the job", stated Nene. All eyes turned to her in question. With a quaint grin, she explained, "He's an expert tracker and a master spy. Plus, he has experience in infiltrating Ai's little group. He's a perfect fit."
Persephone and Kalego seemed uneasy all of a sudden, prompting Iruma to wonder just who this demon was and what ties they held. At any rate, he was just happy to finally take a full part in these talks. He already had his assignment; He would be the base team archer and needed to stay informed.
However, Iruma wasn't the only one intrigued by their subtle reactions. Pandora also had no idea who Nene was referring to. Balam simply held his silence as they held hands under the table, knowing the intricacies of the delicate situation.
Persephone sighed, holding her head in one hand. "Mum, please. Anyone, but that guy", she grumbled. Apparently they had some sort of unpleasant history. Nene smiled brightly in the face of her protégé's doom-ridden response.
"Can you think of anyone better suited to help Kalego-kun with this task?", she asked innocently. Persephone's aura seemed to sink a shade darker, knowing there wasn't. There was only one more obstacle now. Nene grinned purposefully at Kalego.
Keeping an even expression, he seemed to be in thought with his hands held pensively in front of his face as he leaned onto the table. After a brief pause, he said, "Call him." Persephone glanced over in surprise.
"Kalego-kun, are you sure about this? Between him and Bars...", she trailed, knowing he was signing up for a stressful time. Lowering his hands, he closed his eyes as if blocking out his own internal argument.
He stared at Nene with a sort of dark calm. "This task is too important to let my personal opinions get in the way. Call in Vicente", he stated. Persephone grinned faintly at his dedication. This would be their final fight with Victoria Ai.
Nene smiled in acknowledgement, proud to see him striding forward. "There is one minor detail", she said, raising a finger. "If I call him, he'll probably answer...but if you call him, Per-chan, he'll definitely answer", she beamed.
Persephone glowered in irritation. Nene was right, of course, but she really didn't want to talk to him; It would only encourage the fool. Glancing over, she saw Kalego patiently holding out his hand, waiting for her phone. He wasn't exactly keen to speak with Vincente, either, but he would take the proverbial bullet.
Handing over her phone with a wry, yet thankful grin, she watched Kalego scroll through her contacts. Everyone listened in anticipation as he dialed on speaker mode.
After only two rings, a man answered. A velvety voice said, "Lamya-sama, it's been too long!", with cheer. Persephone fought off an eye twitch at his tone, already annoyed with him. Before she could speak, Kalego held up his hand to silence her.
"Vincente, it's Naberius", he said evenly. The line grew quiet. Finally, the voice said, "Is Lamya-sama there or have you stolen her phone, you cad?". Iruma and Pandora glanced at their friend's in question. This man didn't sound too fond of Kalego, but he didn't seem to mind. The feeling was clearly mutual.
"Persephone is here. She just didn't want to talk to you", he said with a smirk. Nene stifled a chuckle. She knew this would happen. Rolling her eye, Persephone spoke up. "I'm here, Valiant."
"I'm pleased to hear your voice", stated Vincente. Cutting off the errant conversation, Kalego was next to speak. "I'll get straight to the point. Victoria is back to her old tricks again...We need your help."
Iruma quietly stared, impressed by his teacher's candor. He knew Kalego was swallowing his pride for the greater good.
After a long pause, Vincente replied, "I see...You and I have had our differences, Naberius, and I know making this call wasn't easy for you...To be honest - if it were just you, I'd decline, but I know Lamya-sama is counting on me, too." Persephone stared darkly at her phone. "You're on speaker, dumbass", she said flatly.
Vincente quickly changed his tune. "Lamya-sama, you know I jest! Any ally of yours is naturally an ally of mine. I only meant to remind my rival how precious you are to me", he said innocently. Sighing, Persephone was already tired as she held her head in her hand once more.
"Can we count on you, Valiant-kun?", ventured Nene. "Mother? You're there, too? The situation must really be rather dire then… Of course, you can count on me, my good lady. Where can I meet you?", he asked. A breath of relief passed over the table. The first trial was over.
"You'll have to come to my house", said Sullivan. "There's a strong barrier, but it's nothing you can't navigate", he added.
On the other end of the call, Vincente had happy tears running down his face with a fist clenched in excitement. He would see his precious Lamya-sama, Lady Nene, and even one of the greats. Despite Kalego's presence, this would be a treat indeed.
Collecting himself, he maintained an even tone. "Of course, Lord Sullivan. I am humbled by your hospitality… I need to finish something here, but I can head over first thing in the morning. I just need to tie up some loose ends...and Lamya-sama, I look forward to seeing you again."
Then he hung up. Kalego was staring at the phone with conflicting thoughts as he returned it to his owner. Shichiro sent him a pleased grin in support. Kalego had done well to contain his ire.
"That's great! How soon will he be here?", asked Pandora, pushing past the tense atmosphere. "Tomorrow", grumbled Kalego. Iruma looked shocked. "Ehhh? Is he that close?", he uttered. Persephone smirked at his intrigue.
"No, he's currently on the western border, but he's very skilled in portals. If he's been somewhere before, he can connect his current location almost instantly", she explained.
Pandora and Iruma both sparkled, impressed. Persephone let them enjoy their idolization while it lasted. They would meet him soon enough.
With their plan taking shape, Sullivan tucked Iruma into bed for the night. The next day would be filled with new chances at victory against Ai.
Elsewhere, at the Victoria mansion, Ai glared into a polished, black mirror in irritation. Sullivan's barrier was interfering with her ability to eavesdrop on Kalego, so she had resorted to scrying with mixed results. She didn't know his plans, but the glimpses she managed to steal from his eyes were of Persephone.
Victoria was not amused. Her scrying mirror fractured under her intensely jealous aura. Still, she had ways of messing with him. She smiled sadistically as she thought up her newest scheme. It would work nicely.
A servant silently opened her door. With a bow, they let someone inside and left him to speak in private with their master. Glancing across her shoulder, Victoria grinned. The answer to her problem had just arrived.
Turning, she said, "Amy-kun, it's good to see you again." Kiriwo could see straight through her pleasant expression. Wasting no time, he replied, "Aniki said you wanted to make a deal." She grinned at his shrewdness.
"Indeed. I have a problem and you're the only one that can fix it... To be more precise, I need your blood", she stated. He was intrigued despite the risk to his frail health. Baal had told him of Ai's vampiric nature. "I'm listening", he ventured.
"You see, Kalego-kun and his little brigade have sheltered under a powerful barrier. It's obstructing my ability to manipulate him... I'm not asking any favors, of course. I'm willing to compensate you fairly...Besides, Iruma-kun is under the same barrier."
Kiriwo's eyes quivered at that name. He was eager to reap his revenge. Ever since Baal had told him Iruma was human, his entire body reacted to his name. Calming himself, he grinned coyly.
"My bloodline can create barriers, not destroy them", he said evenly. Ai smiled wickedly in response. "Perhaps, but if I wield it, it can do more", she said. Kiriwo smirked at her bravado. She'd gotten results thus far.
"I won't pull any punches. If you agree to this, I'll drain you fairly well, but your weak constitution will be easily replenished... I'm going to feed you a human. It's very rejuvenating."
Kiriwo shivered with temptation. He'd heard she could get them easily enough. This would be his chance to see just how much punishment Iruma could potentially withstand. Matching the darkness in her expression, he grinned.
"Iruma-kun is mine", he reminded. She smirked, not really caring. "Of course. If you like, I can give you another human to play with after you've recovered. You can experiment to your heart's content in preparation for your domination over him." An evil aura spread between them. They had a deal.
Victoria grinned as she approached Kiriwo. "You're a little young for my taste, so I'll give you the choice. Wrist or neck?", she offered, looking him over. He seemed unphased by the predatory look in her eyes. "The jugular would be most efficient", he said calmly. "So be it", she smirked.
He waited anxiously as she pressed herself against his back. Feeling her tug his collar loose, he craned his neck to make it easy. His mouth nearly watered at the thought of finally tasting human flesh. Flinching faintly at the strange sensation of her bite, he let her drink her fill.
When she'd finished, he staggered to catch his balance. A snap of her fingers was all it took to summon a servant to help him. Idly wiping the blood from her lips, she ordered, "Take him."
Kiriwo was pretty dizzy and he leaned heavily for support. A few rooms away, a fresh corpse was waiting for him, the knife still sticking out of its heart. A formal plate setting waited with candles nearby. Easing him onto his own feet, the servant bowed and left him to his feast.
The following morning, Nene sat in front of her mirror. She stared at her wan reflection. She was pale and dark lines were tracing their way along the veins in her neck. Tense, she tried to pull herself together. She was getting worse and had a good idea of what had caused it. She hoped the others remained unaffected.
Patting some color into her cheeks, she carefully applied makeup to hide her symptoms. She didn't want anyone to worry. A vital ally would arrive soon and she needed to make sure all of her children would get along. Knowing Persephone would treat her later, she framed a smile and made her way to breakfast.
Later in the morning, everyone gathered to await their guest. Persephone had gotten a call from Valiant earlier, projecting his estimated arrival. He was due any time.
Iruma stared in awe as the air nearby shimmered like a mirage. A long, glowing, blue, vertical line appeared, widening into a large oval. He could see people moving about in the background of the other end. Within seconds, a man stepped through. The portal closed behind him.
He was finely dressed and carried himself with an air of nobility. He had tanned skin and long, black hair that was highlighted pastel blue underneath. Small black horns adorned his head. Looking over the faces before him, the demon's golden eyes settled over Persephone. His cat-like pupils widened from thin slits as they adjusted to the indoor lighting.
Stepping forward, he took her hand as he knelt on one knee, his cape swept behind him. "Lamya-sama, you're as lovely as ever", he said. She retrieved her hand before he was able to kiss it. Crossing her arms as a proverbial barrier, she smiled politely.
"Valiant, thank you for coming", she said. His tail seemed to wag beneath his heavy cape when she said his name. Iruma had wondered what kind of demon Vincente was and he was about to find out.
Rising, Vincente bowed deeply as he replied, "Anything for milady." Her pleasant expression was already strained, but Persephone played her part. "You remember Nene-sama", she ventured, gesturing. Vincente lit up. "Mother! It's a pleasure as always", he grinned.
After a hug, he then bowed to Sullivan. "My lord, I am ever humbled by your splendor. Your hospitality is most appreciated." Sullivan smiled as they shook hands and exchanged a few words. The next person to catch his eye was Kalego. They glared briefly, then he moved onto Balam as if Kalego wasn't even there.
Shaking hands, Vincente grinned politely once more. "Balam-san, I'm glad to see you're well...and who is this lovely creature?" His eyes settled over Pandora. Stepping forward, Persephone put her hand on her shoulder. "Valiant, this is my beloved cousin, Hekate Pandora", she introduced.
Pandora grinned in greeting, accepting his offered hand. She had anticipated a simple handshake, but he surprised her by kissing the back of her hand. She blushed uncomfortably as Balam tensed faintly. She stifled a small laugh. She'd never seen Shichiro jealous before.
Intimidated by the large, mildly scowling demon, Vincente quickly moved on. Next was Iruma with Opera standing beside him. Kneeling to eye level, Vincente put a hand on the boy's shoulder as he looked him over. After a brief smile, he lowered his head. "I am honored to meet the progeny of house Sullivan", he said.
Iruma was a little lost with such a grandiose greeting. Smiling politely, he waved his hand to dismiss such formalities. "Pleased to meet you, Vincente-san", he ventured. As the demon rose to his full height, he grinned at Iruma's manners. "Vincente Valiant - at your service", he said with a brief bow.
"Opera-san", he said, nodding in acknowledgement. Glancing back at the group, he looked back toward Kalego before ignoring him again. Already annoyed, Kalego fought off an eye twitch. Persephone put a warm hand on his arm in silent support. Seeing that, Vincente finally acknowledged his presence.
"Naberius, you look gloomy as ever", he grinned. His tone was infuriatingly pleasant, but the malice hidden within was easily detected. Kalego smirked as he offered his hand in greeting. The game was on.
Not wanting to tarnish his impeccable manners, Valiant shook Kalego's hand as quickly as possible. He tried not to make it obvious as he wiped his hand with his cape afterward. "Your home is well kept as expected of Opera-san, Lord Sullivan", he said, distracting from his movements.
Sullivan smiled proudly. "Opera is truly wonderful", he stated. The demon in question quietly sparkled with a coy smile. "But Iruma-kun's presence has finally turned this old house into a home", grinned the chair demon.
Valiant glanced back at the lad, curious about his bandaged arm. "I shall pray for your speedy recovery", he said. Iruma nodded with a nervous smile. He really didn't want to get into the details about that when his sensei already looked so stressed. Vincente acted professional, but behind his noble grin was a wicked aura facing off against Kalego's.
Clapping her hands, Nene smiled wide. "Now that introductions are over, I suggest you get settled in. Then we'll start discussing plans", she said. To everyone's shock, in the next moment, she was collapsing to the floor.
Wide eyes and worried faces stared as Persephone knelt beside her fallen master. "Mum?", she uttered carefully. Upon closer inspection, Nene's breathing was rapid and shallow. Going on a hunch, Persephone wiped Nene's face. The layers of makeup slid off with sweat. Purple lines marked the veins covering her face.
Valiant leaned over in curiosity while Sullivan took his place at her side. "Nene-chan...why didn't you tell us?", he said darkly. She had gotten after him for secrets not long before and here she was doing the same thing. He silently held her hand in concern.
Persephone grit her teeth in irritation. "She's burning up… Opera, help me get her to bed. Shichiro, find me some usable herbs in the garden", she instructed. Glancing briefly between Kalego and Vincente, she smirked wryly. "You two...don't kill each other."
A whirlwind of movement followed her orders. Pandora and Balam followed Iruma to the garden while Opera carried Nene to her room. Sullivan and Persephone remained at her side, leaving the two rivals alone.
Valiant stared after Nene in genuine concern. "Is she alright?", he asked. Thinking it over, Kalego stiffened as he realized the poison in Persephone's arrow, days before, was never meant for her. Victoria had outfoxed them yet again.
"Go see if you can help. Remind Persephone that it isn't an illness, it's a toxin. I'll tell Shichiro", he said. No time for arguing, Valiant agreed and they set off in separate directions. They would settle their differences another time.
To be continued...