Mairimashita! Iruma-kun: Shadows of the Past, part 56
Outside of Ai's mansion, the misfits were on edge. Some had been wounded, a few resurrected, and others were missing. It was too risky for anyone else to head underground; Their master general had forbidden it, so they had no choice but to wait for their comrades to emerge. Most of them waited anxiously with hope near the collapse, praying for their friends to come back safely.
With the fighting mostly over, Balam silently stood by with a watchful eye lest any other troublesome teens were planning to take the plunge. Finally, a glimmer of hope arose as a shape came into focus from the depths.
"Sensei, look!", pointed Kerori. Balam's stiff shoulders slowly began to relax as his students came into view. He cautioned the others to stay back as he headed into the debris field to help. He knew his thankful breath of relief would have to wait as his vision settled over Asmodeus and Valac.
Azz carried her upon his back with care, but there was a decent amount of blood across his clothing and her leg was bound heavily with cloth bandages. Balam quickly realized that the blood was hers; It was still seeping through her gaze dressings. Lied didn't look too good either, but thankfully, Jazz was there to support him while their sensei tended to the more severely wounded.
Balam held out his hands and offered to take Clara, but Azz shook his head. The stern, determined look in his eyes said that she was his responsibility and no one, not even his master, was taking her away from him until he'd successfully delivered her to the medics. Understanding, Balam didn't argue and instead led them to the medical tent, keeping her way clear.
Once there, Lied uttered, "Thanks, Jazzy", with a grateful grin as his friend helped him onto a cot. He was exhausted and sore, but he didn't mind that as much as the irksome gap in his memory. That aside, he truly was worried for Clara. She had finally succumbed to her pain and nodded off about halfway to the surface. With any luck, her leg could be mended with magic. No one wanted to see her miss her usual, playful antics, well aware she'd be miserable.
The nurse carefully assisted Azzkun and Balam as they gently stretched out their unconscious patient. Nearby, Bachiko glanced over in concern. Valiant was fast asleep beside her, letting her blood heal his battered body, but across the tent, Sabro had come to. The tortured look on his face upon seeing his usually energetic friend out cold and hurt spoke volumes. His master sent him a reassuring look, a silent promise that Clara was in good hands, watching over all of them as their general, teacher, and friend.
"How can I help?", he asked, quickly washing up nearby. Like his students, he was eager to save Clara from any more pain than necessary. He silently wished Nene had come for such an emergency, but he was deeply grateful that she was taking care of Pandora, then his mind started to wander.
How was Pan-chan? What was Victoria's vile curse doing to her and would she be okay? He couldn't bear the thought of losing her a second time and his plausible guilt was getting heavier with each passing minute. How had the curse been triggered? Was any of it somehow his fault?
The nurse started giving orders, jolting him back to the present. He tried to clear his head, knowing his students needed him; He had to focus on who was in front of him, trusting in Nene's skill and Pandora's will to live. Taking solace in that, he followed the nurse's commands.
She instructed that anyone who wasn't injured or helping had to leave, so Sabnock and Jazz quietly filed out, while Bachiko busied herself guarding the entrance to keep everyone outside and out of the way.
Sabro and Azz exchanged a dark look as he passed by. He wanted to know what had befallen their friend, but seeing his training partner use such care with Clara was heartening.
Asmodeus silently folded up his battle-worn, blood-stained jacket as a pillow for her, lost to his thoughts. "Are you hurt?", inquired the nurse. He slowly looked up as if waking from a bad dream and, once it registered, shook his head. Balam could tell he was lost. Putting a supportive hand on Azz's shoulder to help keep him grounded, he said, "Don't worry. It's not his blood."
The nurse nodded faintly, thankful for that, but then told him that he, too, needed to wait outside. Azz glanced worriedly at his master, but Balam's kind eyes and peaceful aura promised that he would take care of Clara. Finally, Asmodeus stepped back, allowing Bachiko to escort him out, and rejoined his friends.
Lied was obviously the lesser priority in injury status, so he quietly watched the adults work on his classmate as not to interrupt. Balam obeyed the nurse's every order, handing over supplies, and keeping a close eye on his fallen student's vitals.
Once the makeshift splint was cut open, deep concern clearly washed over his strained face, but he said nothing as not to worry Lied any further. It took Balam's carefully controlled strength to pull the swollen limb back into alignment while the nurse kept Clara under sedation for the painful procedure. Time seemed to move slowly, but the duo managed to at least roughly set the bones and close her open wounds, stopping the bleeding.
The nurse eventually sighed in satisfaction as she wiped her brow with a cloth. "Thank you for your help, Balam-sensei. Your assistance was invaluable, but we've done all we can. Once this girl gets to a proper hospital, a higher skilled healer will have to work with a surgeon to fully fix this. For now, I'll keep her sedated", she said.
Finally, Lied spoke up. "But Clarin's gonna be okay, right?...I just can't picture her sitting still for too long", he ventured, trying to muster a hopeful expression in the face of adversity. Balam grinned softly behind his mask as he finished cleaning up. "Nene-sama will have her back to herself again in no time", he assured.
A small smile crossed Lied's haggard face as he genuinely thanked them both. Then he let the nurse look him over. Apart from several abrasions and bruising, she could only diagnose both physical and magical exhaustion. His mana had been entirely depleted, so she gave him one more healing tonic and ordered him to bedrest. Once he was settled, Balam excused himself.
Outside of the tent, three worried faces awaited him. Seeing so much concern pour from their eyes, he admired the bond shared by the abnormal class. Their friendship was truly a strength that would continue to work wonders.
Bachiko shared a brief word with him before heading back into the tent, letting him know that she would update Sullivan via radio after getting the nurse's report. The normally feisty archer was being unusually quiet, but a lot had happened throughout the night and it wasn't over just yet. Both Iruma and Victoria were still unaccounted for. Thus she left the misfits to their general and took up guard duty over the fallen once more, trying not to show how worried she really was.
"Clara-chan and Shax-kun will be fine. You have my word", assured Balam calmly. A collective breath of relief was exhaled by the trio of teens. Still, Azz looked rather pensive. Clara had been hurt and Iruma was still missing. Clearly, he was deeply concerned for both of his soulmates.
Jazz offered to update the others and left the heavy air behind. He knew that he wasn't needed for the following discussion. Balam-sensei would surely take care of his classmates.
Approaching quietly, Balam firmly grasped his pupil's shoulders until Azz finally looked up at him. Sabnock held his silence as he watched things unfold with intrigue. He couldn't chide his comrade for being careless when he had earlier died himself. At least they had Persephone and her phoenix pinions on their side. Otherwise the night could have gone completely differently.
"Running off and jumping into the pit like that was reckless and you needlessly put yourself in danger", scolded Balam. Taking a deep breath, he began to relax and continued with a calmer tone, "But you did succeed in rescuing two of your classmates without further incident and for that, I'm proud of you."
Azz's worried expression lightened faintly, glad he wasn't getting an earful just yet. He had no doubt that a sterner lecture would follow once things calmed down. Lowering his red eyes, he told his master everything that happened in the ruined complex below ground.
Hearing that Kiriwo had actively been involved was unsettling as was the report of Lied's missing memories. Just what had happened down there and where was Amy-kun now? He was too dangerous to ignore, so Balam immediately reported his involvement to Lord Sullivan while Sabro congratulated Azzkun on his successful rescue mission.
The principal took the information very seriously. He knew all too well what Kiriwo was potentially capable of and if Ai was helping him descend deeper into madness, it was unwelcome news. To make matters worse, no one could get in touch with Iruma yet. His senpai clearly intended to harm him and that would simply not be allowed.
Plans were immediately discussed between the high ranked demons present. They obviously needed to supplement the extraction team. Several unknowns were making things far too chaotic and if even one precious ally fell permanently, the chair demon would not forgive himself having orchestrated such a plan and involving the abnormal class to begin with...and if Iruma were the one to die?...He couldn't even bring himself to think about that.
Back at the medical tent, Bachiko gathered her intel and gave her report to Azazel via radio as Lord Sullivan was unavailable. After she checked on both teens and made sure they were sound asleep, she stared at Valiant as he rested. That idiot was still cuddling the damned rabbit from earlier. It looked like one of them was going to have to adopt it at this point; It had gotten far too complacent with being held.
Smirking at his dopey, dreaming face, she quietly sat beside him once more. Closer inspection drew her eye to a faint trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. It was most likely from his demolished teeth, but it still strangely drew her focus.
Blood...What was so captivating about it to those with vampiric genes anyway? Was there something she had missed? Wait...Why was she even thinking about that? Had sharing hers with him somehow altered her mind?
The nurse had watched her thoughts play out over her face. "I would advise against tasting his blood, Barbatos-san. I can see how any demon would be curious or drawn to its prospective power, but the old stories say that's how those despots create thralls."
Bachiko stiffened, partly coy that she had been so readable, but mostly angry at what the healer had called Valiant. "Watch your mouth!...He's no tyrannical monster; He's a noble just like me. He isn't trying to control anyone...People like you are why he hides what he is", she began. Looking up with a sharp look in her pink eyes, she said, "Don't be so quick to judge someone just because they have a condition you don't understand. You wanna be a doctor? Then learn some damned bedside manners."
The nurse paled in shock. Bowing deeply, she apologized. "You're absolutely right, Barbatos-dono. Please forgive my impudence. If you require nothing further from me, I'll tend to those with lesser wounds outside."
Bachiko fought off an eye twinge. The woman was going out of her way to be proper now, but only because she got called on her behavior. She wondered just how many people knew the Vincente clan's secrets. There was little doubt that this particular demon had been chosen as a medic because she understood, but that didn't make up for her rudeness.
The archer took a calming breath. Just why had she gotten so pissed off anyway? If things had gone differently and she hadn't given Valiant a chance, she may have been the one to spout such a coldly worded misconception. Yet things were different now. She remembered how she casually passed off his tortured confession. It hadn't bothered her at all and she even willingly let him drink from her veins to ease his pain. Was that simple act somehow responsible for her reaction just now?
"Don't let it happen again. Just remember that there are a lot of different kinds of demons out here, all fighting to stop Victoria. If you're not willing to help each and every one of them without a personal comment, then maybe you should find a different career, yeah?"
She was trying to cut the poor girl some slack, but her harsh tone caused confusion. Irritated, Bachiko clarified her words. "I'm not going to report this to Vincente or Lord Sullivan. Just be more prudent in the future."
The nurse seemed to relax faintly, clearly grateful for the grace. "Yes, my lady." Then she silently left to check on her other patients still on the battlefield.
Once she was gone, Bachiko sighed as she dropped her head into her hand. Glancing over, she grinned faintly despite herself. Just what had humoring that fool done to her brain? Annoyed, she rescued the poor bunny from Valiant's snuggling before it got accidentally squished in his sleep.
Gently wiping the blood from his lips, she was extra careful so as not to wake him. She still wasn't entirely sure what to really make of him yet. Still, her words before were honest and unscripted. She'd defended him without thought.
Maybe when things settled down, she could ask about the potential bonding between a vampire and their host. Valiant had admitted to getting attached, but was he only referring to Lamya back then? Was it only one way? If either or both were the case, then her newfound confusion had nothing to do with her sacrifice. Regardless, she was giving herself a headache.
An hour passed and Bachiko calmly pet the bunny in her lap as Valiant slept nearby. The other patients within the medical tent were resting, too, so she quietly watched over them as her assigned post.
Beside her, Vincente nearly looked peaceful. This was likely the only decent sleep he'd gotten since his capture. Passing out from torture didn't exactly count, after all.
He wasn't so bad, really. That thick layer of forced charm had annoyed her when they first met, but once he dropped the facade, a decent demon began to shine through. Valiant's fragile side was almost endearing. He'd been so afraid for anyone to learn his secret and looked so very grateful upon her acceptance. He was basically a big, insecure kid still afraid of letting others see him simply be himself.
Looking back at the rabbit, she wondered if she'd really keep it as a pet like he suggested. Chances were the poor thing was scared stiff rather than docile. Still, it was awfully cute. Would she name it or let it go? Perhaps Yumi would make a good name.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, loud, "No!", shouted out beside her. Scrambling to keep herself from dropping the frightened creature in her arms, she stared in a mix of surprise and irritation. Valiant had startled her half to death.
He half sat up in a panic before realizing where he was. Seeing her so flustered by his outburst was kind of adorable. He must have scared her. Grinning apologetically, he asked, "Has Ai surfaced yet?". Taking a breath, Bachiko calmed her nerves. The idiot must have had a nightmare.
"Not yet...You okay? Bad memories?", she replied. It would be completely understandable if his torment at Victoria's hands was haunting him while it was still fresh in his mind. It likely would for years to come.
He appreciated her concern, yet still looked a little deflated as he tried to relax. "I'm as good as can be expected...but Hime, listen...", he trailed. He sounded awfully somber and concerned. What was going on in that bruised head of his?
"Yeah?", she ventured. The only other time she'd ever seen him look so serious was when he had previously needed her blood. Had his thirst resurfaced already?
"What is it?", she asked. He was being unusually quiet, staring into his hands as he sat up, like he'd lost something important. "That dream...I haven't had one like that since I was a kid... It's going to come true."
The look on Bachiko's face voiced her bewildered thoughts. How was that even possible and why did he sound so certain? He grinned dejectedly at the confusion on her face.
"I know I sound like a lunatic right now and I understand if you don't believe me... No one ever does...Well, no one but Lulu", he said, a nostalgic twinkle in his eye. That name. Bachiko didn't know who it was, but he was clearly fond of its owner and that somehow bothered her ever so slightly even if she didn't yet see why.
Seeing her demure expression, he smiled at her subtle frustration. That disoriented, annoyed patch of pink on her face was rather cute, but now was no time to tease her about it.
"My sister...My parents just thought I was crazy", he explained briefly. That seemed to clear the air at least a little. He knew he still wasn't making any sense. Sighing, he started again.
"When I was very young, I used to have prophetic dreams. No one believed me and told me to stop making up stories until the one about my father's demise came true… The way my mother looked at me that day...I'll never forget it...She was afraid."
There was a clear twinge of pain in his voice as he spoke. Perhaps he wasn't as happy-go-lucky as he seemed after all. His relation to Victoria, his need for blood, and now glimpses of his past. Bachiko was seeing through that goofy grin of his easier with each word. She wondered what else he was hiding, but her questions would have to wait.
"So what was the dream? Something about Victoria?...What do we need to do to stop her?", she asked, completely serious. Valiant stared at her with obvious surprise.
"You...believe me?", he inquired carefully. This petite archer was so strange, feisty yet kind, and somehow comforting. Seeing her sincere gaze, he grinned faintly. "Thank you."
"Tell me what you saw. We're taking her down tonight no matter what. Any insight is valuable intel", said Bachiko. Regaining his composure, Valiant took on a look of sheer determination.
"I'm not certain of how she does it, but she's going to steal Iruma-kun's life…Not kill him exactly, but rob him of his essence...The result will be the same, but she would actually gain his life force and I don't think - "
His words ceased as Bachiko stiffly stood up and grabbed him by the collar. Hoisting him close, the look in her eye was almost scary as the poor rabbit fell from her lap and fled under the bed.
"What did you say?", she demanded, barely containing her rage. She was actually shaking. "I won't let that psycho lay a single finger on my prized pupil. When does it happen? How do we stop it?!"
The resolve and determination to protect Iruma was evident. She simply wouldn't allow Valiant's grim vision to come to pass. Bachiko was livid, but the blushing fool in her hands coyly glanced away from their sudden proximity with a mumbled, "Hime...". Sighing, she let him go. They were awfully physically close at that moment, but she needed him to focus.
Avoiding her mild glare, Valiant straightened his tattered collar. "I don't know when it will happen exactly, but I saw the rising sun in the background, so it doesn't give us a lot of time...However, I do know that it happens out here on the surface, so he's still safe down there", he explained.
Bachiko fell back into her seat in a mix of relief and mental exhaustion. "He's still safe", she repeated to herself. Gaining a confident grin, she smirked at Valiant. "How do we stop her?", she asked. Neither demon was prepared to let Ai eat anyone. Now they just needed a plan.
"You could always fill her full of arrows, but something tells me that won't be enough… However…", he uttered. She peered over in interest, wondering just what he had in mind.
"If we work together, I know a move that just might work, but it'll be dangerous. We'll have to combine both of our bloodline abilities and my portal magic...Wanna give it a try?", he offered with a grin.
Bachiko smirked smugly in response. "Don't forget who I am. I can handle a hundred shots at once. One powerful arrow should be easy."
Valiant beamed, catching some of her confidence. "Then we have a deal...but I'll need to recoup more mana to pull this off", he admitted. Bachiko nodded briefly. She understood completely how little magic and energy he had. He still looked pretty rough, but at least his mana had been unblocked during treatment.
"Rest. I'll wake you before dawn." He grinned in thanks before settling back down. "Hime?... Thank you", he ventured, entirely sincere. There was a lot of sentiment packed into that simple phrase of gratitude, but all of it came across. Not sure how to respond, she grinned faintly before feigning sleep herself where she sat. With luck, Valiant's vision would be enough to save Iruma's life.
Elsewhere, deep underground, somewhere within the unfinished eighth sub basement, Kalego hazily opened his eyes. He was back in one piece and finally stable. Realizing he was freed from his bonds and in some sort of medical bed, he slowly sat up, mindful of his injuries. Yet the sharp pains he had expected had dulled to moderate aches.
Someone had expertly healed him and it looked like he was in some kind of hospital, but who had helped him and when? Just how long had he been unconscious? Wherever he was, this clearly wasn't a professional facility. There were no monitors or IV. The lights weren't even on. What was this place?
Memories were difficult to conjure at first, but he recalled Ai's taunts about the misfits and... Iruma's voice? So, it was true. The entirety of his class really had come to help him. As embarrassing as the situation was, he was humbly proud despite himself. His wide eyes and pink cheeks gave way to an amused smirk; He could picture the look of irritation on Victoria's face all too easily. Still, if those brats had done this much against her and snatched away her prized possession, then maybe there was some hope for the abnormal class after all.
Hearing low voices in the next room, he decided to sort through his muddled thoughts later and investigate. Amazingly, he was in far better shape than he thought he should be. Slowly getting up, his entire body ached. He shuddered briefly as he fought to gain balance upon his feet. A deep breath steadied his shaky limbs.
That part made perfect sense considering what Victoria had done to him, but where was intense agony and bleeding wounds? Whoever had healed him had certainly performed a miracle and that gave him a glimmer of hope that there must be a powerful healer nearby. Perhaps Persephone really had pulled off the ultimate disappearing act.
He still had some hard work ahead of him for a full recovery, but he was nearly dumbfounded at the skill and power of his savior. There was logically no way he should be able to stand, let alone walk yet. It was truly incredulous. Still, his neck and ribs hurt the worst. His ribs he understood, but why was his neck so sore anyway? Ai hadn't done anything to his spine, had she?
Physically checking himself over, he was amazed to see the hole over his heart completely mended. Even the bones that had been brutally hacked away had fully reformed. Every break and missing piece was all back to normal and hadn't even left a scar. It was truly miraculous work; Whoever had cared for him was no ordinary healer.
Glancing beside himself, his long coat had been conveniently laid out nearby. It seemed Victoria had saved it when he was captured, probably as some sick kind of trophy, but she wouldn't switch tactics this drastically now. Whoever had helped him and placed it there had done so with care. Just what was going on?
Carefully getting dressed, he slowly made his way toward the door, fighting a growing sense of pain with each step, and listened closely before opening it. That voice... It was so familiar. Could it possibly be? No, Ai had to be messing with him again and yet...
He held his pounding head. His memories were still at war. He had killed Persephone and ripped out her throat with his own hands, hadn't he? He'd clinged to the hope that he was wrong, yet lacked proof until now. Still, he vaguely recalled Iruma uttering some kind of nonsense upon their reunion. Then everything went fuzzy and he'd passed out, only briefly stirring from the intense pain of being moved in his fragile, tortured state.
He was unable to open his eyes at the time, or recognize voices, or understand anything being said around him at the time, but his flesh recalled the trauma without any clear memories. Two demons had physically handled him. Could one of them have possibly been his lover? Is that why he suddenly doubted his guilt so fervently? Why were Iruma's words replaying in his head?
He listened again. It was definitely Persephone's voice. She sounded desolate, worried, and subdued, even guilty. Was he right about his hunch before and she had actually tricked him? But why? Taking a deep breath, he decided to face reality and learn the truth once and for all. Opening the door, he took a single step forward, heavily holding onto the door frame for support. He was still irritatingly weak.
Several pairs of eyes stared at him in surprise. "You're up!", said Iruma in genuine relief, smiling at the sight of his sensei. Beside him, Persephone sat with Dali's daughter, Sage, on her lap. The two adults instantly locked eyes. Carefully handing the child to Iruma, she got to her feet.
Kalego looked like he'd seen a ghost. It was obvious the last two days of intense trauma had left his mind unsettled and Persephone had no doubt that Iruma had spoken the release spell to undo his false memories. Now she had to gently guide her lover's psyche back into the correct reality.
Approaching him slowly, they breathlessly faced one another, each pale and anxious. She cautiously reached toward his taught face, but hesitated and slowly pulled back her fingers halfway. She couldn't quite read his conflicted expression. Was he angry with her? She couldn't blame him if he was. He had every right to be furious in her mind. Yet he looked pained, too, and that was even worse than angry.
"Kalego-kun, how are you feeling?", she asked carefully. To her amazement, he slowly grasped her hesitant, outstretched hand and gently pressed her fingers to his cheek as if verifying she was actually there and not some kind of hallucination. He looked deeply shaken, staring with mixed emotions.
Persephone watched him closely. She could almost see the planted memories replaying in his violet eyes as they fell apart one last time. As in all her spells, she had been thorough in weaving his nightmare. Those haunting thoughts would surely remain vivid for some time even after being proven false, haunting him for years to come. Just what had she done?
Stepping closer, she inspected his pale face and darkened eyes. He had yet to say a word. Her pomegranate eye misting over, her voice cracked lightly as she uttered, "I'm so sorry." Her tone was profound and sincere to the point that it was painful to hear.
She was ready to plead for his forgiveness, to explain everything as quickly as possible, desperate to get the truth out, but she wasn't given that chance. Without warning, he pulled her into a tight, grateful embrace. He held her so close, she could barely breathe. Despite her intense guilt, she happily returned the gesture, completely overwhelmed by their shared, swirling emotions.
"I thought I'd lost you", he murmured, barely a whisper, in her ear. His tone was heart wrenching. He'd felt every horrid ounce of guilt and grief as if he'd actually taken her life and it was all her fault.
"I can never apologize enough...", she replied sadly. She never wanted to use "rewrite" this way. She hated what it could do to people and had promised herself never to use it on someone she loved and yet...
"Is this real?", he asked carefully, nearly afraid to let go. Pulling away just enough to see each other, she tenderly stroked his face with a soulful, apologetic smile. "I'm here", she assured.
His eyes quivered in relief. She was really there, alive and whole. Apart from her concerned, haggard face, the only mark he could see on her was the strange black streak in her hair. She had clearly spent an exorbitant amount of energy recently and he could easily guess the cause. She could feel his entire body relax in genuine relief beneath her fingers, but there was still so much left to say.
Nearby, Iruma uttered, "Sensei?", concerned for him. He shyly covered Sage's eyes as the two reunited demons lingered intimately close to one another's lips, both agonizingly debating if they even deserved each other's affection. Averting his own red face, he waited for the strained reunion to end, but the anticipated kiss never came.
"Iruma", called the healer. He jolted to attention, but was too embarrassed to look. "Y-yes?" Slowly peeking over, he saw Persephone smiling gratefully across her shoulder as Kalego stared at her with various thoughts. "Thank you", she said sincerely.
Iruma smiled earnestly in response with a brief nod. He was happy that Kalego seemed to forgive Persephone. He knew she was terrified that he was going to hate her for wounding him so grievously, but thankfully, he only looked relieved that she was alive and well. There was hope for them yet.
Sage wriggled free from Irumas arms and happily ran toward the weakened demon before them. Persephone smiled faintly as she stepped aside. The little girl peered up at Kalego with a wide smile as she clutched his clothing excitedly. "Uncle Lego, you're all better!", she beamed.
Iruma froze, unsure how his sensei would greet the interrupting child. Kalego slowly let go of his lover's hand and knelt down to meet the girl closer to eye level. He grinned fondly as he patted her head affectionately.
"Yes... No doubt thanks to all of you", he said. She quickly launched herself into a tight hug, grateful for his recovery. "I helped make auntie's icky marks go away!", she said proudly. Kalego froze momentarily as it dawned on him. Where were all of his curses? Was Nene somewhere nearby, too?
Waiting for her to release him, he gazed at her in wonder. "You purified my curses?", he asked carefully. She nodded enthusiastically. "I helped Persephone and Iruma-nii! We all worked together to make you better...I did good, right? Do you think Mommy and Daddy will be proud of me?", she asked meekly. She was clearly still distraught about being separated from her parents, but putting on a brave face.
Kalego seemed unsure of what to think of Dali for a moment, then Iruma watched with a warm smile as he finally embraced the child. "They will be very proud... Thank you for helping me." Sage seemed to glow at the praise and happily hugged him in return. It was a sweet sight.
Slowly getting back to his feet, Kalego grinned at her in gratitude. "Don't worry, Sage. We're going to get you home", he assured. Almost losing his balance as he rose, he was glad Persephone was there to steady him. The healer grinned supportively at his mild embarrassment.
"You're running on borrowed adrenaline. You still need to rest...We're safe enough for the time being, so don't argue", she chided. Begrudgingly accepting that she was right, he grumbled in mild irritation at his own weakness. Victoria had taken a lot out of him in many ways. He needed to warn them about her new technique, but his mind was still too clouded to think ahead, so he focused on what was in front of him.
"Iruma, keep her close. I'm trusting you to protect her in my stead", he stated, staring at the boy with exhaustion. Even then he was looking out for Sage. Iruma nodded with determination. "I will. Rest up, sensei", he assured.
Kalego smirked in defeat as Persephone shouldered his weight and helped him back to his temporary bed in the next room. Once he was securely seated, she closed the door and stood anxiously by his side.
He had a dark look in his eyes as he contemplated everything. He was clearly troubled. He knew there was only one way he could possibly be whole again so quickly. "You used 'Garuda', didn't you?", he ventured.
Persephone stiffened, awaiting his sharp tongue. Of course he would figure it out; It was the only thing that possibly made sense. Now she braced for his ire. He'd undoubtedly chide her for her actions.
He sighed deeply as he experimentally flexed his fingers. He was thankful for both the healing and mobility, yet he knew the steep cost of such a spell.
"Yes", she replied demurely. There was no point in lying. If there was any chance of mending their bond, honesty and communication would be key. He stared briefly before speaking again. "Thank you", he said, quietly yet sincerely.
Persephone stared back in mild surprise. He didn't appear angry, but both understood what such a sacrifice meant. "How much?", he asked darkly. Hearing no response, he looked directly into her garnet eye and inquired again. "How much time did you burn up?"
She lowered her gaze and admitted, "About five years." Various emotions flickered across Kalego's face before glancing away. "I see", was all he said. There was simply far too much that couldn't be put into words at the moment, so a deeper discussion of such a heavy topic would have to wait until they were out of danger and had time to fully process their thoughts and emotions.
Seeing him shift uncomfortably as he tried to stretch his neck, she grinned faintly and shifted closer. She placed her hands around his cervical spine and a soft warmth permeated into his flesh, easing his discomfort. She had no doubt that it would be a sore spot for a while, but she would do what she could for him. He was finally back and she would gladly heal him until the last ounce of her magic was spent. As for the cause of his discomfort, it was best saved for later discussion.
"Are we still in Victoria's mansion?", he asked carefully. "Yes, but this area doesn't look like it's in use yet", she replied. He glowered into the ambient darkness as he tensed again. "Then it isn't safe. Get those kids out of here. I'll be fine until you return."
"Not a chance. Now sit still", she said firmly. Kalego glanced across his shoulder in mild surprise, but seeing her so focused on his well being stirred a faint grin. Ceding, he relaxed and let her tend to his pain.
"We're safer together; You can't move freely just yet and you don't even have enough mana to manifest Cerberus to protect yourself right now. I'm not leaving you here alone", she said defiantly. After a moment's silence, she soulfully added, "Kalego-kun, I'm so sorry...I broke my promise and completely shattered your mind...Can you ever forgive me?".
Her last words were a desperate plea. The sad tone in her voice shook him deeply. He could tell she was holding back from hugging him tightly. Her training as a healer and her mental fortitude were both impressive. She obviously wanted to fix everything, but the only wounds she had any control over for the time being were physical.
An uncomfortable silence drifted between them. There was so much he was still coming to terms with. He could sense her growing depression at his lack of response, but he wasn't sure what to say. All he knew for certain was that he didn't want to lose her again, but was it even possible to not push her away in his melancholy?
Her sorrowful voice pulled him from his reverie. "I understand. You're still angry... I don't blame you", she said glumly. He grinned faintly as he recalled her words from their initial reunion at Babylus. "Should I be?", he quoted. She stared in shock as she quietly sat beside him. She recognized her words and her face contorted at the possibility of his forgiveness.
"Yes! I know you'll never admit how deeply I hurt you, but I know I did. I promised I'd never use 'rewrite' against you and I -...I destroyed you..."
She wrapped her arms around herself for comfort, unable to look at him, and shivered as she fought her tears. She knew this was going to hurt, but it still splintered her resolve deeply. His next response could potentially be a blessing or shatter her soul.
"Perhaps, but you did exactly what I asked of you", he stated evenly. "What?", she uttered, slowly looking up. He was still staring ahead into nothingness, but a self-deprecating smirk graced his lips.
"I asked you to find a way to save your life and then told you not to tell me your plan when you did... I couldn't be sure Victoria wasn't listening through me at the time. I wasn't willing to risk her taking you away... and I underestimated both you and your ability yet again...Those memories of killing you - ...", he trailed, his expression and tone growing grim.
The pained look on his face was awful. Even though he knew they were fake now, those horrid visions would undoubtedly haunt him for the rest of his life. "I'm so sorry", she said sincerely, her tears finally falling. "After we get out of this mess, I understand if you never want to see me again", she said sadly.
Another strained silence drifted between them.
"I can't do that", he stated, surprising her yet again. "It's going to take some time to bounce back, but I understand why you changed my memories… Please don't walk out of my life again, Persephone… It's going to be a long, grueling process, but I'm willing to put in the work...Are you?" He resolutely stared her in the eye as he spoke and his words shook her to her core.
He was offering her all she ever wanted - Amnesty for her crimes and a chance to start again, but she honestly didn't feel like she was worthy of such a grace.
"We can't just call it even...Yes, it hurt when you pushed me away in the past, but this is different! I don't deserve your forgiveness!... Don't get me wrong. I want to stay by your side...I love you, Kalego-kun...but what I did to you was awful. How can you just let it go?"
Both her voice and body were shaking. She desperately wanted to reach out, to rush into his arms, but she resisted the call of his warmth out of her suffocating guilt. He'd been consumed by it as well for days. The act of rewriting his mind so harshly would inevitably leave a mark on his very soul. She honestly felt she needed atonement to move on.
He grinned faintly at her fragile appearance. It was so unlike her, but somehow, seeing how badly she felt was touching. It wasn't that he enjoyed seeing her suffer; It was that seeing her so obviously upset simply proved how much she cared. Neither actually said the words, "I love you", very often. It was generally unspoken, yet understood between them, but she had just said it with all of the feelings she usually withheld and more.
She breathlessly stared at him as he reached over and gently wiped the tears from her face. "Then make it up to me. Put in the effort and earn your place at my side...I know you're strong enough to do that", he said.
She was flabbergasted by his kindness, but had no idea where to even begin. "But how can I do that? What could I possibly do to deserve your affection now?", she asked, near hopeless. She was ready to accept his hatred and to suffer alone for her sins, but he was sparking hope deep in her heart, something she'd never expected. Was a future together truly possible after everything that had happened?
She watched breathlessly as he held her hand and reached toward her face. He tenderly tucked her hair away from her lovely eye as he looked at her. Carefully pulling her closer, he stared with intention. Gently tracing her lip with his thumb, he leaned in and kissed her softly. "Kalego-kun?", she ventured. He coyly averted his gaze as he made a decision.
"If you're serious about atonement, I have an idea", he said a little distantly, as if focused on something very far away. Desperate to earn his forgiveness, she eagerly agreed without hesitation. "Anything", she stated with determination, squeezing his hand tightly. Seeing his cheeks tinge pink made her heart skip. What was he going to say?
Taking a deep breath, he turned to face her once more. He was unusually nervous and she found it adorable. "Name your price", she encouraged with a small smile. That simple expression only deepened the hue of his face. Staring anxiously aside, he cleared his throat to strengthen his resolve.
His voice was low, yet serious. "You'll have to work at it every day...We both will...You say you want penance?..." Slowly looking deeply into her eye, he grinned earnestly as he put both of their hearts on the line. "How does a lifetime of diligent effort sound?"
She froze as his meaning sank in. She couldn't breathe. It felt like her chest was going to explode. Had he really just asked what she thought? "Do you really mean that?", she uttered. The look in his eyes and the sentiment behind his grin were evident. He'd meant every word.
Embracing him tightly, she cried into his shoulder. For either demon to be so frank with their feelings was unusual, but so much had transpired recently that it opened up new parts of their hearts, parts that looked forward to a future together despite their painful past.
"Kalego-kun...Emotions are running high right now, so I'm not going to hold you to anything…but if you meant what I hope you did, ask me again when all this is over and you've had time to think properly. I'll wait as long as it takes, so just get better, okay?"
Her words were a welcomed response. He wasn't exactly himself at the moment, still he didn't regret his offer. He'd thought long and hard about what he truly wanted while lost in his guilt. Even during Ai's sadistic torture sessions, the one thing that brought him any comfort at all was the hope that his lover was somehow still alive out there.
After exchanging a few more sentiments, they both agreed to hold off any grand plans until things with Victoria were properly settled. Stopping her was the only priority for now.
Persephone managed to put Kalego under with a sleep spell and left him to rest. She assured both Sage and Iruma that he would be okay after a bit more rest. Still, where was Opera? Were they still fighting or had they led Ai away from their agreed meeting place. Either way, leaving the group to investigate was too risky.
"Auntie, thank you for taking care of my uncle", said Sage. Her smile was heartwarming, but it seemed Persephone had already shaken her grim mood.
"Of course. I promise he'll be able to play with you soon, so just be patient, okay?", she said. Sage agreed and Iruma was glad that the darkness was finally clearing from the air.
Still, he understood that his sensei was badly weakened and so was Persephone after her spell. Without Opera, it fell on his shoulders to protect everyone should Ai show up. All he could do for now was wait and hope for the best, but he knew the demented demoness was never far away.
To be continued...