Mairimashita! Iruma-kun: Shadows of the Past, part 57
At Sullivan's mansion, Pandora pretended to sleep while she listened to Robin and Nene speak nearby. They were discussing the lack of updates concerning the raid and Robin sounded worried for both his students and his senpai. The master healer assured him everything would be well and that she had a backup plan if things went on too long...and in fewer words, she just acknowledged that they had.
Dawn was mere hours away and they had barely gotten any news beyond a brief call from Bachiko to say that Vincente had been rescued and an update on the status of the rest of their ranks. Students had fallen, enemies had been slain, and the Victoria estate was collapsing in on itself. Yet the vile demoness herself had not yet come out to face them and, even more troubling, the extraction team was still unspoken for.
Nene was well aware that more had developed beyond what had been said and that worried her deeply. Sullivan had messaged her minutes before, a coded phrase they had discussed in private before the battle in case of a specific event, leaving her mind to run rampant with anxiety as to what was about to happen and how bad it was going to be. "The candles have been lit." Thus, she was enacting her plan before Victoria could cause even more harm.
Robin anxiously sat beside Pandora while Nene dialed her phone near the window. She looked so serious. Just who was she calling and for what purpose?
She had promised Sullivan that Pandora would not be left unguarded and the healer had already refused to send Robin to battle earlier, so was she calling for backup troops or a replacement bodyguard?
"Hirokun?...I'm sorry to bother you again so soon, but I need a favor. Can you meet me at Sa-chan's?" The Great Purifier sounded hopeful despite the tense look in her green eyes.
Robin listened intently as she skipped explaining the situation, saying only, "It's as we feared." Apparently they had already been in contact. He wasn't sure what she meant by that statement, but the feeling in the air was rather bleak. Just what had transpired exactly and what wasn't she telling the young teacher?
Thankfully, Nene's strained face finally broke into a grateful grin. "I knew I could count on you. I promise I won't forget this... I'll see you soon."
Then she hung up. After one more worried stare in the direction of the attack site, she smiled serenely at her patient as she turned around.
"No sense in pretending. I know you're awake, Pandora-chan. Your breathing rhythm changed a few minutes ago", she said knowingly.
Pandora sheepishly sat up with an apologetic grin, impressed yet mildly embarrassed. "Mum, who did you call?", she asked. Robin was curious, too. With two such inquisitive faces staring her down, Nene chuckled faintly.
"An old friend... I caused him a good deal of trouble in our younger days, but he's always been reliable, regardless", she replied. Becoming more serious, she added, "I need to join the battlefield. My children and grandchildren are hurt, Per-chan has yet to emerge with Kalego-kun, and I can't treat the wounded from here... Once Hirokun arrives, I will depart. He'll keep you safe; I promise."
With a determined look and a righteously clenched fist, Robin spoke up. Things sounded pretty bad out there. "Nene-sama, please go now. I'll wait for our ally. I can protect Pandora-san until then", he stated, eager to prove himself after the trouble he'd caused while cursed.
Nene grinned softly as she approached and lovingly caressed his cheek in her palm. "I know you can, my son, but I need to greet him personally... I at least owe him that much...", she trailed cryptically.
The archer looked a little crestfallen as if she had actually lost all faith in him yet Nene grinned amiably. She wasn't doubting his ability at all; She was simply keeping her word to Sullivan...or so Pandora thought. In the next moment, Nene raised her hand high into the air, a motion usually reserved for summoning, all while badly pretending to be innocently stretching.
A second later, an ethereal creature appeared beside them. Pandora stared in mild shock. It was breathtakingly beautiful and it made perfect sense for someone as powerful as the healer to have multiple familiars, but just what was she up to?
A pale blue stag with long, curved fangs and enormous, shimmering wings had been called forth. "A peryton!", gasped Robin excitedly. In an instant, he was inspecting, admiring, and petting the beast with enthusiasm. It was no wonder why he taught familiar studies; He was truly enamored with such beasts.
"Incredible! As expected of you, mother! This plumage is gorgeous, the color is exquisite, and it has iridescent feathers, too!", he beamed. He was clearly smitten with curiosity and appreciation for the rare creature.
He stepped closer to study its face, intrigued by its unusually long fangs. It was reminiscent of a Chinese water deer that way, but still had antlers. The familiar stared back at him momentarily before using those teeth to promptly lift the archer by the back of his coat and flip the confused demon onto its back.
Nearing the window as innocently as possible, Nene pushed the glass open. "Oh dear. There goes the wind… Now don't go flying off", she said in a mock chiding, wagging her finger.
The deer seemed to bow slightly in understanding and took off at full speed before Pandora could even blink. Poor Robin had no choice but to hold on for his life as the creature absconded with him into the sky, leaving only a few blue, shimmering feathers drifting to the ground behind them.
"There goes that naughty familiar of mine! Never did listen well", teased Nene, clearly pleased with herself. It had all been an act, of course, and her peryton had heeded its master perfectly. She'd likely planned to send Robin to the fight from the beginning and was merely waiting for the right excuse.
Pandora smiled innocently, completely understanding the point of Nene's bad acting. This way, no one was directly disobeying Sullivan's orders. Just like the chair demon, the healer knew when and how to bend the rules when necessary. It was no wonder they got along so well. Robin had simply been 'taken away' and Nene would have to 'go get him'.
"I suppose I have no choice now", she shrugged, a sneaky grin across her face. "I'll have to track them down once Hirokun gets here. I can't exactly let my darling familiar just run off with a valued ally, now can I?"
Stifling a chuckle, Pandora played along. "Of course not", she agreed. She was glad that their forces would be bolstered with fresh fighters, but she also desperately wanted to hear from her beloved Shichiro. Anything at all, really. The sound of his voice would certainly calm her troubled heart. The waiting was proving to be the hardest part of missing out on the rescue mission.
Ideally the call would state that Kalego was safe and Ai had finally been defeated, but she knew their foe wasn't going to make it that easy. She knew from years of personal torment what Victoria was capable of. So she prayed for everyone's well-being and trusted in the others to keep their promise. Surely she would see them all return safely soon.
Minutes later, a sound near the open window caught her attention. The beating of heavy wings filled the air and an older, well-built man in fine clothing gracefully alighted upon the window sill. He was tall and muscular with short, scruffy gray hair, a small beard, and massive, feathered black wings akin to Nene's.
He was obviously another tengu. Neatly folding his wings close against his body, he stepped inside. It seemed he couldn't store his in his back either. Pandora realized it must be a trait of their clan and politely held her silence. Still, she was very curious as to their relationship.
"Where is everyone?", asked the man gruffly. He had red eyes with black scleras and the stern air of a well-trained warrior. This was clearly no healer, but a guardian. Unlike Nene, his wings seemed to be black by nature, but sparse gray feathers had set in with age.
His voice was firm yet kind and he had a serious expression on his lined face. Casually lighting a cigarette, he awaited his answer. It seemed he was almost disappointed not to meet the mansion's master upon his arrival, but he knew that Sullivan would be overseeing the fight against Victoria.
Nene smiled warmly as she approached him with a grateful hug. "Hirokun, thank you so much for coming. This is Hekate Pandora, one of my beloved children. I need you to keep her safe for me so I can assist the others... She's precious to my dear Persephone, my darling grandson, Iruma-kun, and others, too, so please protect her with your life."
The man seemed mildly confused by the comment about a grandson, but knowing Nene so well, he knew there was no point in asking. Everyone younger was family as a general rule. Besides, the Great Purifier was intent on serving alongside her allies and wasting time with questions wouldn't be permitted.
The man exhaled heavily, a plume of smoke obediently trailing out the window as if directed and he seemed to be eying Pandora as if judging how much trouble she was going to be.
"Akiyama Hiroto, at your service", he said with a slight nod of acknowledgement. His introduction was brief and exact. He didn't come off as the kind to mince words. It seemed a little odd that he would be close with someone as flamboyant as Nene, but he was obviously a seasoned bodyguard. Pandora knew she would be well protected until her lover brought their friend home.
"Now we're all acquainted. Pandora-chan, Hirokun is an amazing demon. No matter what Victoria may throw at you, you can count on him to repel it. I assure you that he's more than capable of taking my place. Will you trust him?", ventured the healer.
Seeing so many thoughts racing behind Nene's eyes, she was clearly worried about what Sullivan hadn't said and thinking of who needed her skills at the battle. So Pandora nodded without arguing. "Thank you for looking after me, Akiyama-san. I promise I won't make myself a bother."
The man looked as if he wanted to smile, but wasn't sure how to. Shying his gaze with a slight pink tinge to his face, he muttered, "Don't worry about it."
Stepping away, Nene hurriedly held a hushed conversation with him. It sounded like they were hashing details, but Pandora couldn't make out what they were saying. One thing was clear, though. One more demon was coming to help, yet who they were, where they were going, or what they were going to do was all a mystery.
"Yeah, yeah, she'll meet you there. Now get going", grumbled Hiroto. Nene smiled at his stiff mannerisms and terse speech. His tone was rough and he acted uninterested, but he clearly cared as stated by the softness in his eyes and the redness on his face.
"Thank you", said Nene with a quick kiss to his cheek before flying off after Robin. Once she was gone, he sighed heavily. "Some things never change", he teased, mildly shaking his head. Seeing Pandora's curious expression, he smirked faintly and said, "She's always been a pain."
It seemed Lady Nene really had been troublesome in her youth, but whatever had happened back then, it wasn't like she was acting selfishly now. In fact, she was only concerned with saving others and Hiroto knew it. Still, he seemed both pleased and a little troubled to see her.
Several minutes later, Akiyama stared after Nene's hurried flight path toward the fight against Victoria. After a long drag on his cigarette, he sighed. "You have questions", he observed. He knew Pandora was inquisitive, but she was trying to be polite and not pry into the life of a man she'd just met.
He didn't turn to face her as he spoke, but he answered her unvoiced inquiry, aware she was burning up with curiosity. His explanation went thus, "Nene and I were betrothed a long time ago. Our parents arranged the whole thing when we were just kids... We were close for a while, but I wasn't there for her when she needed me most… Sullivan was... and I couldn't fault him for my own failing or blame her for choosing to chase him", he said. With a faint smirk, he added, "I hear she still is."
His voice was nostalgic, but not quite sad. Glancing from the side of his eye, he could see Pandora patiently listening. She was giving him time to think aloud.
Grumbling at himself and scratching the back of his head, he snuffed out his smoke. "It's fine, though. Those two both ended up choosing their careers in the long run and I found someone else to love, so stop makin' that face. No one's cryin' about the past."
Pandora relaxed visibly, glad he wasn't still torn up about being passed over. She had a million questions, but they would wait for her new master at a better time. Besides, her heart and mind were already weighed down with worry for her loved ones.
Meanwhile, Hiroto squinted wistfully into the distance. Once again, he was trusting Sullivan to keep her safe, then the slightest grin crossed his lips as recalled an old conversation. It echoed loudly in his mind.
More than fifty years ago... "If I ever fail, I'm counting on you to protect her", he'd said. Then Sullivan had smiled softly and shook his head lightly. "Nene-chan doesn't need to be protected. She needs someone willing to fight by her side rather than anxiously watching her back."
All those years had passed and he was still right. Perhaps Sullivan really did know her better after all, but none of that mattered now. They'd all become reliable demons in their own right. Now it was up to Nene to heal the fallen and boost the morale of their troops. Plus, Sullivan was right of course; She really didn't need a bodyguard. She was a powerhouse all by herself.Back at the Victoria estate, the chair demon stared ahead grimly as the sound of footsteps and folding wings came up behind him. "Looks like I missed one hell of a party", smirked Baal, amused by the mayhem.
Skeptical of his loyalty, Sullivan maintained his silence with his arms folded neated behind his back. Standing beside him, Baal took in the view. A massive hole had opened up within the estate and part of Ai's mansion had collapsed into it. Demons were scattered everywhere and an air of order was slowly settling over the scene despite the overwhelming anxiety of those scrambling to follow orders.
"Lady Levi filled me in before I left. I'm going in... Anything I should know?", he asked, playing the part of a concerned subordinate. Sullivan, of course, wasn't buying it. He had no proof that Baal was involved with the criminal element, let alone Victoria, but he didn't trust him. Something in his eyes and caustic attitude gave off a nuance of barely repressed madness.
Sullivan glanced over with one barely opened eye and serious tone. "Bring Victoria to the surface to be arrested. You are not to kill her. She must stand trial. Do you understand?", he ordered, leaving no room for argument. Baal grinned faintly in feigned obedience. "Anything else, Lord Sullivan?", he smirked, hating the forced respect.
This time, Sullivan's aura flickered wickedly in warning as he spoke. "Should Iruma-kun, Kalego-kun, or any one else turn up missing or worse under your watch, I will hold you personally accountable. We cannot afford to lose a single one of our precious allies. I trust you will protect the rest of the misfits with the same ferocity you would Sabro-kun."
The nuances didn't go unnoticed. What wasn't said was abundantly clear. 'Don't mess this up. Any injuries or deaths will be on your head.' Should any of them perish, he may well lose his title as one of the crowns and he was being reminded that his loyalty was being tested. It was an important mission. Too bad Baal didn't put too much faith in all that.
Waving nonchalantly as he walked forward, Baal smirked. "You got it...and don't worry; I'll bring them all back." Sullivan had no choice but to trust him for the time being. Still, a nagging feeling clinged heavily in the air. Someone else was watching, too.
"Everything will be alright, Parisa-chan. He won't risk his political position over something as trivial as spite."
The hidden angel wasn't so sure, but she was keeping her word to stay out of the raid and letting the demons handle it. Despite wanting to rush in after her daughter, she had agreed to the chair demon's terms and didn't sense any immediate bloodlust from Baal. Thus, she waited with a heavy heart and prayed for Sage's swift return.Meanwhile, somewhere within the mansion, Victoria's hidden security room had visitors. Kiriwo leaned heavily upon the doorframe as Uetoto smiled, pleased at the outcome of his work.
Every single device and recording had been completely erased. He'd already destroyed the various labs after securing any useful research before retrieving their master's ward. No trace of Baal's involvement or that of the Six Fingers remained.
Kiriwo grinned weakly at an approaching, familiar presence. "Aniki's here; He'll take care of the rest. Let's go", he uttered, still in pain. Uetoto bowed slightly in a humble fashion, his arm over his chest in submission. "As you wish."
He would get Kiriwo to a trusted healer and ensure no one saw them leave. The rest was up to their industrious leader, Baal. Still, he was annoyed by a crumpled paper tucked deeply into his pocket. Victoria knew he would eventually show up, so she had left him a note - "I know who you really are", complete with a small drawing of a bat in the corner and a lipstick print as her signature.
That irritating demoness had it all figured out. Uet was vexed that he couldn't completely wipe her memory of him, but given that he'd fed her a relative, it wasn't terribly surprising. Between her stolen magic and wily nature, it was bound to happen. So much for substituting someone else in his place as a sacrifice… All he could do now was trust in his boss to silence the mad woman once and for all.Below ground...
Opera and Victoria had each wounded the other during their brawl. Ai's left horn had been crushed and broken off by a powerful kick, leaving the cracked base that remained bleeding heavily into her face.
Meanwhile, she had attacked their side at the site of their previous injury from the fight against Keket, reopening the wound, and tried to curse them several times. Each moment that they slipped through her fingers only annoyed her further. Her senpai truly was nimble. That much hadn't changed over the years.
She smirked as she struggled to stand up straight in a show of bravado. The battle had taken its toll and her high heels were becoming difficult to balance upon. Still, she grinned evilly despite her displeasure.
"You should have considered my offer, Opera. We're more alike than you care to admit. You and I are monsters compared to the others... It's no wonder Kalego-kun is afraid of us", she taunted.
Opera didn't bother responding, merely wiping the blood from their mouth with a frigid look as she babbled. They weren't about to let her get under their skin.
"Nothing to say, senpai?...Perhaps a new deal then... I've worked hard over the years, perfecting new techniques in both science and magic. If you are willing, I can help you", she offered.
A slight twitch of their cat ears was all the invitation she needed. She thought she just might have a chance to corrupt her indomitable senpai. Yet it was only a response of irritation; The grating of her voice and the waft of her perfume had become rather bothersome.
"Become your sister. Let Aria take your place… She shouldn't have died, but we can bring her back... I can easily modify your body with a little surgery and binding her soul is theoretically possible according to my research. However...A physical vessel cannot harbor two spirits for long. Yours would be ejected to make room... So tell me, senpai, just how much do you love her? Are you willing to take her place in the next life to give hers another chance?"
She patiently waited for an answer, but her opponent said nothing, simply staring with a new level of darkness deep in their eyes. She knew it was highly unlikely that Opera would accept or ever contemplate such a deal, especially without proof that such a feat was even possible, yet the thought of reviving their dear sister tugged at heartstrings long frozen in place. Their defensive stance started to ease as they peered at the floor in distress.
Annoyed by their continued silence, Ai smirked cynically. We're they actually considering her words for once? Watching them stare into the distance was getting old, so she prompted, "Well?".
They finally glanced up and once their eyes met again, an endless wave of cold poured from Opera's. It was so intense, it caught Victoria off guard, sending a chill down her spine. Had she pushed too far or was she finally getting into their head? Aria was her best ammunition against their brute strength and if she was going to win this fight, she needed to break their spirit.
"I can see you trying so hard not to hate me. It's a good offer, but we both know you won't take it. You'd still be apart from one another and that misguided sense of nostalgia is rather nauseating."
The frozen glare was still there, but now it had an edge to it. She'd pushed one too many buttons. Grinning in amusement, she shrugged playfully.
"Suit yourself... but all I have to do is say that whelp's name and you're consumed by the need to defend the dead... It's almost funny...Should I tempt fate and pour some cold water on the angry feline?... What will you do if her name leaves my lips again? Will you try to kill me?", she taunted.
Opera narrowed their gaze and took a deep, calming breath to stay centered. They couldn't let her win; There was more than their pride on the line. She was dangerous and simply could not be allowed to touch Iruma or Kalego again. Sullivan and the others were counting on them as both an ally and security devil. They had too much to protect to draw this out any longer.
"Say what you will. I'm the only one here that knew Aria. Any lies you spout will be nothing, but hollow words", they stated evenly.
Victoria twitched her tail in irritation. "Finally made peace with her death? What convenient timing... Then I suppose you won't mind at all when I tell you how likely it is that your beloved big sister likely whored herself out just to feed you... Can you picture her crying while being abused by strange men three times her age, all just to crawl back to your gutterbound hovel with a smile and an empty promise that things would get better?"
Her words cut deep. She could see one of Opera's fangs piercing their lip as they fought to maintain their silence. Their entire body had visibly tensed. Briefly clenching their eyes tightly shut, they silently apologized to their lost sibling one last time. Then something strange happened.
An image of Pandora came to mind. Her pink eyes poured out a calming light and her empathetic smile warmed their heart as she offered her hand. Why hadn't they seen it before? Both girls had a deep kindness and a fierce will to protect those they loved. Had their kouhai somehow been sent by Aria's guiding hand from beyond?
It didn't take long for more faces to appear behind her in their mind. Sullivan, Nene, Kalego, Shichiro, Iruma, even Persephone. Opera wasn't alone in this fight.
A profound sense of tranquility took over as their sister's innocent smile drifted in from memory. It was as if she was saying that it was okay to let go. Then everything faded away as they refocused on their foe.
When Opera opened their eyes again, a keen sharpness poured from them, a clarity that surpassed rage, mourning, and everything in between.
"You know nothing of sacrifice or caring for anyone beyond yourself. I won't buckle to your lies or filthy imagination...I admit I was ignorant of her pain back then, but everything she did was to keep us both alive...I'm not going to defend her or try to explain the idea of family to the likes of you. The concept of any form of love is surely foreign to such a vile creature as yourself... If you have anything other nonsense to spout, I suggest you say it now while your tongue is still attached."
Their words were a shock, but the confident smirk that followed as they beckoned her to continue fighting was expected. Opera's stance was rock solid once again and Ai was growing weary. She knew she couldn't win against their sheer strength.
A cold stare emanated from her pale eyes as she vanished from sight. That stolen ability was rather irritating, but Opera didn't need their eyes to know where she was. A flick of their keen ears was the only nuance of awareness. Still, she was as unpredictable as always.
As Victoria materialized, she grinned maniacally. She wasn't coming up behind her senpai. She was too bold for a sneak attack like that, so she decided to finally show them what she was capable of.
Opera froze in mild horror at the sensation of her lips on theirs. Their shock quickly faded into fury. One swift motion spun Ai around by the shoulder as they locked her arm into position behind her back. Livid at her audacity, they didn't hold back on their power.
A cracking noise denoted Victoria's breaking bones, but she still smirked in triumph. "Finally got you, senpai. It may have taken me twenty years, but you're finally mine", she said, beginning to chuckle darkly.
An unsettling feeling spread through Opera's body as Ai's curse began to spread from their lips. Tightening their grip, the security demon stood strong. Ignoring the sensation of their skin starting to crawl, they shoved her forward just enough to make her stumble. In the next second, she was being swung across the room by her tail.
A cloud of dust erupted from the force of her body demolishing the table she had landed on. Slowly rolling over in utter surprise, a nasty glare took over her face.
"You dare put your hands on me?! You broke my tail and even fractured my arm… You really are a monster, senpai... I haven't felt this shaken since our first fight, but I'm afraid I'll have cut this reunion short. You refused my offer and went so far as to harm me in retaliation… Once my curse has set properly, I'll be back to play with you."
She smirked as her entire presence disappeared. Opera couldn't see, hear, or even smell her now. Wherever she was, she was getting away. Realizing the fight was over, they dusted themselves off as they spit in indignation.
The sheer disgust of her kiss was causing them to shiver. Opera wondered if that was how Kalego had felt, too. Kalego… Their kouhai was waiting for them.
Ripping off one of their sleeves, they made a compress and held it over the wound on their side. Opera didn't have any more of Nene's healing tonics. Proper treatment would have to wait until they got to Persephone.
Hoping Ai was retreating to proverbially lick her wounds, they headed after their young master and the others. Sullivan was counting on them to bring both Kalego and Iruma back safely and they intended to fulfill that duty.
Now they had to ensure Victoria wasn't following them. If Opera were to lead her to those they had sworn to protect, they would never forgive themselves. Leaving the destroyed torture cell behind, they tried not to think about all of the awful experiments that had occurred there. Instead, three bright smiles were the focus of their mind. Aria, Pandora, and Iruma. One was lost forever, but two could still be saved.
to be continued...