"It's such a strange sight," Tyrannus commented with a soft chuckle. "Watching an incubus but on so many layers of clothing when just a few years ago you were sickened by wearing an apron."

Tetsuda let out a chuckle of his own. It felt like so long ago, him working in the Smelt in his early days of being a demon, and when he thought of that, it felt even more ridiculous to be putting on the second layer of his uniform. They'd smelled of home when he'd put them on a month ago, and now he practically drowned in their scent.

"You're a strange sight, too," Tetsuda remarked.

"What do you mean?"

He looked over his shoulder to behold Tyrannus. He lay on his side, the red sheets barely covering his groin, one arm propping up his head. His eyelids held a tad of grogginess in them, and his face wore a soft smile.

"Just a few years ago, I was the one receiving you. Interesting how the times change."

Chuckling softly, Tyrannus lowered his head. "Well, I couldn't have you thinking I was weak, now, could I?"

"Believe me, I didn't." He leaned down and pressed his forehead to Tyrannus's. "And I still don't. Though you do look more beautiful than you do deadly. Now, at least." He brushed a piece of hair away from Tyrannus's face, revealing tiny braids he'd formed while Tyrannus had slumbered. "And this is one of the most beautiful parts."

"Well, I am part incubus…"

"You're an Ira." Tetsuda kissed him briefly. "No matter what else may be in you, you're still an Ira."

"Well, when you put it that way, I still have incubus in me…"

"I wouldn't mind another round," he chuckled. They kissed again, only this time Tetsuda lowered Tyrannus onto his back. The Ira wound his arms around the incubus's neck, and he moaned as Tetsuda nibbled on his lower lip. "But alas, I can't stay with you much longer."

"Alas, indeed." He sighed as he ran his hand through Tetsuda's hair. "Hopefully things won't grow too violent in the coming days."

"Indeed," Tetsuda agreed, standing. "We're thriving economically, but I doubt our troops are good enough to truly be of use yet."

"Incubi don't tend to be great military leaders," Tyrannus said as he sat up. "That's why I got you a parting gift, though I can't give it to you now."

"What is it?"

"I sent the Ultima Ira to Ceniyan a few days ago to help your troops," he said. "I love you, but I refuse to let you have a weak army."

"See, you are an Ira." He stood before a full-length mirror as he buttoned his jacket together. "Forever concerned with the military."

"What would Naiyan be if I wasn't?"

Tetsuda turned when he felt a hand on his shoulder, and he smiled as Tyrannus placed his hands on Tetsuda's hips. "And where would I be if you weren't?" he replied.

"Rotting in the Smelt, like the rest of the younglings." He stepped away, and in his hands materialized a goblet and bottle. "Though I must say, you're definitely more valuable than you appear, what with your quick development and all. Can't help but think I was the reason for that."

"What do you mean?"

As he spoke, he poured yellowish liquid into the goblet. "You fucked me in the human realm, released inside me. Intimate contact such as that with a demon of my power can sometimes speed up the developmental process."

"Was that intentional?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you anticipate having a strong companion?"

Tyrannus chuckled as he sipped. "Perhaps. It is quite nice to know you can handle life on your own. For the most part, anyway. It'd be inconvenient if I had to protect you all the time. Not that I wouldn't, though."

"You wouldn't."

"You're right. See what I mean?"

Tetsuda's smile grew fonder, wider, and he wound an arm around Tyrannus's middle. "I love you."

Tyrannus opened his mouth to reply when the door to his bedroom swung open, revealing a distraught Basileus. "Lord Tyrannus," he panted, hands on his knees. He lifted his head to reveal a nasty spot where a hammer must have hit. "They've come."

"They've come?" he asked. "What do you mean, they've come?"

"The Suiyanics. They've finally made their move."

Tyrannus's eyes narrowed, and he gently pushed away Tetsuda's arm. "Where? And what happened to you?"

"Ceniyan," he replied. "It happened during mine and Regina's rounds. The steam from the Haissen was stronger today, and a band of at least a thousand sprung up without warning. We were able to fend them off fairly well, though I got struck with a warhammer before I could transport here."

"And Regina?"

"Don't know. She's still there, last I knew, but I can't say for sure what's happened."

"I think I can," he mumbled. To Tetsuda, he snapped, "Come. Now."


Had Tetsuda's heart the capability of beating, it would surely stop at the current state of Ceniyan. For five years, he'd built it up from the dirt, and in less than an hour, everything had been destroyed. Nearly every building lay in rubble, their tops blown away by flame and cannon. Smoke drifted into the air in massive plumes, intensifying the already-sulfuric air. Suiyanic and Ceniyanic, bodies and weapons littered the streets, stained red and green with blood and bile. The wounded lay among the fallen, and to his relief, a majority of them were familiar faces.

Those faces brightened, if only a bit, as Tetsuda and Tyrannus stepped through the streets. The Naiyanic king had donned skeletal armor, its plates comprised of bones and scales, and on his back hung the shaft of what would eventually be his scythe. Tetsuda wore a lighter suit, one made of dark leather and steel, and carried his blade in his right hand.

"So much destroyed," Tetsuda said, more to the air than anyone else.

"It's not nearly as bad as you think," Tyrannus said, his voice edged with iron.

"What do you mean, not as bad? The city's destroyed!"

"The city," Tyrannus repeated. "Not the territory. Not the nation." He looked over his shoulder. "Not you. You've done well in preparing your men, Tetsuda. Had you been with them, the damage wouldn't have been half this bad. I'm sure of it."

A smile tingled at the corners of his lips, but it didn't form. Not when so many of his men lay there in pain.

"Lord Tyrannus!"

Both demons looked up to view a battle-beaten Regina approach. Basileus had remained in the palace, as he'd only managed about ten minutes before collapsing in a daze. As for the other Ultimos and Ultimas, Tetsuda did not know. He did know, however, that they would be able to feel the heat radiating from Tyrannus's body wherever they were.

"Well?"

"Everything's stable for now," she replied. "The Suiyanics tallied about a thousand, but only fifty are still alive—that we know of, anyway. We have them crippled and detained, but most of them are silent so far." From the side of her belt, she produced a badge, which she threw to Tyrannus. It was comprised of silver and red metal, an SF bolted onto leather. Tyrannus gazed at the badge with narrow eyes.

"Suiyanic forces?" Tetsuda asked.

"No," he said, closing his hand around the badge. "Suicide forces. Their only purpose is to attack and destroy, much like the Et Cinere but with at least some sense." He looked to Tetsuda, who widened his eyes at the liquid metal dripping out from between Tyrannus's fingers. "We have our war."