Yamato was not in a good position. His wounds had been treated, but just barely, and they still stung like hell. He could hear the steady breathing of his Uncle nearby, but the room was pitch black and he couldn't see anything. He was too weak to call out. Fortunately, he didn't have too, because his Uncle's voice reached his ears. "Yamato, it's going to be okay." Yamato smiled just a bit before fading back out of consciousness.
Kurohi was silent as she stood over the stove top, stirring cream into the saucepan in front of her. Normally she would have hummed, but she wasn't in the mood. Not to mention she could feel eyes boring into the back of her skull, which kind of put her off from humming as she cooked.
"What are you making?" Mage asked, leaning back in the kitchen chair with his arms crossed behind his head and his feet on the table. Kurohi replied cooly, "it's called cream chip beef. It's a salty cream sauce with dried beef chips poured over toast. Have you gotten the cookies yet?" Mage replied, "Shiki should be back soon. So if he's lost blood, shouldn't he eat sweet things?" "That's what the cookies are for." She failed to keep the contemptuous tone out of her voice.
Mage scowled, "well then why all the salt?" Kurohi put some bread in the toaster and continued to stir the contents of the pan. "Because it helps restore the power he lost, and the water will counteract the excess salt. Also, because he likes it." She buttered the toast and set it on a plate. She poured some of the sauce on it and spread it out. She cut it into bites.
Kurohi walked past Mage and smirked as she nudged the chair leg, causing him to fall back. She said simply, "don't lean in the chair like that." Mage scowled at her, but she was out of the kitchen before he could say anything.
She ran into Shiki in the hall, smiling when she saw the box of chocolate chip cookies in his hands. "Thank you, Shiki. Would you get a pitcher of water and a glass, please? Also, a small glass of milk." Shiki smiled, "gladly." He hurried off to the kitchen. Kurohi continued down the hall.
It was strange, being in a mansion that she had never seen before. They had been brought to Rem's mansion, but nothing about who the other devils were had been explained, other than they were enemies of Rem's father.
Kurohi walked into the bedroom where Shoyo laid, staring out the window. He looked over when she entered and gave her a smile. "Hey Kurohi." He perked up at the smell of his favourite meal. "Is that cream chip beef?" Kurohi nodded, "and cookies." His face fell. "Are they chocolate ship?" Kurohi laughed, "you're the only person in the world who doesn't like chocolate chip cookies. Yes, they are, but you only have to eat one." Shoyo sighed, "let's get it over with so I can enjoy my meal."
Kurohi set her burden on the nightstand and propped Shoyo into a sitting position with pillows. She gave him a cookie and giggled at his grumpy expression as he ate it quickly. Shiki arrived with the water and milk, and he downed two glasses of water before starting on his meal. His face lit up after the first bite. "So good!"
Kurohi sat down in a chair beside the bed, running her fingers through her hair. Shiki sat on the bedside. "So you're a warlock?" Shoyo frowned, "no, I'm a witch." Shiki tilted his head. "I thought only women could be witches, and men were warlocks." Shoyo sighed and took another bite. Kurohi explained for him, "it's more common that way, but the difference between the two isn't with gender. Warlocks draw their power from outside forces, like the sun, moon, and the underworld. They also have to have some sort of medium, like a staff. Witches draw their power from this world, either by ley lines or something that lives here, like blood. They don't use mediums, but often their spells are more complex."
"What about necromancers?" Shiki asked curiously. Shoyo explained, "it's possible to master both. Necromancy requires both, because you need a source of power from this world, but the dead are drawn from the underworld." Shiki nodded.
"How you doin, kid?" Mage leaned against the doorway, watching the scene. Shoyo narrowed his eyes. "Better. Will you please explain to us what the hell is going on?" Kurohi snickered at such a vicious tone from such a gentle person.
"Rem will explain it when he returns," Urie walked into the room behind Mage, appearing as graceful as ever. "Where is he?" Kurohi asked. Urie had a bit of a sad smile. "Visiting an old flame."
Rem took a deep breath as he stood on the front porch of a place he had seen many times with magic, but had never really been to. The house belonged to someone whom he had not seen for a long time. His heart ached as he clutched the little silver crown in his pocket, the token he treasured more than life. Rem knocked on the door.
The door was opened by a young man with crimson hair and the same eyes as the girl Rem had fallen in love with so long ago. "Who are you?" The man asked, tilting his head. Rem cleared his throat. "An old friend of your grandmother's. May I see her?" The boy stepped aside, calling out "grandma! There's someone here to see you!" A frail voice called from within the house, "who is it?" Rem smiled as a sharp pain hit his heart. That voice, that voice he loved so much, had never sounded so weak.
Rem followed the boy into the house, tensing a bit when he heard the sounds of a breathing machine. There, in the middle of the living room, sat an old woman in a wheelchair with oxygen tubes hung over her ears and put in her nose. "Ritsuka." Rem said with a gentle tone. Ritsuka looked up. Her face had aged and her hair had turned white, but her eyes were the same as they had been eighty years before. They lit up at the sight of him. "Rem!" She grinned, "oh Rem, it's so good to see you. Chihiro, please go make some tea." The boy nodded and ran off.
Rem walked over slowly, kneeling in front of Ritsuka. "Ritsuka, I... I've missed you so much." He took her frail, wrinkled hands in his own and kissed her fingers. Ritsuka's face turned red, "it's good to see you, Rem." Rem smiled just a bit. He looked over his shoulder, "your grandson?" Ritsuka nodded, "yes and no. He's Lindo's grandson, and I've taken him in since his parents passed." "And... Lindo?" Ritsuka let out a heavy sigh. "Gone. Everyone is gone, Rem. I'm next."
Rem's heart twisted in agony. "I should have taken you with me." Ritsuka shook her head. "I've lived a happy life, Rem. Now that I've seen you, I believe I'm ready." Rem nodded, "do you have children of your own?" "Oh, don't be silly, Rem. I couldn't even bring myself to look at another man like that. Sit down, you'll hurt your knees."
Rem sat on the sofa across from her and the boy, Chihiro, poured them some tea. Ritsuka said, "Chihiro, have you watered the garden today?" "No, I'll go do that." He seemed like a happy boy. Rem wondered what it would have been like to have children and grandchildren of his own with Ritsuka.
"Don't look so sad, Rem." Ritsuka scolded lightly. Rem laughed softly, "I'm sorry." Before he knew it, he had spent all afternoon with Ritsuka. At the end of it, Ritsuka asked, "has another grimoire arisen?" She sounded as if she didn't want to hear the answer. Rem let out a deep breath. "Yes." "I see. When you find them, would you mind bringing them to see me? I'd like to have a chat. Oh, and Rem," she looked right at him with a smile. "Don't make the same mistakes." Rem chuckled, "I would never dream of it." "I don't mean falling in love. Don't let them feel like a pawn. Whomever they are, they're special, and someone loves them. I understand the problems with your father, but if you have to do this, at least make them feel like it's okay." Rem was speechless for a moment. Then he smiled genuinely. "Yes ma'am."
The visit with Ritsuka ended with a soft kiss to her lips. "I'll return soon." "I'll be alive when you get here. I wont die just yet." Rem laughed softly and left feeling that for a fleeting moment, the world was right.