Emi and Maou dropped the keys off by the front desk, the guard from before nowhere to be found. They had begun walking to the subway station when Maou noticed Emi's rather faraway look, as if she were somewhere else at the moment.

"Is something wrong?"

"I- no. Nothing's wrong."

Maou leaned in, closer than he ought to have considering all things.

"You're lying," he whispered in Emi's ear.

She could feel the heat of his breath on her neck and it made her shiver, even in the early morning heat. Emi looked up at Maou, her face a blank mask.

"I'm not sure I did the right thing in there…"

"You didn't do anything."

"But I-"

"Emi, look at it this way, Olba may not have killed your father, but think of all the people he has killed. Both humans and demons. Look at the way he strung Urushihara along like some kind of puppet. I've heard about Olba from him, I've heard the honeyed lies, the bittersweet falsehoods. All things considered, even the Church wouldn't have taken him back if he returned to Ente Isla. If you really want to know what I think, I'd say you did him a favor."

"A favor? So having Satan Jacob suck out all of his emotions was a good thing, then?"

Even though they were walking along in public, the streets were very empty at this time of day, especially in that particular part of the city. Still, Emi sounded slightly hysterical and Maou didn't want her to start yelling about their true identities.

"Think, Emi! Do you think Olba would have left us alone if we left him there until he was released? No, he would come after you, you'd kick his ass, maybe even kill the poor guy! We'd toss him through a gate and he'd have been ripped apart by either the Church or the Demon Army. What I did was serve him justice. And besides, it's not as if his emotions won't regrow, it'll just take a little bit. Who knows, maybe without the greed or the lust for power, he'll have some time to think about what he really wants from life."

"I suppose you have a point-"

"Thank you."

"-but so does my Holy Sword, and if you ever come that close to me again without first obtaining permission, I will cut you!"

"Better to ask forgiveness than permission."

They rode the train back towards their homes, Emi's stop rapidly approaching.

"So, what now, any other adventures planned for today?"

"No, just work, you?"

"Same."

Silence permeated the train car once more, aside from the sound of it grating against the track.

"Hey, Emi?"

"Hmm?"

"I was wondering… we're sort of having a…gathering I guess. Suzuno and Chiho are all coming over to the Devil's Castle. We're gonna have soda and snacks and a nice dinner. I was just wondering if maybe you wanted to come by and-uh- hang out, I guess?"

"I'd like to see Suzuno and Chiho again… do you have a date and time set?"

"Not yet, they wanted to know if you were coming and I said I'd ask."

"Why couldn't they just text me?"

"Well, Chiho's been working a lot of overtime, and Suzuno is… well, she's Suzuno."

"I see your point. Well, I have tomorrow off, if that sounds good to you and the rest."

"Alright, I'll let them know."

They rode in silence once again and it remained unbroken until they arrived at Emi's stop.

"Well, uh, I'll see you later I guess."

"Yeah… I'll see you around, Maou. I'll call you when I need your… assistance again."

Emi left Maou standing on the train, barely aware of her abrupt and relatively normal exit. No yelling, no blaming, no festering hatred. Just a calm and clean good-bye. Maou sighed and leaned against the pole of the train as it pulled away from the stop. Maybe there was a chance, a slim chance, that Maou and Emi could actually have positive feelings for one another. A small smile crossed his face. He had eaten very well in the past 24 hours, more than he had for some time. The emotions and feelings he had gorged upon made him brim with magical energy. He actually had to expend some just so that he wouldn't assume his true form there on the bus. His eyes glowed and he had a cloud of sorts hanging over him that no one else could quite place. When he exited the train and left the station, the morning sun had been obscured by thick clouds. As Maou walked he found himself thinking about yesterday, when Emi had given him the umbrella. She had seemed so… happy? Yes, that was the word. Even in his presence, she was able to feel happiness.

"She gave me an umbrella," Maou thought aloud to himself. He looked down at the umbrella he held clutched in his hand. Without realizing it, he suddenly felt very attached to it. The umbrella was, after all, a token of thanks from the Hero. It was a solid reminder, physical proof that he and the Hero could co-exist. Maou was more than ready to live in the same world as the Hero, provided she stopped stalking him.

"I'm home, Ashiya!"

"MASTER!"

"Oh, you're back, can we eat now?"

"Good Sadao, we were all rather worried. It is good that you have returned."

"Ashiya, Urishihara, Suzuno, I'm fine. I spent the night at Emi's-"

"The Hero's apartment? Why?!"

"Ashiya, calm down."

"Forgive me, my lord, but it is my duty to be concerned for your welfare."

Ashiya was hard at work cooking, as was his habit when he was anxious. Urushihara was seated at his little desk and Suzuno was seated at the table, allowing Ashiya to fix her a meal in return for all of the cooking and food she had provided them with.

"It's fine Ashiya, Emilia was a-"

Maou thought back to last night, the memories rather blurred and vague. The one thing he remembered clearly was Emi's face. Whether she was kneeled over him holding a knife, or facing him on the bed, their hands intertwined, Maou could see her face more clearly than any other detail.

"-a great host," Maou finished quietly.

"Well, I'm glad you survived sire. Emilia's temper must be cooling off somewhat."

"Yeah. I guess so."

"Hey, can we eat already?"

"Urushihara!"

"What? I'm hungry!"

"Guys," Maou muttered, clutching at his sore head.

"All I'm saying is that you could be a little more grateful!"

"Guys…"

"For what?! Being treated like garbage and ordered around all the time?"

"Guys!"

Urishihara and Ashiya stopped and looked at Maou, whose great power permeated the room in seconds and left everyone speechless… except for Suzuno of course.

"Satan, unleash your evil powers when there are not guests over please, I'd almost rather have to fight you while you strip again."

"Sorry, I'll try and tone it down. I just have a bad headache and I have to go to work in-"

Maou checked his phone and groaned loudly.

"Less than an hour."

"I packed you a lunch, your constant consumption of MgRonalds is not healthy, Sire," Ashiya snipped.

"I agree, unfortunately, it is beginning to show on good Urushihara," Suzuno chimed in, looking at Urushihara's figure.

"Hey, are you saying that I'm fat?!"

"Not yet, but if your diet is not adjusted to your current lifestyle-"

"My lifestyle and my diet are both my choice, and I don't need some Church lapdog's opinion-"

"Urushihara, Suzuno is concerned for your health, be thankful someone even cares," Maou said, rubbing his cranium and wishing the headache would stop.

Maou used a little magic and healed his headache. It didn't go away completely, but now it didn't hurt quite so much. He fell onto his placemat by the table and Ashiya put a cup of tea in front of him. It was bitter, but Ashiya had put in a little honey to make it more bearable. Soon he was completely relaxed and Ashiya put down a light breakfast for him.

"Thanks, Ashiya, you've really outdone yourself."

"My Lord, it is nothing compared to what you do day in and day out to keep this Castle functioning properly."

Maou scarfed it down eagerly. Even though he had plenty of magic, it was no substitute for real food, and if he didn't eat his body would start to drain the magic to keep his organs running.

"I swear, I will have words with the Hero about starving my King."

"She didn't starve me, she actually fed me a lot, I just couldn't handle the Celestial Force in her apartment. It was a nightmare."

"Yes, well some good, normal food seems to have done the trick, you look better already, sire."

"I do?"

"Oh, yes. You seem to have a certain glow about you. Your powers seem more pronounced now than I've seen since your battle with Sariel."

"Oh, yeah, that. I actually had an angry customer come in yesterday. I had to siphon his anger to stop him from attacking one of my co-workers. Anyway, I have a little magic now."

"My Lord, if I may, why not just use this all the time?"

"If I began to steal people's emotions with absolutely no reason, do you think the Hero would let me live?"

"No, she wouldn't," interjected Suzuno, "and nor would I. I promised to spare you and give you a chance, provided you continued to place your friendship above your ambitions to take over this world."

"See, Ashiya? There's no way I'd get away with that. But I figure seeing as I took a man's anger and prevented someone from getting hurt in the process, that merits a pass from the Hero and the Bailiff of the Inquisition. Right Suzuno?"

"That's correct, good Sadao. Had you taken that man's rage for your own gain, you would not be here to tell of it, I assure you."

"You think to threaten the King of Demons? In his own-"

"That was no threat, good Ashiya. That was a promise. Now, Maou, shouldn't you be getting along to work?"

"Geez, you're so pushy. What, do you want some alone time with your two demon boyfriends or something?"

Suzuno blushed and made an outraged face. The next thing Maou knew, he was being forced out of his own apartment by Crestia Bell, the Death Scythe.

"GO TO WORK!"

The door slammed shut behind him and Maou was left outside, dumbstruck.

"My lord."

A crack appeared in the door and a plastic bag filled with lunch was handed through by Ashiya, whom it seemed had received permission from Suzuno to hand the Devil his lunch.

"Thanks Ashiya. When I get home I want that clergywoman out of my Castle!"

"Yes, sire! I shall not fail you!"

Maou slowly walked down the steps and looked over towards where Dullahan was once parked. Angling his voice towards the open window to his apartment, he shouted "And you still owe me a new bike, Suzuno!"

"Hmph!"

The window was slammed shut and Maou smiled. Even though they were mean to each other, Maou still thought of Suzuno as a good friend and neighbor. After all, without her mercy, Maou would never have been able to defeat Sariel and mount a rescue for the Hero and Chiho. Crestia Bell's steadfast defense of her morals and her unwillingness to serve as the Church's butcher had made her a valuable ally to Maou, and a strong link between himself and Emi.

"Well, I suppose I'd best get a move on, or I'll be late."

Maou arrived half an hour later to find Chiho waiting for him. She was glancing at her watch and scanning the back alley behind MgRonalds for any sign of Maou the Shift Manager. When he emerged from behind a dumpster without even the slightest noise and called Chiho's name, she shrieked and almost fell backwards into a pile of garbage. Maou darted forward and caught her wrist before she could land. Those work uniforms were spendy, and she would have to run home and change if she'd fallen into the garbage. Instead, Maou pulled her away from the heap and she fell forward into his arms.

"Thanks Mr. Maou," Chiho said, tingling all over at Maou's touch.

"No problem, Chi. We'd better get ready, you know how first shift is when we come in even a second after the end of their shift."

"Yeah, they are kinda moody about that, but who can blame them? I hate it when I get stuck in here for an extra 5 minutes after my shift ends."

"Well, let me change, then meet the crew in the break room for the pre-shift meeting."

After Maou had changed and given one of his awe-inspiring pep talks, he set to work, taking orders, helping the less experienced, and generally keeping the restaurant afloat. He had everything under control but Ms. Kisaki still came in and took over command, leaving Maou free to help the crew even more while Kisaki managed the overall picture. It was in times like these, when everything ran smoothly and Maou was able to help customers that he felt happy. He was able to help the trainees to develop new skills while simultaneously taking orders, helping in the kitchens, and waiting on customers.

"Alright, Maou, good shift today, have a good weekend, ok?"

"Thanks Ms. Kisaki, I will. I'll see you Monday."

Maou sprinted off into the late evening. His apartment was not in a very friendly neighborhood and even though Lucifer had stopped stirring up trouble, there was still the mortals themselves to contend with.

"Where are you off too in such a hurry?"

Maou's path was suddenly blocked by a tall man in an overcoat.

"Just on my way back from work," Maou said with a nervous smile on his face.

"Well, that's good. Now, hand over your valuables and your wallet, I don't want to hurt you."

The tall man pulled a baseball bat from beneath his long coat. Maou smiled. He sensed the man's fear, the fear that Maou may be stronger than he looked, the fear that the man may have to do something terrible in order to get away with the mugging.

"Tell, you what, your wife and kids don't know you're doing this, so I'll cut you some slack."

"What did you say," the man whispered, taking a step back, "how do you know about-"

"I know everything about you, Mr. Shinoto. I think that what you're doing is actually pretty cool too, the money you plan to steal will go towards food, right? I tell you what, you put away the baseball bat, I'll buy you some groceries, enough to last you a couple weeks. In that time I want you to fill out some job applications and find a more honest source of income. Do we have a deal?"

"You won't tell anyone? About how I tried to…you know, mug you?"

"No, but like I said, after I buy you groceries, I want you to get some job applications, even if you have to apply at MgRonalds or something."

"Ok… but if you try anything, I'll-"

"What? Hit me with your baseball bat? I really don't think your son wants to know about what you do with his bat, do you?"

"No."

"Alright then, let's go, I have to be home in a little while or else people will worry."

Maou walked with the man through the grocery store and spoke with him, giving him some pointers about what not to buy and what would be necessary. Mr. Shinoto seemed to have been struck by Maou's generosity, thanking him profusely at the checkout and blinking tears out of his eyes as he waved goodbye. Maou waved back, walking off into the night, practically broke but very self-assured. When he'd taken over Ente Isla, he'd only wanted to help the demons of the world become a single nation, and to have the freedom of humans. Now he was able to help humans, though he had no idea how he would explain his lack of funds to Ashiya.

"I'm back," Maou whispered, kicking off his shoes and heading for the bathroom. After a quick shower he cracked a window to get rid of the stale air and laid down next to Ashiya on the floor. He thought about that morning and how Emi had given him power, knowing what he might have done with it.

"Emi," Maou breathed. He said it without being completely sure how he felt about the name. Did he enjoy Emi's presence? Was she his friend? What would happen now? Almost as if in answer, Maou's phone began to vibrate. He looked at the caller I.D. to find a vaguely familiar phone number with the name 'Yusa, Emi' above it. Maou's eyebrows knit together. Why was she calling so late? Getting up and doing his utmost not to fall on Ashiya and wake both him and Urushihara, Moau entered the hallway and sat with his back against the door to the apartment.

"Hello," Maou asked tiredly.

"Maou? It's Emi."

Here's another chapter. It's very dialogue heavy, but I read through it myself to make sure its readable at the very least. Interesting? Maybe not. Plot driven? No way in hell, but it's comprehensible English, so I guess that's a gold star to me.