Emi watched Maou leave, unsure of how she felt. The thought of killing Maou actually made her was to regurgitate her cake and run away crying. But she was the Hero, she was destined to stop the Devil… what if he was right? What if the only way to sate the human's bloodlust was for Emi to kill the Devil?

'No,' Emi thought, 'there has to be another way, Maou isn't the same person he was before. He's become more human, more down to Earth. There has to be a way to fix this without his death.'

But even as Emi leaned against the wall, the sun beating against her as she stood there lost in thought, she knew that to Maou was correct. Emi couldn't think of a single way that he would be forgiven for his atrocities.

Or maybe he could be forgiven. Emi had been raised as a weapon, a tool meant for one purpose: to kill Satan Jacob, the King of the Demons. If she could forgo her years of conditioning and training and hatred, and finally come to see the Devil as a being of humanity and empathy, then everyone else could too. After all, she'd lived for years under the story that Maou had killed her father when he hadn't. Not for the last time, Emi thought of the Church and what else they had lied about. With slow, deliberate steps, she walked back up to the Devil's Castle, fixing a smile on her face, determined to enjoy the party.

When she returned, everyone was sitting around the small table, with two large dishes before them. It seemed to be made of simple and cheap foods, eggs, rice and the like, but the seasonings seemed to have been focused upon in a culinary competition of flavor between Ashiya and Suzuno. They faced each other from opposite sides of the table, staring daggers at each other.

"There can be only one dish that emerges victorious," Ashiya said.

"And it will be mine," Suzuno said. With gusto, everyone dished themselves servings of both meals for a side by side comparison and Emi took a seat cross the table from Maou, who was slowly chewing upon a mouthful of oyakodan, a Japanese dish with eggs, rice and chicken.

"The chicken was used as my special ingredient," Suzuno explained, "I brought it from my apartment so that I could show this culinary disgrace who is the real lord of the flavors."

"You will not win," Ashiya said, "for I have prepared my master's favorite, katsudon! I took some of the pork from a leftover pork bowl of Urishihara's, and with eggs and rice, I've made a feast fit for a king… my king, to be precise."

Everyone took samplings of both dishes, finding them to be of excellent quality and flavor, though several people were conflicted in their choosing.

"I'm voting for Ashiya," Maou said.

"Of course you are," Suzuno said, now glaring at Maou.

"Well, I'm voting for Suzuno," Urushihara said, patting his belly, "I'm so sick of pork bowls, that chicken was a nice change."

Suzuno smirked and blushed, turning to face Ashiya.

"So it begins," she said quietly, "here and now, I dismantle and divide the Demon King's army with my special ingredient: chicken!"

Suzuno stabbed her chopstick into a piece of chicken and held it high, like a sword. However, her victorious pose was ruined by Chiho.

"I'm voting for Ashiya," she said, "I love the way you used left over takeout in your recipe, and it worked so well!"

It was now Ashiya's turn to gloat as he bowed to Chiho.

"You see Suzuno? Your chicken is no match for the alluring power of Moshi Roshi's Jumbo Pork Bowl! With this addition to my katsudon, I am undefeatable!"

"Not so fast," Emi said, dabbing at her mouth with a napkin, "I'm voting for Suzuno, that pork is just too much for me."

"You see, Ashiya," Suzuno quipped, "your pork is fattening and unhealthy, my chicken is light and nutritious!"

"Why you," Ashiya said, about to lunge over the table when the obvious was pointed out.

"Hey, guys," Maou said, "it's a tie, nobody won."

With that, Ashiya and Suzuno dished bowls of each other's food, in hopes of a tie breaker. Ashiya poked at the oyakodan, while Suzuno played with her katsudon, neither willing to try the other's masterpiece.

"Are you sure this isn't poisoned," Suzuno asked.

"I was just wondering the same thing," Ashiya said grimly.

"Same time," Suzuno asked, spearing a large piece of pork on her chopsticks.

"Of course," Ashiya concurred.

Together they raised large bites of each other's dishes to their mouths, carefully watching for any sign of backing out. With resignation, however, they each went through with the act and after a moment of hesitant chewing, they both stopped.

"This… this is…," Suzuno stammered.

"Amazing," Ashiya said.

Ashiya and Suzuno looked at each other, and then declared their votes.

"I vote for you, Ashiya!"

"And I vote for you, Suzuno!"

"That doesn't help," Maou said, "by voting for the other person, you guys simply prolonged the tie."

"A tie is fine by me," Ashiya said, "at least Suzuno enjoyed my food, unlike some people…," Ashiya glared at Urushihara, who held up his hands in surrender. Emi enjoyed the whole affair, but she found that she couldn't help but think about Maou's predictions for the future. She glanced at him only to find him watching her rather intently.

"You alright, Emi," he asked, "you look a little pale."

"I'm… uh…"

"Maou's right," Chiho said, leaning forward, "you do look a little pale. Are you ok?"

"I'm fine," Emi said quietly, "just a little headache."

"Sheesh," Urushihara said, "first Maou, then you… maybe it's mono."

"Mono," Suzuno asked.

"You know," Urushihara said with an evil grin, "the kissing disease."

Emi looked angry and Urushihara ducked under the table and scooted away as fast as possible. This time, however, Emi grabbed an empty glass bottle from her purse, one that had been used to hold Holy Vitamin Beta, and chucked it at Urushihara who caught it and tossed it into the recyclable bin.

"The Hero, littering? For shame, Emilia, I thought the Church would've taught you better," Urushihara chided, pushing Emi's buttons in retaliation for her attacks on him.

"Shut up, Lucifer, I killed you once and I can damn sure do it again."

"I'm so scared."

"Why are you so mad," Suzuno asked.

"Urushihara is insinuating that the Devil and I were kissing," Emi said through gritted teeth.

Suzuno covered her mouth with a long sleeve on her kimono and looked scandalized, her eyes flickering between Emi and Maou.

"You haven't-," she began before being cut off by Emi and Maou.

"No," Emi said.

"Never," Maou said, "she'd die before that happened."

"Exactly," Emi said, "absolutely right."

Chiho looked like she was going to have a mental breakdown at the thought of Maou and Emi together. Her eye twitched and she looked at them rather strangely, like she was doing her best to hide the pain. Suzuno then noticed Chi's discomfort and she seized one of her sandals by the door, throwing it at Urushihara, who was not expecting a second attack. The sandal hit him on the back of the head and bounced over it, only to be caught in his hand.

"Et tu, Brute?"

"What," Suzuno asked blankly, her arm still outstretched from throwing the sandal.

"I believe it's a line from ancient texts of this world," Ashiya said, drawing from the knowledge he'd gained at the library, "it refers to the betrayal of Julius Caesar by his friend, Brutus. When Brutus stabbed Caesar to stop him from becoming any more powerful, Caesar turn to his friend and delivered the line. I believe Urushihara feels betrayed, especially after he voted for your dish."

Suzuno looked slightly saddened and she blushed, turning away.

"It was for Chiho's wellbeing," Suzuno said, not looking Lucifer in his nefarious violet gaze, "she is delicate, especially when it comes to these matters."

"I'm not delicate," Chiho said lamely.

The party wore on, dragging onward long into the darkness of night. Everyone was preparing to go home, but Maou devised a better idea: a sleep over.

"This way we can all just hang out here, take it easy for the night. And then tomorrow you can all go home. This way we'll have more time together, and who knows when we'll next be able to see each other like this again," Maou said.

"I'll call my parents and let them know," Chi said, stepping outside to make the call.

"I'm not sure," Emi said, conscious of the last time she'd stayed the night, "you weren't very hospitable last time."

"Last time," Suzuno interrupted, poking her head from around the door of the fridge as she grabbed more sodas for everyone.

"Back when Lucifer was working with Olba," Emi said, "he fired shots at us and I dropped my wallet, so I had to stay the night here and catch a bus home in the morning."

"I gave you a blanket and a pillow," Maou said in his defense, "that's more than Ashiya and I had at that time."

Emi hadn't thought of that, so she rested her case and agreed to stay the night. Maou, to her surprise, pulled several new sleeping bags from the closet and laid them out on the floor for everyone, along with several brand new pillows, meant for guests. They all prepared for the wind down as Chiho came back in. Within the hour, they'd all settled into their pajamas and begun to talk more quietly to each other, sipping on water and eating a few light snacks before bed, trying to keep it down for their human neighbors.

Slowly but surely, one by one, they drifted off to sleep as the others talked quietly amongst themselves. Chiho fell asleep to Emi and Maou telling her tales of Ente Isla, Lucifer fell asleep at his computer and Suzuno got up and closed it, throwing a blanket over his shoulders for warmth. Ashiya turned in early, for after his epic food battle he was tired and ready for a good night's rest, as he had to wake early to clean up after the party. Suzuno, Maou, and Emi stayed up late, though Maou and Emi were accustomed to the hours, as they often had to pick up unsavory shifts to make ends meet. Before long, it was just the two of them talking, barely able to see each other through the dim light of the moon shining through the curtains.

"Hey Maou," Emi said, listening the heavy breathing to make sure everyone else was asleep before she broached their earlier topic of discussion.

"Hmm?"

"Did you mean what you said earlier? Outside, I mean?"

Emi heard him give a small laugh and shift as he turned in his sleeping bag to look at her where her voice had come from.

"Did I mean what? What aspect of all that are you wondering about," Maou asked tiredly, picking out Emi by the twinkle in her eyes.

"What you said about… sacrifice… and missing this?"

"You mean missing you," Maou said smartly, honing in on Emi's feelings. Emi blushed, hoping against hope that everyone else was sleeping, but Maou seemed to be able to sense Emi's thoughts as well.

"They're asleep," Maou said dismissively, sitting up in his sleeping bag, "and yes, I meant it, Emi. Strange as it is, I would miss you. An angel may have taught me magic and language, but you taught me something much more precious, and even more valuable."

"And what would that be," Emi wondered aloud.

"The value of human life, the fact that even the those with the worst of pasts can still do good things. You taught me what it is to be human, when all I knew was to be a demon. Sure, you threatened to kill me if I stepped over the line, but maybe that's what it took to get me to this point. Anyway, I'll say it again, so you know I mean it. Thank you," Maou said.

"This may be a strange question, but have you ever thanked anyone else in your life," Emi asked.

"Only a handful of people. There was the Archangel who saved me, there was Ashiya, maybe Lucifer at one point… and now you."

Emi thought about that as she drifted off to sleep, her head filled with Maou. Could he be deceiving her? No… but his words about forming plans that took years returned to her, and her sleep suffered greatly for it.

In her dream, Emi watched her life pass her by. She had returned to Ente Isla, she'd found a way to vindicate Satan Jacob. They grew older, the Demon King and the Hero, working together. They grew closer and closer, ending with a vision of Emi and Maou, together as a family, a small girl with long silver hair between them, a lock of purple across the girl's forehead. They were all smiling and happy together.

Emi woke up in Ente Isla, in her palace that she shared with the Demon King. She searched, but she couldn't find him anywhere around the extensive halls and grand rooms. Finally she left the palace and found the city populace, all dead, a lone figure standing over them. He was tall and regal, with large horns and a cape. He was soaked in the blood of the townsfolk, men, women, and children, all slain at his hand. His eyes glowed red and his sharp teeth were dripping blood. He slowly walked toward her, his red eyes terrifying Emi, but she couldn't run, she was stuck where she was, unable to move. When the Devil spoke his voice was deep and dark, dripping with untold years of hatred.

"Emi," said the figure, "Emi, I told you this would happen. I told you our plans unfolded over the course of several years."

"Maou," Emi stammered, "why?"

"I never cared for you," Maou said, a wicked grin splitting his bloody jaws, "our love, our family, they were all a dream. You were set up from the moment I left Ente Isla all those years ago. I knew you would be the one to stand in my way, so I made you believe I had changed, I fooled you."

"I'll kill you," Emi said, a tear running from the corner of her eye, but still she was frozen, unable to move a single muscle.

"You would kill me, Emi," asked Maou, his form and his voice flickering into a more human semblance, "you would kill your husband?"

"No, I just-"

"Got you again!"

Maou turned back into his demon form and within moments, he was upon Emi, his large clawed hand around her throat, lifting her off the ground. Emi kicked but it was futile, she felt her breath drain away and with her final breath she thought of how she'd been tricked into loving the Devil, years of love and happiness, all in vain.

And then she actually woke up with a yelp, on the floor of the Devil's Castle in Japan, surrounded snoring lumps, still sleeping peacefully in the wee hours of the morning.

One more before bed. Anyway, I received a couple reviews on the story, both pretty much saying that I should read the light novels. I would love too, I really would, but two problems, I can only find a few translated bits and pieces, all of which I have hungrily devoured with my bibliophilic tendencies. I love it and I wish I could read Japanese (this being problem number two, I can't) so I could keep up with the story. I didn't write this to bash the author, I wrote this as a way of saying that while I love the story, the romantic pacing is a bit stretched, you know? Just figured I'd clarify for anyone else that actually reads these. Also, during Emi's dream of their family, yes, that is Alas=Ramus between them. No, she won't be a part of the story unless someone grants my wish and posts free translations online and I decide to pull some time-skip bullshit. But who know, maybe...