One month later, a great calamity rose in the Saint Aire Empire. The Church officially declared Heaven to have been destroyed, along with every angel that ever existed. It was a terrifying prospect, and coupled with all the other recent goings on in Ente Isla, it was no surprise that madmen roamed the streets, proclaiming the end of days.
Magicians in Ente Isla were completely out of magic power. Magic, which had once been a staple of society, had collapsed completely. No one knew why, and nothing was safe. All of the magic in the world was gone, and nothing anyone did seemed to change that.
And finally, a great force of demons had risen from out of nowhere, and had begun to march on the capital of the Holy Saint Aire Empire. Scouts reported that they marched nonstop, day and night, and numbered in the thousands. With no magical protection, everyone in the city would be exposed to the attack.
So when senile old men proclaiming to be prophets announced the end of the world, people weren't all that skeptical. Martial law was put into effect to prevent massive riots and discord. Communication between kingdoms had been completely cut off due to multiple crises arising.
The stage was set for the final showdown in the sprawling courtyard just inside the gates of the capital, and the last piece of the puzzle was about to drop into place. The only people who were aware of what was about to happen were a tall, blonde man with golden eyes, and his two female accomplices. One was shorter, with shoulder length light auburn hair, a sunny smile, and eyes that seemed to glow the color of the sky.
This was Chiho Sasaki.
She was dressed in a fine azure tunic with golden embroidery. Her dark breeches were clean and unmarked, and her knee high leather boots were brightly polished, with not a single scuff in the leather. A thin silver blade hung from her hip. All in all, she appeared to be a minor noble.
The other woman was a bit taller than Chiho, and a few years older. Her short brown hair had gotten longer, and her stomach now protruded slightly from pregnancy. Her eyes were the color of rubies.
This was Rika Suzuki.
She was dressed in a dark red blouse with loose sleeves that were rolled up to her elbows. Her black breeches were just as clean as Chiho's, as were her comfortably padded boots, which were designed to provide support for the pregnant woman's spine. Though she was pregnant, it would appear odd if she were not armed, and a golden hilted rapier hung from her sword belt, which was done quite loosely about her waist.
The man between them, and the father of Rika's child, was Ashiya, otherwise known as Alciel, the Demon General.
He wore a fine tunic of forest green, black leather breeches with silver studs, and a pair of brown leather gloves that matched his boots. On his hip he carried a finely crafted longsword, and on his back he wore a shield bearing a false coat of arms. All three were disguised as nobles, as they had been for months in order to maintain a presence in the city. Current intelligence was needed for the plan to go off without a hitch.
"A full month of planning and preparations," he muttered to himself, sounding rather tired, "I certainly hope this all plays out as you say it will."
Chiho smiled. Ever since Heaven had been destroyed, she had changed. Her maturity, which she had often been praised for back on Earth, was now downright chilling. Her confidence had skyrocketed, and her eyes had changed color, as they had been brown before she had performed the ritual with Rika.
"I know it will," she said simply.
Ashiya knew better than to question her. Rika smiled and took Ashiya's hand. He tried to mimic her cheerful serenity, but his amber eyes met her red ones, and he felt strange.
Rika had changed, as well. Her eyes, her demeanor, everything about her was more… refined. She looked and acted so confident, it was hard to cope with. Ashiya couldn't help but wonder what would happen to the child, or if it would be affected by Rika's… condition.
In short, Rika and Chiho had become something more than they were before. In the instant they were freed of Gabriel's and Ignora's influence, the Sephiroth had answered Chiho's and Rika's plea for help. They stripped all of Ente Isla of its magic, and stored it within the women whose hearts they had deemed pure.
Rika played host to all the demonic magic that had ever existed, and ever would exist. She was a vessel of unlimited demonic magic, essentially making her a god. Chiho, on the other hand, had been made the vessel of all holy magic in existence, and like Rika, was now something far beyond a human, angel, or demon.
With both moons drained of their power, and with their inhabitants mysteriously disappearing, the Sephiroth assured Chiho and Rika that the world would soon begin to turn itself around, and humans could begin to advance. The Tree of Life, which had taken root on the moon, would be able to grow without restriction.
But what of the angels and demons?
After Heaven had fallen, the remaining angels were given a choice. Either live in peace with the humans of Ente Isla, or be left in the ruins of their former society to slowly waste away amongst the moondust. Those who went with Chiho Sasaki were cast into Ente Isla, where they could blend with humans and live out the remainder of their days. Many chose not to go, and they stayed amidst the ruins of Heaven, which had fallen from the sky. With no magic, and no way to leave, they were condemned to a slow death of starvation and madness, clawing at the rubble of their former glory.
The demons of the red moon, however, were given no such choice by Rika Suzuki. As a result, she cast them all to Ente Isla. Some became little more than animals capable of speech, while the more powerful demons became human.
All of the demons in existence only numbered in the thousands, and had begun to march on the capital, under the banner of the Unified Demon's Militia.
They would be arriving on that very day, according to their inside man, who had managed to worm his way into the upper echelons of the newest demon army.
"I certainly hope you're right," Ashiya sighed.
The three of them were standing next to a large raised stone platform. It was long, and a more solid stage could not be asked for. It had been intended to be used as a foundation for a great statue. Construction of the monument had been delayed, however, as times of crisis were not the best times in which to raise giant statues of oneself. The Emperor was far from pleased.
"Any news from the Lightbringer?" asked a quiet voice.
From seemingly out of nowhere, a short woman in heavy church robes appeared before the trio. Throwing back her hood, she revealed herself to be none other than Suzuno, who had been helping to steer the church in the right direction after all hell had broken loose in the Theocracy.
"Inquisitor," Ashiya said, nodding to the woman as she leaned against the wall on Chiho's other side.
"It's 'Cardinal' now," Suzuno said. "I have been working my way up rather quickly. Now tell me, how is Urushihara?"
"He's apparently taken on the role of personal advisor for the leader of the United Demon's Militia," Ashiya explained.
"And what of Sadao and Emi?"
"We want them to stand out," Rika grinned, "so we'll be allowing them to use magic for their entrances."
"I suppose the more people see them, the harder it will be to dispute their deaths," Suzuno reasoned.
The sun rose high as the day matured. Noon came and went as birds flitted overhead, chirping cheerfully. As they waited, Suzuno and the others made small talk. In the month that had passed since Heaven's collapse, the group hadn't come together as a whole, or even seen very much of each other. It was off-putting to be thrust back into their old lives, and stranger still that nothing seemed the same as it had once been.
The sun slowly began to sink, and cast down spears of gorgeous pink, orange, and red light. The sounds of the great city began to slow as men and women began to end their daily toils. Armed guards began to roam the streets in droves. At the gates, a force slowly began to amass.
The stench of human fear was thick in Ashiya's nostrils. It was an odd sensation to no longer recover his magic as he once had. He stared at the gathering of guardsmen, listening to their whispers with ears far sharper than any humans.
"Strange reports of animals flocking to the demons-"
"Their numbers have grown substantially-"
"How did they all appear out of nowhere?"
Ashiya noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned to find Rika staring quite intently at the great fortified portcullis barring entry into the city. Her eyes were wide, and she looked like she was shaking.
"The demons are here," she said quietly.
Far from sounding frightened, Rika seemed… ecstatic. Exuberant, even. The presence of so many demons made her feel incredible. All of the magic within her seemed to rise and pull towards the army of demons, like dogs on a leash remembering their old masters. Rika smiled as she held the immense power in check.
"Then it seems the time has come," Suzuno muttered. She pulled up her hood and hurried away into the crowd, which was filled with valiant knights, frightened guardsmen, and even a few civilian men and women with makeshift weapons. Behind the frontline, spectators had gathered. Upon closer inspection, they wore the finery of nobles, and their noses were all held high in the air.
"Aristocrats," Ashiya muttered, "do they intend to negotiate?"
"The demons are here," cried a scout from the walls, "they come bearing a white flag of truce! And… by Ignora… there are humans among them! Open the gates, they have hostages!"
The portcullis was raised, and the great iron fortified gates swung wide. From within the darkness beneath the wall came the sound of raucous cries, like someone was marching a zoo into the city. At the forefront came a long line of humans. They were not bound or gagged, and they held their heads high in the air. Their clothes were a sort of mix and match variety, as though they had stolen bits and pieces of their outfits from various towns, villages, and farms they had passed.
One human amongst them, though, stood out like a sore thumb.
He had violet hair that had grown longer over the last month, and now curled down his shoulders quite magnificently. Unlike his associates, his outfit was slim fitting, black, and extraordinarily clean. His lilac eyes were alight with mischief, and his mouth was curled into a snide grin. Suzuno watched this man carefully from within the shadows, her heart hammering as she noticed how much he had changed since they're last seen each other. Something about him seemed different, and he looked as though he'd packed on some muscle. He wore a single golden earring in his right ear, and a long black katana hung from his hip.
But no matter how different he seemed, Suzuno knew it was him.
"Morningstar," she murmured wondrously.
Almost as if he had heard her, his eyes flicked in her direction. He stared for a moment, as though he could see clear through the darkness under her hood. Suzuno stared back, fighting the urge to run out and wrap him in a hug. She felt tears in her eyes as her worries and stress melted away.
Lucifer took a step forward and muttered into someone's ear. The person in question was nearly seven feet tall, solid muscle, and scarred quite heavily, as though he spent his days fighting for survival. He had the look of a lion surveying his pride as he looked out over the demons all around him, now in the shapes of animals and humans due to their lack of magic.
The man's hair was long and matted, but it framed his head in such a way that he looked to have a lion's mane. As Lucifer stood on tiptoe to speak to the man, a grin spread across his face, revealing sharp teeth.
The grizzled man turned to look at the human nobles. Despite the wall of heavily armed soldiers between them, the nobles shook in their boots.
"I am Vain," he called, immediately silencing everyone, even the animals, "and I am the leader of the United Demon's Militia, and the new Demon King! Behold my Kingdom!"
As if to emphasize his words, the animals picked up their violent cries. Crows cawed, wolves howled, minotaurs bellowed, and the humans roared, sending up a warcry. The one who called himself Vain smirked as the blood drained from the faces of the nobles. Ashiya felt his anger build.
"Tch, this is an affront to his majesty," Ashiya muttered so quietly that only Rika and Chiho could hear him. Rika hooked her arm through Ashiya's, and smiled at him. In the face of her quiet happiness, Ashiya could o little more than sheathe his rage and anger.
'Goodness, she knows just how to calm me down,' Ashiya thought, sure that he had picked the right woman to spend his life with.
Above the ruckus rose a rather wispy voice, as though the speaker spent most of his time in musty rooms, reading dusty tomes, and smoking fine cigars.
"We know what you are, demon. If you speak for your kind, then we ask that you tell us what your goals are in coming here! This is a bad time for demons to waltz into our midst unannounced, and his lordship cannot afford such distraction!"
The man hollering was dressed in burgundy linens, which were clean and well kept. His white mustache was yellowed with the taint of tobacco, and his eyes were watery and narrowed, like those of a domesticated housecat, though the darkness within them spoke of a well-hidden intellect.
"A distraction? You call the entirety of the demon race on your doorstep a DISTRACTION?!"
Vain roared, and within his cry the sound of a lion could be heard. The long black claws on the tips of his fingers gleamed in the setting sun as he hunched over. Every muscle in his body was tensed. A silence fell over the demons, and they all stared intently at the man who had insulted Vain's pride. It was odd for animals to be so silent, and to watch people so closely.
The birds did not peck and scratch. The wolves were not skittish. No one dared moved as the entirety of the United Demon's Militia waited for the order to attack.
The sound of a single sword being drawn from its sheathe was loud in everyone's ears. Puzzled, every eye on the scene turned to survey the lone source of the noise. It was Lucifer, who had drawn his katana. With a single swing, he lopped the head clean off of Vain. The demons all stared in incredulity. Urushihara smiled gleefully, flecks of blood painting his face as he smirked.
"Looks like Vain's dead," he muttered dryly, wiping the blood from his sword on his pocket square, which he tossed onto Vain's twitching corpse, "and we'll be needing a new leader."
Just then, a portal appeared. Magic, which had been wiped from existence, suddenly came to be once more. Demons and humans alike gawked at the display, woefully aware of their lack of magic as someone long thought to be dead stepped through the Gate.
"I think I can fill that role," Maou called out, his hands on his hips as he reestablished himself as the King of Demons.
He was nine feet tall, with dark clothes and a cape with large leather pauldrons. His feet were cloven hooves. One of his horns was nearly gone, severed by the Hero in their battle almost three years ago. His cape flapped gloriously in the wind. From the crowd of demons, a great cheer arose. His people remembered him as a kind, fair ruler. They remembered his quest to give them a place they could belong. They remembered his charisma and passion. Somewhere in the heart of all demons, memories of the Demon King Satan Jacob stirred memories of hope.
Maou was standing upon the great stone foundation which had originally been meant for the aforementioned statue, so he was well within sight of the nobles, demons, and anyone who happened to be in the vicinity. The sight of him set the lesser nobles running, crying for their mothers as they fled his awesome power. Everyone looked to him with some level of reverence. Magic in Ente Isla was completely drained. How had the Devil used it to conjure a portal?!
Rika smiled. As the vessel of all demonic power in existence, she was also able to transfer power. The Sephiroth had given her the ability to effectively turn off a demon's magical abilities with the flick of a switch. Normally, she would refrain from allowing any demon in the world to wield magic, as it was a hindrance to human progression… but the plan did not call for Maou to stay in Ente Isla. In fact, it heavily relied upon his imminent demise.
And that's where Chiho's abilities came into play. She could effectively nullify and exacerbate the magic of any holy magic user, rendering them ultra-powerful, or completely impotent. Sure enough, another portal opened on the other end of the great slab of stone, and through it stepped a woman with long white hair, red eyes, and a sword that shone brightly enough to make everyone in the vicinity cover their eyes.
"Not so fast, Demon King!" Emilia the Hero called out loud enough for all to hear.
Now it was time for the demons in the crowd to quail in terror. In fact, several quails whom had once been lower ranked demons squawked in fear and took flight. Even the more powerful demons, which now took the shape of poorly dressed humans, looked unsure. Some of them took a shaky step back, and beads of perspiration dotted their foreheads.
"Emilia the Hero!"
"The Sacred Sword, One Wing!"
"Praise Ignora!"
"We're saved!"
The incredible response to Emi's return caused her to blush. A cheer rose from the crowd, and all the humans began to chant her name. People openly and unashamedly sobbed at the sight of her, their savior, returned to rescue them from the demons and restore the magic of the world.
"It's too bad," the Demon King muttered to himself, "Emi obviously means a lot to these people… how could she possibly be prepared to…"
He looked to the Hero, who stood across from him upon the large stone foundation. There was a mischievous light in her eyes, and a small smile that seemed directed right at him, as if they were sharing in a private joke, but the Devil couldn't bring himself to smile back. He was about to completely demolish what little hope the humans had regained since Emi appeared before them… something told him things might not go entirely as planned.
But Emi just blushed a little darker, and continued grinning at him. A breeze swept past the two mortal enemies, and with it came a swirl of what looked like white flower petals. They swirled about the Hero for a moment, and Maou felt something in his chest pang painfully.
The image was splendid, like a moving portrait. The way her head was tilted, the rosy patches upon her cheeks, the way the wind caressed her long white hair, and her red eyes that seemed to bore into him. The Demon King could've sat and stared at the Hero, and the white petals that spiraled about her, for hours, but as fast as they appeared, they vanished. With a start, Maou heard the brazen sound of trumpets. From up the road that led further into the capital, towards a great azure palace, a way was cleared of the throngs that had gathered to witness the Hero's glorious return. Banners were raised, heavily armed knights cleared a path, and before long, a royal procession was visible as well.
Hidden away in a gilded and veiled litter carried by several men who were as tall, strong, and muscular as bodybuilders on Earth was surely the Emperor of the Saint Aire Empire. On either side of the litter, careful not to break formation, were Emerada and Alberto.
The knights guarding the litter cleared a path right to the base of the stone slab, getting as close as they could to the Hero while still maintaining a visual of the Demon King. Maou cast a wary eye on the knights, raising an eyebrow. Instinctively, they put their hands upon the hilts of their swords, staring up at him. The only thing stopping their armor from creaking as they shivered was the fact that they were royal guards, and with their plentiful downtime, they were expected to keep their armor clean and free of any signs of imperfection. It reminded Maou of Heaven, but the closer he looked, he noticed a younger man, probably new to the ranks… and from his bandy legged stance, the Devil could assume he had to go to the bathroom. He lifted his gaze to stare at Emilia, putting the guards at ease, and saving the newest recruit the embarrassment of wetting himself.
"Court Sorceress, can you confirm?" asked a quiet voice from under the litter's veil.
Emerada nodded and looked up at Emi. She was dressed in her holy raiment, and somehow, her powers were still completely intact. Even her sword looked brighter… so bright, in fact, that it was hard to look directly at. Emerada squinted at it, and then gasped.
The sword Emi carried was not Better Half. It was not made of Evolving Holy Silver, but of pure magical energy. Was it possible that the Hero had lost her sword?
Emerada looked at Emi even closer. The woman, though bathed in holy light, looked worn out and tired. Something had happened to her, and she had the haunted look of someone who'd seen too much. The Hero smiled bitterly at her friend, and decided to open an Idea Link.
'Eme,' Emi thought at her friend.
Emerada winced. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to wield magic, so to suddenly be connected to it was almost painful, like the phantom pains one suffered after losing a limb.
'Emi?'
'Yeah. Long time no see,' Emi said with her mind, 'how are you and Al?'
'About as good as can be expected, given circumstance,' Emerada replied.
Through the Idea Link, Emi could sense that her friend, as a sorceress, scientist, and a concerned party, had dozens- no, hundreds of questions, and she was quickly forming a queue of them to fire off like bullets. Emi quickly stopped her, though.
'Eme, time is of the essence. Ente Isla can no longer use magic… we have a lot to discuss, and we'll catch up soon, but for right now, I need you to get the Emperor to keep his men from interfering.'
'How can you ask so much and give so little?' Emerada thought sadly.
A tear fell from the eye of the sorceress. Emi wished she could've jumped down from that stage, wiped away that tear, and wrapped her friend in a hug, but she couldn't. If the plan was to work, she had to die.
'I'm so sorry, but I have to take care of this, first. In this world, there's no place for Heroes or Demon Kings… I've just let Chiho know that she needs to get in touch with you so we can talk some more. We'll meet up on Earth, ok?'
'Wait, what you-'
The Idea Link was severed. Emerada felt her hackles raise as the pressure surrounding the Hero and the Demon King began to build. Wiping away the tear that had fallen, the sorceress cleared her throat and leaned closer to the litter.
"Tell your men to clear the area," Emerada said, "I sense that the Hero and the Devil are about to do battle, and I cannot shield your guards from the radiating magical energy."
From under the veil came a low grunt. "Fine. Alberto, would you do the honors?"
Alberto, on the other side of the litter, gave a quick bow to the Emperor before drawing a deep breath.
"Guards, clear away the civilians," he ordered loudly, "and take cover! Shield walls!"
As one, all the guards in the square took up their shields and formed a protective encirclement, but instead of using them to push at the crowds, they turned them inward, protecting the civilians from the incredible magical energies emanating from the Devil and the Hero. Their auras burned brightly as the day began to grow dark. The air hummed as their auras grew larger, pressing against each other with the loud crackle of lightning. The pressure and force cause the stone slab to split right down the middle.
"It's time we settled this, Hero," Maou bellowed. He spoke loudly and clearly, so that everyone present could hear his words.
"I agree!" Emi projected, also speaking so that all could understand her.
As one, the Hero and the Devil tensed. Emi held her sword level with her face. Following the blade with her eye, she aimed right for the Demon King's heart. Maou raised his hands, fingers splayed as red lighting danced in his palms.
Everyone present was silently screaming. The sound of the guards steadily shuffling everyone away from the town square was loud. In a flash, Emi and Maou charged each other. Blood sprayed. Mouths hung agape as people tried to grasp what had happened.
In a matter of seconds, they had exchanged so many strikes it was difficult to follow, and then, the Hero found an opening. Maou froze, his hands raised to strike, as the Hero, who looked rather small beside him, grasped her sword, which was buried in the Devil's chest.
She had stabbed him in the heart.
"I have bested you, Satan Jacob," Emi cried out, "admit defeat!"
"Never!"
With a shaky hand, the Devil gripped the Hero and pulled her close. She bared her teeth and twisted her sword. Maou coughed up blood and spat it into her face. He raised a hand, and the sound of a portal opening behind Emi distracted her. With a roar of effort, Maou tackled the Hero through it. Emi fell backwards with a scream, and before anyone could react, the Gate slammed closed behind them.
Rika, Ashiya, and Chiho, whom had been watching from within the crowd, breathed a sigh of relief. Rika laid a hand on Ashiya's shoulder and he quickly nodded, slipping away in the confusion as he made for the demon horde, which had been completely stunned by the sudden loss of their leader, for the second time that evening.
Conflict stirred. Guards had accidentally pressed civilians into the demons, and people were desperately trying to get away. A woman screamed as Ashiya marched right up to the source of the commotion and called for order.
"Silence!" Ashiya's tone surprised everyone, as he didn't look remotely capable of such a strong, commanding voice. Still, everyone froze. Ashiya drew his sword, the same one that had been infused with the power of the previous Demon King. Somehow, it seemed to draw the eye, and pull at the wills of every demon who gazed upon it.
"I, Alciel, Archdemon to the last Demon King, have returned! As is my right as Satan's closest confidant, I proclaim myself your new King!"
The demons, who'd had their true king back for a few minutes, weren't sure whether or not they should cheer, as the mortality rates for ranking demons had been abysmal in the last half hour. The wind blew, and the blade keened, as though it were vibrating a tune. Slowly, a cheer began to rise from amongst the demons.
But as the new Demon King Alciel commanded his troops to retreat, the sorceress at the Emperor's side grew discontented. Emi's words, coupled with the Gate the Devil had created, could only mean one thing.
"I don't buy this for an instant," Emerada muttered to herself as the last of the demons left the city, "The Hero and the Devil are still very much alive."
"Hey there, Emerada!" said a cheery voice from right behind the sorceress.
Emerada whipped about, as did the strongmen lifting the litter holding the Emperor, and all his guards. Standing there, with her hands clasped behind her back, was Chiho Sasaki. From all Emerada knew, the girl was a human, native to Japan… so why did she look so different? And more importantly, why did she seem to radiate holy magic?
"You have a lot of questions," Chiho surmised with a small grin, "is there somewhere we can talk?"
The world of Ente Isla slowly began to change. It warped so as to better fit a world without magic. Science took its place, and every day more discoveries were made.
The demons of the world, under the command of their new King, Alciel, began negotiations with the Saint Aire Empire in an effort to establish peace. Most of the nobles were horrified that the Emperor would allow such a travesty of justice, and rumors ran rampant that the two women who usually accompanied Ashiya had somehow used their connection with the Court Sorceress to get to the Emperor, thus bewitching him into handing the Empire over to the demons. The theory never got very far, however, as there was no magic to be had in the world.
News of the Devil and the Hero spread like wildfire. Runners were dispatched, and soon the four continents were all aware of what had happened. Hundreds of eyewitnesses, including the testimony of the Emperor himself, left people with little alternative but to believe that the Hero had killed the Demon King, only to be destroyed in a last ditch attempt at victory.
The Hero coming back from the dead, however, left the Theocracy's reputation in tatters. With the destruction of Heaven, and the subsequent return of the Hero, so much doubt was cast in their direction that the Church had no other choice but to declare its own heresy. The organization was disbanded, and a certain Crestia Bell was placed at the head of a movement called the Divine Inquisition, where she had the power to excommunicate the Archbishops, speak of the fall of Heaven without being branded a heretic, and a wide slew of other powers that allowed her to rebuild the Theocracy in a much different aspect. Food would be given to the hungry. Medicine would be delivered to the sick and feeble, and people would take a 'hands on' approach at fixing their own problems.
Lucifer, as the Demon General beneath Alciel, acted about as high and might as one would expect. For all anyone knew, he was the last angel, fallen or otherwise, in existence. Chiho had warped the memories of the other angels she had rescued, making them believe they had always been human.
As a result of this, however, Lucifer was also the target of a mad plot to kidnap him, and set him up as a god by followers of the old Theocracy. While the kidnapping failed, the news of it was broadcast worldwide, giving the Demon General ample time to speak with the leader of the new Church. Bell and Lucifer had never been more pleased to have plenty of time together behind closed doors.
Rika and Chiho, both of whom were now gods, or as close as a human could get to becoming one, worked with the Emperor, Alciel, and Crestia Bell, acting as level headed mediators and impartial judges. When disputes rose between demons and humans, they were put in charge of it, and the two women soon headed up a task force specifically created to promote demon/human relations. Rika, as a human herself, was quite proud to be able to announce that she and the Demon King were engaged, and would soon have a child.
Nord, who had lost his wife to Ignora, had decided to quit his life of intrigue. When questioned by Emi, he revealed that he and Lailah were never a part of an organization. With no angelic wife to sweep him off on adventures, he returned to his cabin in the north, where he could mourn in peace, and wait for the final plan to blow over. This was also where Emi and Maou stayed before being transported to the capital by Rika and Chiho.
And what of Satan Jacob and Emilia Justina, you ask? They returned to Japan after their duel, where Maou was quite unhappy to find he'd been evicted. His credit cards were maxed out, his bank account was over-drafted, his bills were all sent to him with late notices, and the same agent whom he had spoken with when searching for somewhere to live was actually showing his apartment to another potential tenant. Maou was so unhappy, in fact, that he almost didn't notice the realtor's anger being absorbed into him, where it quickly manifested itself in the form of demon magic. Though Chiho and Rika had completely drained Ente Isla, it seemed that Emi and Maou were not completely powerless on Earth, due to the place having its own Tree of Life, which had already advanced a lot in the last century.
The day after arriving in Japan, everything was back as it was before Maou hadd left. His furniture was back where it was supposed to be. He'd phoned Kisaki and would be going back to work next Monday, and his apartment was quiet. He'd used magic to get the bank to loan him enough money to keep himself and Emi afloat until they were working again. He had every intention of paying his debts, as well, but until next Monday, which was still three days away, he had nothing to do.
Maou sighed and laid down in his apartment. It felt nostalgic, in a way, but sad at the same time. Usually, Ashiya would be preparing him dinner. Urushihara would be complaining and making a mess. Instead, the lights were off. Maou was all alone, as Emi had returned to her apartment in Eifuku, and snow was falling outside his window. It was still somewhat early in the day, but it was fairly dark out. Maou was just beginning to contemplate getting up and making something to eat when the sound of footsteps on the stairs made him freeze.
He waited, listening as the door to the common hall closed. The footsteps stopped outside his door before someone knocked.
"It's me," Emi said.
The Devil smiled. Even though it had been weird living with Emi and her father in that little cabin for a month, it was only natural that she stop by and visit. They were the only two Ente Islans on Earth at the moment.
"Come on in," he called, "it's unlocked."
"Y'know, you really shouldn't leave your door unlocked," Emi said, opening the door and promptly kicking off her boots before turning on the light and setting a paper bag on the table.
Maou shielded his eyes from the light, but the scent of food set his stomach rumbling.
"What if someone tried to break in and rob you?" Emi continued.
"What are they goona take, Emi? My sleeping bag?"
"Your life?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, something tells me that you won't have any complaints about that," Maou shrugged, "what did you bring? I'm starving!"
"You're favorite," Emi sighed, "MgRonalds."
"Ugh, really?"
Emi glared at Maou, who turned up his nose at the food.
"We have to watch our spending," Emi said, "neither of us have jobs yet, and the more we borrow, the more interest we have to pay back."
"I still can't believe you convinced me to take out a loan," Maou shook his head, ripping apart a burger wrapper as he spoke, "I could've just asked them for the money. I can be very persuasive."
"What about the paper trail? If you just asked them for that much money and they gave it to you, someone would lose their job. The cameras would see us, and we'd get into trouble!"
The Hero continued to glare at Maou, her anger festering until it broke over and she stole his french fries. The Devil mumbled indignantly through a mouthful of double cheeseburger, but Emi was already going to town on the crispy golden delights.
As she ate the Devil's fries, the Hero slowly remembered that she was eating for two.
That was the real reason Emi insisted upon returning to her old apartment yesterday, rather than just staying with Maou in the Villa Rosa. She had gone out, fished some money out of her limited savings, and visited a supermarket, where she purchased a pregnancy test. Much to her dread, it had come up positive.
In truth, she wasn't all that surprised. She'd hoped that Ignora had been lying, but during her time spent living with Maou and her father in the cabin, she had noticed an increase in appetite, an increase in cramps, and a general feeling of sickness that she couldn't shake.
As Emi stared across the table at the Devil, who was still scowling at her, she wondered if he would make a good father.
'Of course he would,' a little voice in her head said, 'what about Alas-Ramus?'
The thought of the Yesod fragment nearly brought Emi to tears.
Just after Heaven had fallen, Emi had woken up to find that the all of the people who'd been there had been teleported to safety. That was when she learned that Rika and Chiho had been chosen by the Sephiroth to act as vessels for the world's magic. It was also where Emi and Maou had been forced to say goodbye to Alas-Ramus, and Nord said goodbye to Acies-Ara.
Unfortunately, the magic the Sephiroth had worked had completely repaired the Fruit, and restored the Tree of Life to working order. The stone boughs and branches turned brown and barky. The leaves become green, and the apples changed as well. Each one was a different color, corresponding with its Sephirah, and its roots had sunk into a lone patch of dirt in the dusty dunes of the moon.
The Tree was now free to grow and expand as long as humans progressed… on the other hand, Acies and Alas would have to stay, as a fracture in the Sephiroth would cause humanity to spiral back into disarray.
"We love you, Alas-Ramus," Maou and Emi had cried, holding onto their adopted daughter for dear life as they wept.
"Don' cwy," Alas-Ramus had said sadly, squished between Maou and Emi as tears fell from her large violet eyes.
"Emi," Maou said, snapping his fingers as the Hero snapped back to reality, where she and Maou were sitting in the Villa Rosa.
With a start, Emi realized she had been crying. It seemed her emotions were starting to get a little more difficult to control with each passing day.
"Thinking about Alas-Ramus?" Maou asked.
"Mhmm," Emi sniffled.
Maou rounded the table and gently hugged Emi from behind. Again, he found himself lost in the feeling of her skin on his, and the way she smelled. Everything about her seemed holy in a way that had nothing to do with angels or gods.
"I miss her too," Maou muttered quietly.
After a few moments, Emi cleared her throat, and Maou returned to his seat on the other side of the table, swiping his french fries from the Hero in the process.
"So did you get a hold of Kisaki yet," Emi wondered, trying to change the subject.
Maou took a sip of cola to clear his throat and replied, "Yep, got my job back."
"And she's not mad about Chiho being missing?"
The Devil frowned and set his drink off to the side as he fiddled with the straw.
"About that…"
Emi felt her stomach sink. Had something happened? They were just in Ente Isla yesterday, how could their plan be falling apart so rapidly?
"When I asked about Chiho, Kisaki had no idea who I was talking about," Maou murmured, "it wasn't a joke either. I dropped it and went to Chiho's parent's house out of curiosity and… and I think Chiho did something. Her parents didn't know me, and when I talked to them about her, they looked at me like I was crazy. They said they didn't have a daughter. If I had to guess, Chiho has erased her presence here, and Rika's probably done the same."
Emi felt her heart break. She pulled out her phone and flicked through the screens to her contacts, where Chiho and Rika were both still there. It seemed odd, but Emi felt the desire to keep those numbers. It would help her remember back to a simpler time, when Rika and Chiho were normal humans from Japan who ate food, and used cell phones, and went to work, and had friends and family.
Emi thought about Rika's family, and how they used to work together in a factory. Somewhere, there was a family who was missing a member, and they would never even know it. The thought put Emi on the brink of tears until Maou absorbed her sadness.
"Thanks," Emi said miserably.
"No problem… I know it's hard, but I think Chiho and Rika are happy, so we should trust their judgement. Anyway, have you gotten in touch with Docodemo?" Maou wondered.
"No. I don't think they'll take me back," Emi sighed, tempted to thump her head on the table until she had some idea of a good job that paid well. With a chuckle, Maou pulled out a slip of paper and slid it across the table.
"In that case, fill this out," he grinned.
It was a MgRonald's application. Emi's disparaging groan was clearly audible from outside, but in the end she filled it out and gave it to Maou, who promised to take it in and submit it when he went back to work.
Their conversation slowed after that. Emi felt herself grow sick as she considered how she was supposed to tell Maou about their child. He seemed to pick up on her complicated emotions, however, and when he asked her what was wrong, she did the only logical thing.
"I should go," Emi said hurriedly, stuffing her feet into her boots as she held the doorknob.
"You could stay the night," Maou said, gesturing with his thumb at the snow falling outside, "it is snowing out, you know."
"Uh, no- I- have a thing- have to do it first thing in the morning," Emi squeaked as she threw on her coat and turned the knob.
Maou was taken aback by her abrupt departure and raised an eyebrow.
"Uh, ok. Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked, trying not to sound too desperate.
"Yeah," Emi called, having already stepped out into the hallway as she spoke through a crack in the door.
Wondering what on Earth had gotten into Emi, Maou set to work cleaning up the meal she'd left behind. After the apartment was once more returned to its former cleanliness, he turned off the light and snuggled into his sleeping back, which he'd placed right next to the heater. If he closed his eyes, he could still smell Emi on him, and he smiled, pretending that the warmth on his back was Emi lying next to him, and not the heater, as he waited for sleep to take him.