Disclaimer - I don't own The Devil is a Part Timer!/Hataraku Maou-sama! or any of its characters. Copyright to Satoshi Wagahara, White Fox and Funimation. Momoko and Shizuka are original characters created by me.

Hey, guys, sorry this is a day late ^^' My sleep schedule has been completely off for the last few days. But here's the next chapter~! I got some planning done for future chapters, btw. And I'm considering bringing in my headcanon that Suzuno is aro/ace... At this point it feels like it might not quite be relevant enough but hey, we'll see. I want to mention it at the very least. I just love ace and aro headcanons a lot :/ Anyway, let's get on with the story!

Chapter 14

The air was thick with uncertainty as the demons made the trek back to the apartment with Emi a few steps ahead of them, having insisted on making sure they didn't immediately turn back to confront Momoko the minute she left them. Walking nervously at Urushihara's side was Shizuka, his hands stuffed in his pockets. While Maou, Ashiya and Emi took the lead in uncomfortable silence, he kept his eyes fixed on his friend.

Shizuka watched Urushihara closely. His long hair hid his face so it was impossible to read his expression. His head stayed down, as per usual, and his arms hung limply at his side. Only his fingers kept curling into fists and relaxing again, the one sign that told Shizuka he was stressed. At first, Shizuka wasn't sure if he should say anything. He knew that sometimes it was better to leave him to his thoughts, but this didn't feel like the right time to be stuck inside your own mind. Before too long, though, Urushihara began to mutter under his breath. And Shizuka knew him well enough to know that, even if his voice was quiet and his eyes were looking down, he wanted someone to listen. That just having his words be acknowledged was comfort enough.

"This is why I didn't want to say anything... I didn't want you to know..."

When he heard that, Shizuka smiled a little sadly to himself. He couldn't help but think maybe it really would have been better if they never found out. He let Urushihara continue.

"But I guess you would've found out sooner or later," he sighed, "I just wish it didn't happen like it did. We wouldn't have this problem if I could've told you instead of... shown you..."

As he rambled on, his voice rose and became more and more exasperated. Shizuka tried to listen and just let him get it out but eventually he had to interrupt.

"Hanzo, you need to stop."

Urushihara bit his lip, cutting himself off. He was quiet for a moment.

"... It's true, though," he lifted his head enough to look at Shizuka, his face as stoic as ever, "Everything that I was trying to avoid happened."

Shizuka didn't return his gaze. He kept his eyes forward. Urushihara faltered a bit, not sure what he could be thinking, until he saw him frown.

"Would you really want us to not know you? Like, would you really be ok with us never actually knowing who you are? 'Cause y'know, we were already starting to feel like you were hiding something. It wouldn't have taken much more for us to start coming up with crazy conspiracy theories about you."

He had a point. But Urushihara was stubborn.

"Tsk... You know 'Hanzo Urushihara', you don't need to know Lucifer," he turned away again, "You wouldn't want to, anyway, trust me."

"And how would you know what I want, huh? Or what Momoko wants, for that matter?"

No response. He had struck a nerve, clearly. He decided to steer the conversation back to its original topic.

"Anyway, Kamazuki was right when she said the damage was done. All we can do now is hope for the best, y'know?"

"... I doubt that will help any. I won't be surprised if this whole friendship ends here. But, hey, it was nice while it lasted."

A tell-tale sign Urushihara's anxiety was getting the better of him once again - his sarcastic tone didn't do much to hide that from his best friend. Shizuka instantly softened.

"You couldn't help what happened today. It's not your fault if you lost control of your powers or whatever. You were panicking, you were mad and you got overwhelmed. And you can't help the way Momoko reacted."

They both went silent again. Ahead of them, Emi, Maou and Ashiya continued on, completely oblivious. Then...

"... Thanks..."

Neither of them spoke again for a short while until Shizuka felt a spark of curiosity that he just needed to voice. He wasn't sure that he should ask this at such a time but maybe it would get rid of the tense atmosphere they'd steeped themselves in.

"So, uh..." he stuttered slightly, getting Urushihara's attention, "I still don't really get all of this. What's the story with you guys...? I mean, I know you three are demons and Yusa and Kamazuki are with the Church but... well, who are all of you?"

For whatever reason, this made Urushihara smirk a little slyly after their somber conversation. He gave Shizuka a sidelong glance then cast his eyes over to the group a few feet in front of them.

"Would you believe Maou is Satan?"

Shizuka's eyes went wide.

"You mean when Kamazuki was talking about 'slaying the Devil' she literally meant... the Devil...? He's...?"

Every last drop of tension melted away and Urushihara could only laugh as he began to recount the story. How he and Ashiya had been amongst the Great Demon Generals in Maou's army, how he had been 'killed' by the hot-headed girl who now seemed like nothing more than an annoyance to them and how he had joined Olba in an attempt to do away with all of them. How, in the end, he had returned to Maou's side and remained loyal to him ever since, despite everything.

"Well, that explains why you hate being in public too much," Shizuka tipped his head back slightly, thinking.

There was a pause.

"Hey, can I ask you something...?"

"You got a lot o' questions, don't ya?"

It seemed like Shizuka was really coming to terms with the idea of being friends with a demon. So what could he possibly be hesitating to ask at this point?

"I wanna know..." he craned his neck back a little further, looking up at the sky, "... What's it like being able to fly?"

"... I don't think I could describe it..."

Urushihara closed his eyes and almost felt the wind carry him off right there and then. It was a feeling he missed so much. Sometimes he wanted nothing more than to just take off. Not to leave. No, just to fly.

"I used to go free-flying whenever I could... It's amazing, like you're totally weightless, everything else seems so insignificant... And you're in complete control..."

He opened his eyes to see that Shizuka had closed his. He was imagining it for himself.

"Hey!"

They were both jolted back into reality by Emi's voice breaking the silence and looked up to see they were approaching Villa Rosa.

"Kusanagi," Emi strode over to Shizuka, looking stern, "Be careful around these guys, alright? And maybe try and keep that one in check if you can." She nodded towards Urushihara.

"And what's that supposed to mean?!" he snapped.

"Exactly what I said," she glowered at him then turned back to Shizuka, "Anyway, I'm pretty sure Suzuno will bring Hamasaki around so don't worry too much about her."

Once she had gone, Maou called down from halfway up the staircase.

"Hey, Kusanagi, you wanna stay for something to eat?"

"No, thanks," Shizuka waved a hand, "I gotta catch a train soon if I'm gonna get back to Kanagawa on time. I'll see you guys next time."

He turned to walk away and Maou and Ashiya made their way inside, but Urushihara stopped him.

"Are you really alright with all of this?"

"I guess it does feel a little weird. And it hasn't fully hit me yet. But I think I can get used to it. And besides, I may not look it, but I'm the type to get pretty attached to people. It takes a lot to shake me," he threw an arm around Urushihara's shoulders, "And if I know Momoko, she'll come round eventually. It might take some time, but she'll get there."

They smiled at each other, neither one really sure if he was right but still, they wanted it to be true and that was good enough.

They just had to hope for the best.