Chapter 49: Satan: Felt Loved

F2 - Teacher's Lounge

Decorated trees, lit up colored lamps, the heater turned up, a certain number on the calendar is circled at least twice, everyone tries to keep a smile on their face.

It's Christmas season, and Primp High's staff just finished up the plans of their Christmas festivities.

"Kikimora, clean the auditorium immediately, mamakuma!" Principal Akuma and Vice-Principal Accord gave out the orders.

The determined janitor tapped the floor twice with the tip of her mop. "Tell the kids to stay clear and consider it done." And the school sole cleaner went off doing her magic.

It's the same plan as last year, seemed to go over well and it was budget efficient. Just a game show with your host; Santa. The price? Just some medals and raffles. And everyone agreed Satan should play Santa.

"Can't Otomo play Santa for once?" Satan wasn't in the mood. "I'm willing to bet 24% of my month's salary none of these kids actually believes Santa visits our city prior to his present run." He said with his arms and legs crossed.

"Oh, Satan. You know some still would like to pretend." Accord persuaded. "Wouldn't you like to believe that Santa personally visited our city?"

"A-And you have such charisma, Mr. Prince, sir." The skittish human Otomo poked his index fingertips against each other praising his devil colleague.

Otomo (Biology, Zoology, Oceanography and Sex Ed)
He teaches WHAT!?

Satan took the compliment and flipped his hair and Otomo covered his eyes. "Can't Dapper do it then?"

Some teachers put their eyes on the skeleton outdoing Satan in fabulosity. "Well, I can no doubt do it. I am afraid I am mortally challenged. And Santa is not, last I checked."

"Dapper Bones" (Psychology/Home Economics)
High Standards in Class

His tone and cheeky grin made it clear he wanted Satan to play it as well. Accord, Akuma, and Wish shared it.

The votes for Satan playing Santa outweighed the indifferent ones.

"Fiiiine… But I'm doing this just to be a gameshow host…"

"Hohoho! I'm afraid you're wrong, Draco dear! It was C: Sozzled."

"Aw! I was sure it was D!" Draco yelled in a whiny way.

'No doubt for Draco. Didn't even survive a single question…' The fully suited up Satan Prince snarked. "Nice try, child. That was a rather obscure question, wasn't it. Ohohoho." Satan stroked his fake white beard as he put on an earnest performance trying to cheer her up with a medal and a raffle gift.

No matter how earnest he played it though. He was still the demanding Coach Satan underneath the suit, and the students knew that. Satan swore he could feel a blood vessel swelling seeing them whispering in each others' ears making fun of his portrayal of everyone's favorite fat man.

'Ungrateful...' He raised his list and read it. "Hohoho! Penglai Weredrake, you're on the Nice List! Walk onto the stage. See if you can eliminate Ringo Ando and Feli St. Azriel from the stage by outsmarting them." 'Intermission in the next two questions, Satan, and you can take a break.'

"I shall just be leaning against the wall as usual. I shall be back in on time." Satan closed the Auditorium staff door and leaned against the wall to get some rest. He had taken off the santa hat, the jacket, the beard, and the fat suit to get some air. His horns and wings especially need it.

The adult devil retracted his wings again so he could comfortably lean his back against the wall. Adjusted it until it was just right. "Christmas…" It was supposed to be just a sigh, but it became so much more than that…

He opened his locket he always carries and wistfully glances.

…

…

"Quick, Satie! Let's get to the car!"

"Lillie wait!"

Satan winched. "Lillith." He could barely utter looking at her joyful picture. He closed the picture.

The devil coach heard footsteps coming from his right. "Satan!" It was Arle holding Satan's precious Carbuncle running towards him. "Accord told me you'd be here."

"Carbunny! Arle!" The man took his old pet from his student's hands and passionately hugged the fuzzy yellow creature. "I missed you so much, my yellow little bundle of joy. My dearest, sweetest, cutesy-wootsy, perfect little Carbunny!'' Satan learned how to smile again.

Carbuncle flailed. "Gugugugugu! Gugu gugu gu gugugu! Guuu!" Arle just stood there. A little embarrassed she's the exact same way with Carbuncle… Maybe a little less over-doting mother about it though.

"So kind of Arly granting us a reunion like this~" Satan took a break from smothering his former, still struggling pet to thank his favorite student. "You don't know how much this means to me."

"Wow, went over better than I thought. And I'm glad for you, Coach. I thought you'd like to have him back for Christmas. You really sound like you could use it. You sound horrible." Arle cut through the chase.

"Uh. Well, uh yes. Thank you, Arle." The devil grabbed his pet and held him up in front of Arle face first. The pet was instantly happier seeing Arle. "But wouldn't you want him to keep you company this Christmas?"

"We already celebrated Christmas. Me, Carby, and Mom."

"Then share Carbunny with your sister then."

"Gugu~"

"She doesn't des-"

"ARLE!" The adult said like thunder.

"Y-Yes Coach!"

"Oh! Speaking of which." Satan rummaged through his pockets. "For being a model student in Gym (though you could stand to do better at math)."

It was clearly a wrapped-up gift card. "Oh! Thanks, Satan!" Two wrapped-up gift cards. Arle's smile drooped a little.

"Now now, don't frown. Your sister deserves it too."

"Okay…" Arle put them away.

"…I get it, Arle."

Arle shrugged. "Get what?"

"Gu gu."

"Sibling squabble. I know what that's like."

"Wow, really? You got siblings? Are they like you as well?" Arle said half-insultingly.

"I'd rather not answer that." Satan swatted that question aside. "The point I'm trying to make is that you and Silvana should just make up."

Arle groaned. "What's there to make up? She started it. Came outta nowhere!" Arle yelled and would've ranted on-and-on.

"Please let don't Silvana go astray from you, Lilith…" Satan whispered.

"Whazzat?" Arle put her hand next to her ear and turned her ear towards the gym teacher in confusion.

"Family and friends don't always get along, Arle. I should know. I hope you two patch things up." The devil sighed. "Because it doesn't always happen. Please try to make it up to your sister. I'd hate to see such promising young girls become bitter at such a young face." This is the most sincere Satan ever sounded. And he looked so sad too. Normally he always tried to be so macho.

"Gotcha…" Arle didn't linger on it. And maybe a little creeped out even if she didn't know it yet. "Merry Christmas, Coach. Say Merry Christm-" The teenage girl cut her off. "Do you actually celebrate Christmas, Satan?"

"I mean, I am a Devil, Devils are from Hell, and Christmas did originate from Hell. And while I'm not born in Hell, it's a safe assumption I do celebrate this holiday, I would say." Coach Prince smirked at his roundabout way of explaining it. It did him good.

"But do you?" Arle asked. Used to such loose wordings.

"I do." The devil nodded. "I cherish it every year. Thank you for asking, Arle."

The door between the coach and his student opened up. Arle with her reflexes and reaction time quickly jumped backward.

Accord had opened the door. "The quiz resumes in 6 minutes, Satan. Are you ready?" She asked. Satan simply nodded.

Arle moved insight of the coach and the vice-principal. The latter giggled and waved hello, and then she laid a nostalgic eye on Carbuncle. Arle sheepishly tried to hide her little pet. "I'll let it slide this time, Arle." She didn't say it in any strict way. Seemed more like a wink and a nod. The vice-principal patted Satan's old pet with affection. "Hello, Carbunny~"

"Gugu~" It was enjoyed.

"Thanks, Accord." Arle was glad she got away with it.

"Time for your suit, "Santa"~." The second-in-command put on her fingertips on her lips as she took joy in teasing her friend. Arle got in on the giggling as well.

"Hrmmgh." The coach grumbled, took a breath in, and out. "Merry Christmas, Lilith." He winked.

Accord turned her head to him with a concerned look. Satan realized what he said.

"Merry Christmas, Satan." Arle walked off, seemingly not having heard the misnaming.

The adults walked back into the auditorium backstage. "Do you think it's a coincidence you have a meaningful conversation with a girl that looks exactly like Lilith at that age on the anniversary of her death?"

"Well, you did direct Arle towards me. And knowing you, that's not a coincidence. Planning things like this is right up your alley." Satan put his costume on.

"That's why I brought it up." Accord calmly defended herself. "I really only really told her where you'd be."

"Oh, you're serious. And her day of death as well…" The devil drooped as he put on the santa jacket. "As much as Arle and Silvana remind me of her. They're not her. She's not coming back…"

"I'm sorry, Satan." Accord apologized.

"I lost them. Not on speaking terms with my kin. At least I know sweet precious Carbunny is still safe."

"It's okay to cry." Accord put her hand on his shoulder.

"Later…" 2 minutes until the game show starts. "…Harmony…"

"Yes?" Accord responded.

"…Please tell me you're still going to join me on the anniversary visit to Lilith's grave and spend Christmas together with me this year?"

"Of course." Accord politely bowed. Speaking in a comforting relaxed tone. To make sure that, without a doubt, she isn't going to tease her friend. "I haven't missed a year for either, and I don't intend to miss it for the world."

"Thank goodness!" The devil yelled like a ham in relief. Satan surprised his human friend with the swift embrace he gave. "Thank you for being respectful to Lilith, Harmony…" He admitted on her shoulder. Feelings Accord has known for years now. "And I wouldn't know where I would be and what I would do on Christmas without your companionship…"

"Getting sozzled in a bar, flirting with hot women with mixed results?"

"Please no joking, Harmy…"

"My bad…"

Dressed in black, Satan and Accord arrived in the Primp City Cemetary each carrying a bouquet. They have searched out Lilith's gravestone and wiped the snow off of it.

Lilith Prince née Magismith
19XX - 20XX

"It's been that long…" The widowed husband teared up. "It gets worse every time…" He squeaked.

"That's a good thing." Accord said. "It means you still hold her dear. She'd appreciate that." She said solemnly.

Satan nods. His eyes remained locked on the gravestone. "I miss you, Lillie. I hope the afterlife is treating you well… They better treat you well…" The devil placed his flowers on the grave.

He just noticed shapes of some more bouquets underneath the snow. He smiled… No doubt from his colleagues and friends, Akuma, Dapper Bones, and Mamono. It brought Satan back to a visit to the cemetery from several years ago…

"It's not that surprising. They were our teachers too." Accord did everything she could to mitigate Satan's depression. "And her being your wife, and you being a valued member of our staff no matter how hard we tease you, it makes sense they're paying her respect."

Satan's mouth tensed as his tears threatened to escape at gunpoint.

A few days have passed, and it's Christmas Day. Accord was just welcomed in Satan's apartment. It was always unkempt this time of year. Satan, being a good enough host, did muster up the decency to keep his dinner table and kitchen clean.

"Thank you so much, Harmony." Satan didn't skimp out on the Christmas dinner though, everything you'd expect was there for Christmas dinner. Namely food. "Please take a seat."

"It's nothing, Satan. Looks great and smell delicious." She complimented him as she raised her just-filled wine glass. "What do you wanna toast to this year?" Asked out of curtiousness.

"Let's toast to our continued friendship this year."

She smiled. "No arguments from me there." They clinked their glasses together.

They enjoyed their dinner. They both did the dishes and swept Satan's laundry off of his couch and sat there. Satan gave Accord a wrapped-up gift card for her favorite clothing store. "I couldn't think of anything better… as usual." Satan said deflated. Thinking he doesn't deserve her again.

"I appreciate it, Satan. There just happened to be a new sweater I'm eyeing. Thank you so much~" Accord giggled. She pulled her gift for him. "I got you something more specific which I know you'll love~"

… Satan shivered.

Accord pushed the box closer to his face. "Here."

Satan took it from her hands and put it on the nearest table.

Accord's eyes widened. "Oh! Aren't you… going to open it?"

Satan solemnly looked at the box. "Know about the saying that it's the thought that counts?"

"Who hasn't?"

"Right now… that means way more to me right now." Satan broke out in tears again. He moved in for a hug and Accord welcomed him to. "Thank you for always being there for me, Harmony!" He weeped. "And thank you for putting up with me…" He sniffled.

"There, there~" She grabbed the couch blanket and tried to wrap Satan in it. Trying to make him as comfortable as possible. "Let it all out…" She huddled up with him.

"I miss my family so much…"

Authors' Notes:

HUSK: Merry whatever you celebrate.