Hey hey people, danzy here

With another new story because why can't i write what i want? I got covid too, which sucks ass, but at least i'm not bedridden 24/7

This story is… pr much DC Lucifer (the comic book, NOT the show) going around screwing people left and right, by refusing to play their game of chess and instead playing his own game of poker

YES. I know i've written Lucifer, bu this one's different. He's less melodramatic, less dick-in-pants-lets-bang, and more "hello, I'm Lucifer, and I believe you belong underneath my shoes."

Why do i write this? Because recently after re-reading Lucifer, I've been seeing a lot of wasted opportunities of where I could have taken the story. Granted that thing was written 5 years ago or something — but now I've discovered the 'funner' cast of DxD; Griselda, Roygun, Ingvild, etc. and I want to make one with them. Hell, I even have an entire plot dedicated for Yasaka

Harem? Ehhhhhh- a small one. 3 or 4 at most. Yasaka is obviously the main girl and she and all her nine tails are gonna stay there.

Note: chapter rewritten
Changelog 11/AUG/23 : made lucifer less bratty more lucifer-y


Lucifer: Yearning Armageddon


Chapter 1

||The Ultimate's Boredom||


In the middle of spring, the denizens of Erebus, the shades and spirits of the departed, the grim reapers, could feel a subtle change in the air. The oppressive darkness that shrouded the realm seemed to lighten, and a faint, eerie warmth emanated from the very core of this underworld. Flowers, pale and ghostly, would bloom in defiance of the eternal night, their petals casting a faint, ethereal glow in the otherwise obsidian landscape. And at such season, Hades preferred his Realm to be spick and span. Free from dust and free from souls that escaped their containment. In other words; souls needing to be re-reaped.

Hades liked to keep things in check, you see. Very much unlike his more famous brother.

Meanwhile, Lucifer reclined leisurely in Hades' bone-carved throne, his demeanor radiating an air of arrogance and nonchalance. His perfectly tailored suit, as immaculate as ever, remained untouched by the spectral souls and eerie ambiance of Erebus. The Devil had a reputation for his fastidiousness when it came to his attire.

As Hades continued to manage the affairs of his domain, Lucifer listened attentively, his crimson eyes glinting with mischief. He couldn't resist a slight smirk as Hades mentioned the issues with Elysium and the wayward Grim Reaper, Orcus's daughter. In the underworld, even the rulers had their share of administrative troubles, and it amused Lucifer to witness Hades dealing with them.

"Orcus, have your men take care of Elysium. The dam, especially— I've heard enough reports regarding leakages. And watch your daughter," Hades said with a little grumble at the end, emphasizing the importance of that last request. "If she gets herself swept by the Styx again, no one's accountable but you and her alone."

"At once, your lordship." The senior grim reaper bowed a curtsy, vanishing as his own shadow enveloped his deceptively frail figure.

And that was the last of them. The captains, at least…

Hades turned around to face The Devil, his majestic white cape billowing behind him. Gods loved capes as much as Lucifer loved his suits.

"Now what do I do with you…" Hades then sighed. His voice sounded as though it went through a long pipe, echoing whenever he spoke.

Lucifer, the Devil himself, offered his response with a voice dripping with neck-slicing charisma and venomous persuasion. It was a powerful yet strangely gentle voice, like honey-coated thunder. "The usual treatment is acceptable. Leave me to my own devices... hope that I finally wander off and annoy someone else who isn't associated with you. Perhaps spontaneously combust into flames and vanish from your realm forever."

Hades only snorted at that. "You need a hobby."

"Biting at your patience is one." The 'Dark' Lord said, although he wasn't exactly dark despite his skin being two shades darker and healthier than most devils nowadays. "Eternity is such a long, arduous, tedious time to spend, don't you think?"

The Devil was bored, as he often was. Hades couldn't fathom why Lucifer's boredom had become his problem.

"Indeed, and your presence makes it twice as unbearable," Hades groaned as he ascended the stairs leading to his ominous throne. "Move. You're in my seat."

A pair of sharp crimson eyes lazily scanned around the impressive throne made of skull and bones. Which was impressively comfortable despite its material. Courtesy of Hades' divine magic and his control of his Domain and whatnot. Realms as most often referred to it.

"I'm 'on' it." Lucifer corrected.

Two flickering blue lights rolled around the void of the eye sockets as Hades swept down his right hand. A wave of malevolent dark energy struck the spot where Lucifer had been seated a split second earlier, but The Devil had vanished in a blink.

He appeared instantly right beside the skeletal overlord, both hands shoved casually in his charcoal black suit. "Rude. Is this how you treat your esteemed guest?"

"None of my esteemed guests have stayed longer than a year," Hades grunted, reclining in his throne and resting his bony hands on its armrest. "Don't you have anything better to do, Lucifer?" He spoke like a tired old relic, which he was, in his own way. Though time was twisted in Erebus, he still felt himself aging a few extra years mentally whenever Lucifer was in his presence. "The two of us know you're fed up with all this... peace."

"Touché," Lucifer said flippantly. "Not as much as I am fed up with your new getup. Your old look suited you better."

Hades scoffed, the sound echoing through the bone-chilling hallways of his dark realm. "I'm brave enough to try on a new look. You, on the other hand..."

"Perfection has no need for changes; hence the term," Lucifer replied with a prideful smile, as sharp as his wavy black haircut that was now swept to the side, just as it had been when he used to be blonde. "As your financial advisor and your wife's fashion advisor, I must insist – get rid of it. Poor Persephone has been the subject of ridicule by her friends ever since you decided to wear... your priestly getup."

This time, Hades looked positively grim.

"Persephone?"

"Yes. You're the great Grim Reaper, not the great Kid Fiddler. While you may know certain things better than I do, I, on the other hand, know more about style than you presume to do."

Regrettably, Lucifer was right, a fact that seemed to hold true in most cases, much to the chagrin of many who had hoped he would be wrong.

Hades' sigh seemed to echo through the depths of Erebus, carrying with it the weight of eons, as he reluctantly conceded, "I suppose I'll consider it."

In his haste, he had been a bit too eager to embrace a new fashion sense, a delusion that only he could appreciate. To his chagrin, his newfound attire had brought nothing but ridicule from the eyes of other deities. And while Lucifer cared little for appearances, he genuinely wanted what was best for his skeletal friend. After all, it was Hades who had extended refuge to him once the Great War reached its cataclysmic climax as opposed to letting it perish as Yahweh had intended.

"But let's make one thing clear: You will not attempt to make me wear your suit."

Lucifer, with his ever-present air of pride and a smile as sharp as his wavy black hair, replied, "Suits don't particularly enhance a skeleton's charm, unfortunately. It doesn't quite suit you, if you catch my drift."

Hades did not relish puns, and neither did Lucifer, but The Devil seemed to derive particular pleasure from tormenting Hades' sanity with them.

"But I digress," Hades said, steering the conversation onto more substantial ground. "It's nearing a thousand years in the lands of the living. Surely you don't intend to remain here indefinitely as a freeloader."

"It's not as if I don't skulk about from time to time. You're just saying that because you want to get rid of me."

"And you're not mistaken," the God admitted casually. "You don't belong here. You never have and never will. We're in a different Pantheon."

"Pantheons, mythologies... They're all old news, old restrictions," Lucifer mused as he conjured a cloud of chaotic energy, specifically the Power of Destruction. He leaped onto it, and the sofa-like cloud sent out volatile crimson crackles of thunder as it remained suspended in mid-air. "The Golden Age of the Gods has long since passed. Aside from a few enthusiasts, who truly cares anymore? Everyone has grown weary of one another and chosen to keep to their own realms. Peace is all well and good, but it can be dreadfully dull..."

"You'd be surprised to know—"

He cut Hades short. "Loki's an exception."

"Fair enough," Hades conceded with a shrug. "Why don't you create your own excitement, then, like he does?"

"Unfortunately, I am not one to throw tantrums like a child."

"Your rebellion isn't exactly a tantrum, is it?"

Lucifer chuckled, finding a measure of humor in the demeaning comparison. "It's a statement."

Hades snorted. Admittedly, the boney overlord thought that if there was anyone that should possess the power of the Alpha and the Omega; Lucifer would have been his first pick. The Devil was too prideful to misuse such power, and he was wise enough not to tamper excessively with the living, or perhaps too cautious to tamper with those beneath him.

Another Protogenoi who simply did not care. Hades found their existence more reassuring than that of the meddling Gods. More often than not, their interference caused far more trouble than it was worth, as his Olympian family was a prime example.

However, even though Lucifer's presence in Erebus offered some reassurance, Hades did not wish to host such a being indefinitely. Lucifer was not asleep, merely dormant, and Hades did not wish to be the one to awaken The Devil.

"Yet, that still doesn't change the fact that you've been here, hidden away, for a millennium," Hades pointed out. "Who are you so terrified of?"

"Hidden? I've never concealed myself, Hades. I've merely existed above your plane of existence."

"To me, it appears you're afraid of responsibilities, Lucifer."

Lucifer's smile turned into an annoyed scowl. "I desire freedom. That's all there ever is — that doesn't mean I'd shirk from my responsibilities. Chaining as they might."

"Freedom was an addiction that sent you soaring to glorious heights. And now that you've tasted it for a thousand years, what does it taste like? Hollow and empty on the inside. You've never found true fulfillment since then. You can't escape responsibilities, Lucifer. Admit it, and perhaps your life may regain a semblance of meaning."

Much as he hated it, Hades had a point.

Hades personally thought it was fascinating to observe how The Devil had risen to power, achieved his grand ambitions, and yet still found himself bound by the weight of responsibility and a sense of dissatisfaction that came with it.

But despite all that, he was never free.

Lucifer, as Helel, was his Father's hound. God's Executioner. His exile to Hell had made him ruler of it, but by becoming a King of Devils he was restrained by the responsibilities of power. He never wanted to be a servant in Heaven but he never saw himself becoming their ruler post-Great War as he knew he'd have to deal with pesky devils and their everyday complaints. Now it was even worse with all the politicians around. The 72 Pillars of disappointment. Their ancestors didn't die to watch them preparing to backstab each other.

And Lilith's bastard son with Adam had the gall to proclaim himself a Lucifer. TThe audacity of that demon whore to name her offspring Lucifer had clearly irked him. He had little sympathy for her, as she was now paying for her slander in Hell.

There was only one Lucifer, and that was him. No one could be like him. His blood was his and his alone, no matter how many had pleaded to bear his child. He was the Creator's perfect being — he didn't need an heir to take his place. They'd get it wrong anyway.

Lucifer shifted his gaze to Hades as he continued, "Let's say that you're right, let's say you're spot-on with all your observations. What do you propose I do now? I've done everything I've ever wanted, crossed off every item on my bucket list. I've even died once and come back to life in an instant," he snapped his fingers with a flat look. "Even Jesus needed three days."

"You prevented your death by making a deal with me prior," Hades pointed out. "...Which I must say to be ingenious, much as it was mad."

Lucifer chuckled proudly. "If only you could see the look on his face... He always thought he had it all figured out… Cocky bastard. He thought I'd agree to die along with him without some sort of contingency plan… I created a rebellion and still he looked down on me. Unbelievable."

"And yet," Hades interjected, "you find yourself questioning whether it was all part of his Grand Plan. Have you not found peace?"

"Well as a matter of fact, I have. Around ten years ago, give or take..."

"After nearly a millennium of pondering..."

"Time passes when you think," Lucifer replied casually.

"Hmph. It doesn't change the fact that I own your soul," Hades grinned, well, as much as he could with his skeletal visage.

"For a moment. You lost your grasp on me the moment I reaped his power," Lucifer pointed out, one-upping Hades successfully. "He promised me a taste of his power for a 'moment' as long as I die along... He never expected I'd extend a moment into forever, did he now."

Like a snake to its prey, Lucifer eyed the God of the Dead. "And I understand what makes a deity ticks. Save for the Primordials, all of you require Faith to breathe. How many up there still believe in you? Scarcely a small country, I'd say… Even Greek is nearly completely Christianized."

Other Gods might have trembled and feared for their existence upon learning their fate lied in the hands of The Devil, but not Hades. "Threatening me, Lucifer? In my own realm? Is this the behavior of an esteemed guest?"

Hades stayed long enough with Lucifer to tell The Devil knew how to be grateful; he was too prideful to not to. The first years of their uncanny alliance had been marked by uncertainty and mistrust, but a millennium was more than enough to realize that Lucifer was a kid with too many toys and no idea what to do with them.

"No," Lucifer replied, easing back with a chuckle as he returned to his restful state. "I'm merely pointing out a fact. Outdoing everyone was the fun part. Now that I've reached the summit, everything else feels like child's play. So murderously boring at the top, isn't it? Everything has become dreadfully predictable."

"I suppose even cosmic chaos gets old when you're the one pulling the strings."

"Indeed."

"Consider settling down then," Hades suggested.

Lucifer shot him a look that oozed disbelief. "You may dress the part, but you're a horrendous jester."

Hades felt a twinge of hurt, though he chose to disregard it, unwilling to give The Devil the satisfaction of his annoyance. "...There's no shame in loving anyone else other than yourself."

"Oh don't get me wrong; that part I'm okay with. It's the having kids part I don't agree with. I'd rather lick a cheese grater than make my own spawn."

Hades rolled his eyes, or rather, his two spectral lights whirled around his eye sockets. "Pah… The Godkiller… terrified of having children."

"They're burdens. Overrated oversized gremlins," stated Lucifer with a certain amount of distaste. "They can't fend for themselves for a couple of years and they cry and they make a mess. It's at least eighteen years of constant supervision if you want to raise them right, and I know I won't settle for anything less than perfect. Picture being my child."

"I shudder at the notion," Hades said, shaking his head. "But why not? You won't understand it until you have one. You're only partially omniscient, no?"

Lucifer scoffed. "There's no such thing as 'partially' omniscient—I chose not to be omniscient. And I don't need omniscience to tell that much."

"What a miserable life you live to want something only when you deem you need it."

"You can't argue it's not an efficient life," The Devil chuckled. "And don't you pat yourself on the back, Hades. Persephone is the one who looks after your little grunts while you sit here and grumble at your reapers."

"It's called having a job," Hades defended. "Try getting one."

"I don't need one. I'm God," Lucifer stated, only partially joking.

"Even Gods have responsibilities."

"That so? I've met Chaos, and all he did is loaf around watching his four twits quarrel."

Hades chuckled. Lucifer was an annoyance, sure, but Hades never had a dull conversation with him. "You're a King but without a kingdom. Why don't you take back what you built."

"Hades, even if it ever became as simple as strutting inside and demanding my crown, I have reigned over Hell. It didn't feel much different than serving in Heaven, the only difference being the one I served."

"The people, I see."

"It's even worse now with all those bureaucrats…"

"Throw them into the pit as you would."

"Oh, I would. But devils from the new generation and the last would only see my act as tyranny, and, well, the pit can only go so deep," Lucifer dismissively said. "I'm not blind, Old Man. The 'lesser beings,' as you call them, are barely worth my time and attention."

The boney overlord scoffed in his amusement. "Spoken like a true God…"

Lucifer allowed a sigh to escape his lips. "It's not that I don't want to leave; it's that I have nothing worth doing anymore. A kingdom, you say, but tell me the value of a kingdom when I can make worlds? Universes? A brand new Cosmos. And I have ventured. Seen what lies Beyond. So now here I am, out of things to do."

"What about taking a walk?"

"Where to?"

"Nowhere."

"You know I've been there." Lucifer's annoyance was evident.

"Really?" Hades quirked a non-existent eyebrow. "What did you find there?"

"Nothing."

"Ah."

"And now I'm back here, left with you. An old bone to pester."

"There were moments where I considered having you on my side a boon. Now, you're nothing but a nuisance."

"But I do bring light to your tepid day, no?"

Hades couldn't help but chuckle. "Hah! So it seems, Morningstar... so it seems..."

Their bickering ultimately was shaved to an end as a grim reaper emerged from the crack between the shadows.

"Pardon my untimely intrusion, my Lord," it was Pluto. Hades' right-hand reaper-man. Professional and loyal to a fault in Hades' eyes. Boring to a fault in Lucifer's. "Governor Azazel wishes to visit you."

"Let him in," Hades instructed.

As Pluto vanished in the same way Orcus did, Lucifer positioned himself to sit over the edge of his cloud, shaping it into his own one-seater sofa.

"Azazel! And I thought I'd be stuck here arguing with you again until supper. Seems like boredom may elude us this day, eh Hadey?"

"Don't call me that."

"Your wife calls you that, though."

"You are not my wife."

Lucifer quirked an eyebrow. "Was that a proposal?"

"I'd rather die."


Break


It wasn't uncommon for devils and fallen angels to seek an audience with the Reaper King of Erebus, often requesting low-profile assassinations or, very rarely, changes in their trade agreements. Hades had maintained a neutral and open stance towards diplomacy with the Three Major Factions, keeping an open door to all sides.

Lucifer had never revealed himself to any devil; he considered himself above them, as the Archdevil. They were a race that had labeled themselves 'devils' in honor of his title.

But since it was Azazel who came by, Lucifer would often make an appearance. After all, enemies of a thousand years ago didn't necessarily have to remain enemies. He wasn't like the childish angels who kept cursing his name or refused to utter it.

Usually, dealing with the Governor had resulted with mild amiable laughter, but this one, however, might end on a sour note.

Hades, however, was known for his unwavering stance on the duties of his reapers, and it seemed this meeting might end on a sour note.

"No," Hades said with finality, his voice echoing through the chamber. "My reapers reap souls. They're reapers, not cops, Lord Governor. They do not apprehend; they kill. There's no middle ground."

"Ah… Come on now, Hades, cut me some slack here. Maybe you can tell your men to… kill these people slightly…?"

Lucifer couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the request. "Slightly, you say? Perhaps a light bruising before the final blow?" He raised an eyebrow, his tone mocking.

"Nonsense," the Reaper Lord said, offended. "You don't kill someone partially. My rules are clear, Azazel. My reapers do not deviate from their purpose. I suggest you find another solution to your problem."

Azazel sighed, clearly frustrated with the response. "Very well, Reaper King. I shall explore other avenues. But remember, favor for favor."

Hades nodded, acknowledging the unspoken agreement between them. "Of course, Lord Governor. Until next time."

As Azazel departed, Lucifer couldn't resist a chuckle. "Slightly kill. That's a new one, even for you, Azazel."

Azazel shot him a wry smile. "Desperate times call for creative requests, Morningstar."

Lucifer leaned back on his chaotic energy cloud, a smug grin on his face. "True enough. Then why make it complicated?" Lucifer then spoke his mind, already laying down on his side again not long since the talk began. "They went rogue. Yank their head off and be done with it."

Hades nodded in agreement. "He has a point," he affirmed. "You're only making this more complicated. They went out of order and risked the fragile peace that barely holds together."

Azazel, however, wasn't ready to give up on a more diplomatic solution. "Not all of them went rogue as much as they were just following orders," he argued. While these individuals might not mean much to either of the Erebus dwellers, Azazel couldn't afford to lose his people, not since the Great War. "Is there any way we can come to terms? Can we make a deal where those people don't have to die or suffer brain damage?"

"No. We kill or we don't."

Azazel let out an exasperated groan, eloquently expressing his disappointment with just one word, "Balls…"

Lucifer, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by Azazel's predicament and instead proposed a more straightforward approach. "Can't you persuade them if you fancy them so much, Zazel?"

And there it is... the hopeful glance. His eyes reflected his expectation of the Morningstar's cooperation. It was clear that Azazel had a certain level of dependence on Lucifer's influence, which both amused and intrigued the Devil. Lucifer couldn't resist a faint smile at the situation. The gall of this Governor was quite entertaining, to say the least.

"Afraid I can't tell you much more than what I told you both. Not unless you're not willing to lend a hand, Loosh."

Lucifer couldn't help but roll his eyes dramatically. "Ah… of course… Why wouldn't I lend a hand and clean over your mess… Would you like me to prepare your hot bath too? Scratch your back while I'm at it? Perhaps fetch tomorrow's newspaper?"

"Oh come on, Looshy. Don't you wanna see what it's like up there?" Azazel continued, trying to appeal to Lucifer's sense of curiosity. "Don't you miss the colors? No offense, Hades, but this place is all drab with muted colors."

Hades was displeased at the least, but Lucifer didn't budge. He frequented 'up there' occasionally anyway. Not that Azazel ever knew about it. "If I become ever so curious I can just snap my fingers and be done with it. Omniscience is a convenient thing, I tell you."

"Then why aren't you? Because it's dull, right?"

The Devil narrowed his eyes. "Lamentably so."

"Of course it is," Azazel grinned. "C'mon Luci. My hands are tied here. I'm running against time."

"Fly then," Lucifer said.

"Hey, if I could've handled it myself, then I wouldn't be here in the first place," Azazel countered. "Neither of us wants a war to start between our factions, no?"

"Our... faction?" Lucifer eyed disappointedly by the sentiment. "I have untangled myself from the Underworld and wherever it goes once I've died. Have you grown senile at last, Zazel?" he teased as he swiveled on his floating clouds to stand on his own, his dress shoes clicking as they touched the cold marble ground of Hades' throne room. "And what makes you think I don't want to see the end of you and your people?"

"Because if you wanted to, then you would've done it long ago," Azazel replied calmly. "And you want to be King of the Ashes? Ruler of Ruins and Scattered Rocks?"

"I've been the King of Molten Rocks and Jagged Crags. King of the Ashes would be an improvement... And Scattered Rocks? That would be called being an Olympian, Zazel."

Azazel snorted while Hades shrugged, not seeing the point in denying it. The Boney Overlord didn't value his Olympus family much, considering that they did in fact banish him here. He had the sense not to live in denial, which was likely why his own Realm thrived while Olympus faltered in the test of time and the advancement of the human race.

"Well whatever you say; don't try to bullshit me, Loosh," Azazel said. "You said the same thing last month."

"Did I?" Lucifer raised a single eyebrow, reflecting on his memories and archives. "...Huh… I did, did I? How embarrassing."

"You need some fresh air. For an extended period. You can't tell what day it is in this depressing place. No offense again, Hades."

Hades responded with a nonchalant grunt, clearly unbothered by the comment. He cherished Erebus and its gloomy atmosphere, likely due to his aversion to the eternal sunshine of Olympus.

"...Yes, yes. You do bring fair points," Lucifer then admitted. "Assuming that I coerced your lackeys, which I will, spotlessly, what do you promise me in return?"

"...My deepest, sincerest gratitude?" offered Azazel with artless hope.

Lucifer was not impressed. There were times for banters and there were times for deal making. "Is it smart to play smart with me, Azazel?"

At that casual threat, Azazel considered his options with sincerity. "You'll… Well, let's skip the guessing game and just tell me what you want."

"Don't turn the table on me. You're shaving away my patience here, Lord Governor of the Grigori — my cordiality lasts as long as you don't waste my time."

With a sigh, Azazel began working his brain. "Alright, alright… Hmm… We know you don't value gold…"

"Materialistic possessions," Lucifer scoffed. "Nothing more than silly little trinkets."

"You don't drink… Sadly…" Azazel began.

"Drinks are vices reserved for drunks and desperate housewives."

"My point exactly," Azazel muttered as he weighed his options. "And you obviously don't need me to lay with women. Or men."

"The day I need you or anyone else to lay with anyone is the day I consider dying from horrific shame," Lucifer replied with a touch of disdain.

"Yea, I don't doubt that," the fallen angel shrugged, growing impatient. "...Look, let's keep this brief; throw me a bone. I can't think of anything else you want, Loosh."

Lucifer leaned in, narrowing his deep-set crimson eyes as he cast shadows over them whenever he walked under the light. "Yes. Exactly," he said, his voice carrying an air of finality. "What I desire is freedom… unfortunately, no one can grant it or take it away from me but myself. But I suppose it is unfair of me to expect an aspect from one who pursues tangible materials, hence I'll be fair with you, little brother…"

Lucifer descended down from the flight of stairs, and as he shared the similar height with Azazel, he saw him eye to eye.

"I will help you in resolving your predicament without shedding a single drop of blood," Lucifer declared, his left hand resting on Azazel's shoulder. The weight of his words hung in the air. "In return, I ask for a favor from you. A debt that, when the time comes, you shall be bound to repay, no matter the nature of that favor."

"As long as you're not asking me to start calling you 'Godfather,' then sure," Azazel quipped, grasping Lucifer's extended right hand and giving it a firm shake.

"That's an interesting idea," Lucifer said, pleased that the deal was sealed. Azazel was either desperate or a fool to effectively surrender his freedom to The Devil, but knowing him, the Governor had a few tricks up his sleeve. Fine by him. All the more interesting for Lucifer. "But until that day, consider this a goodwill from yours truly… Now let's go. Looks like you have your wish fulfilled, Hades, for the moment…"

"Bring souvenirs when you return," Hades lazily remarked, waving a dismissive skeletal hand.

"Yes, yes… One day I'll find you a bone of a dragon to add into your… skeletal throne or whatever walls you wish to decorate…"

"Another won't hurt..." Hades grinned, his skeletal visage perpetually twisted into a macabre smile. "I'll hold on to that."

And then they disappeared. The Devil and the Governor. The former twisted the fabric of reality when he was still inside Hades' Domain, where laws and logics were the Reaper Lord's to control and twist. They were his authority, and they were meant to be absolute.

Yet Lucifer skewed it all the same. Bent it to his will.

It was just as he had feared. The Devil had mastered his new powers, one he reaped from his own Creator. He now wielded the essence of a Primordial God who had presided from the beginning alongside Chaos, a Protogenoi of immense power. The Devil's millennia of apparent seclusion in Erebus wasn't to hide from the world, but to prepare himself for the world.

Having taken Yahweh's power and control, Lucifer was effectively as influential as Chaos himself, if not more so due to his inherently active and assertive nature. The implications were vast. He was one of the few beings with the capability to unseal Trihexa or unleash The Beast into the world. While it was unlikely that Lucifer would do so recklessly, not without ensuring he could tame The Beast, the possibility alone was mortifying enough as no one could be certain of what Lucifer had in his enigmatic mind.

For once since a long while, Hades had the opportunity to stop fretting himself with the Devil Lord's presence… While Lucifer had played the role of a cooperative guest during his stay, Hades had never felt entirely secure with him around. Those crimson eyes always seemed to conceal hidden motives behind their seemingly relaxed gaze, and Lucifer's enigmatic smile hinted at a mastermind perpetually scheming in the shadows.

Whatever it was, Hades ultimately was glad that Lucifer had finally left Erebus. And he hoped it was for an extended amount of time… He was a terrible influence on Bennia and no doubt to his own kids if they ever met The Devil…

But now that Lucifer had left his self-imposed cage, Hades began to wonder if it was wiser of him to keep The Devil here. The world might not be ready for The Devil.


Chapter 1

||The Devil's Will||


uoh Town, a small and unassuming place nestled in the Kanto region of Honshu, Japan. Its population numbered somewhere between twenty and thirty thousand, hardly making it a bustling metropolis or a sought-after tourist destination. But The Devil had no interest in getting himself known by these rising apes who called themselves humans. That aside, why oh why would someone like Azazel bother himself with a squabble of loose ravens?

Well, because that town was under the supervision of two devils whose connections were rather important. One Rias Gremory and one Sona Sitri. Two little sisters of the current Satans — whose names Lucifer would be bothered to retain in his head if he saw them as key figures. But he didn't. In his eyes, the devil species had failed when they broke into a Civil War, and the new leaders, the Satans, had failed the moment they couldn't eradicate the remnants of that rebellion completely, causing that rift to stay instead of sealing it shut.

The remnants of the Old Satan faction had later formed the Khaos Brigade, and the same old issues resurfaced in the Underworld Empire.

Their incompetence was never his problem to solve, however.

Either way, he had given the Governor his words, and as his words were his bond, Lucifer did what he was asked to, according to his words…

The underground lair beneath a dilapidated church told a gruesome tale. Charred remains of fallen angels and a scattering of defeated magicians adorned the impressively clean marble floors. Rat droppings were the only unsightly blemish in this gruesome tableau. These wretched souls were fortunate that Lucifer could float without the need for his wings; otherwise, their fate might have been far more agonizing.

"You killed them!" Azazel's voice crackled with anger as he arrived at the scene.

Lucifer deftly slapped away Azazel's reaching hands before they could grasp his collars. "Did you spot a splatter?"

"You... you bastard!" the Governor seethed, his trembling hands running through his disheveled hair in a mixture of frustration and disbelief, his wide eyes filled with horrified amazement.

Lucifer wore a sly smirk. "I remain true to the letter; just not the implied spirit."

"You... trusting you was a mistake..." Azazel seethed. "...Get out of my sight, you devil..."

"Extra demands will cost you extra," Lucifer responded with a casual tone, not bothered by Azazel's anger. "But I suppose I shall seek out Kokabiel and fulfill my end of the deal. Remember, you still owe me."

"Lucifer, you conniving—"

"Fooled you once..." And with those parting words, Lucifer vanished without the theatrics of flashy effects, simply disappearing from sight. His victorious grin, the trademark of The Devil, lingered in the air for a moment before dissipating into the eerie silence of the underground lair.

/

Kuoh Town might have been small and uninteresting to most, but Lucifer had a knack for uncovering hidden gems in the most unlikely of places. During one of his leisurely strolls through the deserted park, he stumbled upon an intriguing discovery: a hidden doorway that led to a Realm between Realms. This unexpected find piqued his curiosity like nothing else.

Kokabiel could wait. Lucifer would embrace death than place anyone else above his own desires and curiosity. If Azazel couldn't talk his loose Cadre down, then Lucifer had no qualms about removing the warmongering moron from the earthly realm. His celestial brethren in Heaven wouldn't offer their gratitude, but Lucifer had long stopped expecting appreciation from those inhabitants of the clouds.

He did kill their heavenly daddy, so…

Only two beings existed that he considered allowed to whine; children and women who were acting coy. He held no particular bias against flamboyant men, but if they ever dared to whine in his presence, they could expect a divine slap on their face

Putting aside these musings, Lucifer pondered if his recent lesson had penetrated Azazel's thick skull. The usually carefree Governor had made the mistake of seeking The Devil's assistance while assuming that Lucifer would naturally be on his side. His complacency had been an affront, and this was his well-deserved comeuppance. Getting worked up over a few fallen angels was uncharacteristic of Azazel, and Lucifer had no doubt that the eccentric Governor would find a new reason to stop being upset with him.

But for now, this peculiar doorway.

With a combination of a casual hand gesture and a touch of his newfound Divine Will, he willed the hidden entrance to materialize before him. It wasn't so much of a door as it was a gateway, however, and it was red in color. A torii gate, he believed, was what the locals believed their gods named this particular entryway. A symbol deeply embedded in the local culture, representing an entryway to sacred spaces. Or whatever meaning mortals painted on their architectures.

Without a moment's hesitation, Lucifer stepped through the archway and found himself transported to a serene forest, far removed from the dimly lit skies of Kuoh Town. Here, the heavens were pristine, the moon radiating a luminance twice as brilliant as he'd ever seen, surrounded by a sea of twinkling stars.

An artificial moon and an artificial skyscape. One he immediately recognized. Floating upwards, Lucifer mentally saw through his memoirs to determine where he was. He pinpointed his exact location just as a large traditional Japanese shrine could be spotted over the horizon… perched atop a picturesque hill, overlooking a bustling village nestled below.

Old Kyoto… as peaceful as it ever was… traditionally peaceful.

Welp. Might as well pay the fox a visit.

Lucifer brought his thumb and index finger together to create a small, circular window through which he observed a specific location within the Shinto shrine, focusing on Yasaka's bedroom. Skipping past the formalities and the tedious waiting, he traversed the space-time continuum seamlessly, preserving the fabric of reality.

Upon arrival, he found himself standing before a traditional sliding door crafted from wood and delicate oriental paper. Rather than opening it, which would lead to the hallway outside the bedroom, Lucifer opted for the more sensible choice—remaining within the room he had just entered. After all, there was no need to exit the room when one had just arrived. Why would he exit the room where he just arrived? That'd be silly of him.

His arrival was soon greeted with a tone of heightened caution and alert, coming from his back.

"Who are you?" the Kyuubi demanded, all her nine lustrous tails flaring with mystic flames. They didn't burn her home, but they could certainly burn her intruder. A testament to her control over the immense forces she possessed.

Or so she thought. If she remembered what Lucifer was made from, then she might have resorted to conjuring a different element that was unrelated to fire.

"Forgotten me already?" Lucifer smoothly rotated on his shoes, his initial amicable smile fading into a flat line as he posed a question instead of his customary greeting. "Who are you?"

"You dare ask who I am?" Her golden eyes bore into him with a glare of uncertainty. "I am Yasaka, the Guardian of Old Kyoto. Who are you?"

Lucifer approached her with unparalleled confidence, a subtle smirk playing on his lips. Despite her striking resemblance to Yasaka—lustrous golden hair, nine bushy tails, a face of ethereal beauty, and a loose, revealing kimono—he could sense that her soul was not that of the true Kyuubi.

"You can't lie to me," he simply said, approaching the Kyuubi with unparalleled confidence.

Despite her striking resemblance to Yasaka—lustrous and wavy golden hair with sweeping bangs over her face of ethereal beauty, her nine bushy tails, the a pair of golden vulpine ears with white tips, a loose golden kimono that revealed enough of her bosoms — yes she had Yasaka's looks to a spitting image, but her soul was not that of the Old Fox's.

"Who are you? Where's the Old Fox?" It was a demand this time, not exactly one bred from being upset or mad or angry that this cretin dared to lie at him. His demand was driven by a genuine desire to understand why Yasaka would permit such a charlatan's existence to persist in her domain. After all, knowing her capabilities, she should have dealt with this shape-shifter long before.

"Take one more step, and I'll wither you away… You're a stranger who came to my domain and you dare question me instead?"

The imposter, her resemblance to Yasaka uncanny yet marred by subtle differences, quivered with an air of uncertainty. Despite her attempts at menace, fear wafted from her like an unmistakable scent. It didn't help her case that she was staying away from him, backpedaling until a wall prevented her from moving further, further exposing her vulnerability that Yasaka would never show.

Lucifer's crimson eyes narrowed, a flicker of annoyance slipping past his usual poise. This farce had gone on long enough. He tilted his head slightly, an almost casual gesture, and the windows slammed shut.

The room seemed to respond to his unspoken command as he sealed it with an oppressive atmosphere, its weight pressing down on the impostor. Soundproofed and hidden from view, the room vanished from the minds of everyone in the shrine, leaving only Lucifer and the pretender in their private, concealed space.

Trapped and confronted, Yasaka(?) couldn't hide her growing trepidation.

Yasaka would thank him for getting rid of... whoever this is, but he sensed something was awry. The Kyuubi was far from incompetent.

So now, perhaps… a little dance.

"You don't remember me? Old Fox?" he questioned, stopping his advance, his voice laced with a semblance of longing. "You don't recall the nights we spent here in this room? The times you sought my comfort? Your warmth, in particular, has been exceptionally pleasant. I can't say that my pride isn't wounded."

It wasn't a complete lie, of course. Only amateurs would lie completely. Yasaka had more than a few flings with him despite never being an item. Just two free-spirited timeless beings wanting to spend the night with more warmth and company that understood one another.

Her response came hesitantly. "M-My paramore...?" she stammered, struggling to recall the memories he alluded to and weighing if those were simply lies. "...I... my apologies... It's been far too long since I... lay in bed with another... Not since Kunou."

"Hm?" Who in the seventh hell was Kunou?

"Kunou," she said again, looking at him with her radiant golden eyes under her sleek golden eyebrows. "My daughter."

"Your daughter? But you're a Kyuubi. You can't bear children with non Kyuubi and they've gone exti— ah…" Lucifer realized once he got a read of her face. "Your adopted daughter… I see. Royals and their heirs, no?"

"Precisely," she nodded. "...But my own blood or not, as things stand, I intend to fulfill my duty as her mother first."

"Even if it's already terribly late to play the mother?" Lucifer pointed out, his words snaking into her deepest, most fragile corner of her heart, where it would nestle and rip out her desire as he approached her, and her desire bloomed furiously as she felt his hand caressing her cheek. "Even a mother is still a woman. Or have you forsaken everything for your daughter?"

He gently placed a hand atop her chest, splaying his fingers across but without any pressure as he felt her heartbeat soar. As Lucifer continued his intricate manipulation, the impostor began to unravel. Her earlier pretense of confidence crumbled under the weight of his words, leaving her vulnerable to his advances.

"My…" 'Yasaka' muttered, visibly entranced. "...What have you… done to me…?"

"This is all you. You know everything I did was in accordance with your desire. Does it whisper to you the same thing it whispered back then? Or do I need to cajole you more and say sweet nothings as to why this is not the worst idea you can have?"

"Is that so…? The worst idea…" Her voice trailed off as her hazy eyes stared longingly at his lips. Unable to resist the overwhelming desire that Lucifer had awakened within her, she pushed herself off the wall and brought her hands around his neck, sealing his lips with hers.

Lucifer responded to her passionate kiss with equal intensity, while 'Yasaka' moaned and responded eagerly to his advances. He nibbled her lower lip just before he broke away from their pitched battle.

Only to plant his hand to the wall next to her head, and leaned in for a second round, this time thoroughly tasting her as he invaded her mouth, their lips and tongues dancing in a fervent exchange. He explored her mouth thoroughly, savoring the taste of her as her moan became heavier and audible. Her lips were wonderfully soft. She had a delectable little purr when she let him explore her as he pleased.

As their fiery kiss continued, the illusion that had concealed her true identity began to falter. Her hair ornament vanished, and her golden hair had slowly turned cerise pink like cherry blossoms. Even her breasts had shifted, becoming smaller and younger and more pronounced. Her illusion was wavering, as it appeared, but Lucifer didn't feel the need to rush her confession. Not when she was looking at him with lustful eyes like this.

No.

He should torment her first.

If not for the sake of it, then for daring to lie to him.

"Your name," he muttered to her neck as she shivered in return.

"Ya..Yasaka…" she shuddered, feeling his lips sucking her skin, feeling lightheaded; unsure if there was a living being in the world who knew how to kiss like… whoever this person was. "...Ah…"

He lifted his head, slowly making his way from her neck, up to her jaw, her cheek, then next to her ear. "Why did you lie to me?"

"Yasaka…" he whispered against her ear, feeling the subtle shiver that coursed through her body. Her ear twitched in response, a charming detail he couldn't help but appreciate.

She trembled lightly, her toes curling over the tatami. "...What for would I lie…?"

"Because you don't want me to leave," He pressed closer to her, their bodies flush against each other, and her leg wrapped around his waist as if drawn by an invisible force. "No... it is because you're afraid I'd leave."

"Why should I be afraid…?" she breathed, her chest heaving as desire and fear mingled within her. His presence overwhelmed her senses, and she couldn't deny the allure of his touch and his words.

"Because you know I'm the only one who can make you feel this way," he murmured, his forehead resting against hers. The intensity of their closeness sent her heart racing even faster. "But if you lie, then I'll have to stop. You know I don't appreciate liars, vixen."

"Who does…" she whispered, her breathless response filled with desire as she tilted her head to allow him access to her neck. "Nnh… Why… Should I… nmh… W-wait, no…"

Her plea hung in the air as his lips left her skin, and she struggled with the conflicting desires within her.

"Then tell me your name," he demanded, his voice husky with desire. "Your true name. Let's end this charade, and I may yet continue this."

Lucifer's voice held the promise of pleasure, a tantalizing incentive to coax the truth from her lips.

"I don't…" the Kyuubi listlessly nodded, even as five of her tails began to fade away, dimming in the darkness of the room.

Lucifer watched as the transformation reversed, revealing the true form of the fox spirit before him. Her pink hair cascaded around her, a stark contrast to the golden beauty she had initially projected

He stared into the now golden eyes belonging to a pink-haired fox spirit, who had longed for a companion that even Lucifer started to take pity on her. In his defense, he rummaged her soul and her mind only to determine if she was ill-intentioned regarding her transformation, but he ended up digging out bits of her past history as well. Not one she was keen on sharing.

He stopped when he learned about her hatred of her own name. He stopped because he wanted to hear it from her directly. He stopped because he prided himself in being an excellent listener and didn't require extra tricks to get someone to spill their heart.

"So let's start again," he said to her with promise, "I won't hate you just because of a name. Don't be ridiculous."

"Why wouldn't you…?" she hesitated, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Because a name is just a name to me. What matters is what's inside and all that, no?"

"Is that so… But if you know what I've done—"

"That is so, and I know what you've done and I've done worse. Quit pitying yourself." He said, rather harshly, but as he softly brushed away a lone tear from her cheek. "Surrender your trust. I'll listen."

"I…alright…"

"Then tell me who you are, and share to me what happened with Yasaka and the reason of her absence," he stroked her cerise pink bangs, as the two-tailed kitsune looked into his eyes with a certain kind of yearning, with a genuine desire of being loved and cherished. "Afterwards, we'll lie down. Just you and me. You. Not Yasaka. You. And put an end to your horrible streak of lonesomeness, hm? Mend a bit of your broken heart."

Her resolve broke from the sweetness of his promise.

"I… am Tamamo… Tamamo-no-Mae…" she whispered, tearing up, both her legs still clinging onto him, and then both her arms as she hugged him, pouring her all into his chest. "...I don't know where Lady Yasaka is, other than she is trapped inside an amulet… I don't understand how… Please help me, whoever you are— I'm terribly scared. For her and this World..."

"Hush now, enough with the tears." Lucifer caressed her chestnut vulpine ears the same way Yasaka had taught him; upwards, never downwards. Smooth the fluff, not bristle it. He watched as her tails waved rapidly side to side, an unconscious affirmation of the comfort she found in his touch.

"You're clearly distraught, so why don't you ease yourself down… and let me…"

Tamamo, overwhelmed and vulnerable, didn't resist as she unsaddled herself and eased herself down, and stared at the floor, slowly sobering at what she had done and had admitted to a complete stranger. Her eyes crossed when she looked up at him, instinctively trying to follow his arm moving up past her brow. She felt a shudder of pleasure as his fingers skillfully scratched the backside of her ears.

Instinctively, she nuzzled against his hand, her ears swiveling around his fingers.

"Ah— that's my—" Tamamo shuddered from bliss, subconsciously nuzzling against his hand. Her ears swiveled around his fingers and her two bushy tails waved rapidly side to side, an obvious and unconscious affirmation that even after all these years; Lucifer had never lost his touch. Of course he wasn't surprised, but there was satisfaction to be had in the acknowledgment of others. Didn't mean he proactively sought for approvals or recognition, as those were for fools who had yet to make a mark in history.

Lucifer had made plenty enough. History wouldn't be the same without him.

As he continued to pet her, his thumb moved down to her neck. Tamamo melted in his hands, her eyes half-lidded with contentment. But Lucifer had an ulterior motive. He wanted information, and he was determined to get it.

Namely, Yasaka's whereabouts.

Tamamo instinctively smushed her cheek against his hand even as he was drawing it away, whining almost like a lost pup when she realized there was no more petting. Her vulnerability had given way to trust, and Lucifer could feel that she was willing to share what he sought.

"You told me Yasaka is in an amulet," Lucifer repeated, drawing Tamamo's attention back to the urgent matter at hand. "Where is it?"

"First top drawer!" Sobering up, Tamamo pointed towards a dresser, Yasaka's dresser. Her clothes then shapeshifted from one of regal golden kimono into a vibrant blue, white linings, and black shrine maiden outfit that revealed much of her legs that were covered in same colored thigh-high leggings.

Lucifer raised an approving eyebrow at her unique sense of fashion and walked over to the dresser, Tamamo trailing behind him.

As he was about to pull open the drawer, Tamamo hesitated and spoke up. "Neee… Are you really Yasaka-hime's entourage…? Can I really trust you with this…? I know this is a strange thing to ask, but… I'm not sure if I'm compelled to trust you by an unexplainable force, or you're simply that trustworthy... I owe her a lot, you see, and if you are her friend...then..."

"Oh we are more than friends but less than lovers. And I have that effect on certain individuals," Lucifer smirked proudly, dragging out the drawer as he picked up a golden amulet. It had a golden chain, and it was obviously a necklace with quite a heft in it. "There's no one better willed than me to deal with… whatever this is…"

Admittedly, he had never dealt with a Kyuubi trapped inside a gem. Dragons he had heard, but they were sealed in Sacred Gears, not a piece of jewelry.

"Huh. Interesting."

The window swished open as Lucifer used the moonlight to shine on the jewel. It cast out a nice reflection on the wall.

"When did this happen?"

"Two weeks ago," Tamamo replied, skittish. "I-I don't know what happened. I was supposed to clean Yasaka-hime's room, a-and I was! I wouldn't dream of doing anything else! But then I heard her voice, so I thought she was still in the room with me, but no! She didn't remember anything either, but she told me to take her shape… To prevent an uproar, you see… and of course… to watch over Kunou as well."

Putting her frown aside, Lucifer scrutinized the amulet for a little while longer, and threw all appraisal spells he had knowledge of, tinkering with his ungodly power and knowledge as both demonic and angelic and divine powers encapsulated the amber-like gem lodged in the pendant of the necklace. Specters of black, white, and gold swirled around the jewel, creating an intricate dance of magical energies, and then, the amulet glowed.

And started yelling at him. "Stop! Stop! Whatever you are doing, stop it this instant!"

That was Yasaka's voice alright.

"M-mikon!" Tamamo exclaimed her trademark exclamation of surprise. "Y-Yasaka-hime!"

"Ah…" Lucifer responded, his tone carrying a mix of amusement and curiosity as he halted his magical investigation. "Long time we've yet to see each other, and you've managed to trap yourself in a piece of jewelry. What on earth did you do this time, fox?"

"...Lucifer? Is that you?" she immediately recognized from his voice. "How… How did you get there… wherever you are now?"

Tamamo blinked, processing the situation and the name drop. "...Are… Luciferu…?

"I know I'm impossible to forget," he huffed, his ego slightly bruised at the thought that Yasaka might have forgotten him. "And I'm in your place, with your expy. Just what kind of trouble did you get yourself into this time?"

"How rude. You haven't even heard my story yet you've cast your suspicion?"

"I don't hear you denying it."

"I was just about to," Yasaka continued in her pompous, somewhat childish voice she'd never let leak out in public. "It wasn't me! I don't know who did this… But I swear I will strangle them with my own hands once I get out of this... whatever this place is…"

Lucifer casually lifted the necklace, dangling the pendant before him as he re-inspected it. "There are traces of Nordic Seals here and there."

"Loki! The Trickster God—" Yasaka's tone was seething with burning rage. "I should have known… Who else would pull this kind of banal stunt other than him?"

He could think of a few names, actually, but no gods were crafty or even daring and stupid enough to seal one of the crucial leyline-tenders inside a piece of gemstone. As to why… well… Loki always had his own reasons and his own way of thinking. Only idiots would bother themselves believing they were truly allied with the Trickster God, as he was not a being able to be reasoned with.

Lucifer did not worry about Loki, but The Devil rathered not to associate himself with the frost giant boy, lest Loki sullied his name. As if his name wasn't tainted enough by those Lucifer pretenders. He should consider eliminating them once they got irksome enough, he supposed. Few crimes are as great as identity theft, after all. Claiming to be his own son? That's worth a few years of being repeatedly thrown into a pit filled with devil-eating alligators that hadn't been fed real meat for years.

But that was a concern for another time. "Do tell; what's it like living inside a gem?"

"Horrendously boring," Yasaka immediately answered, almost whining. "But my entertainment is the least of my concerns— what has happened out there? How bad is it, Tamamo? Did anyone report any destabilization? Have you noticed anything different? And by the Gods… is Kunou alright?"

"Sh-she's fine Yasaka-hime," the kitsune readily answered. "And no… I haven't seen any noticeable differences than usual… Although I didn't know how this person arrived here. ...I suppose I should've asked earlier…"

"I walked in on one of your gates," he said blandly. "It was hidden, just not well enough. Like it was hurried. Spat me out somewhere in the forest."

"Oh dear… There should only be one entrance… At all times." And that one was in Kyoto and only Kyoto. "Is it at least hidden enough to not be instantly seen by outsiders?"

"Not for the curious ones. Hard to say; I'm not exactly insensitive to magic."

"...T'is bad news regardless…" Yasaka muttered. He imagined both her ears would be flattened right now. "...If this goes on, who knows where the gates will spawn next…? Old Kyoto is hidden for a reason…"

"Why the fuss? Your people are hardly the type to make enemies. Niggling annoyance at times with their pranks, but nothing harmful."

"You sound surprisingly naive for a being who has witnessed and caused the rise and fall of empires."

Lucifer shrugged. "I care more about the future rather than the past."

"The past is still a better teacher than both present and future."

"Doesn't mean it should be as important" he smoothly refuted. "And have your kin done anything to upset anyone that they'd pull off this sort of... insanity?"

"...None that should warrant this sort of insult..." Yasaka whispered, but her frustration was evident. "And the Norse? I've hardly made any contact with them other than exchanging the normal pleasantries when their diplomat arrived."

"Either way, what can you do there? And what can we do here? I wanted to see and talk to you in the flesh, not…" he made a face as he eyed the amber gem. "...a talking stone."

"You think I want to be this way?"

"Well you are somewhat rockheaded. I suppose this is at least thematic."

"I will make you eat your own words, Lucifer."

"Consider not being inside a rock first."

"—!" Yasaka could be heard grumbling inside said rock. Her forced recluse definitely played a bad part in her patience and control over her anger. But then again, Lucifer knew what buttons to push to gain his desired reactions. He'd never tell her this as it would only make her madder, but he had always thought she was the cutest when she got petulantly angry with him.

Of course Lucifer took pride in the fact that he was the only entity in all Realms that Yasaka could be completely honest towards. To whom she didn't need to put on her masks, without needing to be a leader or spiritual counselor for a variety of species.

But after a while, Yasaka's voice mellowed into one of despair. "...I…I've tried everything. I've spent all my powers trying to break away from this containment. Nothing I did worked. You need to set me free."

He raised an eyebrow. "Need?"

"Please help me," Yasaka pleaded, not having the spirit to argue. Not with him out of all entities. "My people need me. Kunou needs me… I can't stay here for long. You I can trust. Ironically, you're the only person that has my complete trust and confidence… No one else is as shrewd as you."

Now he liked the sound of that… That placed him above everyone else, which wasn't mistaken. "Ease it with your compliments, fox, you had me at 'please help'. Still, this will be one big favor you're asking from me."

"I don't care… Anything to get me out of this prison. I must get out."

Another favor from another leader of a different faction… And his day had only just begun. Very much expected of him, Lucifer wouldn't have settled for less. "Very well. I'll find a way to get you out."

"As well as getting my physical body out!" Yasaka quickly added, having learned from her past mistakes from making a deal with him.

Lucifer appreciated her alertness with a snigger. "I'll get you out. Sure. You have my word, Old Vixen... I'll keep you close to my heart — quite literally too, might I add?"

"How very romantic," Yasaka sighed as Lucifer put on the necklace, tucking it under his wine red dress shirt and jet black tie. "...Tamamo, while I understand this is hard for you, and I hate that I must ask this from you, but I need you to continue acting as me in my absence. The entirety of Old Kyoto depends on it."

"Yes, Yasaka-hime-dono!" Tamamo stiffened, snapping out of her daydream as she was secretly craving to receive the same treatment Lucifer gave to her domain protector. "...Can I… ask where you might be heading, Goshujin-sama?"

"Goshujin— oh Gods…" Yasaka sounded reasonably disappointed. "Not you as well... What did he do to you?"

Tamamo brought one of her tails forward, hugging it for security as she stammered and fiddled with the white tips of her tail.

"Well I mean… he said some sweet-sounding words to me… He swept me off my feet and he turned my legs into jelly with a kiss. What is a young maiden like me to do~?"

"Don't that bring back your memories, old fox?" Lucifer added, lightly but smugly smiling as he looked at his new kitsune friend. "Don't worry. I won't forget you. I appreciate those who value me greatly."

"Ahaan~!" squealed Tamamo. "Wed me please! I'll be loyal to you and you only!"

Lucifer raised a single eyebrow. "I don't need to wed you to make you loyal."

"Mikon~! Such confidence borderlining arrogance! You can consider this lowly vixen forever enamored by you, Lucifer-sama!"

As Tamamo's tails swayed wildly as she hogged his right arm, Yasaka sighed. "You surely know how to make a lady feel special," so she said with dry sarcasm. "Was I mistaken to hope I was the only one for you?"

"You are the only Yasaka for me."

"The same way she is the only Tamamo for you, I'm sure."

"But of course. If I deem you all the same, then won't that make you ordinary?" Lucifer chuckled. "Right. I've stayed here long enough and I've had what I wanted, though not as satisfactory."

Hearing that shocked Tamamo just as the moment she learned of Yasaka's state. "Nonono, you can stay a mite longer…" she said with ears drooping forward like a pair of wilting flowers. Her tails even stopped swishing. "You promised me I won't be sleeping alone tonight. You warned me to tell no lies…"

"So easily attached, hm? Are you a dog or a fox?" Lucifer dryly said with a single raised eyebrow, but not without a small smirk etching his lips.

"I'm a kitsune, not an inugami."

"So you say," he hummed. It wasn't rare of him to be wanted, but it was rare of him to be entertained. He quite liked this kitsune's character. Her desperation and willingness to admit it had quite a charm. "Now where did you find this one? How come I've never met her?"

Tamamo was about to tell him her life story of how she used to be a cursed stone that could kill ordinary people if they so much as stared at her, but she was cut off by one annoyed kyuubi.

"You can get to know each other later! Quit flirting around! The stability of my Realm is in peril!"

And much as Lucifer wanted to goad the Kyuubi, he did give her his words, and he was not known to delay his promises.

"I'll be back soon, Tamamo. Keep the bed warm while I'm away."

"Will do~!" with a twirl, Tamamo transformed herself back into Yasaka, gaining several inches of height, seven golden tails, and a more ample set of bosoms. "I'll be waiting for you, Goshujin-sama, and praying for your success."

With a nod, Lucifer snapped away from Yasaka's domain, and surged back into existence in Erebus, namely Hades' gloomy throne room that was only kept lit by the floating blue candles.

"Greetings and salutations, Old Man," Lucifer jeered, and Hades was visibly wishing for time to be reverted. "I didn't get you your dragon bone, but I found something better… a nine-tailed fox spirit inside a piece of jewelry. And you... will assist me in breaking her out, because that is how you can get rid of me from this place of yours. Temporarily as it might."


To be continued…


What's better than one fox wife? Two fox waifus!

Har har! You expected smut but all you get is fluff! Fluff! Lots of fluff! Fluff for days and the morrows! Fluff for the sad and lonely Tamamo! And for Yasaka whose DxD appearance is kinda eehhhh so I have to change her appearance a bit! Mostly her eyebrows and her hair! Yay me!

But seriously danzy, wth is this story about?

Why, fluff ofc, and Lucifer's quest on getting the best fox wife out of the amulet so he could cuddle her to death.

I just found myself lacking fluff yo, and writing Fates Reforged made me realize it all the worse. It's like a withdrawal.

Also I'm retconning DxD's theory about Yasaka being part of a leyline, because it doesn't work like that and I think ishibumi did that to stop Yasaka from prancing around.

Did I kill Raynare and her gang? Well, I never confirmed it so there you have it. Then again, it's hard to give them a bigger part in the story so don't hope too much. I'm focusing on Lucifer and Yasaka first before I add more.

Hime is commonly seen as part of a Japanese female divinity's name which is a deity — I'm just following what wikipedia said for how Tamamo refers to Yasaka.

Follow for the next chapter, which is more fluff packed than this, specifically between him and Yasaka. (not hades, dw about that). And do be kind and leave a review so i have something to read. Make it somewhat a mutual exchange. You receive my story, I receive your review.