AN: Okay, so this might be the first English fic for Bikkurimen ever. But. I was just toying with an idea, because I think a lot about this ship lately. Honestly, I see this as an AU. I've read various fan interpretations of the rather vague ending, and there doesn't seem to be any consensus on whether Maris and Maria are permanently separated. Unless it's clarified in the drama CDs? Haven't been able to find the first, and the second isn't out yet. But personally I like to imagine they're not, especially factoring the end scene with all the stickers together including hers. And that's the idea I ran with here.

Anyway, best stop before these notes get longer than this already short fic.

There was a new part-time employee at Sei Mart. Her name was Kaguya. An attractive young woman by any standards. Her shifts also tended to draw in a larger amount of customers. Truly, hiring her was a win for the business.

'If only I had an excuse to fire her.' Maris knew he couldn't do so simply because he wanted to, even if he was the manager. There was no tact to that. It would stir up controversy. 'If she would slip up, drop a case of glass bottles on a customer and ruin their nice suit…'

"Or you could simply arrange for an accident."

Maris wasn't even surprised anymore by the voice in his head, who could hear his every thought. The proverbial devil on the shoulder was different for him than most. It was his factor, the literal devil woman Satan Maria.

"You really don't like her either?" Maris could sense the anticipation in her voice when she'd made such a suggestion. Regardless, he wasn't going to grant her wish.

"You know that she has a factor too," Maria replied. More specifically, the very factor of the woman who happened to be Maria's love rival in the past. "Even if she doesn't realize it yet. But Phoenix must know."

"I'm certain he does," said Maris. "Why else would he be showing so much interest in her?"

"Is that jealousy?" Maris could tell Maria was smirking. A smirk he would've wiped away if he had the means. If only he could purge her from his head. But there wasn't a drug in the world he could take that would do so. A factor wasn't like hallucinating from being overtired, or anything that simple. And another Bikkuri Bang obviously wasn't a good idea.

"I have no reason to be jealous of an employee. She's below me," Maris answered.

"But you love him,." Maria continued. "You couldn't even deny that."

She remembered back then, when Maris had first attempted the Bikkuri Bang, and was confronted by Super Devil, her former boss.

'There is something sacred in your heart that has resisted the bind. Head Rokoko is that sacred thing. Someone like you can't do his best for the devil. I see through everything. The one who fell in love, the miserable Maria.'

Those were the words Super Devil had taunted him with, when his plan was about to fail.

"You were only angry that he called you Maria."

"Because I'm not you!" Maris clenched his fists. "You're the one in love with Head Rokoko."

"I am in love with him." Maria couldn't argue with that. "And that's why the both of us are jealous of that woman."

"Would you shut up?!" It was probably a lost cause, but he had to at least ask. "What do you see in that man anyway?"

Maria laughed.

"Aside from the fact that he's gorgeous?"

Maris grimaced. Well, Phoenix was gorgeous. His Head Rokoko form too. He absolutely couldn't think about that too much, or he'd become completely lost in the thought.

"That's too superficial," he replied.

"He's strong," said Maria. "Loyal, and gentle as can be. He truly believed that angels and devils could come together in harmony. He wouldn't even give up on the worst devil like me."

'The worst…' his thoughts were no longer directed at Maria, even if she could, of course, hear them. Maris tried not to think about that for a moment. Indeed, he was the worst. He'd nearly condemned everyone to a horrible fate. And in the end, Phoenix did nothing but thank him and smile. How infuriating. Why was this man so strong, loyal and gentle… and gorgeous too? It was absolutely disgusting.

"Oh, look!"

Hearing Maria's voice again, Maris stared up ahead of him, only to see Phoenix of all people approaching him. He had just been finishing up his shift, of course.

"Maris!" Phoenix was smiling stupidly like usual, holding in his hand some Bikkuriman wafers. "I thought you might like to have one. These are all that's left from today's shipment."

"I suppose," said Maris. He almost wanted to refuse simply because it was Phoenix offering them. But it was Phoenix offering them after all. To him, and not to Kaguya. He couldn't help but feel satisfied about that.

Maris took one and opened it, Phoenix still holding onto his in the wrapper.

"Who did you get?" Maris could feel his face turn red as the other man moved his head in closer, to get a look at the packaged sticker.

"That's…" The sticker was of Aizen Kaguya. Scowling, Maris dropped it to the floor, stepping on it for extra measure. He didn't care how petty that made him look. Of all the characters he could have pulled…

"That's not very nice of you," Phoenix said.

"I didn't need that one," Maris replied.

"Kaguya is a very sweet girl, you know?" said Phoenix. He didn't appear to be angry. "It's almost a shame she won't be working here for too much longer."

"Hm?" Maris glanced at him. As manager, why hadn't he heard this?

"She was telling me today," replied Phoenix. "Kaguya applied for her dream job. I hope she'll be able to get it. She didn't mean to work as a part-timer at this small convenience store forever."

"I'm not really sure why anyone would want to," Maris replied. Not that he minded working there all that much.

"But you know, I'll be even sadder when you leave," said Phoenix.

"You… why…?" Maris stuttered. "You might take my position then. Wouldn't that satisfy you?!"

"I suppose I could," said Phoenix. "But I'd be lonely."

He leaned in his head closer again, this time planting a kiss on the startled Maris' cheek.

Maris started to move his mouth, but no words could come out. When he'd regained his composure, he'd noticed Phoenix was acting as if nothing happened, merely opening up the other wafer.

"Aww…' he looked at the sticker, frowning. "I was hoping to pull Satan Maria."

"You must already have one," Maris replied. Besides, why would he want that?

"I do," said Phoenix. "But Maria is my favorite. I think she looks much more beautiful than even Kaguya."

Maris found himself blushing furiously. Which frustrated him for many reasons. "Cursed Maria! I am not her!" But for a moment, for the first time, he almost wished he was. He wondered sometimes… no, far too often, did Phoenix only show an interest in him because it was Maria he truly loved? Head Rokoko truly loved Maria. And he and Phoenix were also one of the same body.

"Of course. You're Maris, the simple manager of this store," said Phoenix. "But you haven't been made into a sticker yet. If you were, I'd have to get one. For now, Maria is the character that reminds me the most of you."

"I'm going to sweep the floors!" Not wanting Phoenix to see his flustered face any longer (or was it not wanting to look into Phoenix's gorgeous eyes for another minute and completely lose himself?) Maris turned around, rushing to the supply cabinet.

Smiling to himself, Phoenix bent down next to the discarded sticker.

"Oh Maris… I would have given this to Jack-kun or Ushiwaka-kun. But you got footprints on it." He pocketed the sticker anyway, pulling out another sticker in its place. One that he always kept close to him. One of Satan Maria. Phoenix shifted his eyes, taking in the design.

"She really isn't quite as beautiful as you."