"I can't believe I thought it was a good idea to send him there," Lalu's mom said. She rubbed her temple, the sight of seeing one of her kids in a foot cast driving her nuts. Not wishing to gaze a it any longer, she went back into the master bedroom to sit with her husband. "Ah, Is that boy just bad luck now?"

"He wouldn't be if he hadn't stuck his nose in the portal," his dad said, almost as exasperated with the whole thing. "I thought we sent Oluwale the first time."

"We did, but then he had to go to work!" She said, letting her frustration through at the end of the sentence. "This cannot go any longer. I don't deal in these half-measures. Look at us! We're sending our own kids to be mediators between him."

"Well, he's not going to move back in," his dad clarified.

"Yes he is. I'm going to tell him to today." His mom then got up, going to look out of the window. "And if he doesn't, then he can't stay here no longer! Too much trouble happens with him around."

"In this house?"

"No…in this town."

Back in Virto's home, Lalu filled three glasses with water and ice cubes, and brought them to the living room. There, Dominika, Issia, and Seian all sat, all three of them side-eyeing each other. Dominika, for lack of a disguise, sat with her ears, paws, and tail all sprung from her body.

"What if someone peeks through the window?" Seian said. "Not that I oppose that, I would like to stretch a few limbs myself~"

"Lao said to just say that she is a furry," Issia said. "I don't know what that means, but hey if it works."

Dominika sat in silence. After the whole Vale debacle, she had been on shaky terms with Lao. This was the first time the two of them would be getting in the same room in a while, much less he being the one to offer the invitation. It wasn't in her character to be nervous, yet the one time morality struck her heart was when she was within emanating distance of the Bunyip.

Issia could tell she was nervous too. She saw as she fidgeted her massive paws mindlessly, seeming to go over scripts on how she could get back on level ground with Lao. After the encounters she had as well, it seemed trivial to help a gal out.

However, no matter how she spun it, Dom did make kids with Lao…well, into Lao…without his consent...or hers for that matter.

And they were quadru-you know what, it's probably best to not think about it further.

"Are you getting a little ans-"

"Shut up," both Seian and Issia said, Missia disappearing just as fast as she popped in.

"But I didn't…" Dominika, thinking they were talking to her, started to protest, but soon pouted and fell quiet once more.

"Alrrright!" Lalu said, finally arriving with those glasses of water, plus one for himself. He sat in the reclining chair a bit across from them, placing his glass on the living room coffee table. "So, wonderful weather we're having…"

"Oh, it's okay Lao!" Seian said, brushing off the pleasantries. "You don't need to bore us with such conversation."

"Yeah, I would prefer to be hit with the cold water first this time…" Dominika nervously said.

"Well, in that case…" Lalu said, leaning forward in his chair. "The reason I brought you all here is because, well, a lot of things happened and I want to make sure that we are all on the same page about who is with who." They all nodded to each other, looking between the four faces.

"Basically, Issia and I are married, Seian and I are friends, and Dominika and I are…" he looked at her, trying to find the right way to say it. It was hard enough getting her to even come ten feet within him. However, the only way to be done with this love polygon for good is to make sure she's on board. "...associates?"

"Non-consensual surrogates if you want to be technical," Dominika said, rubbing her shoulder and blushing. "I-I mean, associates is much more preferable. As long as you're not still mad at me…."

"Well I am," Issia chipped in cheerfully. Lalu shot a painful, not-the-time gaze towards her, Issia gazing back What? Should I lie?

"I completely understand," Dominika spoke before anyone else could chime in again. "Issia, I wouldn't be here for anything other than to beg for forgiveness. Years ago, another monster tore my family apart and I vowed to not be the same." Issia shifted in her seat, hesitant to oblige so soon.

"I can't turn back the sands of time but I can make this as painless as possible," Dominika said. "Please, I'll take care of anything you two will need. I'll even take care of all the hybrids! You won't have to see them ever again." Issia wondered what would happen if she told her to kill herself, but Lalu's eyes seemed to bore into her soul. "Lao, you can't possibly be over this already!" Issia pointed out, gesturing to Dom. "Don't you think you're moving on a tad too fast?"

"May-be," he answered louder than he meant it to be. "It's just, a lot to think about okay?"

"She needs to be in jail! I mean she-"

"Issia, please," Lao asked politely. Issia smacked her teeth but relented and scooted back in her seat, turning to Dom. "If he wants to move on, then that's his decision. But if you try to pull that crap EVER again, I'll tear another path through Royal Makai with the broken remains of your body."

"If I ever have hurt him again, I would have beaten you to it," Dominika responded.

"This self-pity act doesn't work on me, but whatever."

"It's not meaningless pity!"

"In any case," Lalu continued, "the kids complicate things, and you don't have to like each other. However, we should be able to at least hang out together, right? At least until this arc ends." Dom and Issia looked at each other. The arc wasn't going to be for much longer anyway. Maybe later it could be different, but Issia figured she could manage a few more chapters before the werewolf can officially fuck off.

"I agree!" Seian responded. Lalu was thankful Seian was hear, although what Issia said was kind of still hitting him close. Maybe he was putting this off...

"Although, I still feel weird inside if you don't mind me talking about it." Seian kept going from where she left off.

"Oh right, you mentioned you really don't feel much for me anymore?"

"…well now two feelings," Seian clarified. "I've just loved you for so long, and you've made me feel so, so many things. But now…I don't really feel…anything. I still love you, but, in a plutonic way."

"Seian, I think you just described getting over someone," Issia said, sighing like she was listening to a younger sister.

"Yes, but, it's not just you. Recently I took a flight to the beach to find love again!" Seian peaked. "Buuut, all I found were a bunch of pale comparisons. I wasn't even aroused, and I saw several people that looked like you!"

"Hmm…." Lalu thought about it, reclining in the chair he was in. "I would need to ask Virto, but I think you might be Ace."

"Ace?" Seian asked, chuckling. "Silly Lao-kun, that's a card quantity!"

"It's also a really nice…Wonderland…delicacy…" Dominika chimed in but faulted once all the heads turned to her. "J-just saying, I'm sorry."

"Asexual, I mean," Lalu said, scratching his head. "It's a jump though, and I don't wanna assume anything. Last time I did that I almost lost a friend."

"Well, I'll keep it on my mind," Seian said smiling. "Although that wasn't the thing I was originally referring to either."

"Oh?" Issia asked, now confused. "What was it?"

"Well, I may not have been around for this, but I feel as if there was some gap between my…leave and Issia's arrival. I just have a feeling, however."

"Actually," Issia said, thinking while staring up at the ceiling. "I don't think we really started dating immediately after you died. Lao, did you marry anyone while we were friends? Not that I care or anything…"

"Well…" It was now Lalu's turn to think, scratching his chin. "There was this one woman, but if my memory is right she was batshit insane. Although we really didn't date, she just tried to drug me with a love potion."

"The things mamono do for love…" Dominika said flatly. "As a potion user myself, she sounded pretty attached."

"Is there a way she could have gotten through the portal?" Seian asked.

"Does she know we are a thing?" Issia questioned after.

"Is she a yandere?" Dominika inquired.

"No, she should, and probably," Lalu answered respectively. "Even if she was though, the only way she would be able to get into this world is through-"

RUMBLE…The ground shook, and people started screaming. As they moved to the window, they saw people running down the street outside, some recording blindly on the road. The sound of carnage and car damage plagued one side of the street. Looking in the originating direction, they saw a slender, dark figure move down the middle of the street, blades protruding out of her arms and the torn sleeves of a skimpy maid dress.

"Oh fuck," they all said in unison. Stepping back, they all stood in silence, waiting to see if there were any objections to what they all just saw.

"Soo…is that Maggie?" Dominika asked, Lalu nodding like a high school student who zoned out during an English lecture.

"Is this one of those things yandere's would do for love?" Seian asked.

"How did she get here!?" Issia then yelled.

"Honestly, at this point there are probably a billion portals into this world," Lalu said, going back to peer back between the blinds. She was passing Virto's house now, sniffing the air like a Labrador. "Lao-sama!" She yelled. "Where have you gone!?"

"What do we do?" Issia asked. "Well, obviously we have to capture her, maybe with an elephant tranquilizer…."

"We would need to get close to her for that," Dominika said. "She is too fast even in her normal state. High on lust, it would be like trying to chase a sword-wielding roadrunner."

"Then we'll need to do a trap. If we can't compete with her head-on, maybe if I step out there and let her get me, then I can stab her with something…but we may need more hands on deck…" He looked back around, taking another head count. One counting himself, two, three…..four? Wasn't there a-

"Where did Seian go?" Lalu asked calmly.

Close. The front door was shut and locked from the outside as soon as he asked. He, Dom, and Issia went back to the window, seeing the purple-haired woman step out in front of Maggie.

"I thought we were making a plan," Dominika asked, but Lalu held out a hand. "Hold on…let her cook."

"Move, out, of my way," Maggie said, waving her off. "Can't you see I'm busy here?"

"I see that but…" Seian looked at the damage to the road and cars behind her. "We're really trying to have a peaceful day, so I can't let you go any further. Sorry about that!"

"Your sorrows mean nothing!" Maggie exclaimed. "I am on a mission for love! Redemption! Reconvention! I miss the touch of my master, and when the vampire told me about Lao's whereabouts-"

"Melisa, you bitch," Lalu whispered from the window. He could only imagine how much she was laughing her ass off right now.

"-I just had to see for myself," Maggie said. "You must be shacked up with him, right?" Her right eyebrow raised immensely, the mantis suddenly dawning a very crazed expression. It didn't faze Seian, however. She had already moved passed that lovestruck part of her life, and now, the mere mention of attraction just seemed trivial.

"And what if I am?" Seian said, giggling to herself.

"What is she doing, gaslighting her?" Dominika whispered.

"She can probably sense her power level," Virto said, having shoved themself between the three.

"What do you mean?" Dom asked them back.

"What I mean, is that Seian has been a lot more collected recently. Simply put…she's her." They paused the last bit for dramatic effect, adjusting their glasses in a way that a lot more light now shined off them.

"Last chance, concubine," Maggie said, getting into a dashing stance. Her blades looked as sharp as ever, and Seian swore she could see her reflection in them. "A mere human could not hope to ever compare to the wife of Lao!"

"If you think that I'm a mere human," Seian said, getting into a JoJo pose to goad Maggie on. "Then come and find out, sweetie~"

Maggie had no qualms. She left a rapidly scattering dust cloud as she closed the distance between her and Seian in the blink of an eye. With deadly intent, she swung her arm blade at Seian's neck. Seian didn't even bother dodging, instead catching the blade in her hand right at her neck. Maggie swung the other arm, only getting surprised when she caught the other one as well. "Impossible!" she exclaimed. She then used the leverage to swing into Seian's chest. She could hear the kick crack like a bar of candy, but Seian still looked unphased, even revealing in the contact.

"Keep trying," Seian said to Maggie, licking all around her lips. "Maybe the second time you might even phase me~." Maggie had already cut her, a healthy flow of blood dripping down wounds on her palms onto the arm blades. However, anything short of slicing limbs clean off was unacceptable. The Mantis stared in astonishment. She could count on her hands the number of people able to stop her slice, and even then she could still dice them all. This woman...this woman is impossible!

"Maggie?" Seian questioned, growing concerned when she froze up in the dragon girl's arms. "You seem a bit unstable."

"UNSTABLE?" Maggie suddenly blew up, kicking and leaping away from Seian. She went into a guard pose, flashing her blades out while she prepared to pounce again. "YOU'RE THE ONE'S THAT'S INSANE. YOU DARE STAND BETWEEN I AND MY MAN?"

"Lao isn't your man," Seian calmly said. She began walking closer to Maggie, seeing her shuffle back. "And no amount of destruction is going to bring him to you."

"BLASPHAMY!" Maggie said. "I saw the news. I've been intimate with him. I've loyally guarded over his belongings and even cleaned them off while his other stands simply abandoned his post. Every, painstaking lick along his fabrics…" She blushed reminiscing about it. Seian had to do some reflection, seeing clear fluids start to leak down her thighs. I sure hope I wasn't like that, she thought as the Mantis' breath got hotter.

"…Yes!" She said, assuring her own beliefs. "Only I have the right to his hand, for only I have served master for as long! My love, my affection will shine through…" By now, she was practically foaming at the mouth, her body begging to frot against her beloved once more.

"Then I'll give you a hint," Seian said, pointing to Virto's house. Maggie's head turned on a swivel, everyone in the window ducking down.

"What is she doing!?" Lalu said, hitting the deck to hide. Back outside, Maggie took a sniff, her pupils dilating like a helium balloon.

"If you can get passed me, then I'll let you ravish him all that you want," Seian said, sticking her tongue out.

"You're foolish telling me this!" Maggie said, reaching into her cleavage and taking out a love potion. She closed her eyes and downed the potion, imagining as many scenes of Lao-sama as she could. Her heart swelled tenfold, pushing whatever blood needed to go to her limbs to get her body as close to him. "Ahhh, mmmph, yes! I can feel it boosting me even more!~ Wait for me Lao!~" she proclaimed, her blades growing even larger and sharper, threatening to even cut through even the bounds between her and you, the reader!

Even though she was even more dangerous, their bickering had still attracted a crowd. Numerous people had gathered around, taking out their phones and recording as a weird mantis girl relentlessly started to go after Seian. Everything was dodged effortlessly, and if it wasn't dodged, it was parried with such precision that even Maggie needed time to regain her footing.

Even Lalu, who was supposedly hiding, couldn't help but come out to watch the spectacle. Watching one of the fastest monster girls work their magic was nothing short of amazing, but even more so was seeing how easily Seian could read each swipe at her neck, arms, and legs.

It looked like the mantis wasn't trying, but Maggie wanted to turn the purple-haired lady into as many sushi pieces as possible. She took Seian at her word and swore with every pound of her heartbeat that she would clear this obstacle as proof of her devotion.

"Come on!" Seian said, still encouraging her like she was a little kid chewing through broccoli. She dodged another blade swipe for her eyes, ducking so fast that even the ends of her hair escaped being blended. "I thought Mantises were ruthless, cold killing machines that would tear through gold for their husbands! All I see is a fraud!"

"RAAAAAHHHHHH!" Maggie cried, Sparta-kicking Seian back several feet. She cackled the entire time, seeming to feast off her rage and strikes.

"She's actually toying with her," Virto said, having gone back to get chairs. "By now, she would have been struggling with retaining her human form…"

"What made her rage before?" Dominika said, turning to Lalu. But he was immersed in the spectacle. Cheers and jiving rang around him like bells, as the crowd got more and more confident staying in a circle around Maggie and Seian. Even when cornered, she could always slip out, pulling the mantis with her to keep the spectators safe. And all without even taking one glance at him.

"She's gotten over me…" he whispered under his breath. The realization was like feeling a low tide wash up against the soles of his feet – minor and small, yet startling enough to grab all of his attention. From Dominika's perspective, he was frozen in the moment, yet in a matter of seconds, a cheeky grin took over his face. "Beat her ass!" he yelled, clapping as he was swooped into the event like the dozens of neighbors around him.

All of it seemed to bolster Seian, but she didn't dare go on the offensive. She smiled and dodged and parried everything with a grin. The mantis was getting madder and faster, but nothing was touching a thread of sundress when Seian wanted to.

The fight pushed on into the afternoon, and then into the sunset. While she was still lively, Maggie was standing on her last legs in the orange light. Her clothes and body was drenched in more sweat than secretions, and her eyes were heavy-lidded as she continued on.

"Stand…still…" Maggie said, swinging once more. After hundreds, maybe thousands of attempts, one finally managed to brush against Seian. Only now, she was barely able to lift her arm, much less put enough force to slide into her body. All the while, Seian was still brimming with positivity, even catching her as the mantis girl finally collapsed into her body.

"You aren't going to win anything like that now," Seian joked, but then she felt the muffled sobs in her chest. By now, Maggie's body was completely limp, and all she could do was give up and cry. "Why, why, why!" she cried, pounding the front of her body like a door knocker. "Why didn't I…I couldn't I break through?"

"There there," Seian said, patting her lovingly. "I was in the same boat as you, you know? I know how you must feel right now."

"But if I can't even get past a human like you…" She said, pulling her snotty and teary face off of Seian. "…then what use am I to master?"

"I don't know, but I believe the real problem is you're asking the wrong questions." Seian pulled her off of her, staring into her eyes. "Maggie, this may be hard to believe…but you don't need Lao."

"No, no no! Yes I do!"

"No you don't!" Seian said sternly, grabbing the mantis girl's face to hold her still. "In fact, you don't need anyone!" Maggie looked strained, wrestling with what she was being told.

"It's okay if you don't understand now," Seian continued. "But there comes a time where we simply cannot chase after someone that doesn't want to be chased after. He has a family now…no…he had a family, and friends, and this whole world before meeting us." For the first time, Seian turned towards Lalu and the others, facing Maggie there as well. Lalu gasped and was about to step back, seeing Maggie blush but look down in disappointment.

"Don't you see? There is a whole life he has here, and stuff like us just gets in the way. We may be monster girls, but we didn't stand a chance and that's okay."

"But…without Lao…"

"Your life still has meaning," Seian finished, picking Maggie up in her arms. "You aren't just a product of the Demon Lord, you just have to learn to let go. And I'll help you, every step of the way."

It didn't make Maggie feel better. In fact, she just cried even more, using Seian's sundress to clear her eyes and nose, but at least she was now docile. The whole time, Seian gently swayed her, smiling and watching. She didn't even realize when the clapping started around her and just walked back into the house as if nothing happened at all.

A week has gone by, and finally, nothing major has happened.

Seian and Maggie's fight went viral on the internet for two days, before Virto went full Karen and got it to be taken down.

Dami's leg healed rather quickly. Suspiciously quickly, in fact. As if someone had been sneaking to his room overnight and gifting him with the blessings of healing magic. Soon, the doctor said it amounted to a minor sprain that could be walked off in a few days.

Virto managed to rescind all portals opened during their initial test runs, and with 99% confidence, was able to track them all down to close them forever.

With nothing to do, Leana went back to chilling at Brad's house, continuing on her Biology degree and somewhat normal life. As normal as you could get with a horny Imp, of course. Isuka, Gracie, and Nyx frequently hit the town for girl's nights.

And finally, Lalu had sorted out all the troubles he had of his own. Through several aggressive rounds of table talks, coffee, and therapy given with the level of tact only gotten through one intro class, he, Issia, and Dominika finally sorted out the triangle and came to terms with each other. After a lot of drama and adventures, it finally felt like the true end of the adventure.

And as for Maggie…

"Alright, Maggie has something she wishes to say to you," Seian said, sitting down Maggie on what is at this point the therapy couch. Maggie fidgeted around, nervous as hell now that she was back to her normal, emotionless self. She wore bellbottoms and a sleeveless flower shirt, her hair curled slightly into waves that rested against her neck and collar. "I would like to formally apologize ma- Lao." She said, patting her thighs to some internal melody.

"I accept your apology, and I'm glad that we could still be friends," Lalu responded, nodding.

"Well…" Seian started.

"I can take care of this," Maggie told her, averting her eyes back to Lalu. "Lao, the times we shared together, ever since you showed your dominance against my old master…they still are held dearly inside. But you don't love me. And it hurts too much."

"I understand," Lalu said, nodding again. He looked up at Seian, who shrugged reluctantly. "So this would be the last time we meet, isn't it?"

"Maybe in another time, another life…" Maggie said. "I apologize for all the things I have done…"

"Mmm."

"Great!" Seian said, patting Maggie's shoulder. It caused her to jump, a red tint filling her soft cheeks. "Ieeee….." she stammered, nodding rapidly.

Honestly, anyone with a brain could see where this is going. I guess some things never really change.

"I thought Seian was Ace," Issia said, who had silently watched the entire thing. She waited until the two of them entered the basement to speak up.

"She is, or at least she said she'll go with it until she figures herself out," Lalu responded. "The crush might be one-sided, I'm not going to lie…"

"Well, whatever. Leaves more Lao for me~" Issia set down her cup, sauntering over and grabbing his collar. "I love how much you put this to bed. Honestly, seeing you be so honest around your exes is…kind of hot~"

"Well, you wouldn't want me to stay the Orderite Lao, would you?~" Lalu responded back, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"He was kind of a stickler for the rules, but you….you just clean up nicely," Issia said back, feeling her leg get hiked up. "So masculine, and resilient, and oh!" She tightened her thighs, feeling a finger reach very close to her pleasure center. "That is one wandering finger you have there…"

"Should I stop?~"

"On the contrary. I've been needing a good fuck for weeks, but that flu put me out of commission." She hopped the rest of her body into his grasp, being held by her ass while he started to walk upstairs. "Give me my medicine hun~"

"Oh don't worry, you have a prescription coming right up~" He said, taking them further and further upstairs to a nice, vacant room.

The following notes were written half a year ago, with a bit of modification...

Aaand um, yeah, I'm ending it there. Usually, I'm not this blatant with the fourth wall breaks, but these chapters were just ridiculously long and taxing.

I also never really engage with any of you like this, so um…yeah, how was your day? For me, I'm writing this around the evening time. About everything from the fight to a few lines ago was written all right now. I should be showering for work, but yeah.

A Pointless Quarrel did sort of turn into a cheesy thing I suppose, but honestly, I liked the break from the massive chapters I write. The rest of Lalu's lore maybe these short 2k chapters, just to be less of a headache.

Anyways, sorry for the sudden candidness. I'm glad people are sticking around long enough to get here, and if you are, you are an amazing person and I love you (in a weird parasocial way). Go out and tackle your day, you deserve it. Mwah!

See you in the next chapter!