Spoiler Alert for Anime Only- Kalego's bloodline, though subtle, will become incredibly important and used in this story. If you don't want to be spoiled on how that works, I kind of don't know if it's possible to continue beyond this point in the story.

If you would like to understand, in the context of canon what I'm talking about without being fully plot-spoiled, I can point you in the direction of the specific manga chapter that is involved. The first two pages of chapter 219 are all that are necessary to read for the sake of this story going forward.

TW: Birth, Near-death experience, separation of parent and newborn, inflicting injury on a newborn, child neglect, blood, and grief.

xXx-xXx-estrange-xXx-xXx

The moment Shichirou arrived, the odd tension between Kalego and Opera dissipated as their partner became entirely focused on examining and discussing Opera's nest.

Kalego let out a breath of relief as he allowed himself a moment to mentally relax as he watched his friend.

That is, until Sullivan ruined it by gently grasping him by the elbow and pulled him along to follow.

Kalego went with him, sweat beading at his brow as he wondered deliriously if Sullivan knew what had transpired between himself and the Security Devil under his roof.

There was no way he didn't know, he could faintly smell his own blood on his shirt. The poking white from under four puncture marks was a dead giveaway that he hoped Shichirou hadn't noticed.

Sullivan released him near the spot Opera had occupied earlier, and with a silent point to sit, Sullivan put on an apron and began to meal prep.

Kalego shouldn't be surprised that the Chairdemon knew how to cook- he'd served the missing Demon Lord Derkila, yet somehow seeing it in person did little to make it anymore believable.

"You are going to incur a great deal of pain for yourself, Kalego-kun."

Kalego straightened and he gave the Chairdemon a cold hard stare, "I don't need you to lecture me like some truant child."

Sullivan exhaled softly as he deftly chopped a pile of vegetables in front of him, "I'm well aware of that you Foolish Dog. I'm warning you because Opera, if they survive, will remember none of this."

Kalego froze as his chest grew tight and his throat closed with bile, "...What?"

Sullivan was quiet for a moment, to give him breathing room before he explained, "You are far more kind than you give yourself credit for. You are not only the Guard Dog of my school, but a strict teacher. You consider every student yours to protect, and even went so far as to revamp the qualifications within our school for teaching. You wrote a rulebook for guidance, and removed anyone who couldn't handle your demands for change."

Sullivan smiled to himself, "You, more than anyone else, are a protector of children." His features fell into stoicism as he placed his bounty into a prepared bowl, "Teachers of the specific qualities you demand are rare, Kalego-kun."

He turned to him slightly with a deep sympathy in his eyes, "It is even rarer to take on the burden of fathering another demon's child."

Kalego tore his eyes away from the elder demon as he felt slightly embarrassed. He knew it was impossible to keep things a secret, but dammit, could he at least have ten minutes of privacy!?

Sullivan turned back to his task as he pulled out some marinating meat and placed it on a new cutting board to prepare, "As I've unfortunately stated, should they survive their multitude of Curses, Opera won't be able to recall their pregnancy, nor a majority of what has gone on these several months. They won't understand why they have a Mark on their shoulder. They may even deny that it's even there. Not only that, but the child must be surrendered within six hundred and sixty-six minutes after birth to the Human World, and handed over to their human genetic donor."

Kalego felt his blood run cold and his palms grow hot as his nails pierced his skin. His voice strangled, "Surrendered?"

Sullivan nodded, "It is something that was deciphered from the contract between the ones who started this, and the humans involved. It is binding and cannot be broken by any means except death."

Kalego gnashed his teeth as he tried to drag air into his too-tight lungs. How dare they? How dare they do this to what was theirs? To their m- their pup?

Sullivan pressed his fingertip against his forehead, and Kalego felt his building rage slip out of him as his eyes fluttered closed.

There was nothing to feel then. Just the sound of his breathing and complete numbness.

'I fell into a Wicked Phase from stress, didn't I?'

Kalego internally sighed, barely capable of being thankful towards the Chairdemon's precaution.

He could have become unreasonably protective and violent. No one needed that from him, most of all Opera.

He shifted as the cool numbness of whatever Spell Sullivan had used to put him down waned a bit. He was warm, not uncomfortably so, and he was settled between two others in what his mind knew was Opera's nest. He opened his eyes and glanced to his left, making eye contact with Opera, before shifting his eyes right to meet Shichirou's concerned gaze.

Opera hummed, "Welcome back Kalego."

Shichirou pulled a damp cloth off of his forehead and set it aside, "Are you feeling alright, Kalego-kun?"

Kalego frowned at him, "I'm fine." No he wasn't.

Shichirou's eyes pierced into him. Of course Buzzer would activate at his blatant lie. He'd never bothered to lie to his friend, and certainly not to his face.

Opera patted his chest, "You're a terrible liar, but I'll let it go this time, since Sullivan-sama kept you from falling into a Wicked Phase."

Kalego sighed. Was he that obvious? Well. Of course he was, he was just given some rather emotionally devastating information by his employer.

Kalego closed his eyes, "I'm sorry."

Opera's tail slapped against his leg in annoyance before they huffed lightly, "I believe I better understand your earlier apology. I appreciate your sentiment and acknowledge the reasoning for your guilt. I forgive you, because you kept me from convincing myself that I wasn't trying hard enough to keep my child healthy." They shifted to Shichirou, "I believe it is due time we discuss something."

Kalego and Shichirou gave them their full attention as they spoke. "Until now we have been partners and friends. I believe that it may be prudent to adjust into partners and family." They took a moment to lock eyes with Kalego intensely before breaking it and looked to Shichirou. "I have explained that I can't do this alone and need your support… but there is only so much that we can do as friends. I am not asking for a fulfillment of physical need, but deep emotional support." They looked away from them both as they took in a deep cleansing breath, "Would it be rude and impudent of me to ask for more from you both? To be the family support I've lacked since childhood as my partners?"

Kalego grasped their hand and brought their knuckle to his mouth as he pressed his fangs against their skin, "If that is what My Lady wishes, I will bend to your Will."

Opera stared at him in shock. They- they hadn't expected him to take their request as a proposal, let alone call them a Lady. They didn't care either way, but it made their heart flutter in confusion as they were left puzzled by his actions. Had they become a woman in his eyes?

Shichirou cleared his throat and took Opera's hand from Kalego's hold and simply squeezed it comfortingly, "So long as you desire it of me, I'd be happy to be your family, Opera-senpai."

They felt themselves relax and smile at their Kouhai, "Thank you Shichirou, Kalego." They pressed their forehead to Shichirou's fingers, "I am indebted to your kindness."

xXx-xXx-estrange-xXx-xXx

The weeks seemed to fly by after that, as if time decided dashing towards disaster was easier than dragging it out.

Kalego was both grateful for the distraction of school, and bitter at how much easier it was to ignore what was coming. It didn't help that he had times where he could not keep his perception of Opera in their preferred neutral designation. Sometimes his thoughts fell into she/her, and he tugged at his hair to pull his thoughts back into alignment.

Opera didn't mind his slip-ups, but Kalego took it personally. He'd known them for far too long to suddenly be struggling with this.

He fiddled with a small box in his hand as he lounged lazily in the History Prep Room in deep thought while looking towards the windows.

He had no idea when their birthday was, and they simply had a familial arrangement with no strings attached. Still, a growing part of him wanted to give them something as a gift.

Something that even when they forgot, they could still use and hold onto it, even if the sentiment behind it was lost. A practical item.

The door opened and closed and with a small click before Opera pulled their detection-warding-cloak's hood down. At twenty-six weeks they were much slower than they wanted to be, and they were just that much closer to committing violence against those around them. Shichirou for being too nice, Kalego for being too… weird, and Sullivan for being so over-thoughtful that they tore up his favorite curtains in spite and hid his favorite forks around the mansion in a sick form of a treasure hunt.

The deep bruise-like circles under their eyes spoke of a constant loss of sleep. The only positive since they'd become familial partners, was that Kalego more-often surrendered his Mana, and Opera was finally able to retain some weight and eat a little less.

It was the only comfort they'd managed for themself.

They sighed gustily as they made their way over to their partner as they tossed off their cloak to an open seat. They didn't notice the box in his hand, and settled themselves heavily against Kalego's open side as they closed their eyes. Their ears were almost always drooping these days, and Shichirou couldn't figure out how to help them.

Kalego shifted to get a little more comfortable with Opera's weight before tapping the small box against their shoulder, "Here."

Opera opened their eyes at their leisure before lazily taking the box. They held it aloft for a moment, before turning it back and forth, "...A present?"

Kalego looked away from them, "You keep too many secrets, and it's a bit late for a Claiming gift."

Opera shifted to look at him puzzled, "...It really isn't necessary, it's not like-"

Kalego lifted a hand to stop them, "Just take it and like it, you fool."

Opera rolled their eyes at him, slightly ungrateful towards his thoughtfulness, before opening it deftly and falling still. They brought the item closer to examine, as they felt their eyes burn from a small rush of gratitude as they smiled ruefully. "A brooch?"

Kalego hummed, "You don't wear jewelry, so I thought a medallion for your ties would be a practical choice."

Opera grinned toothily as they held the box close to them. It was lovely and simple. It was ovular in shape with a gold setting, as a red colored tigereye stone was set at its center. "Thank you, Kalego."

He nodded, "You're welcome."

Opera intertwined their arm with his, "Would you like something from me in return?"

Kalego refused to look at them, afraid he might give everything he'd been burying away as his mind rattled, YesNoNoNoButYesButAbsolutelyNot.

"I'll take the safe delivery of your" OUR "child as gift enough, Opera."

Opera raised an incredulous eyebrow before humming. "You'll receive whatever I give you, if I find something suitable."

"Of course." It wasn't as if he had any choice in the matter.

He Knew to the depths of his bones he'd receive nothing, but at least they'd had the thought in his presence.

xXx-xXx-departure-xXx-xXx

October strolled in unseasonably warm, bringing with it the twenty-eighth week of their bodily prison.

It was humid outside, they felt ill in a way that food couldn't fix, and the rain that started pouring in the early morning did nothing but aggravate their overburdened joints. Their discomfort only grew as they carefully paced the first floor while the cats that patrolled the mansion under their supervision were running around nervously.

Pain.

Opera took in a deep breath and shakily took out their hellphone. The weather was terrible, so of course it might finally be time. It was what they'd been begging of the Deities nightly, yet now that it was possibly starting, they were terrified.

They sent Kalego and Shichirou a group message before leaning against the wall and dug their nails into the decorative border. "Sullivan-sama."

The mansion was quiet, and they weren't capable of raising their voice despite how long it'd been since their vocal injury.

A door on the upper floor opened, and Sullivan made his way down to them calmly, "Are you alright, Opera?"

The look they gave him must have been more than he expected, as he lent them his arm and coaxed them to alleviate their weight against him, "Let's get you near your nest. For now, we'll walk off that nervous energy while we wait for Kalego-kun and Balam-kun to arrive."

Opera leaned into him greedily with a weak nod as they felt Magic building on their skin, buzzing along as if they'd done something wrong.

They swallowed and allowed themselves to be fooled by their Master's facade, "Okay."

xXx-xXx-departure-xXx-xXx

The only fortune they had was that it was a regular day off from school, as their absence from classes (and in Sullivan's case, the school itself,) would have been too suspicious to ignore. The child was finally brought into the world on the miserably picturesque day of October fourth. It was late-afternoon when the child was born to the bright glittering sunlight after a storm.

Sullivan was holding Opera's hand as he spoke lowly to them, their skin far too pale for Kalego's liking, as he shifted his attention to the sniffling bundle Shichirou was taking painstaking care of. The thing was ugly, as most fresh newborns were in his mind, and he kept himself apart. His nerves were on edge as he felt how wrong everything was.

The child was cleaned, hidden from view due to Shichirou's build, and soon enough the thing was properly cocooned in a gray covering. Their eyes wouldn't open for a while yet, so they were scrunched closed as they took in whatever scents they could grasp with their hopefully properly developed olfactories.

Shichirou brought the child close to their mother as Sullivan moved aside so that they could meet. Yet, as Opera blearily opened their eyes, their pupils were far too large as they looked up to Shichirou unseeing.

Shichirou's eyes widened in concern, "...Opera..?"

Sullivan gently pulled Shichirou back, "Kalego, take the child with you to another room while we check Opera's condition."

Kalego nodded as he begrudgingly took (his pup) the child and carefully held them to his chest.

They felt so fragile in his arms that he couldn't help but think glass had more durability. He excused himself swiftly and paced down the hall, ignoring the two curious and worried felines scampering around his feet. His shoulder hurt where Opera had Marked him, and he pushed and circulated his Mana to that spot to try and reach them.

Suddenly he felt like something pulled taught-then-loose as the connection between himself and Opera was simply sliced off.

His eyes widened as he froze in place, the mansion far too silent as his chest grew tight.

He moved, his feet directing him to a small side room used to entertain guests while they waited to see the Lord of the house, and settled the child carefully onto their stomach on the plush red cushion. Kalego felt sweat bead down his temple to his chin as he unwrapped Shichirou's work and exposed the infant's back.

He felt lightheaded. He was breathing too heavily. He was going to do something regrettably stupid.

He'd rather regret his actions at this moment, than do nothing at all.

He flexed three fingers, as Keroberos's claws overlaid and enhanced the edge of his nails. It had to be precise, swift, and easily healed with his Mana.

He could do this. He had chosen to do this.

The dog in him howled in agreement as he (They?) tore three ugly lines into soft vulnerable flesh just beneath their wing root.

The child squirmed, and he soothed them with a rush of his Mana as he tore out a fang and crushed it into dust, pressing every last mineral of his bones into the open wounds before those three lines sealed themselves.

They could take this (HIS) child from him, but they would always carry his Clan's Mark.

If the child ever found their way back to their birthplace, they would have his symbol to reveal their identity.

The little bit of spilled blood easily wiped away as the child opened pale blue eyes while he swaddled them once more.

Kalego's heart constricted. He knew those unseeing eyes of theirs would change into another color soon enough as they finished developing, but the fact that they were looking at him, that their eyes could meet even just this once made his eyes burn with foreign tears. He bent down his head and gently pressed his forehead to theirs in silent agony as he closed his eyes with a simply worded prayer.

"Live and be Strong, pup."

Live and be Strong.

xXx-xXx-departure-xXx-xXx

Border Patrol took the child without any preamble sixty-six minutes and six seconds after they had been born. The contract had opened a portal to the Human Realm, and Border Patrol had no desire whatsoever for it to stay open.

Kalego felt empty as Henri took the child from him, his own discomforts about the situation barely concealed on his face before he muttered. "It was quite difficult to prevent your brother from coming."

Kalego looked at the older demon in confusion, "Why would he bother to be involved in this?"

Henri was unsettlingly silent for a moment as he intently stared at the newborn in his arms, "He wanted to remove a potential threat."

Kalego's eyes widened as he felt faint. His brother had-

Kalego swallowed and clenched his fist as he reigned in his disbelief, "Take the child and go."

Henri nodded, "Of course. I apologize for your loss."

Kalego wanted to unleash violence, but knew it was a fruitless endeavor as lightning-static erupted against his will along his body.

He forced himself to sit with crossed arms and legs, to let the others acting alongside Henri know that he had no plans to retaliate.

It spoke of incredible restraint that he could allow someone to take a newborn from his protection. Children were hard-won treasures.

Opera's treasure was being stolen from them in broad daylight.

'Were they even alive?'

Kalego sat still, ignoring the stiffness that cramped his limbs until every last member of Border Patrol excused themselves from Lord Sullivans property.

His throat was tight as he felt somewhat manic from his Stress.

Sullivan appeared at the door, solemn as he observed the young demon before him, "Console your friend, Kalego-kun."

Kalego stared at him, "Did Opera die?"

Sullivan shook his head, "No, but Border Patrol took them to be examined. They've barely survived the activation of every Curse that had been cast on them, and they want to find out why the Curses activated in the first place when they'd complied completely."

Kalego scoffed as he stiffly pushed himself out of his seat and passed the Chairdemon as he flung out the only sensible piece of information he'd collected. "Humans are normally born at forty weeks."

Sullivan's eyes widened as he understood.

The Curse had been set to human standards, and they had fallen several weeks short. Opera was meant to die to demean his authority and power.

It was fortunate that Kalego had managed to find the silently distraught Shichirou when he had, as black creeping living miasma pooled from Sullivan's shadow. Revenge colored his thoughts as he made a decision.

He needed to join his fellow Heroes in the Rank of Yodh (10).

His Lord would understand- the life of his servant who had put their Trust and Faith in him had nearly died due to a silent game some unknown bastard was playing against him

When Sullivan found them, when he knew without a shadow of a doubt that they had been involved in such a diabolical scheme-

He would kill them a thousand times over, rewinding their time again and again until he was satisfied with their unending torment, and fling them into the pits of fire to burn endlessly for eternity.

xXx-xXx-bereavement-xXx-xXx

Kalego had never seen his friend so pale, as Shichirou sat heavily on the couch of the entertainment room with his face buried in one hand. He observed him for a drawn out moment before moving to his side, "Shichirou."

The avian demon took in a long shuddering breath before exhaling heavily with too many feelings, "There was so much blood."

Kalego placed his hand on the other's shoulder, "Tell me what happened, Shichirou."

Shichirou took a moment to collect himself mentally as he leaned heavily into the side of the couch, "After you left, we realized that they were… they were bleeding out. I…" He made a depreciating sound towards himself, a small breathless laugh as he continued, "You know, Opera offered to Mark me a few weeks ago." He was getting off topic. "I should have said yes."

Kalego frowned. He knew his friend's nature. "You wouldn't have been able to let the child go, nor would you have allowed Demon Patrol to take Opera away from you, even if they'd perished in your arms."

Shichirou nodded, "I told them that once the child was born safely and they were healthy, they could offer again. I was… I was afraid of hurting them in their present state. You know I still have trouble with controlling my strength."

Kalego did, and squeezed the man's shoulder in response.

Shichirou pulled back slightly as he looked up at his friend, "I had to use a leech-weed to give them blood."

Kalego found himself impressed with his friend's ingenuity before speaking, "They chose the right demon to help them, I can't think of any other demon who could come up with such a method to help someone else live without Healing Magic."

Shichirou couldn't help but hang his head, "But they still almost died."

"That was the enemy's plan from the start."

Shichirou flinched as he looked up towards Kalego in shock, "What do you mean?" Kalego closed his eyes for a moment, and Shichirou gripped his side in desperation, "Tell me."

Kalego met his eyes, "I don't know who wants to ruin the Chairdemon to this degree, but the standards were most likely set to what humans believe to be right. You know better than I how long it takes for humans to have children." Shichirou inhales sharply as Kalego trudges on, "Also, I am more than thankful that you and Opera didn't Mark each other."

Shichirou's eyes wavered to the spot Kalego knew the Mark Opera had given him was hidden, "I thought I felt them die." Shichirou flinched back in surprise. "The Bond was severed, it's nothing but a tattered remnant now and it burns."

Shichirou inhaled as he closed his eyes before bowing his head with a nod, "...I see." He would have handled that even worse than Opera dying in his arms. "...Kalego-"

"No."

Shichirou lifted his head to look at his friend, "Kalego, please. Let me have this, if only to help us both with our grief."

Kalego pulled away from him as the truth of the matter spilled out of him, "They won't remember, Shichirou."

Shichirou straightened, "What?"

Kalego ground his teeth before his hatred and rage ate out his insides, "Opera won't remember the past several months, that they had a child, or the fact that we loved them."

Shichirou grabbed him, brutally biting into his flesh, and Kalego gnashed his teeth before he bit him in return.

xXx-xXx-bereavement-xXx-xXx

Sullivan announced to the necessary staff in a short clipped tone, that Opera would be taking a leave of absence from Babyls for the unforeseeable future.

Kalego and Shichirou had nothing to say about it- they had no idea how the Security Devil was doing.

Time crawled into a walk as the two were given short updates on random occasions by the Chairdemon.

A year came and passed as Shichirou and Kalego returned to their previous status-quo.

They were long-time friends, and though they were capable of confiding in one another more personally than before, Kalego just went silent.

'Opera won't remember anything.'

Kalego unconsciously grasped his shoulder as it ached. It was strange how he could sense echoes of Opera's Magic, and phantom pulls for his Mana. Sometimes he woke up to Keroberos standing over him, having released his Mana in his sleep for no reason whatsoever.

He hates them viciously at times, for dragging him into their problems. For causing him to love them so passionately that he hated himself.

Because he couldn't help his bitter thoughts. He Hated Them For Forgetting.

It wasn't their fault, but his treacherous heart blamed them all the same.

His inner dog stayed silent.

Two years pass without Opera's presence and the loss of their child is still too much for him. His mother unexpectedly calls him mid-spring, "Something is troubling you deeply, pup."

Kalego clicks his tongue as he sets down a stack of tests. "Whatever gave you that idea?" He gave up trying to correct her ages ago. A pup would always be a pup in their parent's eyes.

"You are grieving."

Kalego rolled his neck to try and release some tension as he leaned back, "Would you humor me for a moment?" His mother hummed in agreement, and he spun his traitorous thoughts aloud. "What would you do, if you had given birth to a pup between my brother and I, and had been forced to forget them due to a Curse. How do you think you would deal with it, and how would father react to your loss of memory as well as the loss of the child?"

His mother is silent for a breath at the specific nature of this story. It tells her far more than he's comfortable with, but she is his mother, and he has no one else he trusts more for advice. She speaks from a point of logic, though her heart aches for whatever secrets her pup is clutching close to his chest and under his paws. "The mind might forget, but the body remembers, Kalego. Child-bearing is traumatic, no matter how smooth the journey is."

Kalego mulled that over for a moment as she continued, "As for your father, if he could not inform me of my own loss, I would expect him to take revenge on those who had caused the loss of my memory and child, and to carry the knowledge I lost close for the sake of us both."

He drummed his fingers on the table, "I see."

His mother was quiet for a long moment. "Kalego, Time isn't capable of healing wounds. The only thing that helps make it more bearable, is distance from the moment of injury."

Kalego closed his eyes as his voice grew soft, "Right. Thank you for your insight."

She would get no further information from him, and she knew it. "Be strong, pup."

Live and be Strong.

xXx-xXx-bereavement-xXx-xXx

It takes three years for Opera to recover from whatever had ruined their body. They were told they'd suffered and survived the activation of several Curses. They'd had to have multiple surgeries, as a thin scar line left its mark on their stomach, along with many others they'd eventually realized were truthfully stretch marks.

If they thought any harder about it, the thoughts skittered away and gave them a migraine so debilitating that vertigo would send them to their knees and they'd be forced to hug the floor in absolute misery for a few hours.

Their strength had returned, and that was enough for them, even if their voice did sound strange to them sometimes.

They adapted to their new physical normal, created a regimen to bring them back to the place they were previously, and then aimed to improve their strength from there.

Their work ethic returned easily as they dismissed Sullivan with a very specific look that made him back off from helping them. Their speed and efficiency improved, even though they never once (knowingly) entered that one room on the first floor. It didn't matter much to them, since it had auto-keep Cast on it, but something in their mind made them forget it was even there most of the time.

It is on the fifth year they realize something is wrongwrongwrong about October fourth.

There were times they'd be sad for some reason or another while out doing their usual errands… But for whatever reason, they became utterly worthless on October fourth.

They always, always forgot what happened that day, and they always returned to themselves a disheveled mess with a terrible ache in their shoulder from the strange set of scars that could only be a Claiming Mark.

They placed their hand over the now-old Mark and closed their eyes as they reached outside of themselves.

Something brushed back, feather light, before it disappeared.

Opera pushed themselves out of bed and began their daily routine.

They pulled open their sock drawer, and something shifted softly, buried deep.

They frowned and rummaged through it, ruining their perfect order.

They found the foreign object and stared at the small rectangular box, tied with dark indigo ribbon, and labeled with a tiny tag with Kalego's name scrawled in their writing.

They buried it and ignored the tightness in their throat as they made their way to the bathroom to brush their teeth.

xXx-xXx-sequence-xXx-xXx

Iruma is four when he wakes up in his tent to an enhanced sense of hearing thanks to a pair of cat ears on his head, and a tail that swishes anxiously behind him.

Instinctively he knows he has to hide them, so he wraps his tail around his waist and tucks the tip into his pants. He finds an old square of cloth, and after scrubbing it in the nearby park's public bathroom and letting it rest in the sun for an hour, he covers his ears.

Later that day his parents pick him up for an odd job for the local yakuza family. They plop him down in front of a scary looking man and happily wave him off as they joyously lean into each other giggling as they discuss their latest travel plans while leaving him behind.

The scary man is glaring at his parents, so Iruma brightens up and asks, "What'm I hired to do for you today, sir?"

The man looks down at him, grasps their wrist, and tugs them along.

He's a lot more gentle than their parents.

xXx-xXx-sequence-xXx-xXx

Iruma is six when the Madam of the yakuza family he occasionally works for realizes the boy can't read. He is swiftly falling behind in his studies, as her boys track the odd jobs his parents somehow manage to swindle into hiring him for. She sends them out late, and they bring the boy to her.

He gets a small storage closet as his own temporary room for when he needs it. Her demands are simple, to bathe at least every other day, and if he needs new supplies, to ask for them.

Iruma learns gardening from one of her boys, it is his hobby, and she has landscaping plans for their yard.

The boy realizes this is both kindness and protection from his parents. He is paid for his labor and given shelter for the days he isn't working wherever it is his parents abandon him. (His parents still take a majority of his paycheck, but he eats fewer weeds than before, so he doesn't mind. He still sleeps in that tent more days than not, to keep them from noticing.)

The Madam teaches him to read and write. He continues to fall behind in school, but between his parents and the yakuza, no one bothers to hold him back or worry for him. He is already labeled by the school a deviant and delinquent who will amount to nothing in society.

xXx-xXx-sequence-xXx-xXx

Iruma doesn't know his birthday, but he suspects he must be turning seven, as his back hurts unusually again.

It's an ignorable ache that only happens once a year, so it must be related to his birth. At least, that's what he likes to think.

His parents are never around that day to tell him otherwise.

Iruma's eating a wad of cooked weeds when he notices it out of the corner of his eye. A strange animalistic shadow that peers at him from a distance with a yellow glow.

He ignores it at first. He thinks it might be some forest spirit that eats unsuspecting children, so he stirs his pot of edible grasses and weeds, a few bugs that were tolerable, and tries not to scream.

He drinks hot water from his bowl that tastes a little too green and bitter today, and nearly jumps out of his seat when it sits a few feet from him.

He stares at it with his heart in his throat. He's decided that it's a dog by the shape, though it could be a wolf due to the size. The dark indigo-colored wolf that was more shadow than substance comes close to his face, peering down at him with yellow eye sockets and a static that buzzes along his skin and makes his fur stand on end.

Iruma closes his eyes, his tiny fangs biting into his lip as it sniffs him out, before it licks him.

Iruma gasps as he hears his soup start to spill into the dirt, and he barely manages to save most of the contents before he shakily sets the bowl down and turns towards the magical wolf that had sat down beside him.

They observed one another, before Iruma hesitantly brought his hand close to its mouth, under its chin in a non-threatening manner like he'd been taught at an animal shelter he'd worked at.

The wolf chuffs and bites down on his arm for the trouble. Iruma inhales his scream while tears come to his eyes, he tries to pull back and is forced onto his feet for his trouble.

The wolf shakes their head at him, and he tries to pry the wolf off of him. He didn't want to hurt the magical creature, but their teeth hurt!

The wolf tosses him around a bit, and in a strange fit of adrenaline, Iruma pushes the wolf back and sharply turns his body to flip them on their back.

The wolf releases his arm and rolls happily in the dirt, their tail thumping as they look up at him pleased.

Iruma holds his injured arm as blood trails slowly from his wounds. If he went to a hospital now, he could get this cleaned up, and maybe only need one or two stitches-

Iruma paused his train of thought as the wolf licked away the trailing blood and left nothing behind.

Iruma was seven when his Mana manifested into his own personal protector.

He cries himself to sleep that birthday night terrified and hurting.

xXx-xXx-bereavement-xXx-xXx

Nine years pass and Kalego is pressed into a small alcove by Opera, who is staring at him intently. He sweats a little as he flashes his fangs at them, "Can I help you, Opera-senpai?"

Opera's nose flares a little bit as they crowd into his personal space further, intent to figure out what they're sensing. Determined to extract the secrets that have been held from them for far too long, as a part of them screams louder and louder with each passing year.

"You know, this could be considered harassment, Senpai."

Opera huffs silently, their grasp firm on the man's lapels before releasing him to trace deft fingers along his jugular towards the Mark they can't recall is on his shoulder, "You're hiding something, Kalego-kun."

Kalego swallows. He doesn't know what to think of this. It had been at least six years since he'd let go of his lingering frustrations (and feelings) for the bastard in front of him. It'd been necessary for managing his Stress.

Why did it feel like their puzzle pieces had clicked back into place?

Kalego had enough sense to grasp their shoulder and shift them back, "I don't know what you're insinuating, but if you're going to make a habit of shoving me into dark corners, don't be surprised if I retaliate and bite."

Opera raised an eyebrow at his words as they clasped their hands behind their back, "Is that a threat?"

Kalego glared at them and responded strictly, "No, it's a warning. Do not push me, or else I'll retaliate by pressing you into the nearest wall and ravage you until you're breathless beneath me."

Opera's expression dropped into surprise as Kalego straightened out his jacket with an annoyed sigh at his admission before he turned to leave. They blurted, "But you hate me."

Kalego froze for a moment before giving them a matter-of-fact look, "Hate is just as full of passion as love and lust, Opera."

Opera took a half step back away from him, and Kalego smirked as he felt satisfied with that response, "Well. At least believe me when I say I'm giving you this warning for your protection. I do respect your preferences." He left them bewildered as he resumed whatever business he'd had prior to their interruption.

Opera had to lean against the wall for a moment, as their world tilted oddly as they realized they were playing with fire by trying to tease Kalego. The when, the how, and the why left them scratching at the walls of their missing memories from the time they lost and cannot grasp. They love to tease Kalego because they are amused and fascinated with his reactions, yet sometimes they find themselves avoiding him for those very same reasons.

They couldn't understand why the thought of their kouhai making out with them didn't make them sick to their stomach or cause even more confusion.

They suddenly remember the box hidden in their sock drawer, and something suddenly makes a frightening amount of sense.

Kalego Knew what they could not remember.

They shifted against the wall to lean their back against it as they stared upwards blankly.

He was the one who'd Marked them neatly.

Opera wanted to know what sort of Mark they'd left behind on him.

xXx-xXx-sequence-xXx-xXx