Lost and Found

by YumeTakato

Opera had never believed themselves to be the parenting type- nor had they ever envisioned themselves in such a position. Eventually fate tears them away from their child, and fourteen years pass in fits and stops. Their Lord arrives with a thin human child and proclaims him his grandson. Yet, Iruma has his secrets, and he is unwilling to reveal his truth for the sake of freedom.

11. Clarify and Exfoliate

Kalego will style Iruma's hair at one point like in-canon chapter 158 page 2. Page 3 kind of cements my interpretation of Kalego having styled it (canonically) like his own hair, as well as having possibly lent Iruma some of his own clothes for their set-up. X,D

Chapter had hands and wrecked me, just like IRL atm. -sobs-

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Iruma allowed himself to be held close to Kalego's chest, as the pressure of his Mana acted like protective paws pressing around him. He could feel Kalego's stress at the information he'd given them, the feeling of Opera's hand on his leg-

He needed clarification, and he needed them to not coddle him.

It wasn't that Iruma didn't want their protection, concern, or love. He had simply been raised too independently to tolerate being smothered by the protectiveness of his guardians.

"Uhm… Can I ask some pointed questions?"

Kalego glanced down at him, while Opera's ears raised a little in slight curiosity. "...Certainly, Iruma-sama."

Iruma takes a moment to collect his thoughts before clarifying, "So, without a shadow of a doubt, Opera is my biological parent?"

Kalego's response was swift, "Yes, they are the one who gave birth to you."

Iruma makes a small hum, "And why are you so sure? It's not like we're the only cat-like demons around."

Opera's heart sinks at this, but they understand his aversion to assuming. He grew up in the human world, and it would be rather small-minded to assume that just because they were both feline in nature, that they were automatically related.

Kalego shifts the pup with a tired sigh as he rolls his neck, "Because shortly after you were born, you were placed into my hands, and I marked you as my intended pup while under duress."

Iruma purses his lips and furrows his brow in confusion before he recalls Opera stating that they'd almost died in their nesting room. A part of him shies away from that information uncomfortably. "...Meaning what, exactly?"

Kalego stares ahead tiredly, "I had planned on adopting you as my pup in place of your unknown genetic doner."

Iruma puzzles up at him, "And that has something to do with my back?"

Kalego makes a grumbling hum, "Yes. I cut open your back with my own Mana and claws, and ground a freshly ripped out fang- my blood and bone, into your back before healing the injury. It was the one way I could undoubtedly Mark you as mine and by extension, Opera's, while also leaving behind a way to protect you in our absence."

Iruma gapes up at him a moment before speaking, "Protect me?"

Kalego looks at the wolf laying comfortably to the side, watching them while being unintrusive. "It was an incomplete adoption, so I had no idea if my hopes could even be realized. It seems they realized themself well enough without my influence."

Iruma looks at his wolf, "...Oh." He glances between Opera and Shichirou before looking back to Kalego, "So… Opera is my real mother, you're my adopted father…? And Balam-sensei is… my godfather? Or something?" He felt so unsure stating all this, but he knew for certain that Shichirou was not an Uncle in his mind.

The three puzzle down at him oddly as Opera asks, "A what?"

Iruma shifts, to try and stretch a little. Kalego really had him curled up in his lap, and for some reason he was starting to feel full, even though he hadn't eaten yet that morning. "Uhm, it's not really a concept from my previous home, but another country? A co-worker who was a foreigner happened to be staying with his godparents for a work-stay opportunity. He explained that they were individuals parents selected as honorary parents, for support in raising their child or children, especially in the event of something unfortunate happening to them. It's kind of similar to adoption, I guess, but without the paperwork? Kind of just… a pact between the parents and chosen?" Iruma wasn't sure he was explaining it well, since no adult outside of the yakuza family had ever bothered to try and raise him well.

…Well, there had been his Aikido and Judo instructors who'd cared a bit, but that was still related to the family…

Shichirou hums, "I'm not sure about the wording, but…" He glances down at Opera for their input.

Opera observes their kit for a long moment before taking in a long and deep breath, "Kalego and Shichirou are both my family, friends, and chosen partners. We have a verbal agreement without a single slip of legal paper between us. You are free to label them as you so chose, Iruma."

Iruma hums. He doesn't want to use 'father' (Oto-san) due to the connection to the man who'd been his previous guardian. He's sullied that designation for him. As for 'honored father' (Chichue), he wasn't entirely sure if he could quantify using the term towards Kalego or Shichirou.

Shishou was a little closer, as they were both teachers who were important to him, but that seemed almost too distant.

Shichirou smiled, "You can take your time figuring everything out, Iruma-kun. It isn't as if you need to figure everything out all at once."

Iruma looks between the three in indecision, "Is that really alright?"

The three nod as Shichirou responds, "This is all rather sudden for all of us, so I think it's alright."

Iruma nods, "Uhm, okay-"

A hand grasps his sleeve and tugs it as Purson appears next to him, their arms almost pressing against one another as he holds his phone at him with an intense look, "I think if we don't get to the others, they're gonna break the door down to drag you off for breakfast."

Iruma gapes at Purson, not entirely surprised he was there the whole time, but still needing to take a moment to realize he knows too much before rolling out of Kalego's lap. "Whelp, wouldn't want that, let's go before anyone gets any ideas." He starts pushing his friend in front of him to try and make sure none of the adults can grab them before they can march up to the door. He turns to them, "Uuuh, see you all in a bit!?" And he shoves Purson out the door and shuts it with more force than intended.

Hermod lasts for an extra moment, as they glance at the stunned adults, before chuffing in laughter and disappearing in a buzz of static and energy.

Kalego feels his blood drain out of him, while Shichirou immediately tries to console him, "Uhm, Purson probably won't tell anyone before Iruma-kun, don't you think?"

Kalego buries his face into his hands in a panicked moment before sighing gustily, "I have to inform my mother."

Shichirou and Opera wince in unison.

Ah.

The matriarch needed to know before the information became public.

Thank goodness Iruma had always hidden his wolf, or this would've been a logistical nightmare so much sooner.

Kalego shakily takes out his phone, and sends his mother one simple text.

I've found my pup.

It would be enough of a signal that they would need to talk.

He didn't expect a text back not even two minutes later-

I will arrive to meet the pup in sixty.

Kalego, Opera, and Shichirou stared at the message before Opera hissed.

Shichirou sighed.

Kalego wanted to throw up. "...Fuck."

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Iruma is tense while walking next to his musical partner in silence. He can't help but grip the bottom of his shirt with white knuckles while slightly hunched into his shoulders, as he frantically tries to come up with something to say.

"Uhm, I-" Iruma takes a short breath as he speaks softly, "I'm sorry about earlier."

Purson is close enough that their elbows occasionally glance off one another. The other demon is quiet for a moment before he responds, "Is the pain gone?" Iruma nods, and Purson relaxes a bit as he pinches the side of his friend's shirt as a form of self-comfort. "Then… it's okay. I know you'd never hurt anyone on purpose, and… you did try and warn me to leave you alone."

Iruma wants to feel better with that reassurance, but deflates a bit as his shoulders slump, "Still…" He looks at him sadly, "I scared you."

Purson shrugs, "You scared me, and now I know everything that you know, I think."

Iruma winces, "Uhm- about that-"

Purson stops, and Iruma pauses with him to give him his full attention.

Purson almost feels offended, "Y'know, it's really really weird to think that Kalego-sensei is like, your dad and stuff, but if I told anyone else before you did, that would totally be spreading gossip and not cool. It's also not the kind of information you start spreading before a big school event, y'know? I mean, if I did that, it'd make it even harder for Nee-san and I to Rank up if everyone's thinking about your personal connections and drama, right? I mean, you probably plan to still hide your ears and tail before the performance for that same reason, right?"

Iruma stares at his friend blankly as he tries to keep up with and process the words Purson is yapping about. "Ah- uhm, yeah!" He reaches above his head and covers his ears while his tail fails to hide under his shirt and just curls tightly around his waist, "I definitely don't wanna stand out like that, not when it's your time to shine." Iruma almost wants to cry over how abruptly everything's changed, and how that could completely impact the Music Festival.

Purson tugs on his shirt, and Iruma looks him in the eyes. "Iruma, I won't say anything. That's your business. I'm just a bat on the wall that happens to learn things by chance. I'm sorry for intruding on something so private-"

Iruma grasps his shoulders and sucks in a deep breath before holding it for a confused moment before speaking, "I'm- so glad you were there, Purson. It's- honestly it's a relief to have one of my friends just… know about this." Iruma closes the distance between them and hugs his classmate, before slumping into him tiredly.

Purson wasn't entirely ready for that, but he supports Iruma as the boy breathes oddly with a small tremble-

Purson blinks, 'Oh, he's… relieved..?' He doesn't understand as he mumbles softly, "Iruma, how many secrets are you keeping..?"

Iruma sniffs deeply before laughing breathily and responds shakily, "A lot more than I realized."

Purson hugs his friend back and properly supports him, unsure of what to say to that. "Ah."

They're silent for a long moment before Iruma collects himself, pulls back, and grips his hand as they finish making their way to the cafeteria.

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Nothing about Iruma, as an individual, has changed. However, so much of his internal and emotional world has, that when he enters the cafeteria to greet his fellow Misfits, he feels horribly out of place.

They all immediately react to his presence, though it is Kerori who nearly leaps out of her seat and runs to him. Iruma barely has the chance to brace himself before her arms are wrapped around him tightly, and he feels the faint buzz of her emotions rush up his spine like a shot. He swallows the foreign emotions down as she buries her face into the crook of his neck as she breathes in relief, "You're okay…"

Iruma takes a deep breath, "Uhn, mostly, yeah. I'm better now." He glances towards everyone, "Sorry for worrying you all."

Kerori sighs softly before releasing him and stepping back, just for Clara to jump into his arms and rub her face into his neck, as if she were trying to compete with and erase Kerori's scent from his person. "Iruma-chi, Iruma-chi, what happened?"

Iruma went to answer before his stomach growled notably, causing him to blush, "Uhm-"

Asmodeus snatched Clara by the back of her jacket, "Stupid Clara, let Iruma-sama have a moment to himself and eat!" He plops her down beside himself, and she grumpily clings to his side while digging her fingers into his sides in annoyance. Asmodeus tolerates her punishment as he motions towards their table, "Let me have the honor of grabbing you some food-"

Iruma raises his hands, "Uhm, I'm not- I just need two plates, Azz-kun."

The Misfits all freeze at this before Gaap grips him by the shoulder, "Are you not feeling well, de gozaru!?"

Jazz also seems a little manic- he hadn't known about Iruma's ears and tail, and he's confused! "You always eat a ton!"

Iruma waves his hands and attempts to placate them with a small smile, "Uhm, I had- ate? A lot of Mana a little while ago!"

Asmodeus calms with some of the others who were aware of this phenomenon happening before, "Oh, like what happened at Walter Park?"

Iruma glances at him, "Yeah." Even with different circumstances, he hadn't been prepared to consciously take in so much Mana, let alone instinctively.

It had been… strangely easy to just eat Kalego's Mana, it was as natural as drinking water.

Finally Sullivan clears his throat, "Iruma-kun."

Iruma turns to him, "Grandpa…" He feels tears well up in his eyes, "Uhm, did you know-"

Sullivan pops into his egg-mode and hops up and down in frustration, "Why is everyone asking me that!? I didn't know you were Opera's lost child!" He huffs, "Hmm hmm, I just wanted a grandson all for myself! It's just as I told you when I first adopted you!" He returns to normal before snapping his fingers to bring a certain document into his possession, "Now I need to fix our paperwork to make sure nothing bad happens to you!"

The elder demon grumbles as he waves a frustrated finger in the air while re-reading his and Iruma's Contract, "Now that I know for certain that you're Opera's child, I need to change some of this document's language!" He taps his fingers a few times around the page. "Now, I need to know sooner or later if you plan on changing your name!"

Iruma stiffens, "Uh, my- my name? Why would I..?"

Sullivan looks over the top of the Contract to meet Iruma's frightened eyes, "Oh, well. Just in case Opera had given you a new name, or had any thoughts of making a new one for yourself that's different from the one your previous guardians gave you!"

Iruma can't help but feel as if his mouth is too dry. He hadn't thought about that at all, and while Opera had called him Coda, the name didn't-

He wasn't prepared for that sort of change!

"N-no, I- I know I'm part of your house, but you didn't change my family name before… and while it'd be my honor to take on your name, I don't have any plans of changing my name at this time."

Sullivan nods. He hadn't enrolled Iruma under the Sullivan house name for reasons he couldn't quite name, but he would, one day, pass the name down to the boy when the time was right. "So, you still plan to carry the name Suzuki Iruma for now, correct?"

Iruma nods, and Sullivan accepts it and finishes the changes to their agreement before passing the contract to the teenager before him.

Iruma takes it awkwardly, glances over the document for a quick second before startling and pulling the document closer.

Now, initially, when he had signed the contract between himself and Sullivan, he had not been able to read the Netherworld's written language.

Now could, and it changed everything he had assumed about the document.

It was… it wasn't just a contract, but a will of inheritance.

The document felt so much heavier in his hands than a piece of paper should. He looks up at Sullivan with watery eyes, "What..?"

Sullivan hums while slipping the document out of Iruma's hands with an easy flick as he sends it back to its place of storage, with a loving look on his face. "You are mine to care for, child." He cups the kit's face between his much larger ones as he leans down close, "There isn't a drop of deceit when it comes to that, Iruma."

Iruma sucks in a deep breath and falls into his grandfather's chest, to cling to him as he cries loudly in relief.

Over the past several months, Iruma has come to understand that Sullivan and Opera love and care for him.

The meaning behind that love was previously built upon obligation, but now…

Now it has shifted. Opera is now his actual Mother, and Sullivan is his primary guardian and protector. The man who bought him from his parents didn't take him in as a begrudging cost of their selfishness- he was a desired child.

He had truly found himself Home.

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Iruma has barely gotten the chance to calm down and eat through a full plate of food with his fellow Misfits hovering close to him in collective worry, when a cafeteria door slams open. Iruma is too tired to react, and the rest of the Misftis easily jump into defensive stances as Kalego glances over the lot of them with a derisive sniff, "What are you slackers doing in here still? Don't you have practice?"

Clara puffs up to yell back at him when Sullivan pops in front of him, "Now Kalego-kun, don't be so mean to your students~"

Kalego bares his fangs at the elder demon, "You- silence, my Mother will be here soon and we have no time to waste-"

Opera is frazzled behind him with wide eyes, "Sullivan-sama, please assist me in preparing the board room for the Lady of the Naberius Clan. We don't have time-"

Sullivan huffs, "Opera, did you forget that I control Time?"

Opera stares at him for a moment before falling back into their normal demeanor, "Sullivan-sama, if we were to rely upon such Magic, you would wait until the Lady had one foot in the door before fixing things." They grab their Master's arm, "I don't have the nerves for you to be amused so irresponsibly. Now come along while Kalego takes care of preparing Iruma-sama to meet her."

"Ah, wait, she's coming to meet my precious grandson!?" Opera glares at him and flashes their fangs at him with a small growl deep in their throat as Sulllivan chuckles as sweat breaks out across his skin, "Ah, yes, I see. My apologies for trying to tease you."

Opera huffs and drags their Master off to take care of the more clerical side of things while Kalego looks at Iruma with a put out look. "Let's go, brat."

Iruma shoves another forkful of food into his mouth before chugging half of his glass of milk and setting it down. "Ah, uhm, okay?!" He gets up and slips out of his friend's worried grasps at his person as he runs over to his teacher, "What do I need to do?"

Kalego gives him a pained look before gently cuffing him by the back of his shirt, "Take a shower, first, and hopefully by then I'll have figured out something for you to wear, as well as a way to tame that stupid cowlick of yours."

Iruma blinks before gaping at him while covering his scyth-shaped bed-head that he can never tame, "Huh!?"

Kalego turns to lead him away, "We don't have a second to lose, she'll be here in twenty three minutes, if we're lucky."

Iruma shuffles alongside his teacher, and Iruma feels the ghosting hand of Purson sticking close to him in support.

Kalego knows he's there, but ignores him.

He already knows enough to keep the rest of the class in line.

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Kalego's skin feels prickly with static as he grasps Iruma's chin with a calculating look.

Iruma purses his lips awkwardly. He's showered, and while Kalego has a small number of hanging garments prepared beside them, the man just cannot decide how to dress the boy. Iruma clears his throat, "Would it be okay if I were dressed like-" He nearly chokes on the brand new word in a fit of abrupt emotion, "-my Hahaue?"

Kalego blinks, "Like Opera?"

Iruma nods.

Kalego purses his lips before turning and going through his old clothes. He pulls out a black pair of slacks, black belt, white pressed shirt, and a dark black and purple vest. He'll have to look around for a suitable ribbon for the boy. Kalego's teacher uniform is dressy enough for the occasion as he is still at work, though he has added Opera's medallion to his neckline.

He hums, "Dress in this. I'll be back in five minutes."

Iruma nods and takes the clothing from his teacher before Kalego swiftly walks out.

Iruma begins to dress himself. It's easy enough to manage in thirty seconds after his time in the Student Council, that he isn't prepared for Purson to pop up beside him unsettled.

His classmate has also showered, "Should I stay?"

Iruma observes him for a moment before nodding, "Please." He turns to the leftover clothes, and quickly selects a simple black suit for him to dress in, "Here, this should be fine, in case she notices you."

Purson nods and takes it, before dressing himself in a few minutes. He barely manages to disappear again before Kalego steps back into the room with a deep purple ribbon, a small box, and a jar that Iruma suspects is gel. Kalego points to a nearby chair, "Sit while I fix your hair."

Iruma sits down on the stool obediently, and tolerates Kalego being a little rough in styling his hair. The man is stressed, and it doesn't hurt. It's just a little uncomfortable, but Iruma is used to such manhandling by stagehands.

His hair is pulled and gelled back into a ponytail. His cat ears stay free, and his cowlick is secured down with gel and extra dark-colored clip. A few pieces of hair manage to stay free, and Kalego leaves a few pieces of his bangs out.

Iruma blinks before smirking a little to himself. His hair is kind of styled like Kalego's.

Kalego finishes fussing with his hair, pulls the ribbon around his neck and expertly weaves a medallion through the ribbon.

Iruma barely has the chance to acknowledge the oval medallion, black metal with an indigo cats eye, before the man dumps a new scent mask over his head.

Iruma's used to Opera doing it, but he notices the change in scent and after allowing it to absorb into his skin and clothes, he sniffs his sleeve before looking up at his teacher in confusion, "Uhm, Sensei-"

Kalego huffs lightly, "It seems that Shichirou's been working on a new cologne for you. This one's a lot more tolerable than what you've been swimming in thus far."

Iruma flusters, "Did I smell bad before?!" Opera had made comments about it before as well, and he had no idea what it smelled like to everyone!

Kalego rolls his eyes, "No, it was just too strong. I have no idea how much you've been using, but it was overkill." He was more used to teens not showering for a week- he knew for a fact that Iruma almost never skipped taking a shower if he could help it.

Kalego understood now that it had more to do with washing away more of his human scent to keep his secret safe, than being hygienically conscious. (Admittedly, Opera wouldn't allow someone under their care to smell, either.)

Something dings, and Kalego pulls out his phone. He stares at it for a long moment before sighing breathily, "It's time."

The Lady of the Naberius Clan had arrived.

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No beta/full proof-reading before posting this unusually short chapter. We YOLO like Lied's gambling habit.

Lemme know if you enjoyed it!