Lost and Found

by YumeTakato

Opera had never believed themself to be the parenting type- nor had they ever envisioned themself 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.

33. Rank and First

In case anyone was concerned about it, spoilers- no, Alice won't be hooking up with Ameri.

TW: Kissing, blood, Marking, it is 100 percent implied two characters have consensual sex (I am NOT writing it). POW (mild) stuff, Iruma pulling Rank on Military by being spicy, possible sexual harassment.

xXx-xXx-fourthyear-xXx-xXx

The moment Iruma was granted Rank Chet (8), lethargy settled into his bones like a heavy blanket.

He would have let himself drop to the floor right then, if he hadn't been surrounded by friends and family in his home while under protective lockdown.

Iruma managed to slink into his bed, late in the evening when his friends were partied out, before giving into the need for Rest.

He Slept deeply, and in a way that terrified those around him.

xXx-xXx

Opera paced down the hall, back and forth from the front door to the dining room entrance, as they pondered their newest developmental issue with their son while texting back and forth between Kalego, Shichirou, Soprano, and Glass.

Iruma had been asleep for three days, with pale skin and dull hair, and he could never stay aware long enough to get through a word or two before going back under.

Opera had tried giving him Mana- as had Sullivan, Alice, Clara, and Kerori.

Nothing seemed to be helping.

They pulled their braid out roughly as they ran nervous claws through their too-long strands. Their hair had reached their mid-back, but every time they remembered the need to cut it, something else came up that was of greater importance.

They hadn't even been keeping up their top layer- it had slowly returned to its natural wavy state as it grew out, and their bangs were getting a tad too-long. They hastily used a hair clip to keep them out of their face, and continued on for the rest of the day.

"Opera-"

Opera sucked in a breath of air as they turned to Sullivan with weariness in their bones, and an uncomfortable warmth in their eyes. "Sullivan-sama."

Sullivan sighed softly as he gently took them by the arm and brought them into the kitchen. He sat them down, and placed his hands firmly onto their legs, just above their knees, to ground them. He looked them in the eyes, "Iruma will be alright."

Opera met his gaze with a wobble in their lip that they tried to control. They bit the inside of their cheek, and nodded with a pained sound of agreement.

Sullivan's gaze softened as he kept his hands pressed down upon them for a moment longer, before easing off. "We are all concerned, Opera, you don't have to bear this burden alone."

Opera took in a slow deep breath, closed their eyes, and exhaled slowly as they nodded in agreement.

xXx-xXx

Clara tiptoed carefully to Iruma-chi's room, late in the evening when everyone else was mostly asleep.

Throughout the day each Misfit had allowed her to absorb as much Mana as they were willing to give for her purpose.

With great care she slipped into Iruma-chi's room, and made her way over to his side.

She pulled herself into his bed and nestled herself against him as she brushed warm hands through his hair. He was strangely cool to the touch, but there was still an underlying warmth, like a hearth that just needed a breath of air to burst into flame once more.

Clara nuzzled into his neck with a sigh, and waited.

It took patience, and a lot of waiting she could barely stand, but eventually Iruma-chi responded to her presence and he shifted into awareness. "...Clara..?"

Clara shifted into his view as he looked up at her tiredly with a slow and lazy blink. She smiled with a nod, and he frowned in return.

He shifted more so that he was using in his back, and she accommodated him, before he reached up to gently brush against her cheek, "You okay..?"

Clara paused before tears sprung into her eyes, "Iruma-chi… you've been sleeping for four days! Everyone's worried!"

Iruma took a moment to absorb that information, before his eyes widened a little. "...Oh. Sorry."

Clara blinked tears out of her eyes before she grumbled low in the back of her throat, and pressed her lips against his.

He inhaled sharply, and immediately he could taste the sunlit sugary sweetness of green that was all of what Clara was to him as he devoured the Mana she poured into him.

He was so sleepy- He just wanted to drink more- His limbs were so heavy- He wanted to touch-

Iruma gasped softly and parted from her with a new breathlessness, "C-Clara-:"

His hand was somehow under her shirt, she was pressing against all the right places, he didn't have the energy for this-

Clara pulled him close, before her fangs sunk into his flesh.

Iruma gasped sharply in pain as awareness pulled him into action, and he bit her in return.

PleaseDontLeaveMe ICan'tLoseYou WhyAren'tYouOkay IMissYou WeAllMissYou ILoveYou I'mHelpless WorryWorryWorry

Iruma felt tears slip from his eyes at the rush of Clara's feelings that rattled his teeth as he completed their Bond.

Clara released him first, and then he released her a moment later, before letting his head fall back tiredly onto his pillow. Iruma gently clasped the front of her shirt, "I'm not going anywhere, I'm just…" He tried to fight off the sleep that was beginning to drag him back under, "Becoming a butterfly."

Clara blinked down at him, waiting to see if he was joking or not, but… no.

He was asleep again.

She flopped down against him and sobbed softly into his collar, until SoiSoi gently pulled her off of him, and placed her into Alice's care.

xXx-xXx

Iruma stood in front of an enormous dried out rose that had refused to bloom. A soft glow emitted from the center, and gently Iruma began to peel away and break off the brittle layers of petals.

Slowly but surely, the prize held within became brighter with each lost layer, until the glowing orb was the only thing that remained.

Gently he picked it up, and without any thought, the orb simply slipped into his body as if magnetized.

He took in a deep breath at the rush of power that pooled in his veins-

It felt like his Mana pathways were clear of all restraint- that he could perform any Magic he wanted with just a passing thought-

A hand tugged at his sleeve, and he glanced down at his fourteen year old self.

The younger, thinner, scentless version of himself, with dull hair while clinging on to life with everything he had, smiled. "Don't forget where you came from, okay?"

Iruma blinked, "Well- of course I wouldn't-"

His younger self shook his head tiredly, in the backdrop of a darkened woodland with creeping shadows. "Danger is always there."

Iruma felt brightness creeping in from his end, as summer flowers sprung and ate away at the dark forest of his youth, "I know. I won't forget."

The younger slowly nodded before prodding one last time, "...Promise?"

Iruma nodded with a sad smile, "I won't leave you behind." He tugged his old self into the light-

-And woke up, holding a sleeping Soi's hand.

Iruma blinked in confusion, before slowly pulling his hand away, and pushing himself up.

Long indigo hair pooled around him, and Iruma blinked in confusion as he ran his fingers through it.

Soi grumbled before slowly inhaling and waking up.

The two looked at one another, before Soi shot up in surprise while pointing speechlessly at him.

Iruma didn't understand what had happened, either, but he just shrugged and eased himself out of bed.

Soi was swift to help him get up, and together, they helped one another get ready for the day.

The moment their eyes met, Opera ran to him and tucked them into their chest with a strong grumble of warning and concern.

xXx-xXx

Iruma was starving. He vaguely remembered being Claimed by Clara, and shoved another piece of food into his mouth to try and push away the blush it caused.

He swallowed, took a sip of his tea, and-

"What happened?"

Iruma froze at Opera's question, wilted, and set down his utensils before folding his hands in his lap while his cat ears sunk low on his head. "Uhm…"

A new voice interrupted him as a(n un)familiar shadow settled upon his shoulder, "Allow the magnificent Alikred to explain the situation, Iru-boy!"

All eyes turned to Iruma's longest running secret, as the teen nearly flinched at the sight of him out, "Ali-san!?"

Alikred waved a careless hand, "I know, I know Iru-boy, but I think it's about time I reveal my magnificent self to your Pack, with how things're shaping up, y'know?"

Iruma pursed his lips at him and slowly nodded. The war…

"...Thanks."

Alikred gave a thumbs up before floating a little over the middle of the table while looking everyone over while nodding to himself while humming and hawing, "Well then… I suppose I should explain-"

And of course there is a cacophony of questions directed towards Alikred and Iruma both, before Soi sharply slapped a hand on the table in annoyance and harshly declared, "He's been with Iruma for ages- he'll explain, now Shut. Up."

Everyone stared at their ephemeral classmate, who had the decency to slowly flush and settle himself, "...I knew about Ali-san, okay? He didn't tell me- you can only hear someone talking to another mysterious voice so many times before you get curious. I mean, he's popped up a few times before, but everyone just kind of brushed off the fact they ever saw or heard him. Well. Maybe-"

Alikred cleared his throat, "Uh, thanks Soi-boy, but I can take it from here."

Soi nodded while sinking into his chair embarrassed.

Alikred sighed softly, "So the short of it is- I am the avatar of the Ring of Gluttony. Iruma and I need each other to survive- we cannot live without the other, so please don't think about experimenting on me." He tapped his non-existent lip for a moment in thought, "And well. As for what happened with Iru-boy's Rank Up… It's a little like personal evolution. I usually experience change when Iru-boy Ranks up, however, this time, we both experienced an internal change from gaining Rank Chet."

Alikred floated over to settle onto Iruma's head, "He went through something you all did as young children. He finally grew into his Magic, and his body had to catch up to the process." He patted his Master's head, "He should now have an incredible Mana reserve to pull from, and he'll probably be able to handle much higher-level spells than he had previously."

Opera made a few faces, before pondering bluntly, "So he's finally hit puberty?"

Alikred couldn't help but bark in startled laughter at the feeling of indignant embarrassment from Iruma at Opera's assessment. "Sure! If that makes it easier for you to grasp what's happened!"

Iruma swiftly tried to make himself small and hide under the table while whining in exasperation, "Stop that!"

Sullivan snickered under his breath before nodding, "That's certainly a crude way of putting it."

Iruma hissed in frustration.

xXx-xXx-fifthyear-xXx-xXx

When it came to Ameri and Iruma, with each year that passed, their relationship went through some sort of shake-up. It was primarily due to how each year was handled differently from the previous, so when Ameri had become a fourth year, they'd had a shift in scheduling for their reading sessions.

Things continued to shift in that way, until they promised one another to see each other at least once a month in person.

Ameri had her Ambition, and Iruma wouldn't hold her back from it.

…But there are times, like now, where Iruma wonders if he should have.

Iruma rubbed his face as he wondered how he could have helped her, to keep her close, without having to let her go to a place he couldn't reach.

If only he could have been selfish enough to say 'Stay with me.'

There is only one week left until Ameri graduates, and Alice is on his phone at regular intervals with a frown on his face.

Iruma wants to ask what he's up to, but the other has shut him out of their Bond, and Iruma wants to respect his privacy-

Alice puts his phone away and meets Iruma's eyes, "Have you spoken to Ameri lately?"

Iruma blinked, "Well, yeah-"

"About what requirements she still needs to fulfill before deploying to the field?"

Iruma feels his throat constrict as he swallows painfully. "...No, I haven't." Alice sighs softly while running a hand through his bangs in silent frustration. Iruma gives him his full attention and folds his hands in front of him, "...Can you explain it to me plainly?" Alice glances at him, fights with himself, and nods with a sigh.

"There are things each individual needs to do while preparing for deployment. However, considering the fields of work female demons are generally deployed in, they have a bit of an… extra incentive. It is not technically required, but… it is heavily preferred, to prevent an immediate Wicked Phase on the field, and such…"

Iruma blinks at that, tilts his head with a frown, and scrutinizes his Mate, "...State it to me like I'm five, Azz."

Alice flushed, before turning his head away, "Ah… well, they tend to do… Lust Group… or other such reconnaissance work… That is to say…"

Iruma exhaled tiredly as he slumped back into his seat, "I get it."

Alice glanced at his Soulmate, and Iruma grimaced. He didn't want to be mad at Alice. It wasn't his fault that things were the way they were. Iruma could also understand the idea behind it. If there are few girls on the field, their likelihood of being forced against their will skyrocketed.

"...So what does that have to do with me? Or you for that matter?"

Alice slumped slightly, pondered, and then looked Iruma in the eyes with a serious expression. "I offered Ameri my services before she deploys, should she find herself in need of them."

Iruma frowned. The two weren't particularly close, though they were friendly enough, since they were his Partners. "...I see."

Alice shifted awkwardly while clearing his throat and adjusting his ascot. "Iruma… if I may be so bold… but have you spoken with Ameri at all about her Desire?"

Iruma tilted his head, "What, her Ambition?"

Alice slowly shook his head, "No… the things she's dreamed of… and fantasized about. The things that she's hoped for… between the two of you alone."

Iruma felt dread pool in his stomach as he scared weakly, "...No, not exactly…"

Alice met his eyes with a challenge, "Then perhaps you might do so, and soon."

Iruma swallowed with a nod, "Y-yeah." He felt nervous at the thought of speaking to his only partner who he'd yet to Claim. "I'll do that."

xXx-xXx-fifthyear-xXx-xXx

Ameri hadn't been able to answer Iruma's questions.

Not because she didn't have them-

-But because she could never fulfill them. At least, not in the way she had always dreamed of.

Ameri tugged at her hair lightly, overrun with so many thoughts as the hour of her Graduation Ceremony crept ever closer.

She was one of sixteen students deploying the moment they Graduated and left Babyls soil.

Ameri felt anxious, and stared at the final message from Asmodeus.

You have until the ninth morning hour, before I step in.

He'd given her a difficult time limit, but she'd had months to do this.

She just… she'd just really wanted to ask Iruma to Marry her, and then they could've eloped and had a beautiful wedding like in Hatsukoi Memories-

Ameri covered her face, breathed out her dying fantasies tiredly, and sent a reading invitation to Iruma. Slowly she inhaled before meticulously going over the room and how she'd set it up.

Ameri couldn't have everything she wanted, but she would make do with the time that remained...

And the small crumb of brazen courage she had left.

xXx-xXx

Iruma stood in front of a familiar door and scented the air. There was a great deal of Magic being used, but there was still an underlying sweetness.

Iruma wasn't stupid- he knew she wasn't actually asking him to meet her here to read.

(Though if she was, he'd laugh off every stray miserable feeling he'd had for the past few weeks and punch his pillows later for being that stupid.)

He carefully opened the door and slipped inside.

The room was dark with curtains drawn, along with various candles lit in the room while the heavy scent of incense lingered in the air.

There were flower petals, and he was avoiding looking at what else she'd set up on the floor, because Ameri was everything he could care about at that moment.

Her glossy eyes, the soft flush of her cheeks, the… lack of what she was wearing, and the pattern of the lace she'd draped over her head to hide behind.

The ache in Iruma's fangs that he'd fought with for so many years turned any further thought to static as his entire world became Hers.

xXx-xXx

Iruma growled when Ameri tried to move out of his hold as he lightly dozed. She sighed softly before snickering lightly, "Iruma-"

He growled with a grumble again as he nosed under her chin, only to nuzzle at her neck where his Claim Mark had been placed. There was a hasty bandage put into place over it, to keep it mildly clean during their previous "activities."

Ameri hadn't realized just how much Iruma had been holding himself back for both of their sakes, nor how potent the scents she'd selected would affect his Desires.

"...I have to start getting ready to leave. I've already missed most of the Ceremony."

Iruma sighed before shifting to give her one more long and drawn out kiss that made her want to beg for moremoremore-

But she had her duty, and she was stronger than her more base desires.

So Ameri shoved him off, and he squeaked in response.

She looked down at him smugly, before they both couldn't help but burst into giggles.

Iruma sighed softly before turning over to grab his shirt, "Ameri..?"

She was putting on various pieces of clothing before she went to take a swift shower before gearing up to deploy, "Yeah?"

Iruma rummaged through his clothes, before tossing a small box her way. She nearly fumbled it, and by the time she opened it he was fully dressed again.

It was a ring on a chain, and as she ran a finger over it, there were multiple magicks interwoven into the metals and designs. Ameri lifted her eyes to meet Iruma's as he gave her a soft-yet-apologetic smile while lifting his pinky between them, "Promise me you'll come back to me in one piece?"

Ameri snorted as she hooked her pinky with his, "That's a terrible Red Flag, Iruma."

Iruma's pinky wound more tightly around her's as she met his glossy gaze, "I know, but… I'm terrified. I don't know what to say to you that sounds… right."

Ameri's eyes widened, and she sighed gently as she relented with a nod, "I'll come back to you, I promise." She took in a short breath. "...And if things aren't over by the time you Graduate, you better survive for my sake, too."

Iruma nodded in agreement, and she slipped away.

xXx-xXx

Ameri met her father's gaze with a courage and strength she'd been lacking over the past several months.

He noted that she'd purged herself of all scent- including her own, and there was nothing he could fault her for. He didn't want to send her out. He had no choice in the matter.

Henri handed her over to the individual that would dictate her Missions, and her life, until the war came to an end.

He hadn't felt so powerless since the day she'd been placed into his arms for the first time.

xXx-xXx-sixthyear-xXx-xXx

Iruma misses the time he could go about his day and forget a war of sorts was going on-

And that he was a primary target.

They had mostly figured out the why- that he somehow had Derkila's Mana (reaching Rank Tet caused Ali to figure out why they thought that-), and that he was (half) human, and wanted to eat him.

Got it.

He never thought that they would be able to bypass Sullivan's multiple Wards that he'd put up over the past few years, let alone trespass into the house.

He's not even sure why he woke up when he did, though Hermod could've been behind it. Iruma did smell blood, but more than that, he smelled his mother's fear.

Coda pushed himself out of bed, and carefully crept towards his bathroom door. Slipping through, he padded across the bathing area in cautious safety, before peaking out into the main hall.

Coda's brain nearly shut down, but he managed to save just in time as he took in his mother's silhouette in the dark.

They were stiff with their hands and arms pressed tightly against their chest in self comfort as they stared at their partially open bedroom door. Their hair was down, but despite the length of it, it didn't hide the fact that they were in something of a lacy cami-bralette and panties. (They looked so frighteningly frail and thin like that-)

There was a familiar incense in the air- one he came to recognize as it faintly lingered on Clara, Elizabetta, and Kerori after their seduction classes as of late.

It had the specific purpose to help dull a male's senses to make it easier to assassinate them.

He slipped back into his room, pulled one of his sheets from his bed, and cautiously returned to the hallway exit of the bathroom before almost brushing his Mana against theirs.

Opera jumped, and their tail managed to puff out even more than it had before as their hair seemingly reacted to their mood, becoming even fluffier as their eyes met.

Opera inhaled sharply and seemed to pull into themselves, as if they could hide from him the fact that they were hardly dressed. He sighed softly through his nose and moved into their space before they could tell him to back off, and wrapped them in his sheet, "Are you okay..?"

Opera stared slightly up at him, as he'd somehow managed to grow a few centimeters taller than them in the last few months. "I-" They took in a deep gulping breath, "Am unharmed."

Iruma blinked before nodding and pulling them into his chest. They sagged into him slightly, shaken, but seemingly no worse for wear.

Iruma probed around with his Mana, but Sullivan's met his and gently shoved him away from Opera's room.

Iruma paused at that, before realizing that Opera never would have relaxed with him if there was still any further possible danger.

He sighed softly, and pulled his mother along to the bath, "You should clean up. I'll lend you some clothes."

Opera nodded silently, and deferred to him as he took care of their most immediate needs.

Swiftly enough they were bundled in a secondary set of sweatpants and a large soft shirt as he dragged them to bed. They protested once, but one look and brush of Mana was all it took before they settled beside their child and fell asleep in his hold.

Hermod stood Guard throughout the rest of the night.

xXx-xXx

Coda ate and observed their mother. Sullivan had been dealing with business and investigations since early morning, while Coda and Opera were kept in a specific section of the house.

He swallowed and set down his fork, "What happened?"

Opera's ears drooped low, and they couldn't help but tug on their hair for a moment before glancing at him, "Can you cut my hair?"

Iruma blinked, made a thoughtful face, before nodding and standing to their feet. "Sure."

Iruma had grown accustomed to long hair, but he knew his mother didn't like it. They just hadn't had the time to be frustrated with it enough to bother cutting it.

Iruma got to work without asking anything further, placed a cutting cape around their shoulders, and took the hair cutting scissors from their hand. He dampened their hair with a solution, and after tying off a long piece, cut off a solid foot of hair before setting it aside to style what was left.

Iruma was decent at hair cutting. He wasn't perfect, but he'd always had to trim his hair as a child, and he'd figured out how to not look like an absolute wreck in the process.

Cutting other people's hair was admittedly much easier, and he'd worked at a few hair places enough to know the general idea of how to cut hair.

So… while it wasn't perfect, when he was done, Opera was pleased enough with the short cut he'd given them.

They couldn't help but smirk as they turned to look up at him, "It's a little shorter than it was when I met your fathers."

Iruma blinked, "Ah." He'd seen a few photos, so… now that they'd mentioned it, they were right.

They brushed themself off and began to clean up the hair left behind, "I like it, thank you."

Iruma nodded, and settled for not knowing anything about what had happened.

"I felt someone enter the house around midnight."

Coda was surprised that they were willing to speak, but settled as he gave them his full attention.

"I lit some candles and… other things, and with as much Charm as I could muster, I approached the intruder and lured them into my room. I…" They grimaced before forcing themself to continue. "Played with them a little, before driving my claws through their heart and ripping it out."

Coda blinked, "Oh." He had noted their blood-covered hand before the bath. "...I'm sorry you had to go through that."

Opera swallowed thickly before shaking their head, "It shames me more that you saw me in… that sort of state."

Coda pondered over that, "I didn't think there was anything wrong with it?"

Opera glared at him, "I am your Mother."

Coda paused, let that sink in, and bowed to their distress, "Understood."

Opera sighed softly, before settling down into a chair near to him to hold his hands gently. "I will protect you with everything that I have, Iruma."

Iruma squeezed their hands in return, "And I'll protect you with everything I have, too."

Opera frowned, and went to protest before sighing.

Coda smiled, "Hahaue?"

Opera looked at him in tired curiosity.

"I'll make sure to save Baal's dick for you to shred in revenge, when I finally get ahold of that sonofabitch for what he's done to us."

Opera paused in surprise, before bursting out in morose laughter.

xXx-xXx-sixthyear-xXx-xXx

It was a month after their home was invaded that Iruma began to have weird Dreams of being shackled in a cage.

It took two more times for him to realize he was Dreaming what might be Ameri's reality, as a missive came in that she had gone missing on the field.

Iruma wanted to jump up and run off into the field to find her, but he was dragged down by those around him, and sense.

Also, Opera abruptly sobbing on him to not leave left him shaken enough to grasp for patience.

Of all of The Greats grandsons, he was the only one deploying after Graduation. To say that Leiji and Razberry were embarrassed that their Grandparents had pulled enough strings to keep them safe at home would be an understatement.

But Iruma, as a primary target (and reason) for this war, had never had a choice to begin with.

The populace was annoyed enough that their strongest and brightest were being sent off into the field- Why were the Three Greats Exempt?

So Iruma took the fall, and Leiji and Razberry gave him their support in what ways they could.

They expended quiet resources to help him locate Ameri.

All they'd learned was where she wasn't.

So when the Misfits Graduated, and were met with ther various deployment officers, Iruma did what they (foolishly) least expected.

"Yeah, so we're gonna go pull Ameri out of where she's been held prisoner the past six months."

The head officer frowned at him, "No. You and your classmates will be divided between our Ranks and-"

Iruma waved, "Yawn, nope. We have a plan, and we're sticking together. Who the fuck thought it'd be a good idea to seperate us, anyway?"

The officer growled, "It was a unanimous decision based on-"

"Absolute bullshit. We're gonna bounce-" And suddenly there was horrible pressure not felt in centuries since Lord Derkila as Iruma stood his ground and forced everyone before him to their knees, "-And retrieve Azazel Ameri, Together. Thanks."

And the next thing anyone knew, The Misfits were gone.

When the Military personnel turned to Sullivan, as if he could do something about it, he just waved with sparkles and flowers. "Ah, young love. Isn't it amazing?"

Opera shook their head while holding in laughter.

The Misfits, together, could end the war.

Someone had clearly tried to stop that from happening.

xXx-xXx-seventhyear-xXx-xXx

Ameri sat with her legs tucked under her, chained at the ankles and wrists, as she had for the past several months.

It was starting to get harder to count the shifting moons, as they kept using some sort of incense to confuse her senses.

Her Bloodline Ability could only fight it off for so long, before she'd inhaled too much of it to have enough mental fortitude to counter it.

The how of getting caught was fuzzy at this point, but she had a feeling she'd be ashamed of how it'd happened.

She sighed softly as she gazed across the encampment she was being held at.

Ameri was fed well enough- or at least, just enough to keep her from looking emaciated.

The men liked to gawk at her, and they weren't interested in skeletons.

Ameri grimaced at that. She'd seen enough of things she'd have preferred not to, had she had her way.

And then the ground shook, and there was a bang, and there was chaos-

Something cleaved the bars behind her, and then there was warmth against her nearly dead hands and a jingle of keys before she was pulled back into an achingly familiar chest as Iruma looked down at her, "I found you!"

He buried his face into her neck, nuzzling her as her brain caught up to reality-

He pulled away and Alice came to her side to lift her into his arms. Together they pulled her out, and in a whirlwind of action she could barely focus on, she was in the arms of Clara, Elizabetta, and Kerori.

She breathed in fresh air, the scent of their tears, and sobbed in their arms.

xXx-xXx-seventhyear-xXx-xXx

The war ended somewhat quickly after the Misfits stepped in.

(More would specify that it was when Iruma-sama stepped in, but he always included the others.)

A number of factors between Henri's personal investigations, Sullivan's own quiet team that literally no one but him knew about, and Iruma's personal vendetta with a certain barrier-making demon brought the true reason for the fight, and war, to a close.

Because in the end, the goal of the enemy was to create a new Netherworld by bringing about a new head of power.

Iruma, when all was said and done, held the traits that Marked him as the new Demon King.

Which… in private, was humiliating.

That wasn't to say that Iruma didn't swiftly bring a sweep of adjustments to help those who were irritated with the stagnation that the Netherworld had been through-

He just… He wanted to live his own life for a little while longer, free of responsibility.

This was greeted with some level of enthusiasm by the Three Greats, most especially once they heard his reasons for it.

'I still have a lot to learn about the Netherworld, so I'd like to study the various regions personally for a year, while taking on related studies.'

So the Three Greats set about to make his hope come true, by making the necessary preparations.

That is, until he made one other request to the Head of Border Patrol-

"Uhm, can I, along with a few others, visit the Human Realm for a day or two?"

Henri stared at him blankly, "...Why?"

Iruma ruffled the back of his head with a small flush, "...I never got to say goodbye to the people who actually cared about me."

Henri's shoulders slumped before he sighed softly. "...I will need an exact list to have it arranged."

Iruma nodded and handed him a piece of paper, "Thank you."

Henri looked it over before nodding, "I'll submit the paperwork today."

xXx-xXx-sevenyearreturn-xXx-xXx

A/n1: I've never had a clear-cut vision of the resolution between Iruma and Baal because… Canon is nowhere near that. Just know that Opera got their revenge, but it went beyond this fic's "rating" to "show." The only thing that I'd always had in mind for this chapter were the parts relating to IruMeri, and Azz asking Iruma to please step in for all of their sakes.

A/N2: So I had extreme anxiety over this chapter and deleted it. I've reviewed it for a third time and with a few adjustments, have decided to upload it again. I apologize for the confusion, but I wasn't sure if this chapter aligned with the general vision of this story, and I've decided I will keep it.

However, I'm not entirely sure about what I should continue with, so I'd greatly appreciate your feedback on how this story comes to an end.

The following ideas were going to be the next few chapters (and has been planned for ages):

-IruAzzClaraOperaAmeriHenri go to the human realm. Iruma visits various places and people to say goodbye. Henri and Ameri separate from them at some point to visit Merize.

-Jump to around Iruma being 78 years old. There has been drama over the years about him not wanting kids (to everyone's confusion). Kerori personally confronts him about it to understand why, and gently convinces him to try with her. They succeed and Kuromu/Iruma go on a temp hiatus while everyone thinks Irumi is the one who's pregnant much to Iruma's chagrin.

-Jump to when Iruma is around 170 and Opera comes to him to reveal they're pregnant (for the first time since Iruma himself) and they're emotional about it.

Please let me know if you're interested in seeing the final ideas I've had written out, or if i should just end things after the trip to the human realm. I'd greatly appreciate your feedback since I had such an abnormally extreme anxious reaction to this chapter to the point of deleting it.

Thank you for reading, and please leave a review!