It had been two hours since Ichigo had eaten anything. And both Opera and Shichiro kept trying, unsuccessfully, to get her to rest. While Az and Clara continued to snooze on the bed in the corner.

To be honest, she wasn't able to shut her eyes just yet. There was something bothering her.

She had had some strange buzzing white noise-esque thing going on in the back of her mind for a while now and had simply shrugged it off because she had initially thought that it was the magic surrounding the room. But now- now she wasn't so sure what it was.

And it was nagging at her terribly.

Bringing her knees closer to her chest, she rested her chin on one and tried to figure out whether or not the source of the bizarre buzzing was inside of the house or outside of it.

Considering how distracting the buzz felt to her, it had to be a fair distance away though not so far that she wouldn't be able to trace it back to its origin. If it was coming from somewhere outside- then it could be the magic of a very strong and potent spell in the works.

And that worried her greatly.

It worried her because her grandpa was alone somewhere in the house. And it also worried her because she didn't know what the possible spell could be intended for.

Though she knew that they were protected in the room. She also knew that if they were attacked while there, they were also sitting ducks. Which was a fact that she didn't like very much. At all.

It gnawed at her.

She lifted her head so that she could get to her feet and then once she was standing, she started walking around.

She could feel Opera and Shichiro watching her anxiously, their worry growing more and more palpable to her by the second. But she ignored it and put her tunnel vision to good use so that she could find the buzzing.

She figured that once she could find it then she could either let the two demons know about it and send one of them to check on her grandpa... Or she could even try destroying it herself. It wasn't as if it were all that difficult to do with the right tools at hand.

And she would bet that Opera knew all the places where there were weapons hidden in the house.

She moved over to one of the window's and looked out of it. She couldn't see anything at first because of the darkness, but after taking a moment or so to adjust she was able to see much better.

She could see the forest surrounding her home in the distance, as well as the small fires littering it here and there. She took a second to glance towards the area where they had left her grandpa earlier in the day and saw that there were fires out that way too.

That isn't good. She thought as strange haze had settled into her mind and she no longer seemed to know what was going on.

She started to reach for the window with intention of opening it. But was forced to stop when Opera suddenly appeared and grabbed her hands in his as she heard him say, "Miss, you mustn't open the window."

"W-What?" She asked, feeling just a bit confused.

After all, what was wrong with opening the window when no one was around?

The buzzing was louder now. More insistent. No- it was becoming even more annoying to her as she felt Opera release her so that he could frame her face in his hands and forced her to look at him as the strange haze abruptly cleared from her mind. Allowing her to remember what was going on.

"Do you feel something?" He asked her, his brows furrowed as he studied her face. It was as if he were trying to tell whether or not she was able to sense something that he couldn't.

She frowned as she replied. "Buzzing. It-It feels sort of like the magic in the room's walls."

Opera made a tsking sound, his expression darkening for a second. But only before he allowed his face to go completely blank. "It is a spell Miss. Probably one meant to force you to give away your location so that whoever has cast it can grab you and force a bond on you."

Oh. Oh, that was bad. She cringed a bit at the implications of that and then asked him hesitantly. "It isn't for grandpa?"

Opera's eyes widened in startled alarm, and he seemed to think for a moment before finally dismissing the idea with a firm shake of his head. "No. It is not meant for your grandfather."

He didn't say so aloud, but anyone that didn't know Sullivan's current location was not only blind, but a fool.

Though he could certainly understand why she would think that since the spell could easily be used to draw his master out of their home and kill him. It would require some tweaking to the original spell, but it could be done.

Thankfully, the fact that the 'buzzing' seemed to be only affecting her, was proof enough that his master Sullivan wasn't in any danger from the caster.

At least not at the moment anyway.

"I see." Ichigo said, her shoulders sagging a bit in relief as it occurred to him that maybe the spell was what was keeping her awake despite her obvious exhaustion. Well, that and her concern for her grandfather, and the rest of them.

"Are you worried for him?" Opera asked her softly.

"Of course, I am! He's out there alone and up against who knows how many other demons..." She fell silent for a moment before adding, "I mean, I know that he's strong. But he's also not a young man anymore, ya know? And he's family. So, of course I'm going to be worried about him when we're separated."

Her face flushed from embarrassment when she heard Opera let out a small chuckle of amusement at her words as he pulled her into a hug.

"There is no reason to be embarrassed. It is natural for you to feel worried for him. I'm worried too. But my duty is to protect you on his behalf."

"We could always leave here to go and check on him." Ichigo groused against his vest.

"We could," He agreed and then added. "But I'm not certain that he would appreciate us checking in on him at the moment." Opera said as he rested his cheek against the top of her head, savoring the feel of her in his arms as he thought for a bit about what to do.

His mistress needed her rest otherwise she would be in very poor shape by the time her cycle was over. However, thanks to her refusing to sleep or sit still because of her worries- she was far more susceptible to spells like the one that she had confirmed feeling.

But maybe he could use this knowledge to force her to finally rest?

"Miss, if I promise to go and check on your grandfather...will you stay here and try to get some sleep? I'm concerned that if you don't rest soon, that you will fall under even more magic spells that will influence you the same way that the 'buzzing' has."

Ichigo tipped her head back to look at him and blinked owlishly at him.

It hadn't occurred to her that the lack of proper rest or sleep could cause her to fall under certain magic spells more easily. And if that was really true then his behavior when it came to trying to get her to rest was completely understandable.

"Sure. I'll try."

The smile that he gave her had her heart skipping a beat in her chest as he took a moment to scoop her up in his arms and then carry her over to the bed where Az and Clara were snoring, and unceremoniously dumped them both out of the it and onto the floor.

The pair yelped and began to complain about their rude awakening.

While Ichigo bristled when her friends got dumped out of bed and was just about to raise all kinds of hell with Opera for what he had done. When he startled her by taking the time to carefully tuck her in and fluff her pillow. Then once she was nice and comfortable, he leaned over her and pressed a kiss to one of her cheeks before then walking off to do as he had promised.

The last thing that Ichigo saw of him was when Shichiro's vines were slowly removing themselves from the door to allow him out of the room.

Sighing softly to herself as she rolled over onto her side. It occurred to her that maybe she should have written a note or something to pass along to her grandpa. Maybe something to encourage him to hang in there?

But she didn't want the elderly demon to frame it and hang it up on the wall somewhere for others to see. And that would just be humiliating. Especially since she knew enough about her grandpa by now to know that he would point it out to everyone.

Closing her eyes, she took a second to stifle a yawn but then opened her eyes again to see Shichiro, Az, and Clara looming over her.

"What?" She asked, in a slightly surlier tone than she intended.

"Are you going to get some rest?" Shichiro asked, his tone hopeful as she hummed.

"That is what I'm going to try to do, yes."

"Good. I don't think I've ever seen a demoness behave quite like you do. But I've been very worried for your wellbeing." He said as he shifted so that he wasn't looming over her anymore.

"Sorry bout that." She said tiredly while moving a little bit so that Clara and Az could both crawl back into bed and lie down with her since they were obviously still tired.

She felt Shichiro's large hand pat her gently as he said, "Opera will simply kick them back out of bed again if they crawl back into it, so I'll make a bed for them using my vines." Ichigo frowned and turned her head a little bit to look at him as he added, "Don't worry, they'll be able to sleep just fine once I'm done."

"I see." She said before muttering a quiet, but drowsy apology to her friends as she finally drifted off.

Opera was silent as he made his way to his master. He did so knowing that his ability for stealth may come in handy just in case there were any demon's that had escaped his master during their culling and were presently hiding within the house somewhere.

Thankfully, he only came across four or five that were actually inside of the house. And he was able to kill them all easily by tearing out their throats with his claws. After all, they never even saw him coming until it was far too late.

But once that was done, he grabbed them all by either an arm or a leg and dragged them along behind him until he reached his master.

The moment that he found Sullivan, he couldn't help but visibly cringe at the sight of the elderly demon. His master had abandoned all of the gentlemanly behaviors that he was so well known for. And had gone back to his most basic behaviors and instincts from his youth.

Opera knew this because presently, the living room was decorated with the bloodied corpses of the fallen.

The walls of what was left of the room were plastered in open, and bloodied rib cages missing their organs. Spines, had been collected and tied together with...something that looked akin to bloodied strips of flesh that had been taken from various bodies.

There was a fire pit in the middle of the room, among some overturned and broken furniture, with a demon roasting over it. Sullivan's latest kill?

It didn't matter either way since his master appeared to be intent on eating it.

"Opera," He heard his master's voice from somewhere to his...left? There was a wall of dark shadows there, that the firelight didn't seem to penetrate at all. So, of course his master would be hiding himself within it. "What are you doing here?" Sullivan asked as he slunk out of the darkness.

His master looked a fright covered in so much blood and munching on the heart of some demon that he had killed. His clothing had been all but destroyed, leaving him with only a bloodied skin wrapped around his waist.

His fangs were elongated, and his glasses missing. A sure sign that he was in a primal state of mind and that Opera would need to tread carefully while in his presence because he did not know if Sullivan truly knew him as a friend and ally or not.

Though the fact that his master had even recalled his name in his present state was somewhat encouraging.

Opera bowed to his master, respectfully before replying. "Sir, Mistress Ichigo has been very worried for you and has asked me to come and check on you."

Sullivan was quiet for a second before finally saying, "Oh. I see." A smile worked its way across his face at the mention of Ichigo's name. So, maybe his master wasn't so far gone after all as Sullivan bent down so that they were eye to eye and asked. "And how is my dearest doing?"

"Mistress is doing as well as can be expected. However, she came under a spell shortly before I left her. I was able to dispel it easily enough. But her lack of desire to rest is concerning since she will continue to fall under spells for as long as she is in such an exhausted state. I left Shichiro with her and the other children, standing guard."

Sullivan hummed thoughtfully and slowly moved around him. Using his clawed hands to help propel him forward in tandem with his legs.

"Those damned insects!" Sullivan said in an angry growling/snarl. Upset that his granddaughter would fall under one of their spells. "How dare they think to try magic to lure my darling out!"

Saliva dripped from Sullivan's fangs as they elongated in his mouth further.

Opera merely hummed in agreement as he watched his master seat himself on a mountain of carcasses that had been placed off to the side of the firepit.

"I explained to the young Mistress why her need to rest adequately was necessary to her wellbeing. And I do not believe that she will go without again."

That seemed to calm Sullivan down a degree, but only just so.

"I see. Thank you for that Opera."

"Of course, sir." Opera said with another bow as his master asked him.

"Would you like to join me for something to eat? The meat that I've been cooking should be done by now. And it has been a while since the two of us shared a meal from a fresh kill."

Opera debated with himself for a moment. Weighing the pros and cons before finally saying, "I would love to." And then moved to join his master over by the firepit where he found a comfortable place on a disemboweled body to sit down on.

Anticipation welled up within him as he watched his master take the demon from over the fire and begin to rip it apart so that they would both have meat and organs to feast on. Then once his master was finished doing that, he leaned over and grabbed a pair of skulls that had been stripped of their flesh until only the bone remained and poked a hole in the top of the both of them and held one out to Opera.

The cat demon took what his master offered and then grabbed a piece of cooked meat and began to eat ravenously while his master drank deeply of the blood trapped within his skull cup.

"How is it?" Sullivan asked after Opera managed to devour several big bites of the meat.

"It's delicious, sir."

Because it was.

The meat was still tender due to being medium rare, there was still blood and other juices present in it that made it taste as if it were the most delicious meal that he had ever had, even without any spices to season it.

Sullivan hummed as he grabbed a piece of meat and began to eat as well. The two of them ate in relative silence, simply enjoying their meal along with each other's company before Sullivan finally decided to ask, "Do you think the day will come where Ichigo will want to devour demon flesh like we are now?"

If anything had been in Opera's mouth at that moment, then he would have choked at the strangeness of the question. But after taking several seconds to think about how to respond, all he could say was. "As long as she knew what it was that she was being fed."

He didn't like the idea of tricking her into devouring demon flesh when the choice should be hers to make. But at the same time, his mistress was a strangely fearless young lady. So, he could easily see her partaking in demon flesh one day.

He could also easily see her not being very upset about it either.

Sullivan merely smiled at him and took another drink from his skull before then saying excitedly. "Oh! I almost forgot, I've been working on something since you and the others left me earlier."

Opera's ears twitched in interest as he asked. "Will you tell me what it is? Or do you plan to leave me in suspense?"

Sullivan grinned, his fangs becoming more pronounced as he did so. Before he got to his feet and then meandered around the room to the dark corner that he'd been hiding himself in before and grabbing something and carrying it over to the firepit so that Opera could see it better.

It was a chair made up of harvested wings, skulls, more spines and other things that had been fashioned together by stretched out and dried flesh.

Opera's eyes widened at the sight of it, startled that his master could make such a thing in such a small amount of time. Curious, he took a moment to quickly lick his fingers clean of any blood and juices that he may have on them- after all, it wouldn't do for him to mess up his master's hard work. He stood up and went to study the chair a bit more closely.

The chair was fashioned to look exactly like an old-fashioned throne.

One that would make any demon that saw it positively green with envy.

It was large, with some wings attached to the back of it, spread open wide. And they were attached to a few spines that had been fashioned together to create the back of the chair. The arm rests were also spines. However, they had several skulls at the ends of the arm rests to give the chair an intimidating appearance for any that approached it.

After all, surely it was a chair fit for the most fearsome and ferocious of demons.

The legs of the chair were made up of elongated spines with skulls attached to the bottom to help keep the chair from topping over. And there was stretched out and dried, leathery looking skin that was attached to it to create a sort of cushioning so that whoever sat in it would be able to do so comfortably.

It's lovely, Opera thought. But he couldn't help but wonder who it was for. After all, his master was a fairly tall, and lanky demon with broad shoulders and an equally broad torso. This chair was...small and unfit for him to seat himself upon.

"I made it as a gift for Ichigo."

Ah, that makes sense. Opera mused to himself. After all, his Mistress was Sullivan's only grandchild. So of course, he would wish to create something special for her with his own two hands.

"I was thinking that perhaps we could use some of the treasure that I've accumulated over the years that I've been alive to melt down and cover the chair and then embed some gems in it. You know, to make it look more regal and professionally made."

Opera felt a bit giddy at the mere mention of his master's idea. The chair would look fit for royalty! His mistress would definitely love it.

"Were you thinking of embedding diamonds or rubies in it?"

"Both, I think."

Opera fairly vibrated as he imagined the empty skulls eye socket with rubies in them, and large diamonds embedded in their mouths. Or vice versa. Either way would work.

"I believe that we still possess some satin, velvet, and lace somewhere around here. I could use them to make the cushioning for the chair."

"What color do you think will suite it?" Sullivan asked curiously.

He still knew so very little about his granddaughter aside from what she had already told him. So, he wasn't sure what would look best or appealing.

"Purple." Opera blurted out, startling Sullivan. "It is the same color as the suits that you wear. And it will look lovely paired with some black lace for a feminine touch. Do you not agree?"

Sullivan thought for a moment before smiling widely as he agreed. "I do."

"When do you wish it done?" Opera asked, already itching to begin working on it. If he started now, then he may be able to finish it by sometime tomorrow. Oh, he couldn't wait to see his mistresses face when she saw it!

Sullivan hummed as he thought for a moment. "I would like it done immediately, but I'm not sure it's a good idea because of all of our unwanted visitors."

Opera visibly deflated, almost like a balloon that had just been poked full of holes. Ah yes, our unwanted guests. He'd been so excited to start on sprucing the chair up that he had all but temporarily forgotten about them. And now he was both sad and mad that he couldn't begin working on the chair.

"There will be blood for this travesty." He muttered darkly.

It wasn't like him to pout about something when he could be kicking the shit out of someone instead, but Opera was certainly pouting now. Especially since he was being kept from doing something for his master and mistress.

"Of course there will be." Sullivan agreed knowing very well that an angry or upset Opera was one that should be avoided at all costs.

Those imbeciles had no idea what they'd just done.

Opera decided to stay with his master for a while and vent his frustration on their unwanted company. A fact that Sullivan couldn't help but pity the unknown demons for. Because as merciless as he could be- Opera was even more so.

Those that Opera managed to get his hands on, died horribly in ways that made even Sullivan flinch from.

He'd never seen his security devil acting so malicious before. And that was truly saying something considering just how malicious Sullivan knew that Opera could be to begin with.

Like him, Opera had decided to ditch some of his clothing- mainly his shirt, vest, tie and shoes- in leu of running wild. The security devil had even begun to harvest various pieces of his kills for a project of sorts.

Sullivan couldn't help but feel curious about what he was planning, especially considering the decent sized pile of broken horns and fangs that he had ripped out of their enemies' mouths before killing them. The younger demon also had a few completely intact bottom jaws laying on the floor by his pile too.

All of them various sizes and containing immaculate fangs of such strength and beauty that Sullivan felt a little bit jealous of not spying them first.

"What are you planning to do with those?" He finally asked. Sullivan couldn't help it any longer. Opera fairly had him gnashing his teeth with impatience.

Opera didn't so much verbalize his idea as he lifted and turned one of the bottom jaws so that the fangs were standing upright while lifting it to his head and holding it there. Causing Sullivan's eyes to widen in surprise at the security devil's idea.

A crown! Well, crowns rather.

Opera intended to fashion each of the bottom jaws into crown's made up of bone and fangs. Oh, how delightful! Sullivan thought as he clapped his hands in excitement as he found himself asking, "Do you intend to make them for Ichigo?"

Opera made a noncommittal sound and then said, "Some will make a good courting gifts. While others will be something that she can wear to her first society debut at a Deviculum."

"Oh! She would make quite the striking vision in one that is for sure." Sullivan said as he already began to imagine his darling granddaughter's debut into demon society.

The Deviculum was a party unlike any other that usually hosted by the Thirteen Crowns. It was a party meant for those within high society to get together and mingle. There was usually talk of politics, and ambitions as well as visiting old friends. But there was also food and dancing as well for those who disliked standing around and talking.

Attending such an event was considered an honor to many. It also meant that the one attending had captured the attentions of one of the thirteen crowns and there was also the possibility that said person could help the attending achieve their ambitions.

Ichigo would be able to meet new people and make new connections there.

And if Opera attended as her date, then their courtship would become public knowledge. Don't get Sullivan wrong he didn't care if that happened, regardless of what others may think or say.

Opera was more than strong and capable enough to prove himself to anyone that may question the wisdom of allowing Ichigo to be courted by a 'mere' security devil.

But he couldn't help but wonder if his granddaughter would mind being under such scrutiny considering how easily she got embarrassed about things. He didn't want her upset by others. And he didn't want her to reject Opera suit because of some of the things that she was likely to see and hear either.

It would hurt not only her but Opera both, and he wouldn't stand for it.

"Opera, may I ask? Do you truly intend to marry and take Ichigo as your mate?" He knew that Opera had said so before, but that seemed like eons ago. So, he felt the need to ask him again.

"I do." Opera said without hesitation.

"What is your reason for doing so?"

"I see you as my family."

"I mean besides, that."

Opera was quiet for several moments before finally saying, "In truth, sir. I have been interested in Mistress Ichigo for some time now. A few years, actually. Before, all I could do was watch her from afar as you did. But being able to be close to her is so much better than watching her from such a great distance. It is better than any dream that I could have dared to conjure in my mind. She is everything that she was when we watched her together, and more. I think that she has grown from a sweet and wonderfully kind and thoughtful child into an amazing young woman. One that has been left behind, and treated very poorly by others yet despite that fact- she forgives them for it... She is a fine addition to your family, my lord. And I will make her a part of my own family too."

Sullivan didn't have to say how touching Opera's words were to him. He had difficulty holding back a flood of tears, and the cat demon knew it from the second that he let out a sniffle.

"That's so touching!"

"It is."

"I'll have to tell everyone!"

"I'll have to kill you now to keep you from tarnishing my badass image, won't I?"

Sullivan let out a startled laugh at the question. After all, it wasn't like Opera to threaten even in small way to kill him over something as trivial as his 'badass image'. But he supposed that the threat, small as it was, was at least somewhat valid.

"Don't worry, Opera. I won't tell anyone that you're an emotional sap."

"You better not. No one is allowed to know."

"Not even Ichigo?"

"Well maybe it's okay to tell her..." Opera grumbled.

"You realize that she would use it to blackmail you into things, right?" Sullivan asked.

"She would?!"