Emily Withers couldn't believe she was doing this. But that incredulity didn't stop the lighter from igniting the carefully arranged candles one by one.

Over and over again she had to remind herself, reassure herself. Her parents were dead tired. They had enjoyed a date night, gone out to dinner at Applebapple's before seeing a movie. They would sleep like logs. She was fine.

... She hoped. Because if they came down here Emily knew she would be twelve kinds of disowned. Probably sent to a convent. Or exorcised. Why was she doing this again?! Oh God, she just threw up in her mouth a little bit.

No! No. This would be worth it. She had to do this. It was the only way.

She double checked the arrangement. The candles. The symbol painted in blood on a bunch of napkins. Her pet guinea pig Winston in his cage in the middle, minding his own business. She hoped he would forgive her for sending him to guinea pig hell. But sometimes sacrifices must be made!

That was it, she was pretty sure. That was everything the internet said about how you should summon demons. The flyer didn't say anything about that but she wanted to hedge her bets. If she was desperate enough to consort with demons then she wanted to make sure she kept them happy. Maybe she could get away with just an itty-bit of damnation? Mom had said she was going to hell already after she caught her... Having some personal time with a massager. So if she was already going to hell what did it matter? Might as well have a good working relationship with Satan, right?

... She was procrastinating. She had come this far. She had to see this through. "O Great King Bael," she quietly recited her prepared speech, "Ruler of the sixty six legions of Hell! Heed my call that we may bargain!"

... There. That sounded official enough, right?

The candles burned brighter as a heavy fog filled the room, creating eerie indistinct light sources buried by the impenetrable mist. Emily backed up in fear as a golden yellow glow joined the obscured candlelight, and then it faded, leaving behind an indistinct silhouette.

"You have called for me," the unseen figure spoke. She could see little of his appearance beyond that he looked vaguely human in shape. Taller than her but rail thin. Almost inhumanly thin. The fog began to dissipate, letting her get her first look at the demon's face. Or it would have were he not wearing a strange purple mask. Or maybe that was his face? "You called for me and so I, the Prince of Bael, have answered!"

Wait no! "Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh!" Emily hurriedly shushed him, fearing him less than if any of the neighbours heard him. "P-Please keep it down?"

His raised gloved hand that had thrown his cape aside stilled in the air, his mask looking toward her in expressionless bemusement. "Pardon?"

"Emily!" The named girl blanched as she heard her mother's voice from upstairs. "What are you doing down there, young lady?! Your father and I are trying to sleep!"

"S-Sorry, Mom!" she shouted back, pleading with the universe to not let her mother come down. "I turned the TV on and it was set really loud for some reason!"

"Fine. But get to bed soon! We have church tomorrow!"

"Right! I will!" the teenager called back, nodding her head frantically for no reason. When no further response came she just about passed out from relief.

"Ah, a young mortal suffocating under the rigid confines of a devout household," the demon spoke in a smooth and cultured voice. "Not an unfamiliar scene to which I've been summoned. May I have the pleasure of the lady's name?"

She felt the blush colouring her face. "Uhh, Emily?" She gave her name. The internet told her not to do that! Demons could– "I summoned a demon! I summoned a demon! Oh gosh! Oh gosh! Wait, I summoned a demon. If I'm already going to hell I can take the Lord's name in vain all I want! Oh God! Oh God!"

"While I appreciate your practical approach to sin," the demon said with a wince, "I would really rather you didn't say that word. It is rather uncomfortable to hear."

"Right! Sorry! Oh gosh, Mom and Dad are going to freak! I'll be disowned! Ahh! Ahh! Ahh!"

"Not to worry," the demon reassured her. Reassured her! "I promise, nothing bad will come of this. I'm sorry if I made you more nervous. I have a preference for pageantry, you see." He reached up to his neck and with an odd, sucking hiss he lifted the mask away from his head, shaking his hair out once he was free of it.

"Ohhh my gosh," she breathed out as she saw his appearance for the first time. Near human. But far too beautiful to be called human. Sharp, regal features, porcelain skin, raven dark hair and the most mesmerising amethyst eyes Emily had ever seen.

"... Why am I standing over a terrified guinea pig?" the demon Bael asked, looking down at the cage at his feet in complete bewilderment.

"Ah! That's Winston!" She felt like answering questions was easier than thinking about anything else at that moment. Winston stared up at her as though asking for help, shaking like a leaf. Honestly she could sympathise. "The... The internet said animal sacrifices were important for summoning demons to appease their bloodlust but... I just couldn't kill him, I'm sorry!"

"Of course," the demon rolled his eyes. "Alright. First, let me clear up some misconceptions. Animal sacrifice. Not really? Laying out some food might be a nice gesture but most devils find raw animal meat as distasteful to eat as humans do. So animal sacrifices aren't really necessary. That's more of a Greek or Norse thing, they're a touch old fashioned like that. The blood sigil is also not necessary." He sniffed. "The candles are quite nice, though. Sandalwood?"

"Uhh, yeah. I borrowed them from my mom's room."

He nodded with a smile. "Also not necessary but they do provide a pleasant ambiance, don't you think? Truthfully, the only thing you needed was that flyer and to focus on your desire to forge a contract. Ah," he held a finger up, "Before I forget, one more correction. I am a devil, not a demon."

She felt confused. "But I looked it up when I found the flyer," she held it up for his inspection, pointing to a word written on it. "Bael. One of Solomon's seventy-two demons. A," she swallowed as she suddenly remembered exactly who she was supposedly talking to, "A great King of Hell."

"Ah, yes, well, word choice isn't always specific and you'll find many books have gone through multiple translations from the original text." She tried to listen, she really did. But she really wished he would stop smiling at her like that. It was distracting. "I assure you, I'm quite confident that I am in fact a devil and not a demon. 'Demon' tends to refer to a more bestial creature from the underworld. Here's a good rule of thumb. If they have good table manners, they're probably a devil."

"Probably?"

"I once met a surprisingly intelligent tundra serpent that ate with a knife and fork. So, probably."

Emily couldn't help but giggle. He was funny, surprisingly nice. Nothing like what she expected. "So... If you're a Great King are you like... Satan?"

"Ah. No," he told her with a slight grimace. "If you're referring to Lucifer he's long dead. Satan is more of an office now, one I don't hold. If you'll allow me a proper introduction, I am Lelouch Bael, the heir to the House of Bael."

"But you're still really important?" It sounded like he was.

He frowned slightly. Oh no! Had she said something wrong?! "Was your reason for summoning me to satisfy your curiosity? If so, I think we'd best get to negotiations before we proceed any further."

She couldn't help the squeak that... Came out of Winston. Definitely not her, no sir. "P-Please don't take my soul?"

"Of course not. We don't really trade in souls so much anymore."

'So much' sounded like an important qualifier there.

"How about this. Tell me what you want and I can tell you how you might remunerate me for my services."

"And it won't cost my soul?"

"And it won't cost your soul," he assured her with that too pretty smile. "It won't cost you anything until we finalise our contract."

"Okay," she said the word almost like a bark as she psyched herself up to say what she really wanted. She had come this far. The devil came all this way! "I... I want to... K-Kiss a boy!"

He stared at her. Blinked. Twice. Three times. "And you summoned a devil to make this happen?"

Well if he was going to say it like that it sounded silly! "I go to an all girls school, my parents are really strict. I can't even talk to boys at church! The only way I'll ever get to do anything with a boy is if I run away!"

"And you don't want to do that."

"No! I..." she hesitated. She had thought about it. "My parents are just strict. They mean well... I guess."

"Alright. Let's talk options."

He sat down with her, brought out a notepad and pen like it was a real contract negotiation. In a sense she guessed it was more real than most other contracts could hope to be. She tried to stay calm as he ran through some options that ranged from genuinely terrifying like hypnotising her parents to be less strict. To ones that weren't quite so bad like teleporting her to another town for a while where she could do what she wanted without fear of small town gossip getting back to her parents.

The entire time she sat there with her hands fidgeting in her lap, wrestling with what she decided she really wanted. He really was too pretty. She supposed this was what the pastor talked about. The temptation of devils. "W... Could there be a more... Umm... That is, th-there's probably an easier way, you know?" she asked, doing her best to flutter her eyelashes like girls did on TV.

He smiled at her again. In an indulging way. As though he had somehow known things would turn out like this.

-(-)-

"Nyaaaahahahaha!" the demented, high-pitched cackling of Lelouch's newest peerage member rang out through the halls of Bael Castle. She hopped and scampered along the floor, switching between running on two or four limbs as convenient. Hot on her heels was Rudolf, the Bael Head's Queen, doing his best to catch the erratic little fuzzball while also pacing himself to not accidentally hurt the adorable little tyke when he inevitably caught her.

Lelouch paid her no mind as she scampered past, continuing to focus most of his attention on his chess game and the conversation around him.

"Is it alright for her to cause such a fuss?" Seekvaira felt compelled to ask as she watched the large frame of Rudolf lumber after the nekoshou.

"She's young. She'll grow out of it, I'm sure," Lelouch said absently. Believing it was at least partially true. She would mature and mellow as she got older but she was still part cat. There would be no getting around that.

Not long after, Rudolf returned to the room carrying a pouting Shirone by the collar. Dropping her off with her master, he bowed at the waist as he left, likely knowing full well the entire escapade would repeat within the hour.

"Well I think she's adorable!" Rias cooed, getting Shirone's attention. The redhead beckoned to the young girl, the white kitten cautiously approaching. Rias kneeled and began petting her, rubbing her head, scratching behind her ears. A little too harshly it seemed judging by the sudden hiss of the nekoshou, followed by her pouncing onto the couch next to Lelouch, seeking comfort.

"That was a little too rough, Rias," Lelouch gently reprimanded, one hand stroking Shirone's hair with a feather-light touch.

"I'm sorry, Lulu-nii. And I'm really sorry, Shirone-chan! I got too excited, you're just so adorable!" The cat preened at the praise, even if it came from someone less than her favourite person at that moment. "I promise it won't happen again."

"Can you forgive her, Shirone?" Lelouch requested.

"Hnnnn... Nya."

"Shirone..."

The kitten scowled, looked down and away. "Forgive you, nya."

"Attagirl."

Even the half-hearted and reluctant forgiveness was enough to get the early blooming redhead to squeal like a boiling kettle.

Sona meanwhile ignored literally everything else that was happening in the room, so intent was she on the chess board in front of her. Cats were adorable but winning came first.

"Are you intentionally building your peerage in sections, Lelouch?" Seekvaira asked. "You have your Rooks, your Bishops. But no Pawns or Knights."

"And no Queen," Rias noted in agreement. "Are you saving that piece for someone special?"

Seekvaira and Rias exchanged a look. An understanding of what was being asked passed between them. And to Sona who didn't react at all beyond a twitch of her ears.

"The pieces I've used have been happenstance," Lelouch answered Seekvaira's question first. "Sai, then Ana, then Sara, then this little one," he scritched at Shirone's ears. The white kitten's eyes snapped open and she was off again. Diving over the back of the couch and running out the door. "Only Sai and Shirone gave me a choice for what pieces they would take. I offered Sai my Queen piece but he turned it down. Went for the Rook instead." His eyes went Rias' way since it was she who directly asked about that piece. "For my Queen I'm looking for someone who can fill the role. I need someone who can dedicate themselves to being my right hand. Like Akeno is for Rias."

The bespectacled blonde hummed. "I see. Yes, it isn't a decision to make lightly, isn't that right Sona?"

The Sitri heiress' brow furrowed. She moved her Rook three spaces. She stared at the board. Stared. Stared. "YES!" she cheered, raising her arms in victory. "Mate in six!"

"Congratulations!" Rias cheered for her oldest friend. "What does that make the score now? Eight games to–"

"Zero," Seekvaira finished. "With a number of games undecided."

It was impossible to not notice Sona's sudden agitation. Her usual composure completely broken both by her victory and whatever thoughts were running through her mind. She fidgeted with her glasses, blushed as she tried to regain her equilibrium. "Yes. That's true. I..." Nervously, she looked across to her long-time friend and rival. "I think it's irresponsible of us to leave our matches unfinished. We should finish what we start, do you agree?"

The other girls were shocked at how brazen their normally reserved friend was being. It was no secret between them. Even for how controlled she tried to be, Sona couldn't have concealed her crush from them if she wanted to. And she didn't really want to. More than once she had talked with them about it. What she should do. Seekvaira always gave practical advice. Rias insisted she follow her heart.

And in this moment, it seemed she had decided on the latter.

However, their reactions to her boldness was far less important than the target of it. Sona stared at him, fighting keep her hands in her lap, to resist the urge to adjust her glasses. He stared back, only long enough for his lips to curl upward slightly. "Alright. Another game then?"

"Please."

To the side of them, a redhead's cheeks puffed out like a hamster, though she didn't say anything as the two chessmasters set up the board with ease of practice.

As was usual for them, the opening minutes of the game were a frenzy of practiced moves and counter-moves. A dance the two had done many times, knowing their favoured setups and strategies. Had they been playing with time limits, the room would be host to a cacophony of bells not unlike an old-fashioned alarm clock.

Soon, the introductions are out of the way. The greetings and casual conversation of early play done with, the two once again slowed considerably. Conversation ceased. All four sets of eyes focused entirely on the board that would have such a significant impact on two of their futures.

Even after making a decisive move, Lelouch continued to stare at the board for long seconds, his fingers still pinching the top of his knight. He had already made his move. If he weren't certain of what he would do he wouldn't have touched the piece to begin with. Though it was soon revealed why he was considering it so intently even after making the move.

"Mate in ten."

Sona stared at him with her mouth open. Seekvaira and Rias leaned closer to study the board. To predict victory that early, well it wasn't impossible but it was certainly audacious.

"I'd like to play it out, if that's alright," the dark-haired girl requested softly.

Lelouch nodded, gesturing for her to make her next move. Sure enough, she made her move. He responded. Then the next. And his response. By then she understood. It wasn't a bluff. Or a statement made in arrogance. He really had cornered her. Even so, even though she knew it was true, she continued to play out the match until it was completely, undeniably over. Her King piece toppled.

She tried to keep her composure. But it seemed to be a lesson she would learn from this. Rias' advice to follow her heart would never let her stay calm and collected. Not with the twirling trills of joy she felt inside of herself. Her heart singing inside her chest. "It appears I have been defeated."

And she couldn't be happier for it.

-(-)-

Summoned once again. Lelouch usually considered this sort of thing an interesting change of pace. Studies and training. Politicking. It could be a frustrating slog at times. It was pleasant to spend a little time fulfilling the often silly desires of whatever human sought his services. It broke up the monotony.

And he certainly wasn't saying that because that Emily girl wanted to summon him to a slumber party the next weekend. That promised to be an entertaining evening. And of course there were more intellectually stimulating contracts. Magicians could be an interesting bunch sometimes. Ana was usually better suited to such things but he liked to get involved if it were something he were capable of handling.

This one though. This one promised to be interesting. And refreshing. And nostalgic. When being summoned, the spell would give the devil being called upon a general idea of what the client was after. And this one?

Victory and rescue. This contract would put him in combat. In war. He couldn't entirely blame his new devilish nature for his excitement. He remembered the greatest moments of his first life. The thrill and challenge of battle. The satisfaction of victory in the early days that was almost its own reward. Pitting his mind and abilities against others to prove himself superior.

Once again he wore his full regalia as he liked to do when summoned. Stepping into the teleportation circle he let the magic carry him to the human world. As he arrived there was no pleasant comfort of smells, sights or sounds. Only the noise of gunfire, the smell of acrid fuel being burned nearby, and the tang of blood in the air. "You have called for me and so I, the Prince of Bael have answered," he spoke, his cape wrapped around himself as his eyes scanned his surroundings. Crumbling walls, a handful of men in military garb wearing fearful expressions. He turned, studying each of them in turn. "So, which of you summoned... Me..."

His eyes landed on a bloodied figure. Her helmet removed to reveal her pinkish-red hair and sky blue eyes. In crimson-coated fingers she held a weathered paper with his summoning sigil on it. "That'd be me."

A ghost. The ghost from his past that he had seen years ago. And here she was again requesting his help.

He would give it gladly. He owed Kallen Kozuki that much.