Once again this is a new section of the doc that I'd had thoughts about, but didn't quite know how to implement the ideas/wasn't sure how much detail/time I wanted to invest into it. We're close to the end of what I'd written in the OG doc, and I still have things to adjust there as well.

Please let me know if you like the chapter!

Blood Divine, Spilt Upon the Desperate Soul
xXx-xXx-crimson-xXx-xXx

Iruma smiled up at Asmodeus pleasantly, "Welcome back, Azz-kun."

Asmodeus smiled in return as he closed the door behind him and took his hand for a moment, squeezing it in reassurance, "I'm happy to be back, Iruma-sama."

It was strange. There was no way that he could feel this light after such a short and stressful bout outside of this room, but maybe…

Maybe, when Higurashi-sensei had flared his power, had he somehow purified his building stress?

Asmodeus sighed softly to himself in relief as he shrugged away the thought. Being by Iruma-sama's side was the best.

Iruma tugged on Asmodeus's hand, "Azz-kun, you seem to be feeling better."

Asmodeus looked down at him with a nod, "I am. I'm sorry you had to endure being bored here by yourself."

Iruma chuckled lightly as the door to his room slammed open. Both teens startled at the sound and turned before Iruma gasped. "Grandpa!"

Sullivan barely held himself back from steamrolling into his grandson as Asmodeus quickly jumped to the side, and carefully caressed his charge as tears poured from his eyes. "Iruma-ku~~~un! My precious grandson, are you okay? Does grandpa need to punish anyone for mistreating you? I'm sorry I was gone for so long, but I thought about you the whole time~!"

Asmodeus flushed at the sight of the two as Iruma joined in crying with the Chairdemon, latching onto him with his good arm and responding, "The Doctors and Nurses treated me well, I'm doing okay grandpa. I missed you so much!" He looked up at Sullivan, "Where did you go, and what happened with my parents?"

Sullivan froze and Asmodeus grimaced. There was a still silence for a moment before Sullivan sighed to himself before pulling back from Iruma. He caressed his grandson's face with familial affection, "It's best if you didn't know what happened to them, Iruma-kun. All you need to know is that they broke their contract, and that they received a fitting punishment for their crime." He nuzzled Iruma's face, "All that matters now is making sure you're healthy enough to take home."

"That is all fine and well, Sullivan-sama, but we still need your full testimony in this matter."

Sullivan stiffened as Asmodeus gaped at the newcomer. Sullivan turned and tilted his head before nonchalantly waving, "Henri-ku~n! What a surprise meeting you here!"

Henri glared at the Chairdemon as Higurashi-sensei appeared behind the Border Security Demon with a small wave, "Hey Suzuki-sama, Asmodeus-kun."

Iruma glanced between the three adults and Asmodeus in a panic, "H-Eh? What?!"

Asmodeus shifted to Iruma's side with a dark look on his face, "Iruma-sama I…" His pallor went pale as he looked to the side in exhaustion, "I think it's best if just leave it to the adults."

Iruma startled, "Azz-kun?!" The poor guy looked defeated.

He looked between everyone and Henri sighed softly and shifted up his glasses. "Iruma-kun. I'll be borrowing the Chairman for a while, alright?"

Iruma looked to Sullivan, and the Chairdemon gave him a reassuring small smile as he gave him an affectionate pat on the head. He glanced at the other two, and with a snap, Iruma and Asmodeus had a new change of clothes, and Iruma's arm was secured in a sling tightly to his body.

The Chairdemon smiled, "Why don't you two boys go out for a bit while we finish things up here?" He picked Iruma up out of bed and carefully set him down. After a moment to ensure he was strong enough to move around on his own, Sullivan handed a pouch of money to Asmodeus and waved, "Have fun, alright?"

Iruma blinked, glancing between Asmodeus and the three adults before asking, "Is it really alright?"

Higurashi-sensei gave him a kind smile, "It's alright Suzuki-sama. I believe you are well enough to leave my care and be turned over to that of your house. Have a little fun, and please, do take care of yourself."

Iruma nodded, still a little baffled before he moved to Asmodeus's side. The adults filed out of the room with them in the rear, and with one final wave their paths diverged.

Iruma held onto Asmodeus's sleeve timidly as they got outside. He looked around the town he grew up in, and found himself lost.

He'd never had the chance to have fun growing up, so he didn't know where to go for the time being. Some buildings were the same, while other stores had changed completely. He hesitated for a moment as Asmodeus took in the human world for a long moment before smiling gently at his partner and pointing, "Well then Iruma-sama, shall we get something to eat?"

Iruma flushed and after a moment nodded, "Alright." It was a start, and the food would be different from what the hospital had given them. Asmodeus guided him gently, ensuring other pedestrians wouldn't knock into his injured arm. They entered the restaurant, and both of them were a little overwhelmed. Asmodeus by the various new and familiar scents, and Iruma by the shift in technology.

Asmodeus glanced at his partner and couldn't help but chuckle as he marveled at the many screens for ordering food, "Is this not your home, Iruma-sama?"

Iruma looked at him flustered, "Things weren't like this when I left though! It's all so new!"

Asmodeus chuckled as a worker came to greet them and get them seated. The staff explained how ordering worked and left them to their own devices as Asmodeus studied the screen and had a realization, "Iruma-sama..?" Iruma hummed in response as he continued, "How does this Yen work compared to Vill?"

Iruma blinked before he snorted to himself, "A little similarly actually. It's pretty easy to learn, but let me see how much money grandpa gave us, okay?"

Asmodeus obliged, and Iruma nodded as he mentally counted what he could see before his blood slowly drained from his face, "A-Azz-kun, please… please make sure to keep that money hidden and close at all times, okay?"

Asmodeus blinked, "Is it a lot?"

Iruma nodded as he absently touched the screen and made his order. Asmodeus chuckled and made sure to secure the money well before he went through the various menus and made his own order.

In the end, for as different as they were, some things between the two worlds were quite the same.

xXx-xXx-crimson-xXx-xXx

Asmodeus did his best to check on Iruma's condition as the two of them led each other to various places.

Surprisingly, while Iruma bought some small "keychains" as souvenirs for everyone, he seemed rather uninterested and detached. No matter how fun the game looked, how good the novels and books seemed, he simply gave them a passing glance before moving on. When he asked why, Iruma got a melancholy look on his face and responded with, "Work, and filling my stomach were all that mattered." He had no attachments here.

Asmodeus grit his teeth as he forced back his emotions.

Iruma led him along a new path. The bustle and noise settled as they made their way through the side streets. Asmodeus caught glimpses of lazing cats that looked so similar, yet different to the ones back home.

Dogs, birds, they were so similar to the way Balam-sensei had described them, and Asmodeus couldn't help but half ponder about how much he knew about the human world.

"Iruma-sama?" Iruma looked to him, and Asmodeus came to a stop as he frowned at his partner's pallor, "Should we rest?"

Iruma smiled tiredly, "I wanted to do one more thing before resting. I know it's not good to push myself right now, and that I'm being selfish… but I can't help myself."

Asmodeus couldn't help but carefully bring Iruma's face close to his before gently bumping their foreheads together in affection, "I will go wherever you go, Iruma-sama."

Iruma nuzzled him in return before pulling back and tugging his hand along. "We're almost there."

Asmodeus blinked as he looked ahead with a frown, "The woods?"

Iruma nodded, "Uh huh."

Asmodeus was puzzled, but kept his silence as they walked. Iruma knew the path well, as a single well trodden trail led them deep into the woods. Asmodeus could still detect the bustle of humanity's modern technology, but it was far more muted in the natural scents of the forest around them.

Finally Iruma stopped a few steps into a small glade, as a worn out tent stood partially dismantled and buried in dirt.

There was a well used firepit and garbage in the area- clearly the wrong sort of people had made use of this little glen as Iruma listlessly kicked a filthy glass bottle, "Home sweet home."

Asmodeus's breath hitched as he re-evaluated the scene before him before turning to Iruma. Iruma's expression was so hard to read at this angle, but he looked so… forlorn, and sad.

He grit his teeth and clenched a hand to his chest as tears poured down his cheeks, "Iruma-sama! To think you had to live in such a place!"

Iruma jumped at his exclamation as he flushed and raised his hand to pacify his partner, "A-azz-kun! I didn't mean to make you cry! I just-!"

Asmodeus sniffled as he wiped his face roughly with a sleeve, "Then why are you crying?"

Iruma inhaled sharply as he touched his face and realized just how warm his eyes were, the burn of tears on his cheeks. His face crumpled as he buried his face into his arm and felt his balance waver as grief for the way his parents had failed to raise him well washed over him like a flood.

He felt Asmodeus catch him and pull him close as he wailed into his chest, as the horrible memories of hiding from bears and wolves came to his mind.

He'd had to fight off foxes and squirrels, and protect himself from rats and other such creatures who tried to eat anything and everything he had.

He hadn't minded being alone when he grew up, but now that he'd come to be loved by those around him, the thought of returning to this desolate field filled him with agonizing emptiness.

He wouldn't be able to survive that loneliness again.

Asmodeus's voice came and went gently, his words mere noise to his internal turmoil.

He felt tears be gently wiped away, as his face was cleaned up by his friend.

Slowly and surely his exhaustion from moving around so much after being still for so long caught up to him, and he felt himself begin to drift off as he found himself unable to stay awake.

Short gentle kisses met his temple and swollen cheeks, his nose and over his eyes, "Rest Iruma-sama."

"You will never be alone like this again."

Iruma felt the warmth of Asmodeus's fire surround them just like back home and drifted off.

When he awoke, it was to the familiar comfort of his bed as Asmodeus held his hand, asleep, between them.