Uuuuuuhhhh, Merry Christmas Eve and Happy Holidays!?

(Apologizing in advance that I may mix up the spelling of Ameri/Amelie within the same story, but I was already too far into this chapter to go change every instance of her name. I almost did the same thing in Pheromone Bites. D,X )

Please let me know if you like the chapter!

TW: Intrusive pessimistic/suicidal thoughts caused by parental abandonment, anxiousness, being sick/vomit, blood, and teenage shenanigans. (Kinda.)

Blood Entwined, Crossed Between Distant Moons
xXx-xXx-crimson-xXx-xXx

A few days passed as Iruma was kept home to recover for a while longer.

Blushenko-sensei and Balam-sensei studied anatomy books of questionable legality from a hidden source so as to best heal Iruma's injury more precisely. Similar texts, along with several others, were delivered to the Sullivan household.

Iruma was quick to realize why such books had been placed into his care and grumbled to himself with a flush as he diligently read through them while he was still on leave.

Some of the books were of human origins, while others were from the demon realm.

Iruma wondered what sort of karma he'd picked up to have to suffer this much emotional death, but he also understood why he was being made to read these books.

To put it plainly, he had missed a lot of phys and health ed back home, and he had no idea what can of worms he'd dropped kicked into when his blood had been passed around like some sort of sacrificial offering between his

(supposedly) better informed classmates.

Balam-sensei had also paid him a short visit after his classmates had left the day after his return, and was reamed out for an hour on etiquette and personal awareness.

He sighed to himself as he couldn't help the constant redness that painted his cheeks.

Opera had begun to worry that he'd started running a fever before Iruma told them that that wasn't it at all and that it was fine.

But to an extent, it wasn't.

There was so much to understand in the books about demon courting rituals, and some of it was simply… too graphic for him to handle all at once.

He sighed softly as he rubbed his cheeks as he mumbled to himself, "I still haven't found out anything about blood-sharing either…"

Asmodeus had gone mum on the subject, stating he had his own research to do, especially because of his family.

Iruma could only guess it had something to do with his Bloodline Magic, and the kiss they'd shared in the hospital.

Because the longer nothing was said about it, the more insecure Iruma became.

He hadn't noticed it immediately, of course. He'd been too flustered and happy to realize what had transpired.

He touched his lips lightly as he lamented his growing pessimism.

Ali-san had said Asmodeus needed Mana…

Iruma was losing confidence despite his desperate attempt to stay positive. He could feel it now, in retrospect, when his emotions had spiked in an almost unnatural way when they'd kissed.

Iruma had wanted to pin him down-

He gasped and covered his face, flustered at his thoughts and bemoaned his naivety. Amaryllis was Head of Lust for a reason, and with how uncomfortable Asmodeus was with talking about it, clearly…

Clearly something related to that had worked in Asmodeus's favor and helped to relieve his loss of Mana for a bit.

Which… Iruma was happy to be helpful in that regard! Asmodeus had been guarding him by his bedside without rest! He was happy to give him any sort of relief, if it was within his power-

But the timing of these realizations was poor, and now all he could do was stew in his own self-doubt.

He rubbed his cheek with his sleeve again, to distract himself from these over-sensitive emotions.

His breath shuddered as he gave into his worries, and gripped his chest tightly in anguish, "Stop leaving me alone…"

Iruma just needed to hold their hands…

For as much as he was a glutton for food, so too, was he desperately starved for touch.

xXx-xXx-crimson-xXx-xXx

Blushenko-sensei's healing ability was amazing, though everyone involved with his treatment was nervous about Iruma's body's possible reaction to such strain. The sessions were spread out, as there was concern that he might suffer a Magic Overload to his system, or possibly go into shock if his wound were to heal too quickly.

Iruma didn't particularly mind it- it was still lowering how long his recovery would be, and it allowed him to feel a little safer while surrounded by so many demons. However, today he was nervous when he made his way to his and Ameri's usual room for their reading sessions.

Today it wouldn't be just the two of them enjoying each other's company, but a final interview with him for the ongoing investigation on his case.

Iruma took in a cleansing breath, his arm cast in a simple sling, and knocked.

Ameri opened the door with a serious face, and with a quiet nod guided him in.

Henri sat at Ameri's desk, while Iruma was settled into a plush seat across from him. The human teen shifted awkwardly, wishing he could wring his hands in his lap to help bleed out some of his worry through physical means.

Henri folded his hands on the desk, "Iruma-kun, it's good to see that you're doing better."

Iruma nodded, swallowing harshly, "Th-thank you."

It had taken time for him to learn, but Asmodeus informed him that when they'd been picked up to return home, Henri and Sullivan had seen the tent and glade Iruma had called 'Home.'

Iruma's stomach did a nervous flip, and he hoped he wouldn't lose the three plates of food he'd managed to choke down for lunch right then and there.

He wasn't going to be optimistic about it, though.

Henri observed him for a moment before asking, "Iruma, what happened when you were first brought here?"

Iruma blinked, "Hm?" He thought back for a moment as he pursed his lips. "I'd been working on a tuna fishing boat when the water got unusually choppy. My co-worker left me to secure the fish, when suddenly all of the stock cages opened up. I was nearly crushed when the world around me stopped and grandpa showed up, saying 'Your parents have sold your soul to me.' I felt it was pretty unreasonable, but after some begging, I signed the contract with grandpa to become his grandson." He tilted his head, "Why?"

Henri's eyebrow twitched, "Were able to clearly read the contract handed to you, or was it before you were given the capability to read our language?"

Iruma paused as he thought back with a squint. It was so long ago, and he primarily remembered grandpa begging…

"...No, I couldn't read the contract."

Henri and Ameri both couldn't help their instinctive reaction to bring a hand to their face at that response. 'Of course.'

Henri sighed gustily, "It's insane you signed a contract you couldn't read, Iruma-kun."

Iruma shifted uncomfortably in his chair, "Aah, sorry. It's just… after being nearly killed, then having my soul sold by my own parents like property, just to be told I'd be given a roof over my head and three meals a day.. I uhm..." He glanced to the side awkwardly while scratching his cheek, "I kinda caved, even though I was still resistant to the idea at first."

Henri ruffled his hair in slight annoyance before making some notes. "I see. It's understandable at your age to desire stability." It wasn't even unreasonable. He looked over a number of questions and felt like he was about to have a rather rough time of it. "Well then Iruma, let's start with something easy. What was your favorite present from your parents when you were younger?"

Iruma's awkward smile gained a strained quality to it as he shrunk into himself slightly. Henri's brows furrowed at that, along with the prolonged silence. Iruma hesitated a moment too long before he quietly answered, "My favorite dustpan and broom for cleaning the house when we still lived together."

'Sweet Delkira.' Henri felt his stomach drop, 'Not even a blankie?'

Henri scribbled the answer and continued, "Your favorite food?"

Iruma hummed in thought, "I like anything edible, honestly."

Henri gave him a tired look and almost whined, "Nothing specific?"

Iruma blinked, "Opera's cooking?"

Henri sighed. 'Not even something from the Human World.' He pushed up his glasses, "Favorite color?"

Iruma perked up, "Black!"

Henri nodded at that. It seemed… normal for a teenager to like black in some way he supposed. "Favorite season?"

Iruma went to answer before stopping. He cupped his chin in thought, "I don't think it matters either way? Each season has their problems as well as things to like about them?"

Henri nodded to himself before asking a new sort of question, "Did you ever doubt that your parents loved you?"

Iruma froze, his eyes widening at the question. "Did I… doubt my parents..?" He bowed his head, his thoughts racing as he tried to get himself to answer, but the truth fell short.

It felt… disrespectful to say he'd never thought they'd loved him… but they had started using him from the moment he could walk. They never considered his safety, and they always took whatever money he'd made, sometimes even garnishing his checks and preventing him from buying necessities he'd been saving for.

He tried to keep his breathing steady as his good hand clenched his knee and he grit his teeth. 'Did my parents ever truly love me..?'

"...Was there even a reason for me to be born for anything other than my labor?"

He gasped as he clamped his hand to his mouth in shock as a cold sweat broke out on his skin. Tears filled his eyes as he found himself disgusted with what he'd finally admitted to himself. "There were times I wondered, What is the purpose of even being alive..?" His stomach rolled at his admission as he unsteadily pushed himself out of his seat before he stated, "I need to leave."

He didn't wait to be excused before pushing himself out the door to run down the hallway. He knew where the nearest wastebasket was, but he would rather make it to the restroom before giving into his need to throw up.

He barely managed a sink before he retched, throwing the water on as he bent over it painfully. His heart hurt, his stomach hurt, his throat hurt. Something deep and longing he'd ignored Hurt at his own intrusive thoughts.

He'd always, always tried his best to keep such dark thoughts at bay. To simply take every day's pleasures and the scenery around him as a positive, and a reason to keep going.

He'd survived this long, gained friends who loved and accepted him… and yet…

Yet there was that anxiousness, that fear that they'd all abandon him and leave him to suffer alone just like his parents.

He gasped painfully, his shoulder twinging in pain as he gripped the sink with his one good hand. He was grateful school was out and that most students would either have gone home or to their Battlers.

They wouldn't find him being sick and vulnerable in the bathroom.

He swallowed harshly as he tried to control his shallow breathing, but he simply couldn't get a grip on himself.

He'd never wanted to die, but his words had an underlying meaning that'd betrayed him. He'd thought about it only once, and had this same sort of painful physical denial in response to that abrupt passing thought.

He coughed before rinsing out his mouth with an unsteady hand. He leaned against the sink exhausted before he took a few good handfuls of the water to cleanse his mouth and throat before he carefully washed his hand before shutting off the water.

Iruma pushed himself away from the sink, his legs barely strong enough to hold him as he glanced at his reflection.

He looked haggard with rough circles under his eyes. He sniffed and gently wiped at his face and warbled a sigh.

'I'm weak. My will is just… a little bit too weak right now, but I'll be okay. I'll get through this. I have to.'

He took in a deep breath, straightened himself out, and shakily made his way out of the bathroom while cautiously scoping the hall.

"Iruma."

Iruma flinched hard at Ameri's voice as she leaned against the wall with her arms crossed while staring into nowhere.

She shifted to look at him, studying him for a moment, before pushing herself away from the wall and hooking her arm towards him, "Shall we go for a walk?"

Iruma blinked at her extended escort, and lightly grasped her awaiting elbow with a nod, "Okay."

Ameri nodded before she coaxed him outside. She took him through the gardens he'd planted, into the newly worn path towards Royal One before diverging to a side glade. He noticed a bench and found himself being settled onto it before Ameri sat down next to him and pulled him into her side.

Iruma instinctively startled at the action before leaning into her completely and closed his eyes.

He felt her take his good hand gently, while her other hand gently caressed his hair in unspoken affection.

The sun was warm and orange, late in the afternoon as it was. The breeze was pleasant, and the greenery around them was also refreshing. Iruma took in a deep breath before speaking softly, "I'm sorry I said or thought that."

Ameri was quiet for a while as she contemplated what she'd witnessed, "Iruma, even demons who've returned to origin care for their children more than your parents cared for you."

Iruma snorted softly, but relented as he felt his lips turn downwards unwillingly, "Still… I've never really entertained the thought… of not existing."

Ameri ran her fingers through his hair, and she sighed softly to herself, "Something is eating you, Iruma. What's going on?"

Iruma was quiet for a long moment, simply breathing and enjoying Ameri's presence as he collected his thoughts. "I know it would crush Azz-kun if he knew I had started to think like this… but I've started to question if he loves me or not."

Ameri barely kept her composure at his admission before frowning, "Why is that?"

Iruma hummed, "I just… When we were back at that hospital, he kissed me… and it wasn't until later that I realized that I'd had an unusual spark of emotion, and that afterwards he'd seemed satiated. I… I don't mind if my feelings helped him to stay sane while dealing with continuous Mana loss, but ever since we came back, we haven't been able to hang out as much as we used to… and I…" He opened his eyes with a sigh, "I don't know why I feel so anxious and unsure, now."

Ameri was quiet for a long time as she puzzled over his explanation. She was, in fact, more aware of the situation than she'd particularly like, for Asmodeus himself had come to her about it.

It'd been an odd choice on his part, but perhaps now in retrospect, it wasn't.

"I'm worried that my honest intentions will be misunderstood, and it is entirely my fault if that happens." Asmodeus had looked particularly lost and downtrodden before he'd had to excuse himself for training with his mother at that final admission. Ameri was aware that Asmodeus had unintentionally activated his Blood Magic while kissing Iruma, while trying to find out if he could regain some of his Mana.

'What a difficult spot to be placed in.'

In a sense, she, Asmodeus, and Clara were love rivals. Yet, none of them even saw one another as such. In the end, Iruma's happiness mattered more than them quibbling at one another in pathetic skirmishes.

She also was aware that his classmates had all taken in his blood without his consent, and that too, had probably caused some level of damage to his sense of self.

'Oh. Maybe..?' It would be rather presumptuous on her part, but if it could help him gain some sort of sense of control…

Ameri flushed lightly at her idea while she took a moment to figure out how to explain her offer. "Uhm… Iruma..?"

Iruma hummed before looking up at her, "Yeah?"

Ameri carefully moved her arm from around him and released his hand to keep to herself for a moment, avoiding eye contact as she flushed deeply, "Uh-uhm, if… If you wouldn't mind it… would you be willing to ingest a tiny bit of my blood..?"

Iruma didn't even have time to be hurt by her pulling away before gaping at her with a flush, "H-huh?!" It was… wasn't it rare for a demoness to offer her blood to someone?! It'd be more than rude to not yield to her will, but what in the world was she saying!? "I don't mean to be rude but, why are you offering?"

Ameri glanced at him, a little relieved he hadn't just gone with the idea as she waffled a little, "Well, it's just… I think you're sort of reacting like a demon would to an incomplete marriage proposal, and are suffering from a rejection response?"

Iruma stared at her blankly, "Huh?"

Ameri awkwardly twirled a side piece of her hair as she contemplated the events that had led to Iruma feeding Asmodeus his blood. "W-well, it's just… because Asmodeus was struck first, you ended up in contact with his blood, which you then reciprocated. I don't think… I mean. There's probably some level of consequence to sharing blood like that, on purpose or not."

Iruma's eyes widened in realization. Was that why he'd been feeling so dejected, and dare he say… filthy? That he'd somehow felt cast aside by a possible suitor? "A-Ameri, are you sure you'd want to do that with me..?" He could tell she wasn't offering as a Security Devil, but in a romantic sense.

Suddenly a number of things they'd done together in the past gained a new meaning in his conscience.

Iruma blushed deeply as he stared at the ground, "O-oh. You… Do you like me, Ameri-san?"

Ameri was flushed, her horns low as she nodded in slight misery, "I've loved you for a while now, Iruma."

Iruma shifted his gaze to her and truly looked at her for a long moment before swallowing harshly. "If… if you don't mind the idea of me being with Azz-kun and Clara… and being bonded to my entire class… then yes. I'll… I'll accept your proposal." Wait, what was he saying-?!

Ameri brightened as her horns lifted happily. She grinned radiantly, and he felt overwhelmed for a moment by her joy alone that he wasn't prepared for her to just grab him. He barely had time to gasp before their lips met, and her tongue pushed past his lips with a metallic tang as he grabbed onto her with his good hand. He instinctively whined at this abrupt cross of personal boundary (while at school!) and quickly relented to her demand as he took his fill of her blood and pulled away to swallow. He panted, staring up at her in shock as he spoke breathlessly, "You could have warned me!"

Ameri hummed to herself before nuzzling his face, a tiny trail of blood on the side of her lip as she carefully wrapped herself around him, "I'dve honestly lost my nerve, Iruma."

Iruma couldn't help but pout despite the flush of his cheeks as he leaned into her and simply surrendered as was expected of him. "Warn me next time?"

Ameri blinked in surprise before grinning happily, "Whenever you'd like, anytime!"

Iruma sighed softly to himself as he felt relief run through his body from ingesting Ameri's blood.

Someone wanted him and gave of themselves first, and that was a far greater relief than he could've imagined.