"My magic watch says that you are not wearing  underwear!" Melissa stood near the washing machine while Akagi stuffed it with his laundry. He had a cigarette in his mouth. His phone started ringing and he picked it up.

"I am wearing one," Akagi assured her and picked up the call. It was his editor, who like any typical editor, had called him to eat his head about the deadline. He talked on the call while Melissa groped his butt.

"It must be fifteen minutes early," She said. He punched her and continued talking. After hanging up the call, he threw his phone aside and sat at the dining table. They were at their apartment.

He began eating his cereal while Melissa sat beside him "We shouldn't leave Lict alone with Vierne. What if he tries to kill her?"

Akagi chewed his food and nodded. He was lost in a daze. He kept the spoon into the empty cereal bowl.

"Melissa,"

"Yes?"

He picked up his car keys "Let's go."

He drove through that narrow road between the forest which hadn't had many guests for many years. It was a slightly foggy forest, with the smell of rain all around. The roads were wet from the morning dew. Melissa sat in the back seat, snoring as the mild sunlight heated her face.

Akagi stopped at the gate of Vierne's mansion. Melissa slept in the back seat while he got down from the car and walked towards the old, metal gate. He pushed it and it opened with a creaking voice of old metal. As he stepped inside, he felt a heaviness in the air. He pressed his chest, not knowing what it was.

"Lord Akagi?" He heard and looked up. It was Vierne.

"What are you doing here?" She asked. He didn't feel the air to be as heavy anymore.

"Lord Akagi?"

"I came to see you."

Vierne blushed "You came to see me?"

"Can we talk for a bit?"

"Yes, sure! I'll tell Lict to go lay some tea—"

"No." Akagi interrupted "Let's just walk around the garden. I need to leave in an hour anyway."

"As you say."

Vierne and Akagi walked through the garden.

"What were you doing outside?" Akagi asked Vierne.

"I was just taking a morning walk in my mom's rose garden."

"Rose garden?"

"You see that white fountain there? That's my mom's rose garden. Do you want to have a closer look, Lord Akagi?" Akagi slowly moved towards the slightly foggy, rose garden. His eyes glowed bright red. He could hear shrieks and whispers. He stopped abruptly. Vierne looked back at him.

"What is it, Lord Akagi?" She asked. His eyes wandered all across the garden. The red roses were dripping blood and the floor made of stone was on fire. There was a skeleton laying on the floor. But all this only happened in his eyes. He took a step back.

"Lord Akagi?" Vierne looked smaller.

'Something has happened here.'

He looked at Vierne who was normal now, "Can we sit somewhere?"

They sat at a tea table carved out of fine, white marble.

"Vierne, has something happened inside your mom's garden?"

"Something like?"

"Death. Did someone die there?"

"No? Why would you think that?" She asked.

"It's nothing."

'I have to be careful around here.' Akagi thought.

"Could I stay here with you? You must have empty rooms with you. I'll pay the rent."

"Oh, it would be an honour to have you here. Don't worry about the rent. Just make yourself comfortable. But why do you want to suddenly shift?"

"Actually I want to experience how it feels," He looked aside at the rose garden "To live in this mansion."

"Oh, I see. I'll ask Lict to arrange for a room," She smiled.

"Alright. I'll get my stuff by tomorrow." Akagi got up.

"I want to ask you something." Vierne asked "I've been thinking about this for a while. Lict kind of looks like my father, why is that so?"

"Stars usually take the forms of people from your happiest memories."

"Then, who does Melissa look like?"

"Like an accident."

"Pardon?"

Akagi left the mansion. As soon as he came out of the gate, he felt much easier to breathe and his chest felt lighter. He turned back and looked at the mansion.

"There is something in there..." He whispered and looked ahead again. Melissa was still asleep. Her face was paler than usual. "I don't have a good feeling about what I just did, Melissa."

Vierne walked inside the mansion and called out for Lict. He appeared before her and pressed his heart.

"Command me, Milady."

"Lord Akagi will be staying with us from tomorrow." Lict's expression turned sour "Yes, Milady."

"He will be here tomorrow morning with his luggage. You shall arrange for the best room for him."

"Yes, Milady."

Later in the evening, Lict opened an old room he had cleaned the day before. He opened the curtains and looked outside the window. He could see Lady Laura's rose garden and the main gate.

"I hate that man." He made a pout and walked away. He closed the door as the moonlight peeped through the window and soon disappeared.

The next day, Akagi was there with a luggage bag. Vierne and Lict waited for them at the door.

"Is that all?" Vierne asked.

"Yeah, I don't carry around a lot of luggage. I'd bring in some clothes now and then."

"Alright." Vierne smiled but then she looked at Melissa getting down from the car with her luggage bag. She glared at her "Hi Vierne!" Melissa smiled.

"Good day." Vierne looked away.

"Lord Akagi, what about her?" She asked.

"Oh, she'll stay with me. You see, I can't let her be away from me."

"Sex is important for health." Melissa smiled.

"Where's our room?" Akagi ignored her and asked Lict.

"You would be living in the same room?" Vierne asked.

"Don't you?" Akagi asked.

"Not at all!" Vierne snarked. Akagi started at Lict and smirked, "If I were in place of you, I wouldn't either."

Lict rolled his eyes.

"My room, butler." Akagi leaned towards Lict "Where's my room?"

Lict closed his eyes and bit his lips "Follow me, please."

Akagi followed him while Melissa stood beside Vierne.

"Have you been well?" Melissa asked.

"Why? Should I have not been well?" Vierne said.

"Wow, you're rude." Melissa smiled "Just my type."

Vierne crossed her arms and looked away "I want to ask you something," Melissa said.

"What?"

"I guess I can wait. If you think you're getting sick or see anything bizarre, come straight to me."

"I didn't quite understand that."

"You will, soon."

'This conversation is perhaps quite unnecessary, isn't it?' Vierne thought.

"Just know," Melissa said, "When to resist—"

"Is this about Lict? If it is, then I don't care what you tell me. He is mine."

"He wasn't always yours, you know."

Lict and Akagi walked into the halls.

"Hey," Akagi said, "What are you up to?"

Lict turned back and looked at Akagi "What do you mean?"

"I've felt something icky in this mansion."

"I don't know what you're talking about—"

Akagi grabbed Lict's neck and slammed him on the wall "Stop lying! You are doing all this, aren't you?"

"What is wrong with you?"

"You want to kill Vierne, don't you?"

"Why would I want that?"

"Don't you dare lie to me." Akagi's grip got stronger. Lict's eyes glowed goldenly and repelled Akagi. He felt a strong burn on his hand.

"Just because you're Milady's guest, I won't be hurting you. What I just did was self-defence. But the same mistakes aren't forgiven twice, and accidents tend to happen among the realm of stars and demons. Next time you touch me and I won't hesitate to cut your arm off."

-To be continued

Lict The hour of Music
Dear Ms Lady Demigod