❀✿

Hɪʙɪᴋɪ

It's my turn to tell the perspective of it all. I still don't remember why I agreed to this. I'll warn you now, my say in all this will be nothing but short.

In no time at all, as soon as the human prince and his automaton left, I took Sora's hand in my own. I should have acted faster. I could have evaded this if I didn't concern myself with introductions. My plan was to at least let her confide in me before I went and said, "Hey, I know it's your wedding day, but may I take your ring and smash the gemstone on it?" For, I was a fool, no better then that, that overindulged prince and his too youthful, new companion.

Nonetheless, I knew the deals I have made, the things promised. They were to be my comrades, on the soon-to-be quest I proposed. I had it planned out, every detail. I had spent months in preparation. Yet, I definitely hadn't planned on this. I knew that Kaosū, the person in-between demon and spirit, would awaken today. On February 19th, ninety years after my father had managed to seal him/her away once and for all.

I suppose I should explain this utterly ridiculous story and why I am doing what I must, as have the others when telling their own tale.

Kaosū no Mahō is, as I've said, a being who is neither spirit nor demon, but both. This negative inequality between the two species gives only agony, grief, and tribulations. She was originally my father's cousin, who had been born with this "illness". Nevertheless, when we tried to end her misery, she became determined to control her misfortunate abilities, and she willed them against others. Such a power could easily combat the previous Emperor's, so Michaelis Shadou took action and sealed Kaosū, or Chaos, away in a gem.

An onyx, to be exact. It deemed most useful for the situation, I was told, since the onyx was thought to help one change bad habits, and keep nightmares at bay. Such an incompetent meaning for a precious jewel. I'm not permitted to argue against he who I must call 'father', no matter how pansy of a definition it is.

My mother and father... Let's stop there for a moment. I can't bare calling them by that name, the name of those who are supposed to love you. Supposed to be family. I'll call them by their given names, Cordelia and Michaelis. They ruled together, and enacted a peace treaty with the last generation of Tekonn's rulers, as well as a few other nations that are a bore, so I won't name them yet. Cordelia and Michaelis were the most prominent and superior of the bloodline, according to the history books and the people of the Empire.

These standards plummeted after Michaelis disappeared. He vanished without a trace one day, the only clue to his disappearance being how he spoke to me the day before he left. It was the first time he had spoken to me since I was a child. I thought nothing of it, since I only feel cold-blooded towards him. His last line, was his most famous line.

"I must honor my promise," Michaelis Tsukino said to me that day, his ageless grin grimaced at me. A smirk, that Cordelia says I have gained from none other than him. Now my mother—I don't know where to start with her. She wasn't even my actual mother.

I'm tired of speaking of my parents. This subject is only a hindrance, halting me from saving the life of dear, fragile Sora. As I held her before, the weight could effortlessly be juxtaposed with holding a sheet of papyrus, in spite of how absurd my analogy may sound. If I held her too tightly, a crease could be made, a scar that lasted forever. I can't think of a better way to describe it in such little time, but I knew it was almost hysterical, seeing how flimsy she was.

Alas, I'll stop stalling now. I'll give you all what you've been waiting for. The question with an answer, waiting to be told.

I was going to make a demonic contract with Sora. It was no more than the only way I knew how to save a lingering soul, and no less then what would save the obstreperous fox. She was nothing more than a burthen to me, but my callous conscious says that saving her is the best option if I'm going to complete my goals. And, showing a tad of false sympathy for her in front of that excuse for a prince, would also benefit our ties.

A verbal confirmation from her wasn't needed, for I could feel the will to survive emanating from the core of her soul, as a reincarnation. I ponder, why does she hide the uniqueness of her identity? She was wearing contacts when we met, did it connect somehow?

Now, I could save her at any time I wished. Nonetheless, I'm glad the intolerable prince and the animatronic didn't stay. It would harm my ego if they watched what would happen next.

I, Akki Shadou the malevolent and malignant, 67th Emperor of the Shadou Empire, will cease to express benevolent solicitude for another creature. It's my unsaid promise. For, with love comes weakness. With weakness, comes bloodshed. One would probably ask, why I am saying such things? Why aren't I saving the girl's miserable life?

There's nothing much I could say to excuse myself except: sealing a demonic contract with someone is no more than a kiss.

But, I won't tell you anymore then this. I hate giving my opinion on things.

❀✿

Sᴏʀᴀ

What I felt was indescribable, but I'll try my best to convey how it seemed. So... try to bare with me here. It's too bad I'm not good with my words, antithetical to Tomoe.

Agonizing torment emanated from my head. It was accurate to how I felt when I was possessed to move forward, when I first met Hibiki. My eyelids felt like they were sewn shut, as if the weight of a thousand rested on my lashes. My limbs were completely limp, and I could not perceive the will to move. Yet, in spite of all that, I was undoubtedly conscious, or I wouldn't have felt such distress. I let out a strangled scream, but I ceased to feel. The anguish radiated, from every fiber of my being. It was excruciating, searing. It was a grieving, aching way to live. it remained this way for what felt like decades. A cold-blooded chill escaped through my veins, and I felt fearful of what would become of me. Hah, if only I was a wordsmith, I could describe it in so many ways.

One ominously nerve-racking question clouded my mind. Was I dead?

...

Then, I opened my eyes.

A piercing light blinded me and with it, pressure and warmth returned to my body. I began to gasp for air, my lungs completely empty. The only remnant of any torture I had felt before seemed to have been vacuumed away, radiating faintly on the side of my neck, barely above my collarbone. My throat was parched but I was relieved to have my senses returned to me, an ordinary annoyance was subdued. My eyes were wide awake for I was scarcely in belief that everything that had happened would return with the timeless moment of darkness that comes with a blink.  

After a minute or two, I was finally able to depict where I was. I was staring at the ceiling of the room where the wedding took place, the private church in the Tekonn Castle. I could make out the arched beams which came together to form a cone-shaped roof. The room smelled of ash and old parchments. Nothing was out of the ordinary, or so I thought.

With a weary tilt of the head, I saw Hibiki gazing down at me. I couldn't tell if it was a look of compassion or pity. Did it even matter? I briskly became red-faced, since the only noise in the room was the sound of me, trying to regain my breath. His eyes, those cheekbones.. it was comforting to my eyes, but I couldn't imagine how someone so captivating could be a demon.

His charcoal black hair was swept over his face, barely covering his ruby-stained eyes, which seemed even more protruding with the black getup. His hair was as scruffy as it was composed, allowing him to look imperfect, unlike Tomoe who constantly upheld that handsome facade. Gleaming eyes met my own, and I then realized I was lying on the floor. Hibiki leaned against a pillar to the side of me, arms crossed with agitation. He shifted, about to hold a hand out to me, but then turned away. We were on the opposite side of the room from where we had met. His winsome regard changed to irritation as he seemed to impatiently wait for me to speak. I silently noted how he was half a foot taller than me too.

As I stood at a leisurely pace, placing a hand on the rose quartz pillars for support, I asked him a single question, "Did something happen?" I continued with a stutter, "I-I can only remember falling... the impact of the carpeted palace gardens... and aching." I pieced my words together slowly, shamefaced at the sound of my frail voice. I cleared my throat, in hopes of ridding myself of the sorrowful sound. Time seemed like a missing element in all that had happened to me. With that nonspecific thought, I quickly stated, "What day is it?"

His expression became rigid, but curiosity seemed to keep him from frowning. "It's February 19th, the day of your unwilling wedding. There's no hiding how much you hated the event." Hibiki stood proudly and yawned, his fanged teeth relating him to a lion. "It's best I stop postponing what I came in search of," He paused, to scrutinize me, I guessed, "I interrupted the unwanted ceremony in search of making a deal with the three of you: the fox, the prince, and the artificial intelligence." His raspy voice sounded as parched as my own as he continued, "You fell from these heights, and you were thought to have committed suicide. Though, I was able to save you, with a price. I can only answer three more questions until then."

My instincts told me to swiftly respond, Until what? But I bit my tongue. I quickly surveyed my surroundings. Hundreds of questions were at the tip of my tongue. Why have you taken an interest in me? Why is Tomoe needed? Who is the 'artificial intelligence'? How am I still alive? I chose the wisest option, instead of what I most wanted.

"Tell me then, Demon Lord, how did you save me?" I spoke with an ingenious tone that didn't match my inner feelings. It seemed to perk his interest nonetheless.

"I formed a demonic contract between us. Your signature—speaking figuratively—was your will to survive. I had no other choice. There are benefits and deficiencies to these contracts, that mustn't be discussed here or now. Yet, clever fox, I'll tell you one thing," He leaned down, inches away from my face, seemingly incredibly intimidating with his height. His carved grin returned, and my face was painted with blush. The world seemed to freeze in this instance. My heart skipped a beat as I waited for what he would say.

.  .  .

"You're an idiot," he whispered with a sultry tone.

I didn't hesitate to step back and glare back with an anxious expression. "W-What was that for?!" I shouted with dismay. My embarrassment continued to be plastered on my face. I was definitely a fool, for believing he had such an interest in me. His smirk gained content, and his warm, fearless smile seemed to brighten anyone's day. Not mine. I had a sharp feeling to smack him, but I resisted.

In response, he released a satisfied chuckle. "It's hilarious seeing how flushed your face gets, avaricious little fox. I'm not revealing my secrets just yet." His words sent a chill down my spine, but he paused before adding:

"Two more questions."

I now knew he wouldn't answer any hard-to-explain questions anytime soon, so I took a simple path. "Until what?", I said, struggling to regain my composure from what had happened between us.

"Tomoe and Haruka come back." Hibiki said, amused with the topic, but a hint of concern. "Don't go flaunting that mark, though. It can get you in trouble."

"What?"

"The contract seal; proof of it's existence. It's not something you can just waltz around with. I'm a villain with the people of Aithe, exception for my own." He reached forward and tapped the side of my neck, where the pain had ceased. "You won't be able to feel it, but it's there, try looking in a mirror without a gauze. Besides, you'd be dead without me. You might be dead as soon as that seal is lifted. I am serious."

"Y-Yeah, whatever you say." I was officially struck with both curiosity and ignorance. I snatched the bandage out of his hand, and placed it where I felt a sting on my neck before. He seemed to loosen up at the sight, as if it was relieving.

"And here they are," he said broadly, his voice echoing in the room. The door creaked open, and I saw a rose haired young girl peak her head through the crack.

Before I leave, I'll briskly add what the contract seal looked like: