The Tale of how I Received an Awkward Reunion With a Demon Lord.

Laif's impressive shot was ruled accidental by our instructor who was mainly impressed by his accuracy.

Me, Nyx, and Torrikkusatu weren't charged with anything either but as we didn't do anything that was expected.

Gurak, on the other hand, was immediately apprehended by a handful of guards. He didn't resist arrest however and instead went with them without struggle to a jail where he was sentenced to death in a week.

Me, Laif, Nyx, and Torrikkusatu were given a two weeks to grieve without having to continue our training. Even if the real reason was because our instructor was dealing with paperwork it was still nice.

Velacia let us stay at The Salty Hound for free due to her relationship to Gurak, which was nice cause as far as I was concerned nobody had any guld.

In the dead of night I sat in front of Gurak's cell cross-legged. Normally visitor's weren't allowed so close but with Vanish I had no problem sneaking by.

"So that's what's been on your mind?" I asked in a hushed voice as to not alarm the guards.

Gurak nodded shamefully, as vague as I was he knew exactly what I was talking about. "the psychologist knew. He said that I'm a traitor, a demon who hunts demons. Ironic isn't it? ...What are you doing here anyway, don't you also hate demons?"

I look down both sides of the hall of cells we were in, Gurak's cell was pretty far down so I had to be perceptive. Fortunately the coast was clear.

I extended my hand and opened it. A white and black flame danced around my hand. Not a exceptionally impressive feat, but one I was proud of nonetheless."Not quite."

Gurak stumbled back into his cell with a horrified look on his face.

"Not all demon-kind is evil, The Chained Demon is as twisted as they come that much is true. But there are also good ones, a whole town of them in fact. However The Organization wishes to kill them all, the good and the bad. As long as they don't work for them that is," I said. Gurak was still silent however, still in shock it appeared.

"I know this is hard to believe, but The Demon Slayers Organization are the ones responsible for your family's death. I have no official proof but given what I do know, I'd wager they let you live on purpose. As you grew older, you began to grow a hatred for demons which would make joining The Demon Slayers Organization more and more enticing," I deduced, seeing Gurak's face I could tell he was still in shock. "I'm gonna go, just know we haven't given up, even after knowing who you are."

                                 ****************************

Laif and Nyx were restless due to Gurak's unveiling and so they spent their time talking between another.

"What do you think about Gurak?" Laif asked as he sat on the ground cross-legged across from Nyx.

"He's our friend, we've been through a lot, he's helped both of us more times then either of us can count combined, it doesn't matter what he is, we already know who he is and that person hasn't changed," Nyx replied before blushing like a schoolgirl as Laif stared directly at her, spellbound as ever.

"...Wow, that was something. I agree wholeheartedly, but it's impressive you had the courage to say it," Laif said as he continued stared at Nyx in awe, seeing her blushing face caused his own face to heat up.

In the moment of silence a cloud obstructing the full moon's glow passed letting the light beam into the room where the two sat across from another.

Laif saw how beautiful his seemingly lifelong crush looked in the silver light, and a burst confidence erupted in him.

He leaned forward, his heart began to race as his throat tightened up, his nervousness settled down a little as he saw Nyx's face was one of shock but not disgust.

Laif was finally gonna get what he always wanted.

Until the door burst open.

"So how are we gon-" I looked between Laif and Nyx realizing what I interrupted. Nyx collapsed backward covering her face in embarrassment, whereas Laif's face was red for another reason.

"You damn imbecile! Do you know how long I've waited for this!? How long I've wanted to tell her how I feel?" Nyx peaked through her hands at Laif who was borderline stomping in fury. "This was the perfect chance and you fudged it up! I thought with Gurak in jail I'd at least get this! But no, you have to go and take his place!"

Part of me legitimately felt bad for Laif, but the better part couldn't help but laugh.

"Shut up! What's so funny!?"

Nyx stood up and grabbed Laif's face turning it to her own.

Laif's moment wasn't completely ruined by me after all as their lips met in the moonlight after all. "You know what, Gurak has a whole week, I'll see you Tomorrow. Bye." I said before leaving the two alone.

Torrikkusatu was waiting in front of my room, he had finally gotten cleaned up but I still didn't like that he was leaning his blood stained clothes against Velacia's walls.

"What's up?" I asked nervously.

He looked at me with sparkling yoai eyes. "I figured since love was in the air maybe we cou-"

"Nope."

Torrikkusatu broke out in laughter as he couldn't keep the facade up any longer. "Wow, give a guy a break. What if I was serious? You could've seriously hurt my feelings."

"You didn't answer my question." I said returning to the subject of our conversation.

"Killjoy. Fine I'm here to say I'm in. Busting our pal out sounds fun. Maybe I'll get a challenge before heading back to the Orochi Isles. "

I didn't know a lot about the Orochi Isles but from what I'd heard it was the most dangerous place in Rexia and it's people were stubborn and pretty douchey in general. I figured Torrikkusatu would fit right in.

"At least pretend your worried."

"Nope."

Our conversation ended just like that before Torrikkusatu returned to his own room allowing me to rest in mine. The next morning I was the first up most likely because of my anxiety.

As I walked down stairs in the process of waking up a member of The Chained Demon grabbed my arm and pulled me to it.

"Your Tokuma Jiroki? There's someone here. My Lord, she wishes to see you," he whispered hastily "Ma-"

As he began his next word Cut barged in interrupting him with a sinister smile on his face. "Fyr. What are you doing here? I trust your mission was complete? How about you tell me about it on our way to the palace."

Fyr begrudgingly followed, anxiously looking around every corner.

I pushed the encounter to the side due to the lack of my morning caffeine dosage yet, I couldn't help but think something was up.

Valencia was the next up and she immediately began wiping down the bar and taking inventory to be sure I didn't steal anything.

Valencia grabbed a bottle of liquor and scrubbed it to a shine. "So y'all freeing my boyfriend from jail?" She said nonchalantly.

I nearly spat my coffee which would've been a shame. There was numerous lies I could've said but I figured she had a right to know. "When did everyone learn about this?"

"I knew from the start, that's actually why I let you stay here free of charge."

"Is that so?" I asked drained of pride.

"Just don't fail, I need my Gu-Gu." 

"Could you do me a favor and just never say that again?"

We all sat around a table to discuss our prison break after everyone woke up.

"So here's the plan. I can vanish and sneak in without any problems, however getting Gurak out is gonna be difficult, that's why I need Torrikkusatu on the inside disguised as a member to escort him out after I get him out of his cell. However, even with the disguise the guard'll figure somthing's up. Which is why Laif and Nyx will be initiating a fake prison break on the opposite side of the jail. The plan should go, Laif and Nyx initiate the jail break, Torrikkusatu steals a uniform and find Gurak's cell where I will be waiting with Gurak."

"And how do you plan on breaking him out of the cell itself? We don't have exactly have a key," Torrikkusatu asked.

"I got that covered" I answered smugly. "Is everyone ready?"

They all nodded their heads in agreement.

                                 *************************

As I made my way to the prison I noticed that I had a tail, a demon in a dark cloak. Another member of The Chained Demon, possibly Cut himself. I couldn't risk letting them know what I was up to so I took a few detours in attempt to dissuade whoever it was but to no avail.

Eventually I turned into an alley where it followed only to be ambushed and pushed to the wall with my blade at its throat.

I knew that I would probably have to kill any member of The Chained Demon whom I threatened in fear of them ratting me off but I hoped to get some information.

My blade's tip slowly pushed up into it's throat.

"Wait, Tokuma."

As soon as I heard her voice I retracted my sword.

The demon lowered it's hood and revealed itself as Makono.

I felt sick as I recalled myself contemplating killing her on the spot.

I didn't have time though as someone started walking by the alley, instinctively I moved forward to block it's view.

"What are you doing here?" I asked in a hushed voice yet it was clear that I wasn't pleased. "Did Lux send you? I've been reporting nightly."

"No I came here myself." She replied hushed and flustered. "You know your awfully close."

"Don't have a choice, somebody decided to delve into the middle of an entire castle filled with people that want her dead, alone!" I argued with a raised voice whilst trying to sound discreet which made me sound kinda like a dealer, the alleyway I was in didn't help that either.

"I wasn't alone, there was another demon, Fyr."

The name was familiar but I didn't dwell. "Still, it's too dangerous." I said as I took a step back.

Makono clenched her hand into a fist. "So what if it is. I'm tired of people dying for me, of people putting my life above their own, it's not fair that I have to live while everyone I care about dies for me! I'd rather die than let that happen ever again." As she continued Makono's voice began to break.

"So instead your gonna make everyone else feel like that? Lux, Miyamoto, Usagi, Graxia, Luna, Volx, Koroki, Musashi, everyone at Towyn, Me? Didn't you just say you'd rather die then feel that way!?What makes you think we're not the same!? That we wouldn't rather die then then lose you!?"

"..."

"You think that your being selfless by offering your life to save ours, but your wrong, if you die and leave us. That would be the most selfish thing possible." I finished.

"I'm sorry. I really am but I can't let you die." Makono sobbed as she wrapped her arms around me.

After awhile of recovering from the shock I was just put in. "Fine, if you won't go back home then so be it. But just so you know. I'm not letting you die either. Also ...I'm kinda in the middle of a prison break."

After giving Makono a brief explanation of Gurak I awkwardly led Makono back to The Salty Hound.

'That royal flame, it was...' Makono thought on our way to the inn.

Velacia's eyes widened at the sight of Makono walking in beside me. "One demon or two I can get by, but that aura. That's the demon lord."

Unfortunately for me, Laif and the others still hadn't left either, so me and Makono were getting stared daggers from them as well.

Torrikkusatu began laughing as he leaned back and rested his feet on the table. "I did not expect that."