Kira

~

"I am so sorry about my daughter, she can have a bit of a temper."

"A little, Mr. Vermillion?" The principal, Ms. Tsukahara, was a stern-faced woman with deep brown hair and narrow grey eyes that conveyed her irritation at me very clearly. Her nails clicked on the table as she spoke to Ares who had been called in, "She destroyed an entire sink, I don't think her temper is just a little."

I open my mouth to speak and point out that, once again, it had been an accident. I'm interrupted by Ares' foot hitting mine under the table. He shoots me a look.

We’re seated across from her, the grand mahogany desk dividing us by a reasonable distance but her hawkish eyes are sharp, as if reading my heart's secrets through my own eyes.

'That's a bit dramatic.' Lucifer huffs .

"Shut up," I whispered, mad he could read my thoughts for some reason. 

"What was that?" She asked coolly.

"Nothing." I flinch.

She gives a grunt of disapproval, turning back to Ares, "Destruction of school property at Hamada High is a serious crime. Our students here are meant to come from prestigious homes and elite families. We don't tolerate behaviours that can tarnish that image."

I shift uncomfortably in my seat. I can feel Ares' anxiety as well, we both didn't like where this conversation was going.

"And what do you suggest is a fitting punishment for Kira?"

"Why of course, the only option is suspen-" A knock on the door cut her off she scowled. "Who's there?"

"Kamamoto, Ma'am." The voice of her assistant replied, "It's important."

"A moment." She says to us before walking up and heading to the door.

I sigh heavily, when we got home after this, Ares was going to kill me. I could feel it in my bones.

"What...that much? Those Vermillions? Are you sure?"

Wait, they were talking about us? I try to spin on my seat but Ares reaches out and me back into place.

"Shh."

I nod.

A few seconds later, Ms. Tsukahara is back behind her desk, looking from me to my stepdad for a while before letting out a sigh.

"Perhaps suspension is too big a punishment."

My shoulders slump in relief, just as swiftly though, I'm alert with suspicion, "Wait, why did you change your mind?"

She faces Ares, ignoring my question, "This one talks back too much, teach her some manners. Your donations to the school's developmental projects are greatly appreciated, consider this a means of repaying that kindness."

"I should be the one thanking you." He chuckles nervously. 

"You understand, though Mr Vermillion, we cannot leave her unpunished.”

It wasn't a question. 

“Of course! She's all yours, I really don't know what's going through her head lately. Straighten her out for me will you.”

The principal nods, “Very well. Starting next week She'll be assisting in clearing up the fallen leaves after school! Take this first week as your grace to settle in. That is all."

“What?! That's-”

Ares drags me into a standing position, cutting off my rant and shoving me into a bow, "Say sorry and Thank you, Kira."

Grumbling, I spit out an apology, "I apologise, and Thanks for letting me stay...or whatever." I righted my stance.

"Don't make me regret it." Is all she says with a dismissive wave.

I step out of the office and into the hallway with Ares at my side, still pissed at my punishment. Picking up leaves that clearly never stop falling! How the hell was I supposed to pull that off?!

My gaze lifts to Ares' back, he's steadfastly ignoring me, the silence between us was tainted with negative emotions from what had happened earlier in the morning and now this.

He stops and finally looks at me when we finally reach the exit of the admin building, the disappointed look with the folded arms was enough to crush my resolve.

"I'm sorry." I mutter, looking anywhere but directly at him, "For what I said earlier and for getting in trouble."

He looks about ready to drag me into a hug but I guess he figures better than to do that in public. I kind of wish he did hug me though.

"Why did you break that sink though?"

"I was...angry?" It comes out as more of a question than I’d it to but I hope inwardly he doesn't notice.

He studies me, an exasperated smile making its way to his face, "We'll talk about everything at home, I have to get back to work now," He ruffles my hair, messing up the brown strands that I had worked so hard on. "Stay out of trouble, please, I doubt you'll be let off so easily next time, money can't solve everything."

I kind of doubted that but this wasn't the time to be a smart-ass. 

"Yes sir." I huff smoothing down my hair. He waves and makes his way outside.  I do too but I'm walking towards the main school building. I'm about climbing the stairs that lead back to the floor of my class when suddenly the piercing sound of the bell echoes through the corridors.

It was time for the first break already.

I had missed three whole periods on my first day. Filled with grief and annoyance at myself, I resist the urge to fall to the ground. 

'At least you're not dead.'

'Right, I'd forgotten about you for a minute.' I  watch students exit their classes one by one or even in groups, chatting animated to each other as they walk past me. The hallway is busy within seconds,  definitely not the place to be talking to myself. 

It takes about three minutes to finally reach my classroom and the few students that are in immediately turn to me. I'd expected that they'd know but did they really have to be so obvious about it?

Moriko is the only one that approaches me though, her brown eyes bright with intrigue, as she opens her mouth to start questioning me.

"Shut it, Blondie," Jade says lightly flicking her forehead. She turns to me, "I'm heading to the library, you can come along if you want to borrow my notes."

The blonde in question pouts, complaining she hadn't said anything yet as I leave to grab my own things. I look between both of them, a bit envious at their apparent closeness. A wave of relief does flood through me though, no one would directly come up and ask right now.

God knows I have no explanation to give anyone.

I tail the two girls to the library, Moriko's one sided storytelling about some blog article she'd read acting as a bit of background noise while Jade explains what had been said in class.

For the first time in a long while, I couldn't help but feel sane.

Normal even.

Maybe keeping these two around wouldn't be so bad.

We grab a table at the back of the library, Moriko quietly complaining about how we're meant to be out enjoying the free time instead of being here. Jade had told her numerous times that she could leave whenever but the blond still stayed to complain. For me their banter quickly fades to a low thrum as I attempt to copy as much as I can from Jade’s notes. 

Trying desperately not to think of the fact that Demons were dwelling within me, I pour my all into writing but my anxiety grows as details of my conversation with Lucifer pop in and out of my mind.

'How do I become stronger?' I asked finally, in my head.

'I don't instruct weaklings, human,' His voice sounds low and bored. Being a demon prince must not be as interesting as I'd thought it'd be.

'Listen here douchebag, I am not giving up this life, I've been through too much, I'll have to die before that happens-'

'Then please do-'

'I won't, and you're gonna tell me how to prove I'm serious. I don't expect you to understand me, but I'm hold onto everything I love for however long I can,' My grip on the pen tightened with my resolve. 

Ares was the most important thing to me. I couldn't leave him, he'd beat himself up for who knows how long, thinking he hurt me or did something wrong. He gave me the chance to be truly happy once more, I couldn't waste that.

This also wasn't the kind of problem I could ignore.

I thought I'd learned to pick my battles, look at me now.

My mind is silent for a long time, almost making me believe I had totally screwed up any chance of pleasing the prideful Demon.

'My alternate task won't be easy,' he warns.

'Bring it.' As soon as the words are out a cold sense of foreboding washes over me like a freezing bucket of water had just been dumped over my head.

'Oh trust me Kira Vermilion, you will come to regret those words.'

***

By the time the end of the school day arrives, I have no idea whether I should be happy or sad.

Happy because the nightmare of a first day was finally over. Or sad because now I had to go home and listen to what Lucifer wanted me to do.

I'm walking with Moriko and Jade once more. The former is thinking of forming a Demona fan club on school grounds for when club activities would begin the next week.

"Bad idea," Jade murmurs, she's flipping through a manga she'd pulled out.

"But why?" She asked unmoved.

"First of all, it's cringe. Second, it sounds so childish I'm sure no one would come."

"Not true, you'd come, right Kira?" She grabs my arm with pleading eyes.

I laugh nervously, "I already plan on joining the girls' Volleyball team."

Jade raises a questioning brow but doesn't take her eyes off her book, "You play Volleyball?" 

"Yup, team made regionals back home," I grin, smartly leaving out the part where I'd missed the winning spike.

"That's awesome…you do look a bit…out of shape," Moriko pinches my cheeks.

A vein in my head throbs, "You calling me fat?" I was pretty average sized in my opinion. A bit short for an athlete maybe but that didn't matter, I had skill, and determination to make up for it.

"Don't listen to her, she hardly thinks before speaking," Jade rolls her eyes as we reach the gate, "See you two tomorrow then. Straight home for me."

We wave as she starts down the street. Moriko tugs on my blazer sleeve, "I'm meeting up with some friends at a popular ramen place, come along so I can introduce you to everyone."

As much as I would have loved to spend the rest of the day acting like a normal teenager, I had a cocky demon to prove my worth to.

I decline politely, "Some other time."

"I'll hold you to that." She winks before bounding off towards some other group, pigtails swishing with the wind.

I take a train home, getting there to find Kat having a video chat with one of her other streamer friends who I fail at trying to remember.

She spares me a side eye before turning back to whoever it is. Sometimes I did wish we could get along but so many of her terrible memories were probably attached to me.

I could relate but burying the past was easier. Never speaking of it till it faded to the deepest recesses of my mind. I could forget and keep forgetting, all because I wanted to be happy, I wanted to move on. 

'Coward,’Lucifer sings derisively.

"Shut up," I growl under my breath as I fall face-first into my bed.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. If I succeeded, Lucifer would train me. The stronger I became, the easier it would be to protect everyone from the shadows until I could finally pass this wretched Seal thing down.

'Douchebag Demon?'

'Show some respect human, your life is going to be at my mercy for the next couple of hours, best not to anger me '

I can practically hear the pure delight in his tone as if waiting for me to screw up.

'As the Keeper, your current enemy right now is Nightmare, He's tried taking the Seal before but failed, right now we now very littleof his next plans. I'll tell you what we do know in due time, that is if you survive.' A chilling chuckle precedes his next statement, 'He uses human souls to give the Demons who work with him more power, in doing so he sows chaos across the Planes of Existence- don't interrupt, I'll explain those later, we have more pressing issues.'

I swallow the bubbling questions back down.

The Demon continues,  'Before Hikari died, we found out too humans were being taken to feed his men and he's about to transport them. The Jorōgumo killings are just a cover.'

I listen, wondering once again if I might actually be going crazy. This  all sounded like something out of some twisted fantasy story. "Let me guess, you want me to free these humans?" Getting up, I begin to take off my school clothes.

'If you can.'

Not the answer I was expecting. I put on a loose shirt and a pair of shorts.

'You succeed in carrying out this simple task, I will reevaluate my thoughts on your stance, and treat you as our new Master.’

I put on some workout music and begin to stretch.

"When do we leave?" 

I just had to use this crazy new Demon power right? Easy enough.

'A few hours from now. Nightfall is when it's best to carry out bloody deeds in this cursed city.'

I look out my window, taking in the bustling afternoon streets full of cars and people.

'You said you'd sooner die than give up on a regular life, Kira Vermillion, that death might come much sooner than you think.'

"I don't plan on giving up psycho, just tell me what I have to do and just you watch, I'm not useless or stupid when it comes to fights," I said while jogging on the spot.

'I already know more about you than I want to, what lurks behind the face you wear for others and I hope to bring it out. But remember, Pride does come before the fall.'

The irony of that statement couldn't be more obvious but right now, I had a job to get ready for.