Yume
When Yume returned to the bar, he saw Kasu sitting with a beautiful woman. Although Yume was more interested in men, he couldn't deny that her beauty was striking—her hair was a beautiful silvery-white and cascaded down her back in soft waves.
Yume had never seen Kasu smile like that before. He felt a small knot form in his stomach.

Kasu wielded the power of hatred, darkness, death, and suffering, and Yume had never believed he could fall in love with anyone. But there he was, laughing and talking with a woman. It hurt to see them together, even though Yume knew he would never have the courage to tell Kasu how he felt.

"Why did you leave me, little fox?" Asmodeus suddenly whispered in Yume's ear, his voice low. Yume felt his heart race.
"I'm not interested in you," he lied quickly, trying to keep his voice steady. "I was just bored, so we'll never see each other again." Of course, he hoped they would meet again—there was something about Asmodeus.

Asmodeus smiled faintly. "Let me at least buy you one last drink." He ordered two whiskeys. Yume watched him, almost hypnotized by his presence, but he forced himself to stay cool.
Asmodeus was beautiful, there was no doubt about that. But Yume wasn't there to admire him. He liked someone else, and that someone was Kasu. Kasu, who could never feel the same way about him. Yume knew he would have to live with that secret; if he said it out loud, it would only ruin everything. Kasu would never understand, and he would probably hate him for it.
"You love the other demon, don't you?" Asmodeus suddenly asked, his voice low.

Yume felt as though he had been exposed. "How did you know? I've never said anything, can you read minds?" he asked, surprised at how certain Asmodeus seemed.
Asmodeus chuckled softly. "No, I can't read minds. But I'm a demon, and I have the ability to manipulate and understand more than you think. And when it comes to love... I can see how you look at him." His eyes glimmered darkly.
Yume felt a twinge of unease. "Have you ever loved anyone?" he asked, more to break the silence than to get an answer.
Asmodeus shrugged and smiled. "Yes, of course. Many. But I'm not sure I miss them. Maybe you lose yourself in your own power and forget what you once felt."

Nothing more was said about love. They sat in silence, not speaking any further. Yume looked at Asmodeus one last time before Kasu returned, the beautiful woman standing by his side. 
Yume's heart pounded as he saw Kasu so happy, so relaxed. 
"It's time to go home, Yume," Kasu said, his voice as usual but with a hint of something new in his tone—he sounded slightly happy. 
"And this is Sinora. She's half-demon and will be joining us." 

Yume drank the last drops of his whiskey, exhaled, and took Asmodeus's hand. 
"It was nice meeting you, Asmodeus," he said, smiling, though his voice was tinged with a hint of melancholy. "But we'll never see each other again. Take care of yourself." Yume said and looked at  Asmodeus who smiled and kissed Yume lightly on the cheek. "Oh, we will," he said with a confident smile. "I'm sure we'll meet again."

Yume noticed that Kasu had already left the bar, and without saying a word to Asmodeus, he ran after him. Maybe, just maybe, they would never meet again, but Yume hoped he would see Asmodeus – the demon of lust, manipulation, and forbidden knowledge, again some day soon.

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An Unexpected Guest in the Underrealm

When Draegon's son, Kasu, returned home with a half-demon at his side, Draegon was not pleased. He stood in the doorway of the grand palace, his eyes narrowing as he regarded the young woman next to Kasu.

A gnawing mix of anger and unease twisted in Draegon's gut. That feeling—something was wrong, something didn't belong. But he was determined to keep his composure.

"What is this?" Draegon growled, his voice cold as ice. Still, he couldn't help but feel a deep worry—for his son, and for the fact that a half-demon stood beside him.

Kasu, who had expected his father's anger, held his gaze. "Her name is Selene. I want her to stay here for a while. I think I love her," Kasu said, bowing respectfully to his father.

Draegon swallowed hard. His face remained motionless, cold as stone. A half-demon. A creature that didn't quite belong in the underworld, not quite human, not quite demon. Draegon had always despised their kind. To him, they were an unnatural seed that should never take root in the dark realm.

But Kasu was his blood. His legacy. And it was for Kasu that Draegon felt a worry he didn't want to admit. Kasu was his son—he loved him more than anything, even if he'd never show it. But could Draegon truly accept this... half-demon as his son's choice?

Draegon studied Selene carefully. Her beauty was striking. Her eyes were amber, intense. Her silver-white hair flowed down her back in soft waves. She was beautiful, yes. Could I allow her to stay here? he wondered. But he already knew the answer. He didn't want to. He didn't want her here, mingling with his people. It was dangerous. Yet something gnawed at him. Could I really lose my son over a half-demon?

Draegon glanced at Yume, who stood silently beside Kasu. Yume did not look pleased. His face was somber, his eyes red, as though he had been crying. Yume had been Kasu's protector and best friend since childhood. Draegon had always suspected that Yume felt something more for Kasu—perhaps even loved him.

Draegon didn't want to confront it. He didn't want to create more problems. Yume had chosen to stay by Kasu's side, and Draegon knew that Yume would always be loyal to his son.

"Selene may stay for a time," Draegon said at last, his voice still cold and distant. He turned and walked slowly toward his throne room, though not without casting one final glance back at them. "Just keep her away from my throne room. Half-bloods don't belong in the underworld, and I won't tolerate you losing your place here, Kasu."

Kasu and Selene retreated to his chambers, where they could speak freely without Draegon overhearing. Kasu looked at Selene and smiled. "Forgive my father," he said softly. "He's never liked half-demons."

Selene, who had kept her eyes on the floor as they entered, looked up to meet his gaze. "It's okay," she said with a faint smile. "I can handle it. But... who was that fox-demon beside you? He seemed important to you."

"That was Yume Zion. My protector. I'll inherit the underworld one day, and he's been the one to guard me. We grew up together—he's been my best friend ever since."

Selene nodded, though her expression turned serious. "So... has your father ever protected you? Is he really as cold as he seems? I don't understand... why does he seem to hate me?"

Kasu sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. "My father... he loves me in his own way. He never shows it. He just—he doesn't like half-demons. I don't know why."

Selene stepped to the window, gazing out at the vast garden beyond. "I don't know if he'll ever accept me, Kasu. I'm just... a half-demon. It's hard to belong in a place where you don't truly fit."

Kasu approached and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "It doesn't matter to me that you're a half-demon, Selene. You belong here—with me." He leaned in and kissed her softly.

A Few Days Later

Kasu lay on the bed, his eyes fixed on Selene, who stood at the foot of the large bed. Moonlight spilled through the open window, mingling with the warmth of their bodies. Selene was silent, but her eyes brimmed with uncertainty and yearning.

Kasu reached out and gently brushed a strand of shimmering silver hair from her face. "You're so beautiful," he whispered.

Selene smiled shyly, a blush blooming across her cheeks. "I'm not like the others," she murmured, almost to herself. "It doesn't feel like I belong here."

Kasu sat up and pulled her close, his hands gently circling her waist. "That doesn't matter to me," he said, his voice steady and sincere. "You belong here. With me."

Selene rested her head against his chest, breathing in his scent, feeling his warmth. "And what about your father?" she whispered without looking up. "What would he say if he saw us here, in your bed?"

Kasu took a deep breath. "My father..." His tone darkened. "He sees the demon realm in his own way. But I won't let him decide or dictate my life. I'm here with you—because I love you."

Selene slowly stood, her amber eyes meeting Kasu's. "I... I don't know if I deserve that. I'm not like you—not like the demons here."

Kasu reached out and gently stroked her cheek. "That doesn't matter to me. I love you for who you are, Selene. And there's no one else for me." His voice was firm, his eyes unwavering.

They leaned into each other, and Kasu kissed her forehead tenderly. It was a silent vow, a moment where nothing else existed. Just them—lost in the warmth and safety of what they shared.

When Kasu pulled her down beside him, it was as if the world melted away. It was now—just the two of them. That night, they gave themselves to love.

Yume Zion

Yume stood in silence, watching Kasu and Selene laugh together. Kasu was happy—with someone. A sharp pang of jealousy cut through Yume's heart. Every time Kasu turned to Selene and smiled in a way he never would at Yume, it tore him apart. Every time Kasu embraced her, held her hand, or kissed her, Yume felt something inside him shatter.

He knew he would never be the one to have Kasu's affection. There was nothing he could do to change that. His feelings for Kasu—he bore them alone. He didn't know if Kasu was aware of them, but sometimes it felt like he suspected. When he flirted occasionally—those moments only made it worse. Yume would feel a flicker of hope, only to have it crushed.

The fox-demon wanted to be happy for his friend, truly. Kasu had found someone who made him smile. But every time he saw them together, sorrow welled up in his chest.

He tried to tell himself that their friendship was what mattered most, that it was enough. But inside, his heart was breaking. He loved Kasu—more than as a friend. It was a yearning he could never share, a longing that even Kasu might not understand.

When Kasu's eyes met his from across the room, Yume's heart leapt into his throat. Kasu smile was warmly, kindly but it only deepened Yume's sadness.

He turned his face away, afraid someone might see what he felt. He didn't want to be weak. He didn't want to be the one crying over a love that would never be returned. But inside, there was a storm of unspoken words, of tears that would never fall. He wanted to scream that he was more than just a friend. But he knew it wouldn't change anything. Kasu wasn't his, and Yume had learned to hide his pain in the shadows, where no one could see.

"It's okay," he whispered to himself, even though he knew it wasn't. Nothing was okay. But he would keep being there. Kasu's best friend. His protector. Because that was all he could be. And inside, he would carry his love alone the love that would never be returned, the love that was his burden to bear.