***

Kato's body felt unusually light like he was swimming. His mind was fuzzy and he couldn't seem to remember what he was just doing. Though, he fought for consciousness. He needed to know where he was. Fear filled his bones for what lied in wait for him upon opening his eyes.

"Hey, you waking up?" Someone's voice. He couldn't place it though he knew it from somewhere.

Groaning from the throbbing that started up in his head, he peeled his eyes open, blinking at the light and reaching up to shield his eyes.

"Oh good. You were out for a good hour." That voice again.

Straining himself, he looked down. He was laying on the couch of his living room, a blanket draped lazily over him. Something was wrapped around his head and he only knew because when he turned it, he felt it stretch. Sitting beside him was a man and it instantly hit him. The bullies, the alley, and the man. He was in his house.

He tried to sit up but the man pushed him back down, which then made him flinch away again. "No way. You hit your head pretty hard. Had to wrap it. There's no way you can sit up."

"Why... why are you... here?" He asked, his eyes wide. "How did you know where I live?" Suddenly remembering something, he looked carefully at him, shrinking back into the cushions. "How did you know my name?"

"Calm down. Is that any way to treat your knight in shining armor?" The man leaned forward, planting his hand on one side of his head while bringing his face inches away from his own. "How about giving me a kiss to make up for it?" He was smirking.

Blinking, a blush spread across his cheeks and he forcefully pushed him away. "N-no way!" He said loudly, glaring, though he felt it looked more like pleading than anything.

"Oh but you're so pretty." He teased, smirking.

Puckering his lips, he glared at him. Well, that he couldn't stand. "I. am. not. pretty. I'm a guy!" He snapped and the man raised an eyebrow. "W-while I am thankful you saved me... Can I know why you're here?"

"Well, to answer one of your questions, your bag had a receipt in it that had your address and you had the key in your pocket." He shrugged, still smirking. Then something caught his eye. The man looked different from before. It took a moment but he spotted it. Little horns protruded from the sides of his head. Black horns with little swirl designs on it. A flick made him turn to see a tail with dark brown fur on the tip swishing slowly.

He could only stare while he opened and closed his mouth. "Um, huh?" He shut his eyes, muttering under his breath, "I'm going mad..."

"Oh, this?" He opened his eyes to see the man grab his own tail. "You can see it?" He eyed him and he pressed his lips together, staring. "That must mean it's starting."

"W-what do you mean? What... what are you?" He asked, puffing out his cheeks slightly for having asked something that honestly sounded cliche.

The man laughed. "How about I just introduce myself?" When Kato nodded, he stood and made a grand move by bowing, one arm going across his stomach and another behind his back. "My name is Seth and I'm a demon who was sent by your father to protect you until the day you can take over."

He paused. "Wait... what? My... Father? Demon...?" He sucked in a breath. "I don't believe you. My father died when I was a baby. There's no way. Plus... Demons don't exist."

"Actually, he passed away last morning." He sat back down and he moved away, sitting up which caused Seth to give him a warning glare.

"Yesterday..." He muttered, his hand coming up to his chest as his heart ached. He had felt something since then, a strange loss. But there was no way. He shook his head. "No. What proof do you have? Besides, what would a, um, demon be doing with my father?" He hated to say it but he had to know.

Seth smirked and leaned over. "That feeling you have, that's the loss of a blood relative in the demon realm. Or the Underworld, as we call it. Your father was the highest of us all. The ruler and the king. He went by many names. Demon King, Devil, Lucifer. On his deathbed, he asked me to protect you until the time you awaken and can take over the throne. From there, I am to guide you." He lifted his hand and placed it on his cheek but he flinched away, his body shaking slightly.

"Um, Seth was it? You do realize what you're saying makes no sense right?" That caused him to quirk an eyebrow with amusement. "I mean... that would make me half demon, wouldn't it?" He chuckled nervously, the sound shaky and distant. He just wanted to crawl under the sheets and stay there forever. Then again, he wished that every day. "I don't believe you. I'm sorry, but I just don't."

He sighed, rolling his eyes, leaning forward even farther. His breath swept across his face, sending tingles down his spine. "Yeah, that's why-" The door burst open and both Seth and Kato shot up, Kato having to hold the arm of the couch to keep himself from keeling over in pain. At the door stood the wobbling and drunk Roger.

He stood there for a moment, looking from Seth to Kato in bewilderment before something crossed his features and he sneered, stepping in and closing the door.

Kato's face turned pale. "W-welcome home Roger. Do you want a beer?" He asked, trying to relieve at least a little bit of the anger he knew was coming.

"Who in the hell is that?" Roger yelled, pointing at Seth who sat back down on the couch and eyed him curiously.

"A... A friend. He helped me with the groceries. I, uh, tripped and hit my head on the curb so he brought me back." He lied, thinking quickly and gesturing to the bandage on his head.

"Who gave you permission to bring a friend inside my house?" He stepped forward, then a slow smile spread on his face. "Let me guess, you two were having a little fun, weren't you?"

"H-huh?" He blinked, confused. "Fun?"

"You know..." He bucked his hips. "That kind." He was smirking but his eyes glistened with anger.

"What? N-no! Of course not!" He was taken aback. Though, with how Seth was hovering in front of him, it would look something like that, especially to Roger.

"Once your little friend leaves, let's continue where we left off three years ago." He stepped forward and Kato stepped back, the memories surfacing and making him stare into his face in horror.

"N-no... please..." He whispered, flattening himself against the wall as Roger stepped in front of him and grabbed his arm.

"No? But you needn't worry since you've already done it, right?" His other hand came up and he lifted his chin with his forefinger, looking into his eyes. "I'll make you scream in pain. Maybe then you'll realize who's boss and who you belong to."

He felt his legs buckle but he refused to fall and instead froze on the spot. They stared at each other, his eyes brimming with tears. "I'm... I'm sorry..." He whimpered, hoping he could beg his way out of that. There's no way he wanted something like that to happen again. There was no way he wanted to go off from there either.

He sneered and moved his finger away, lifting his hand and making a gesture that said he was going to slap him. But before he could move it, a hand clamped down around his wrist and he swiveled around only to be punched and thrown across the room to the opposite wall.

There stood Seth, his tail swishing rapidly and his arms crossed as he glared at Roger. "I'll warn you now not to mess with him again." He growled and Roger struggled to sit up. He held onto his cheek and stared at him in complete bewilderment. "I know. Why don't you forget about Kato and everything around him?" He walked forward, towering over him. "That's an order."

Just like with bully one in the alley, Roger nodded mutely and actually fell unconscious on the floor.

Kato stood there, shaking. He was terrified. Not of Seth, but of what Roger said. His nerves hummed, his heart accelerated, and his breathing had gone ragged. He had to hold himself against the wall to keep from falling.

Seth turned, raising an eyebrow. "Well then. Let's get a move on before he wakes up. I told him to forget but that doesn't mean he should find us still here. He might call the police."

"R-right..." Kato muttered but he didn't move. He was still frozen to the spot.

Seth looked him up and down before sighing. "Whatever happened, take it out of your mind. He won't bother you anymore. Not with me around." He stepped forward until he, too, was towering over him. "Come with me."

"I..." He stared at him before looking down. "What... did you do to him?" He whispered.

Flinching, he took a step back and admired him with a new interest he couldn't understand. "I erased his memories of you. It's one of the few powers I have." He smirked.

"Powers..." He muttered before his legs bent and he fell to the floor on all fours.

"Whoa hey!" Seth knelt in front of him, his hands hovering over his shoulders carefully.

"S-sorry..." He breathed out, shutting his eyes tightly and shifting so he was leaning against the wall and his knees were to his chest. "I just..." He teared up. "I don't know what to do. I'm confused. I just lost the one home I have and now there's stuff about demons that I can't understand." The tears pooled over. "I don't know what to do." He repeated, looking Seth in the eyes.

Seth tilted his head and gazed back before sighing. "Come with me. You can count on me. I'll not only protect you but I'll provide you with the things you need to survive. I'll guide you. I worked with your father so I know what I'm doing. I'll teach you how to protect yourself if you want as well." He stood and held out his hand. "So come with me."

He looked at the hand he held out. He didn't know if what Seth said was the truth, but even if it wasn't, it was better than waiting here for Roger to regain consciousness and for his miserable life to return.

Kato nodded slightly and took his hand. He stepped back and pulled him up as he wiped away his tears with the back of his hand and smiled, earning a smirk from Seth in return. This guy might not be as bad as he thought but that didn't mean he trusted him.