The Devil Takes the Night Shift

Chapter 48: The Retainer Tends

"Well, kind of." He admitted, then grew a bit silent as she finished her check up on him. "But, why are you doing all this?"

"You already know that my leader has commanded me to do so." He answered.

"But, she's not here right now. It's not like you have to do all this." True, and it wasn't like Rame had to know. Despite hating the demons, Akitomo didn't really care enough if they treated him well or not to get her in trouble with her leader. At the end of the day, it didn't matter to him. "And all I've done is be mean to you."

"I'm used to those words." She replied. "Calling me names and insulting me doesn't change my feelings towards anyone. That's just something I've already dealt with." As a demon hybrid, that unsurprisingly drew ire from people. They already hated demons enough for the death and destruction caused by them. However, there was just something about a hybrid that drew more hate.

Perhaps it was their scary potential. Not only was she capable of the dark magic demons were born with, but Mifuru also had the elemental magic that most humans of Enatis had as well. Or maybe some just thought it insane that a human and demon could ever come together to bear a child. To be fair, that did sound crazy for one to willingly get with a demon, assuming that it was willing in the first place.

"I do have to say for a mutt... You're a lot nicer than I expected." He had always assumed that the hybrids were harsh, mean, the worst to offer from both man and demon. Yet, she wasn't really like that at all. If anything, she seemed more detached, so he could say that she was full of warmth and joy either. "I've never met one before, since you know they're rare." And that was assuming most lived to see adulthood with the hate they drew from both humans and demons alike.

"I've never met one like me before either." She responded. In a sense, it felt lonely. However, it was because of her status that allowed her to become the trusty aid for Rame, the only one to give her purpose in life. That part of her story confused Akitomo the most. Why would the demon lord care one bit about the plight of a hybrid. He would've assumed that one in charge of all demons would want purity in their blood lines.

"Why did she save you?" He asked.

"That was something she never even told me." Was the response he was given. "I only assumed that it was mostly to study me, so that she could gain valuable information on humanity." And even if she was being used in that manner, the girl did not care. For that was something more than the life she had lived prior to joining the demon army. "Still, you shouldn't act like I'm the only one different here."

"I know, but it's not like I get hate for my magic." Akitomo was a prodigy and rarity among humans. He was capable of controlling more than one element since birth, one who existence did cause trouble for him. However, his loss came not to him directly, but rather on the sacrifice of his parents to keep him safe from demons.

"But people do treat you different for it." She said. "So, in sense we both know what it feel like to be lonely in a big world..." After a long pause, she spoke yet again. Her next statement kind of ruined the mood. "Um, is that enough to try and connect with you?" Mifuru had brought this point up as it was told to her by Rame. Her leader told her that in order to make friends, one should try to find something in common with them. So she did exactly that.

"Sheesh, you're not supposed to force it." He got off the nurse's table, ready to walk out the door. "But, I know how you feel. Marie's the only person here who actually knows me. So I'm always running to her for comfort. That's how the demon lord is for you, right?"

"Correct." She answered in a straight matter-of-fact tone. It almost sounded like she didn't care about that girl, even if she was willing to lay her life down to that debt.

"Yeah, so that's something we both know. So maybe... We can be that for each other, so they don't have to carry that weight."

"Is this your attempt at finding common ground between us?" She asked, certain that this was what he was doing, but still wanted to make sure.

"Yes, and please stop making it sound like some weird procedure!" He yelled at her, feeling a bit embarrassed from how unnatural she sounded. "A simple yes or no was all I was asking anyway. You don't need to make things so awkward." He crossed his arms in frustration, waiting for her at the door.

"..." She got up and walked over to the boy. Then, Mifuru placed a hand over his head for a nice pat. "Yes, that sounds nice."

"Good, I'm happy with that too." He replied, trying to sound unimpressed. "Um, why are you patting me on the head?" She had yet to stop upon getting his response, which only caused to serve to make him even more tense in embarrassment. Someone might be seeing this, after all.

"Marie told me that you like these. So if we were to be better friends, that I should do this to make you happy."

"Marie!"