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“Vox-sama!”
“It’s Vox-sama.”
“Vox-sama has returned!”
The young man in the rice field straightened his back. His feet were submerged in the muddy water. Mud stained his face as he wiped his sweat, and yet, standing under the sun with sweat trickling down his fair skin, it wasn’t exaggerating to say that he glowed. His hazel eyes brightened at the sight of the man who caused the earlier commotion.
No, it wasn’t a man.
It was the leader of their clan, the voice demon, Vox Akuma.
“Vox!”
With that, he left everything behind and dashed towards the demon. Then, as he was getting close enough, he put more strength on his hind leg, and jumped. In the split second as he was leaping the ground, floating in the air, he watched how the demon turned at him, those golden eyes widened a fraction, and the people around him were turning pale from shock and fright.
However, Vox opened his arms at the perfect timing and easily caught the young man in his embrace. If they were any ordinary human, the crash would have bruised and broken some bones, but the demon didn’t even stagger backward. He huffed and stroked the youth’s hair fondly.
“Ichael…” his deep voice reverberated on his chest, tickling the youth’s face that was buried on it, making him giggle. “That was dangerous. You could get hurt.”
“No, I won’t,” said the youth - Ichael - while grinning at Vox. “I knew you would catch me.”
It wasn’t really Vox’s fault if his heart skipped a beat at this sight, was it?
Ichael’s arms were around his torso, his chin was placed on Vox’s chest, so that he could look up at him. A wide grin adorned his beautiful face, showing a line of perfect teeth. His ash brown hair was adorably messy, having been blown by the summer breeze, and the heat of the sun painted his cheek rosy. He was so ethereally beautiful that the sight of him stepping a foot on this filthy earth seemed strange.
No.
It was indeed peculiar because this young man was originally not from here.
He was an angel - a pure, loving being from Heaven - who had removed his own wings because he’d fallen in love with Vox.
What a tremendous blessing for such a lowly, filthy demon.
Vox tightened his hold around his angel’s waist and smiled at him.
“Ichael, sorry for leaving you for so long. How have you been– mmph! ”
Without any cue, Ike snaked a hand behind Vox’s neck, bringing him down, and kissed him.
Not the sweet peck on the cheek or short butterfly kiss on the lips, Ichael practically went and kissed Vox silly. Vox might have lost his mind a little bit that at one point, he grabbed Ichael’s waist and pressed their bodies closer together, earning a delicious gasp from the smaller man.
They only separated when Vox’s lungs were burning from lack of oxygen. A string of saliva connected their lips as the two were panting for breath. Ichael’s hazel eyes shone brighter than ever, the blush on his cheek turned a darker shade of red.
“Welcome home, husband. I missed you.”
A low, feral growl escaped Vox’s lips.
He would have devoured Ichael - his angel, his wife - right there and then if Ichael didn’t peek behind Vox’s back and greeted his guests cheerfully.
“Ah, hello, there. Welcome to Akuma castle!”
***
“Ichael, dear, we need to talk.”
The man looked up from his koto and tilted his head. “Hm? What is it?”
Vox opened his arms. “Come here, will you?”
Ichael’s face brightened at that. He hurriedly stood up only to plop down again on Vox’s lap. Vox’s heart became so full just by Ichael’s presence in his arms that he nearly forgot his intention if the other didn’t remind him.
“So? What is it that you want to talk about, Vox?”
“Right.” Vox cleared his throat and gathered what little dignity he had left to act stern in front of his beloved. “Do you remember what happened this morning?”
“Yes!” Ichael beamed at him. “You finally came home. I’m so happy!”
At this display of cuteness, Vox couldn’t help but smile. “Mm, what else?”
“You brought guests…” said Ichael. “I didn’t get to talk a lot with them, but they look so formal, it’s like they’re some higher lords or something…”
Because they were!
Vox wept internally. Those people were his important guests who came to sign a treaty of allegation with the Akuma clan. Even Vox himself had been very careful with his own words and actions when he accompanied them this morning, and there Ichael was, showing Vox (and everyone else) his uncontained excitement. Not that Vox disliked that, it was quite the contrary, to be frank. But, thankfully Ichael’s...little display of affection did not scare them away.
“Now, do you remember what you did in front of them?”
“I…kissed you?”
“Exactly,” agreed Vox, “now, Ichael, you shouldn’t do that again–”
Vox instantly regretted what he'd said when Ichael’s beautiful smile faltered. His hazel eyes widened and reflected something Vox wished he’d never see there.
Hurt .
“Y-you…don’t want me…to kiss–”
“No, no, Ichael, sweetheart, that’s not what I meant.”
Vox hastily cupped Ichael’s face with his hand, stroking his thumb on his smooth cheek. A drop of tear was hanging dangerously on Ichael’s long lashes, and Vox knew his own heart would break once it fell. So, he kissed that eyelid, tasting the tears in his tongue, and pulled the angel into an embrace.
“I love you so much, Ichael,” he said, pressing a kiss to Ichael’s temple. “Too much. I nearly lost my mind when you kissed me this morning, you know?”
Ichael took a while before asking, “Then…what’s the problem?”
“It was indecent, darling,” Vox explained, half-chuckling. “I want to kiss you all the time and hold you in my arms forever, but other people…may not appreciate that.”
His voice dropped dangerously when he added, “And I don’t want to let them see it.” He took a strand of ash brown hair and tucked it behind the angel’s ear. “I am a selfish demon, Ichael. I don’t share what’s mine. Including you.”
Ichael shivered faintly at that, and answered, “I see…”
Both of them fell silent. Ichael took Vox’s hand in his and started fiddling with it, while Vox watched him fondly.
“Then,” said Ichael softly, “care to teach me how I should behave?”
Vox smiled at him. “Of course, my love.”
***
There was a new addition to the Akuma clan.
It was a young man. Having been attacked by some rogue samurai on his way home, he jumped to the river as a desperate way to escape. One of the kindred found him drifting on the river, and miraculously enough, he was still alive. They took him in and took care of his injuries. That morning, he finally regained his consciousness.
“And he said he wanted to be a part of our clan!”
Ichael was literally clapping and hopping in place as he was telling the news. Vox couldn’t help but laugh seeing his excitement.
“Mm-hm, and then?”
Ichael grabbed his arms, hazel eyes sparkling. “Can I be the one who shows him around?”
Vox’s smile faltered a little. “Why?”
Oblivious as he was, Ichael didn’t notice that. “It’s a perfect opportunity to put the manner lessons you taught me into practice, don’t you think? Also, since he’s a part of us now, even if I make mistakes, it won’t be as bad as dealing with the real guests, right?”
Vox couldn't argue that.
However, deep inside he felt a little uneasy to give his permission. No, not uneasy, it was more akin to…jealousy?
Which was stupid.
That new guy had become a part of his clan now. One of the kindred. He would get close to Ichael eventually, just like all the other kindred, so why should he feel jealous of him? This was a great opportunity for that new guy to get to know this clan - this big family - he was getting into, wasn’t it?
So he pushed that uneasiness away and smiled at Ichael.
“That’s a good idea, Ichael. I’ll entrust him to you.”
***
Despite having said that, Vox’s mind was too occupied by the fact that Ichael was accompanying that new guy alone, so he put aside his work to go and watch them from the window of his study. Oni Giri might scold him for neglecting his work later, but that would be tomorrow's problem.
Ichael was doing a wonderful job.
It was almost as if he was a professional okami. Vox couldn’t hear how he spoke, but his gestures were gracious, his expression was hospitable but not overly friendly, and the way he introduced the new guy to other kindred was formal. Well, at least until his clumsiness took over and made him trip over nothing.
“Careful–”
Vox’s hands shot forward, but alas, the tips of his fingers only hit the cold glass of his window.
Down there, Ichael fell unceremoniously to the ground, face first. The new guy quickly knelt beside him, hovering over his body worriedly. He jolted a little when Ichael suddenly sat back up. They looked at each other in a daze for a second, and then Ichael laughed.
Gone was his calm and composed manner as he laughed so hard his cheek turned red. Vox’s own lips lifted just by seeing that, knowing how his laughter must have turned into a high-pitched wheeze at one point. Vox’s golden eyes flicked to the other guy on the scene, and his mood darkened in an instant.
The new guy was bedazzled.
Eyes not leaving Ichael, his jaw hanging open like an idiot, and his face was red as a beet. He shook his head and stood up, then offered a hand to help Ichael. Ichael said something to him - a thanks, perhaps - but he didn’t bother to go back to his okami persona, still smiling brightly at the new guy. Half-dazed, the new guy lifted a hand and touched Ichael’s cheek.
Vox’s vision went red.
His memory blurred for a second, but the next thing he knew, he was already at the scene - standing next to Ichael, hand wrapping protectively around the smaller man’s waist, eyes locking on the new guy in fury.
The new guy, thankfully, was not as oblivious as Ichael. He shrank at Vox’s presence, and bowed and greeted his clan leader in a small voice. “Vox-sama…”
The second call came from the man in his arms. “Vox?”
Vox ignored the new guy and gave his full attention to his beloved. “My love, did everything go well?”
“Yes! I was just showing him around this–wait.” Ichael raised his eyebrows. “You saw me fall, didn’t you?”
Vox let an amused smile crept on his lips and nodded. “I want to make sure you’re alright.”
Ichael groaned. Pink tinted his cheeks once again - this time from embarrassment, Vox supposed. “I’m fine, don’t worry. Go back and finish your work, Vox. I still have to show him the–”
“No. ”
Vox grabbed Ichael’s wrist and yanked him so that he was facing Vox. Then, very gently, he cradled Ichael’s face in his hand. He leaned closer.
“I have to check thoroughly to make sure that my wife is alright.”
Ichael’s hazel eyes were blown very wide. “Vox, what– mmph. ”
Vox immediately closed their distance, not allowing Ichael to say anything else. He kissed Ichael’s lips hungrily, as if he was a man on the edge of death by starvation and Ichael’s lips was the food offered to him. He kissed, he bit, and he licked Ichael’s lips that at one point, Ichael leaned most of his body weight on Vox, no longer able to stand on his own.
Even so, with great effort, Vox forced himself to maintain a little sense in his mind. He turned their position in such a way so that his broad back completely hid Ichael from the new guy’s eyes. Faintly, he heard the new guy excused himself in a choked voice and fled from there. He smirked into the kiss. Finally being alone, Vox pushed Ichael to a tree nearby, and devoured the angel’s lips without any mercy.
When they separated, Vox had to support Ichael’s body to prevent him from sliding down the tree bark.
Ichael’s hazel eyes stared at him, completely dazed. His pretty lips were red and swollen, shiny with the mixture of their saliva. His cheeks were so red as if he had used some rouge. He looked so adorably, and sexily, messed up, and Vox made a vow to himself to never let anyone else see Ichael in this state.
“Vox? What…” Ichael shook his head a little. “What…was that for?”
Vox shrugged. “I just want to kiss you.”
Ichael looked utterly puzzled. “But…wasn’t it indecent?”
“Yes, it was.”
“Then why…?”
Vox laughed and pulled the man into a hug, squeezing him a little because of how cute he was.
“Sometimes it’s necessary to get rid of pests.”
“Ikee… Come on, I’m hungry.”
Said man only clicks his tongue. His hazel eyes don’t leave the two caviar paste tubes on his hand, considering which one to pick. “Help me choose then, so we can finish this more quickly.”
The whining man scrunches his nose. “Urgh, I’d suggest you don’t pick any of them at all. Those things are disgusting.”
Ike glares behind his glasses, somehow successfully making the taller man shrink in fear, but it seems like he's not in the mood for banter.
“At least stop draping yourself all over me,” Ike huffs, shrugging his shoulders as if that motion can rid him of the sticky demon. On the contrary, Vox squeezes his waist even tighter and nuzzles his face on the crook of Ike’s neck.
“No. I missed you.”
Ike groans. “I only left for two days.”
“Yeah, it was two whole days without you!” whines Vox. “Literally the hardest two days I’ve had in my life.”
Ike snorts. “Oh really? What about those four hundred years…”
He trails off when he feels Vox’s body freezes around him.
Uh-oh, he’s gone too far, hasn't he?”
Ike puts one of the tubes back on the rack so that he can use his free hand to pat Vox’s arm. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
Vox’s raven hair tickles his neck as the demon shakes his head.
“No,” he says, albeit his voice sounds so fragile, “you’ve had way rougher years than I did. I am the one who should apologize.”
Now Ike really feels bad.
He turns in Vox’s arms to face the demon and cups his face. Reluctantly, Vox straightens his head and looks at Ike, his golden eyes full of regret. Ike wipes his thumb on his cheek, hoping it can also wipe the sadness in his heart.
“Don’t say that,” he says softly. “It’s not your fault.”
A smile forms on the demon’s lips.
“You’re too kind, my angel.” He turns his head so that he can place a kiss on Ike’s palm. “Normal people would have hated me for what I’ve done, yet here you are, in my arms, looking at me as if I’m deserving of your love.”
Ike furrows his eyebrows. “Yes, you do. You are the most selfless demon - no, the most selfless being - I know, and you deserve all the love in the world.”
Vox’s golden eyes widen at that.
Ike smiles.
There it goes.
Even though the sadness doesn’t disappear completely - in fact, Ike thinks those sorrows and regrets for what has happened in the past can never leave them completely - it finally dissipates a little.
However, Ike is really caught off guard when Vox suddenly holds his chin and leans closer.
Thankfully, he still has the remnants of his super reflex from his days of being an angel. With a little squeal, he turns his face and pushes Vox’s face away.
“Vox, what the hell!” he hisses, feeling his own cheeks flushed from shock. “We’re in public!”
“There’s nobody else in this aisle!” Vox whines as if Ike has just rejected his proposal or something. What a dramatic demon.
“There’s CCTV!” Ike looks up as he says that, and feels his heart sink when he sees the small camera on the ceiling directed at them. “Do you want to get arrested?!”
“Arrested for what? Kissing my wife?”
Ike’s face heats up even more when he hears that word, but he still bites at Vox. “For being indecent!”
Vox laughs. “My little angel has learned so well about decency now, hm? I remember clearly it was me who taught you about that.”
Ike rolls his eyes. “Yeah. Who would have thought that my teacher is the one who grows to be the shameless one instead.”