Chapter Text
["ARE YOU READYYYY?!"]
The ground shook as thousands of people cheered for the young girl on the stage.
The lights dimmed as the music blared.
The petite figure of a blue-haired idol on the stage then proceeded to do her performance. She danced to the beat of her own song while her captivated audience sang and swayed along.
14-year old Suzuki Izumi, is blessedly talented. From singing, dancing, and playing instruments... Izumi could do all of them. That is why her parents did not hesitate to work her through the entertainment industry from an early age.
Her earnings should've been enough for her family... That was her grand plan for the long run...
[Unbeknownst to her, her parents continued to work her beloved twin brother to the bone. Throwing him at any job they could get their greedy hands on...]
She should've known better than to trust their parents...
Because humans are greedy creatures...
No matter how much she earns in a single performance, their parents' love for material things know no bounds. It's something they can't live without.
And despite being incredibly talented, Izumi is also extremely overworked. Because talent alone cannot keep her afloat in this brutal industry where her age doesn't excuse her from working 140 hours per week (including weekends).
[Izumi couldn't remember a time when she had spent a weekend with her brother these past few months]
So when she fainted mid-concert, she wasn't at all surprised (though it did hurt a lot) when instead of being concerned for her health, her parents had asked how much money she had lost from it.
Because of this mishap, the agency management decided to clear her schedule for a whole month to rest. It was the doctor's strict orders if they didn't want the media to drag their company name through the mud for child abuse because of their unforgivable work routine. This was another hundred of thousands of money lost for her. Her scheduled performance venues had No Refund policies. Aside from that, they also needed to refund all the tickets that were sold for those scheduled concerts...
In a single blink of an eye, she had lost MILLIONS.
To her greedy parents, it was unacceptable.
Normally, it wouldn't be too much of a set-back on their finances considering how much she worked all of her short pathetic life... but Izumi's parents are extremely greedy creatures. All of her hard work had always gone down the drain as soon as it landed on their hands...
Izumi knows all too well that if push comes to shove, her parents will not hesitate to sell their souls to the devil for money...
Only that... it wasn't their own souls that were sold...
It was her's and her twin brother's...
2 weeks in her medical leave, she found herself suddenly securely bound by a thick rope inside a glowing orb while being dragged across the dark sky. There was a paper tag with the letters for 'SOLD' stuck on her front torso.
Even with her heart stuck in her throat, Izumi looked around her and was disappointedly not surprised to see Iruma in a similar position beside her in his own glowing orb.
"Izumi!" her brother cried in relief and joy... An out of place emotion considering that they were both essentially being kidnapped [or not. Considering they were actually sold to this guy].
"Iruma" she smiled back at him. Twistedly relieved that they weren't doing this alone.
At least their parents didn't sell them separately....
"What's going on?" he asked her in a panic... "Where are we?!"
"I wonder..." She muttered with a tinge of sarcasm. Keenly aware of what is actually happening. She'd seen this coming from a lifetime away. And she's not even joking.
Suzuki Izumi has a massive secret that only her twin brother knows... She has her memories from another life. A life where she was very much aware of her brother's future adventures. But considering her similar position, it seems like it would be her adventures too...
"Excuse me!" Izumi tried to get the demon's attention [because what else could he be with his bat-like wings? Batman?]. It was successful but the demon's response was undecipherable. "I'm sorry but we can't understand what you are trying to say..."
A simple snap of a finger and they could finally understand the old man...
"Now you both can understand the demon language..." The old man had said..
"Suzuki Iruma and Suzuki Izumi, we are in the Netherworld. The realm of Demons"
"My name is Sullivan" The demon finally introduced himself. "I must inform you both that your parents had sold your souls to me"
Simply knowing and having it confirmed are two different things that Izumi couldn't explain...
"OUR PARENTS SOLD OUR SOULS TO YOU??" the bewildered tone in Iruma's voice sent a rising hope in Izumi's heart that her sacrifices to give her brother the life he deserves had been worth it...
"THEY WOULD NEVER --!!"
Only to have it crashing down as the denial died in Iruma's throat...
With the disappointing realization that they TOTALLY WOULD, the siblings shared disappointed looks.
She vaguely remembered a story from a long time ago.. and a single concern had resonated with her now that she was finally living it...
"What's that over there?" Iruma's sudden question brought Izumi back to the present...
"It's my mansion" Sullivan replied.
"It's gloomy" Izumi couldn't help but comment, which earned her both an amused chuckle from the demon and a panicked shout from Iruma.
"Most buildings are designed that way here in the Netherworld" The demon humored her with a response. "Rest assured that though that is the common look for houses, not all buildings have the same design"
"Are we living there?" She asks, though she already knew the answer. "Is that our final destination?"
She ignored the horrified squeak from her brother and tried to focus on the old demon's reaction.
"Yes" He obviously did not get the joke, but oh well...
"WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING ON DOING TO US?!" Iruma continued to panic and it was honestly infectious even though Izumi knew what was actually about to happen.
And then... All too suddenly, they found themselves inside the mansion that looked more lively inside, seated on plush arm chairs.
"Huh?" If it weren't for Iruma being equally dumbfounded in the turn of events, Izumi would've been sure that she was sicker than she thought she was. Everything was moving too fast that she was having problems with catching up. It was like one blink, then a new scene is already unfolding infront of her. Was she blacking out?!
"Can you become my grandchildren?"
Izumi sat back comfortably as the drama unfolded in front of her. It wasn't like she has other choices. Her answer would still be the same even if she also didn't know what was happening. After all, it was better to be adopted by a seemingly wealthy guy - nevermind him being a demon - than to go back to the human world - if they even are allowed to go back considering the fact that they were brought here without consent - and return to working day in and night just to have food on the table.
And sure enough, Iruma caved in. Izumi made sure to read the contract first before letting Iruma sign it. Knowing first-hand how certain contract clauses can have loopholes that were more disadvantageous to them than not.
The contract looked good at first glance. But she still have a few concerns.
"What if we were outed as humans? What happens then?" She asks, looking directly at the sharp eyes of the demon in front of her.
"Hopefully it does not happen. But in the event that it does, I will take full responsibility and will bear the consequences alone"
"Are we allowed to leave the mansion to explore outside?" Was her next question.
"Of course. There are attractions here in the Netherworld that are similar to the human world. You will also attend school to help your understanding of the Netherworld and demons."
"You've used magic to make us understand the demon language. Do all demons possess powers?"
"Yes. All demons possess magic powers one way or another. It's part of our evolution as we adapted to the harsh environment of this world."
"How will we survive school if we don't have this magic powers?"
"There are spells that could help you with this. I'll prepare them before you leave for school tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?!" Iruma squeaked in surprise. "We're already going to school tomorrow?!"
"No time to waste then" Izumi sighed. "But I have one last question before we sign. I've noticed while on the way here, despite the dark, there are no nearby buildings around your mansion. It doesn't seem safe for us to walk around outside. What will be our mode of transportation? Considering that you know... We can't fly."
"Don't worry... I have a carriage ready to go anytime you wish to leave the mansion."
With an encouraging smile to her nervous twin brother, Izumi took the lead and signed the contract presented to them. With full trust that his sister will never lead him to harm, Iruma also placed his signature alongside her's.
Now they've done it. They're now grandchildren of the demon, Sullivan.
The future seemed more bearable now that they're together again.