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Azusa Aizawa sighed as she sat down on her bed, her thoughts going several different directions. She’d just said good night to the twins and made sure Sandra was settled outside for the evening.
It was satisfying that all three of her daughters would end the day knowing their mother loved them.
The day in question was much like any other since Sandra joined their makeshift family, other than the planning for her ‘older’ daughters’ sibling-bonding ceremony. Her mood brightened momentarily as she considered the twin slimes’ cute siblinghood.
Falfa and Shalsha would likely be happy no matter how the ceremony went, even if they squabbled lightly about some of the smaller aesthetics.
No, the source of Azusa’s mild consternation had more to do with non-familial bonds, namely the relationship between herself and her daughters’ other, self-proclaimed parental figure, Beelzebub.
In spite of what she told Misjantie prior, Azusa was reconsidering what her heart truly wanted.
She went through her night time routine, turning the image of the demonic Director of Agriculture over and over in her mind. There was just something about Beelzebub, some quality that she couldn’t quite place, or maybe didn’t want to place. Instead she continued to fixate on the demon, thinking about every aspect of her, her appearance, her personality, her strength, her stature.
Darn she wasn’t tired at all. Hoping for a distraction, she descended the steps to the living room.
She found Laika and Flatorte engaged in a mild debate about food temperature preferences. It was notably less heated than the draconic pair’s past discussions.
She smirked momentarily, before smoothing out her expression when the both of them turned at her appearance. (her draconic family members simply weren’t ready to confront that aspect of their relationship yet. Eventually though…)
“Lady Azusa! You’re usually in bed by this time, is something the matter?” Laika questioned her mistress with mild concern. Before Azusa could answer, Flatorte interjected.
“I bet she’s got something on her mind, she’s got that little wrinkle she gets when she’s thinking about something!” Azusa endeavored not to show the surprise she was feeling at Flatorte’s words.
Sometimes the rambunctious blue dragon was more perceptive than she seemed.
“Well… Flatorte isn’t wrong per say, but it's nothing terrible, though it is a little embarrassing.” Azusa couldn’t hold back a grimace while admitting this to her draconic disciples. She approached the living room table.
“It is keeping me up, so I guess it’s more pressing than I wanted to admit.”
“Well, I’m sure whatever the situation, the two of us would be glad to help you out, or even just listen.” Laika gestured to herself and her azure counterpart. Flatorte nodded in agreement. Azusa paused, stifling her initial urge to decline the offer, and decided she would reciprocate the faith the two dragons placed in her day after day.
“Thank you girls, you know what, I will. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, relationships are a big topic at home lately, what with us adopting Sandra, visiting Mama Yufufu, all the trouble with Misjantie not to mention the girls’ bonding ceremony.”
Azusa considered how she wanted to phrase her dilemma and how much she wanted to disclose. Ultimately, she decided revealing just the overarching details would suffice. “Well, before, I told Misjantie that I wasn’t interested in a long-term relationship. At the time, I meant that, since I was thinking about it from her perspective. ya know, finding a man to make my husband.”
Azusa paused here, ignoring the expectant, slightly eager looks from Laika and Flatorte as best she could. A blush spread from her ears before she swallowed her pride, “I’ve recently realized though, since all the planning for the girls started, that I hadn’t considered a few things.”
By the time she finished, Laika’s face was approaching the same shade of red as her draconic scales. Flatorte on the other hand was brazenly grinning like a court jester. Azusa failed to maintain eye-contact.
Before she got carried away berating herself internally, Laika stammered out a response. “W-well, Lady Azusa, um, I-I suppose that means you’ve got someone in mind who might m-make you happy in… in that way, if I’m understanding you correctly?”
Flatorte snorted, clearly amused at Laika’s embarrassment over the mere suggestion of intimacy. “Obviously that’s what she’s saying Laika, keep up! More importantly, I wanna know who exactly caught Mistress’ gaze!”
She closed her eyes in thought for what seemed like barely half a second before slamming a fist into her open palm. “Oh Oh Oh! I bet it’s the Demon King, I bet you’ve got a crush on Pecora, right Mistress!”
At this preposterous suggestion, all of Azusa’s thoughts of playing things close to the vest went out the window, the need to correct this grievous, terrible, simply awful guess rising to peak importance.
“It’s Beelzebub, ok! Jeesh, why would you ever, ever think that Flatorte? Dear gods, don't give me a heart attack!” Azusa’s embarrassment was momentarily forgotten, a convenient side effect of her indignance.
This reveal appeared to give both dragons pause as they considered the information. Azusa felt anxiety spiking, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on why.
“My Lady, if you’re alright with me asking, are you and Lady Beelzebub, erm… seeing one another already, or is it just that you’re interested?” Laika asked earnestly. She then rushed to add, “if that’s not too personal?” Blushing as she did so.
Azusa’s apprentice’s efforts to overcome her more reserved nature dashed away any remaining anxiety in The Witch’s heart, replaced with affection for the awkward, sweet girl before her.
“Well, to be honest Laika, that’s part of the problem I’m having. There's definitely something between us, ever since we fought in that tournament, but truthfully, we’ve never discussed what we actually are to one another. That’s… That’s my current dilemma. She’s clearly interested in not just me, but the girls as well. Everyone gets along with her well. The only real concern is figuring out what the heck is going on!”
Flatorte blinked. “You know, Mistress, you could always just ask her?”
Azusa, heart already beating a little quickly, scribed Beelzebub’s summoning outside her cottage. The pattern was so familiar by now; drawing it required little thought.
The Highland Witch’s cheeks grew warm as she chanted the incantation to summon the Lord of the Flies. Notably, in spite of her embarrassment, she recited the incantation perfectly, and the circle lit up with green magical energy. The Agricultural Minister’s winged form emerged; blinking with surprise, she oriented herself post-summoning.
“Ah, hello Azusa, and congratulations on finally getting the spell right.” Azusa was a little mad at how charming she found the smug, bemused smirk plastered across the tan-skinned demon’s face. “What brings me to your neck of the woods today?”
“I was um, I was hoping we could talk, if that’s alright? If you’re terribly busy, I can just send you back and summon you a different day!” Azusa surprised herself with how much her nerves were bleeding into her speech, her voice a pitch higher than intended.
Beelzebub frowned. “Are you alright, you’re looking a little red, and you sound off, is something the matter?” She got closer to The Witch, then brought her face to Azusa’s, examining her with a clinical eye. This of course only served to intensify the smaller woman’s blush. The sudden proximity made her heart pound. In an effort to find some relief, she stepped back, hoping to disguise the motion by gesturing to the house.
“I’m doing just fine, and everything’s a-ok here, but please, please come inside!”
“Alright… If you say so, let’s go.” The demon’s tone conveyed how dubious she found Azusa’s claims as of yet.
The two made their way inside. Azusa strode ahead, posture rigid and head held high in a poor impression of cool confidence. Beelzebub trailed behind her, head on a swivel, unwilling to let her guard down with such a vague request from a woman she associated with chaos as much as calm. When Beelzebub made to go sit in the dining room, Azusa grabbed the woman’s hand, pulling her instead up to her bedroom. If this surprised Beelzebub, she didn’t let it show. Her stride instantly adjusted and she allowed herself to be led.
They arrived in the bedroom. As Beelzebub’s insectoid wings were out, Azusa opted to have the demon sit on her bed, and take the desk chair for her own use.
Mustering her courage, The Witch adjusted her hat out of habit then looked into Beelzebub’s eyes. “I’m going to be direct, since I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings. Ever since the tournament, our relationship’s gotten more intense, and lately I’ve realized I think I’m falling in love with you, and I want to know about how you feel about me.” Azusa realized that at some point during her sentence she’d stood up. She let out a small noise of surprise and sat back down. She looked expectantly up at Beelzebub, heart hammering in her ears.
Beelzebub’s tan cheeks were now a shade darker. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, opening them once more. Her gaze locked firmly to Azusa’s.
“Thank you for speaking candidly, we both prefer it that way. You’re correct that ever since you beat me in that tournament, ever since you let me test my true mettle against yours, I’ve harbored feelings for you. I’m not sure exactly when they turned romantic, except that it’s been a good deal of time at this point. I feel a great affection towards you and your family Azusa, and if you’re interested in pursuing a relationship with me, that would make me very happy.”
The gentle smile she gave Azusa was one The Witch hadn’t seen before. There was something similar when Beelzebub looked at Falfa, Shalsha (and Sandra, lately), but not quite this. Not quite this smile, so soft, so tender, so… filled with love.
Azusa surged forward instinctually towards the demon sitting in her bed, reaching up to cup her cheeks. She searched Beelzebub’s eyes for permission, and before she could ask to kiss the demon, Beelzebub closed the gap.
Their lips met, and it was soft, yet firm. Warm, yet she shivered. It made her gasp, but she couldn’t breath. So, so much, but not nearly enough.
The kiss lasted what felt like eons but was still over all too soon.
She instinctively pulled away but felt herself tugged back, breath ragged. Hands, calloused from millenia of combat, brushed her cheeks, slid down her neck, behind her back, and settled around her waist. Azusa’s face burned crimson at this casual intimacy. That devilish smirk painted Beelzebub’s face once more and a bolt of heat bloomed in The Witch’s core.
“My my my, Lady Azusa, I didn’t know you had it in you!” Beelzebub chuckled, shifting Azusa slightly with her arms. Azusa brought her hands to Beelzebub’s shoulders. She was too embarrassed to keep holding the demon’s face, but needed to keep touching her.
“Ok, new rule, you can’t call me Lady Azusa if we’re gonna be kissing, Laika calls me that, it’d be way too weird!” Beelzebub let out a brash laugh.
“Of course, of course my dear, we can brainstorm some alternative pet names then, is sweetheart ok with you? Hmm or how about ‘Zusa?” The demon’s smirk turned to a lascivious grin. Azusa didn’t like how heart jumped at both of the pet names. She would fully deny being in any way flustered by this, if asked.
“I-I suppose that sweetheart is ok, and I guess I don’t mind ‘Zusa…” She could hardly bring herself to say the second one.
“Hmm, then given your reaction, we can use sweetheart in public and keep the other between the two of us,” Beelzebub replied, smile turning mirthful.
Azusa’s own smile appeared at what her demon was implying. “It sounds like you’re ok with telling everyone that we’re together.” Beelzebub nodded at this, agreeing.
“Of course dear, I’m certain your family will be thrilled. Additionally, and this is definitely my inner demon speaking, I’d be a fool to not show off someone as special to you to everyone that sees us.” Her eyes glowed magic dimly as she spoke. Azusa felt a pleasurable shiver run down her spine at the reminder of her newly begotten paramour’s demonic nature.
Azusa swallowed, cleared her throat, then leaned back slightly to continue speaking. “So you might have guessed, but this will be my first serious relationship, and I’m pretty much totally inexperienced in all uh, related areas.” Beelzebub pressed a quick kiss to her lips, and Azusa felt tension she’d failed to notice release. She relaxed back into the arms embracing her.
“Well, given that I’m over three thousand, you might have guessed that I do come to the table with experience, and you’d be correct. That said, while I’m happy to lead the way on certain things, I’d much prefer to let you set the pace.” Azusa’s blush was steadily making its way down her neck, soon to reach her chest at this rate.
“I’d like to take you down and let everyone know that we're, um, dating…” Azusa hesitated here, blinking rapidly. She realized they’d not yet established explicitly what their relationship was, just that they were now in one. Beelzebub, recognizing her hesitation, was ready with an answer.
“I think, given that the both of us are immortal, we’re entering into this relationship with the expectation this is going to be long term, if I understood your intentions correctly,” Beelzebub paused for input from Azusa, who nodded with a ‘mmhmm.’ This elicited a low noise of pleasure from the demon, then she continued.
“Excellent! Given that, I believe ‘Partners’ feels like an adequate description for us, if that’s amenable to you?” Azusa felt a sense of deep satisfaction at the idea of a partnership. She said so eagerly, hoping her excitement was clear.
“That sounds nice to me, Beelzebub!” She hummed, deciding how she wanted to let the family know. “Would you mind if I get Rosalie to call a family meeting?”
“That’s alright with me, ‘Zusa, but first, I was hoping you’d let me taste your lips once more?”
And really, she’d asked so nicely it’d simply be rude to disappoint her, Azusa thought as she leaned in once more.
Azusa was thankful her partner –gods wasn’t that exciting to think about, was both a confident speaker and comfortable with talking to groups of people.
“So that’s the long and short of it, and I can assure you that even though there will be slight changes, such as me coming around more frequently, they will largely remain the same, as the well-being of this family is my second highest priority.”
She’d mostly focused on the faces of her family, filled with confusion then turning to joy, during the impromptu meeting. Now, Azusa turned to Beelzebub and hugged the demon’s left arm to her chest. She wanted to physically communicate her gratitude, overriding any self-consciousness about displaying her affection openly.
Spotting movement out of the corner of her eye, she found Shalsha, seated on the couch with Falfa and Sandra, her small hand in the air. Bemused, she called on her.
“If that is only your second highest priority, might I ask what you consider your top priority Miss Beelzebub?”
Beelzebub smiled fondly at the younger of the slime twins.
“That’s a great question Shalsha, though before I answer, I want to let everyone present know that I would be happy for you to simply call me Beelzebub going forward, as I’m ostensibly joining your family.” The slime twins nodded eagerly at this. Beelzebub smiled back and continued.
“Great!” Beelzebub turned to Azusa before actually answering. “My number one priority in this situation is your mother.” Azusa blushed, as expected at such a statement. She refused to give any other reaction though, given the outright exuberance displayed by the rest of the family.
It was a veritable wall of Oos and Awws, though Sandra feigned total indifference. (Azusa could tell she was deeply invested in the current goings on.)
“Alright, alright everyone, calm down, there’s no need to make such a fuss.” The smirk was back again. Beelzebub turned to Azusa. “If it’s alright with you, I’d like to get in contact with my Vania and Fatla and let them know I will be otherwise delayed, since I’d like to stay for dinner.”
This remark started the peanut gallery up all over again.
Azusa met Beelzebub at the door to the private dining room in the Demon King’s Castle. She grabbed her partner’s hand, placing a quick kiss on her cheek along with a murmured greeting.
“Are you ready to go in and see everyone, ‘Zusa?” The Witch blushed at the pet name. Even a month into their relationship it made her feel oh so shy. “As ready as I’ll ever be to let Pecora know I’m dating literally anyone, let alone her own Minister of Agriculture…”
Beelzebub chuckled and pushed the arched, double wooden doors open. The room was long and rectangular, one side a grey-bricked wall featuring several portraits of Pecora in various outfits and poses. Red banners draped between the frames, filling the empty space and gold sconces with lit candles sat above the banners. The space was lit quite well.
The other wall was lined with high, narrow windows, their vermillion curtains drawn to reveal the starry night sky in the upper part of the landscape. The lower portion was dominated by the somewhat distant lights of the Demon Kingdom capital city, Vanzelt.
In the center of the room was a long, luxurious dining table lined with over 20 chairs, both constructed of deep maroon wood. The upholstery was black velvet, matching the color of the table cloth draped atop the surface.
Seated at said table were all of the usual suspects Azusa associated with the demon realm; Vania, Fatla and Pecora, along with some friends that the Witch of The Highlands saw less frequently, Kuku the rabbit-eared bard, Pondeli the cat-eared gamer and Fightie the human-eared slime.
Pecora perked up in excitement at Azusa’s entrance. “Hello, Dear Sister, I was so delighted to hear you were coming to see me, and with big news nonetheless! I’m ever so excited to learn about something so important to my Dear, Dear Older Sister.”
The sigh that tore itself out of Azusa was one of a woman who accepted this was her lot in life, but needed to make sure everyone knew how deeply it vexed her.
“Yes, hello Pecora! I, or rather we,” she brandished her and Beelzebub’s clasped hands towards the room at large as the couple walked towards the section of the table all were seated at, “are here to let you all know that we’ve decided to date!” She met the ruler head on, the pair having decided ahead of time cutting to the chase was the best strategy.
The rest of the room reacted similarly to Azusa’s family, with a plethora of supportive noises from several of them, and a few dignified words of congratulation from the others, though this time they were more so directed towards Beelzebub.
Seeing that her partner, who didn’t have a family of her own, other than Azusa and her daughters, had built up a larger circle of confidants since the two first met filled the Highlands Witch with joy.
This joy was immediately tempered by the unsettling smile stretched across Pecora’s face, disturbingly tight. The Demon King’s eyes nearly shut from how harshly Pecora was narrowing them.
“Well isn’t this just absolutely wonderful to hear, My very own Minister of Agriculture, The Lord of The Flies and my Dear Older Sister, the Witch of The Highlands, found love in one another’s arms! I’m simply Delighted, truly it’s splendid!”
The rest of the table seemed to buy the pleased, supportive monarch act Pecora was putting on. Azusa and Beelzebub, meanwhile, both understood the Demonic ruler was covering a deep, deep well of envy.
Luckily, given any attempt to deny the pair’s relationship would bring out Azusa’s rarely seen ire, Pecora acquiesced, still wanting her ‘Older Sister’s’ approval.
Azusa could feel Beelzebub, quietly quite nervous about her colleague’s reactions to the announcement, finally begin to relax. Then she went rigid as her boss opened her mouth once more, not content to let the couple get away fully unscathed.
“You must plan to hold the ceremony soon then, Beelzebub. You’ll be extending invitations to the other Ministerial heads, as well as yours truly, I hope?” Azusa’s eyes shot open, nearly bugging right out of her face at what she thought was implied.
Beelzebub responded before she could voice her objections.
“My Liege! My Beloved and I have yet to discuss the specifics given how new our bond is, though I fully intend to honor Lady Azusa with the traditional courtship rites, as is proper -especially for one as esteemed to the Demon Kingdom as the Great Witch.”
One-month-ago-Azusa would’ve been blushing down to her chest hearing those words. Here-and-now-Azusa was familiar with Beelzebub’s propensity to approach their relationship with a high degree of propriety. The Witch understood she had more to learn about demonic culture.
In the time it took her to process the initial exchange between Ruler and Subject, Pecora finally saw fit to allow the meal to begin. Casual conversation was now taking place, but Azusa was more interested in acquiring information. She turned to her lover expectantly.
Beelzebub let her usual public persona, the dignified, noble member of demonkind, drop. A rare look of sheepishness overtook her visage. “I’m so terribly sorry dear, I didn’t anticipate she would be so impudent as to bring up demonic courting rituals right away. I swear, I intended to broach the topic with you, but the bond is so, so new and I wanted to ease you into-”
The Witch giggled. Her right hand covered her tittering grin while her left hand pressed a finger to her insect-winged paramour’s lips. “It’s alright, love, I knew Pecora would try something to throw us off. I also knew when we started seeing one another that cultural differences might come up, heck I saw firsthand how differently the various races handle things when I met Laika’s family.”
Beelzebub gave a small peck to Azusa’s finger, eliciting a squeak, and smirked. “Yes, quite true, though I do want to assure you the ceremony she mentioned is a relatively minor thing. it’s meant to be a small gathering of very close family and friends where we formally declare our intentions to court one another and exchange tokens that indicate we are now Beloved.”
“That actually sounds really, really nice. The tokens especially are a very lovely tradition!”
True to Beelzebub’s word, only a few people were in attendance at their demonic ceremony of courtship. They were primarily the individuals Azusa and Beelzebub chose to first announce their relationship to, along with a few others. Pecora insisted they make use of her throne room for the ritual, which felt silly but was easier than arranging their own venue.
The two women exchanged promises to treat each other with tender care, to be faithful throughout the courting and to nurture their bond so it would grow. Azusa learned that when Beelzebub referred to her as her Beloved, she wasn’t merely using yet another pet name for her Witch. Instead it referred to a universally understood concept among Demons.
To claim another as “Beloved” was to announce that you were in a committed relationship more serious than the demon equivalent of dating, but less formal than outright marriage.
Azusa was just fine with that, and even more delighted when Beelzebub explained the tokens they exchanged could essentially be anything, so long as they matched. Upon hearing this, Shalsha, Falfa and Sandra offered to help their mother craft them. In demon culture it was the onus of the individual being courted, in this case the Highland Witch, to provide the symbols of courtship.
Her daughters more than delivered. Falfa’s creativity gave rise to a simple design of three interwoven strands of fiber, to be bound around Azusa and Beelzebub’s necks. Sandra assisted by growing some bamboo-like grass with extremely soft fibres, and Shalsha made use of her extensive knowledge of paints and inks to select a deep shade of red, so dark it approached black, to dye the tokens.
Unlike a marriage ceremony, the demonic rites ended not with a kiss, but instead with binding of hands, the couple’s fingers intertwined then tied together.
Azusa smiled, her hand bound to her Beloved’s. She glanced up at Beelzebub beside her, grinning even wider as Falfa and Shalsha raced towards them, Sandra trailing sedately behind.
Forget 300 years, the Witch of The Highlands could spend another 3000 with a love like this.