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Shu coughed and hacked as smoke entered his lungs, stung his eyes, pressed against his skin at every angle.
This isn't how it was supposed to go...! He thought desperately. Please... Please forgive me for my mistakes... I just wished to bring you back... friend…
"Ah, if it isn't Yamino Shu-sama." The man– no, the demon– greeted with a sly smirk. "What brings you here, friend?"
"Another offering. The usual." The younger being shrugged, holding out an ornate box, decorated with purple, black, and gold.
"You know you don't need to give any offerings to me, Yamino." Vox replied.
"It's a family tradition, Akuma-san." The sorcerer chided. "It's rude to refuse a gift, y'know." He reminded him with that coy smile of his.
"Aha... You've got me there." The demon took the box, carefully opening it and glancing inside.
Ornate gold and red accessories were neatly organized among soft white fabric, glistening in the low candlelight of the room.
"How are they? It's... been a while since I've managed to create pieces like this." Shu murmured.
"They're absolutely beautiful, Yamino. No worries." He ruffled the sorcerer's strange hair (he had said once that the colors were all genetic, and that he usually used a spell to make his hair black when going out in public, same with his eyes turning a very human brown), ignoring his annoyed huff. "I'll be sure to add these to my growing collection."
"That's good." Shu clasped his hands together and bowed his head for just a moment.
"Thank you for the gifts as always, my dear friend."
"Of course."
"Akuma-sama is dead...!"
"What...?" Shu stared at the little human, the Kindred that had fled all the way from the now-ruined temple to the Yamino estate, politely yet hurriedly knocking on doors and asking for Shu. "What do you mean?"
Vox was a demon. Immortal.
How could he have died...?
"He's disappeared... The only trace of him is his blood... at the center of the temple..." The Kindred sobbed.
Shu reached forward and placed a sure hand on the poor human's shoulder. "I'll find him."
"What? Yamino-san–"
"Find a container and put some of his blood in it. Wet or dry, doesn't matter. If he's still alive, I'll find him." He said breathlessly. He turned into the house, cupping a hand around his mouth. "Mama!" His mother was there immediately, her gaze questioning. "I'm going out. I... don't know when I'll be back."
She looked confused for a moment before nodding sagely, an expression of understanding resting on her features. "Be careful, Shu."
"I will." He hugged her before running to his bedroom to gather the things he'd need.
And now he was here.
Collapsed onto his knees, surrounded by smoke and flame, of his own creation.
Just like when he'd awakened to more of his power, that hearth from so long ago.
There were tears pouring down his face from the memories, the burn scars on his back screaming in phantom pain, but he ignored it all.
"I'm so sorry... Vox..." He murmured, before choking on the smoke.
What was supposed to be a simple summoning ritual, potentially with elements of necromancy, had turned into a flame that engulfed the temple with Shu trapped inside.
He knew in his heart.
He would die here, just as his friend had.
He smiled, clutching at his chest as he continued to only breathe smoke, tasting the flames as if they were crawling up his throat, the tang of blood accompanying it like a horrid version of all the meals he'd ever shared with his friend.
As he fell, vision turning black, all he could think was... Please let us meet again in the next life...
When Shu awoke again
(wasn't he supposed to be dead?)
he was perfectly fine, not burnt to a crisp, not sweltering in the temple.
He sat up, feeling the familiar sheets and blankets of his bed, the familiar sights of his bedroom.
"That dream again..." He murmured.
His phone rang on his bedside table, and he picked it up, answering the call without looking at the number.
" Shu, my boy! How are you doing this morning? "
He smiled.
"Never better, Vox."