We Are Bulletproof

Yang's expression was as sour as Susumu's at being called a simpleton, which he was adamantly NOT. As the door closed behind the unfortunate, disappointed man in the wheelchair, Susumu seemed to adopt an entirely different personality altogether. One would hardly believe that this was the same man who came in at the side of his so-called lover. Crossing his arms and completely unrepentant, Yang scoffed.

"It is not my job to lie for you," he said loftily, raising his head slightly. "You're not even supposed to be here! I refuse to mop up after your messes. Any of you." The guardians who were placed at the sides of the creatures carrying the master's soul shards were... difficult. Pests, really. Yang wished that there weren't so many of them to have to deal with, each with their own set of issues. Pah. Humans. They were more trouble than they were worth, really.

"At any rate, you'd better leave before--" He trailed off. The air grew cold around them and Yang's head snapped up at the sound of a clatter outside. He heard, faintly, the man in the wheelchair calling for Susumu.

What the hell was with the Looks? Yang frowned at Susumu, not in the mood to play games. Things were bad enough with... outside interference, without Susumu showing up far too early with his-- "Lover?"

That was. Unexpected. Yang didn't know what to make of that, and for a moment the naked surprise showed on his face. Then he schooled his expression, though the frown persisted. This was probably not a good thing, taking the bearer of the seed as his lover. Didn't Susumu know the risks? He had to at least know how things would end up once the Master came to reclaim the pieces of his soul...

The man in the wheelchair was looking up at him now, with hopeful eyes. Yang could maybe see how Susumu might have made the mistake of falling for him. There was something about him, about the shine in his eyes and the wistful twist of his lips... Sighing, Yang shook his head. "The mark cannot be removed." Which Susumu must have already known, so why the hell did he have to drag his lover all the way down here? Just to get a second opinion? How bothersome!

He turned away to avoid the stark disappointment that replaced the hope. "You two need to get out of here. I'm sorry... there's nothing I can do."

"Stop! Don't! You don't know what you're doing!" Yang cried out as Kor'ulach made a beeline for the inner chamber. Zohod hurried after him too, but stopped in his tracks as though frozen. Yang, too, felt his limbs stiffen. Only his eyes moved, shifting to Kor'ulach in mounting horror. Was this his doing? Did he freeze them? But it didn't feel like his power.

It felt like the Master's.

From where he stood, he could see the cage. And the white, thin, gaunt face pressed to it, with a smile that made his very soul shiver. The look in the young Hazleton heir's eyes was... it was like nothing that Yang had ever seen before. Bony, long fingers clasped the bars and he seemed to be forcing his face closer and closer, almost as though he thought he could squeeze his entire body through if he tried hard enough.

"Kor'ulach! What's happening?!" He had to use telepathy to communicate now, since his lips wouldn't move.

"I can't strip his power. Only the master can strip his power." And his soul, and everything useful within the vessel. Yang wanted to see that happen. The young man that they had imprisoned inside the room was, as the humans put it, a right pain in the ass. Actually he reminded Yang of Kor'ulach. A lot.

"If you won't help, at least don't make a mess of this too," he snapped as he glared at Kor'ulach, then at the humans who were on their feet again, looking scared and wary. "I'm not letting you inside so if you want to go through with this foolishness, then you'll have to kill me."

Not that Yang would stand by idly and let them. He would banish Kor'ulach if he had to. They were demons--death was nothing to them. It barely even hurt. All they had to do was find a way back up top again, usually through an unwitting, foolish summoner.

"That's what you stand for," Yang said darkly. "That and running out on your betrothed with no warning." He had to add that. He had to, it wounded him and prickled at him and--it was just insulting! No one said that demons and devils were honorable but that was a whole different matter altogether.

"You're going to ruin everything if you free this human. So stop. Meddling."

For once, he needed Kor'ulach to let things be. Even Yang didn't know the full extent of his master's--that was, his true master and not these humans who summoned him--plans. He made a shooing motion with his hand. "Take these idiot children away from here before the girl's family returns."

"Because... he has the blood of Baël in his veins!" Yang pushed back with every ounce of strength that he had, in order to prevent foolish Kor'ulach from committing a grievous error. The humans thought that the young human was simply too powerful, but they didn't know what Yang knew.

Baël would arise, greater in power than ever. In order to do that, the fragments of his being that were imparted to humans must be collected and Yang, well, he was here to make sure that this particular fragment went nowhere fast. He worked for the lesser beings but his duty was to a higher order. One did not simply refuse one of the seven Princes of Hell.

Even now, Yang knew that Baël was roaming the earth, disguised as one of the humans. He was biding his time, collecting souls to strengthen himself. When he arose, Yang wanted to be by his side. The right side. His master would conquer the Earth and the time of demons would return.

And stupid Kor'ulach wanted to ruin all of that, because he was fond of a few humans!

Things were going well until Zohod decided to join in the fray, and then they seemed to go rapidly out of hand. Yang had no intentions of relinquishing the prisoner. This tiny little town wasn't ready for his power. These foolish humans didn't understand; they were young and hot-headed and full of themselves, thinking that their puny abilities could overpower that of the guardians.

Yang didn't blink when they all went flying back, but when Kor'ulach appeared in his true form (somewhat), annoyingly his pulse began to race. Not... because he felt for him. Ridiculous. It had simply been a long time since Yang had seen him, that was all. He was startled.

And Yang himself, in his human form, felt ugly. He put it on to fit in but these humans were so... naked. So bare. No protection from anything, their skin was paper-thin and their bodies horrifyingly easy to crush and maim. His own demon form was much more pleasing; everyone said it. They praised his beauty back home, but here... These plebeians had no obvious appreciation for it.

"You don't know what you're doing, idiot," he snorted as he took the brunt of Kor'ulach's retaliation and neutralized it with his own magic. Zohod could deflect magic, too, but this was personal. "We can't let the young Hazleton heir go. He'd destroy everything! Don't involve yourself in things you don't understand!"

Oh he saw the revulsion in their faces and he heard their simple thoughts. A man and a cat? A man and a demon cat? Obviously, Yang was not a man--though he took the form of one for obvious reasons. Or maybe not. Hidden down here, the only one he interacted with was Zohod and Zohod was no human either. Well, that was unimportant.

These simpletons couldn't comprehend the world of demons. Yang and Patches were destined to be wed from the start--even before they came into being. It was their fate and Patches could only avoid it for so long! Yang appraised the young man who spoke up. He decided that he didn't like him.

"Give his contract to me." His tone brooked no argument.

With distaste, Yang pushed 'Patches' away with his foot. He had been against their wedding too, and he hated the thought of being wed to his frivolous cousin, but this was their duty. And Yang, he was duty-bound. Maybe it was an odd characteristic for a demon, but it served him well so far. The humans, however, had a much more appreciative point of view towards his dedication than his own family. If anything, they often spoke of 'Patches' and his great escape with grudging admiration.

Hmph.

"What are the witches doing here?" he asked loftily, keeping one eye on Patches and another on the young humans crowded in the hallway.

"We're here to rescue my brother!" The girl said defiantly, and in the blink of an eye she had thrown a hex at him.

Too bad it bounced harmlessly off of Yang, rebounding in a flash of green off the nearest wall. Yang looked at her as though she were a speck of dirt. Which, to be fair, she was--in the face of a being like him. "Are you Patches' mistress?" She didn't reply. She looked stunned, and also baffled. Yang scoffed. "Your tricks are useless here, just answer the question, girl. Which one of you owns this pathetic cat?"

*caught*

I must go

Tell no one of this conversation

What does it matter, if I view the forest as an adult or as a child?

Also I have never been a child. That, however, is unimportant. I must survey more of this town's inhabitants.

I am unable to leave my current abode

However I have seen pictures of the forest. It appears extremely

Green

Hmm yes. A year is probably a long time for someone your age.

That seems
Atypical

All the knowledge I wish to acquire, I can do so through books. I find that they are a much more reliable source than humans.

But a child would not appreciate this. Perhaps you are more interested in what they call... picture books.