Chapter 62: Duality

Yasaka let out guttural moans as her husband pounded into her, his length knocking deep and pushing even deeper into a haze of lust. She had her legs and tails wrapped around his waist, even as he thrust maniacally into her. And she was even forced to put her hands above her head, to keep her head from being slammed into the wall he pushed into her with reckless abandon.

She was being ravaged.

Her husband was brutally having his way with her… and she loved every second of it.

After weeks of fear and despair, the stress and anxiety of dreading over his brush with mortality, this desperate and savage lovemaking was what she needed, to know that he was with her. To have him secure and so very tangible inside of her, filling her with himself.

She had lost count of how many times he had made her climax over the hours, but that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that it was him, and that made the pleasure ripping through her spine and core all the more special.

As she threw her head back into the pillow, the pleasure of him slamming into her womb again and again overwriting her ability to think clearly, she managed to catch a glimpse of his eyes beneath his sweat matted hair.

Eyes that burned a fierce and dangerous crimson demonic light.

But it was in that primal greed of the Demon that she felt so loved and safe.

My husband wants me, my husband wants me, she chanted in her head.  

And as he lifted her hips of the bed and pistoned her into the bed, causing her to let out loud and guttural moans, she reached out with both arms, towards that near feral Demon.

And as he came to her, her Ichigo took her mouth and dominated her tongue with his own. And Yasaka moaned into his mouth, the taste and flavor of him causing her walls to tighten around his length.

She wanted… she needed…

She gripped the hair on the back of his head and pulled him deeper into the kiss. Desperation and need filling her to the very core. And Ichigo responded even more violently, thrusting with even greater strength and vigor.

She broke the kiss as she gave a groan, one so animalistic she would undoubtedly have been beyond mortified in any other circumstance.

And it was a good thing they had reinforced her bed and room with magic so long ago, otherwise she knew he would have torn the palace down with their, literal, magical lovemaking.

“I-chi-go.”

She moaned each syllable to the thrusting of his hips, the pleasure crashing through her mind, and she gripped his forms then, to keep herself stable and very much in the present. Her nails sharpened and tore into his Hierro as she moved her head restlessly in her moans.

One of Ichigo’s hands reached up, and he grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking her head back. And she gave a sharp cry as the pain melded into pleasure, both physical and in the knowing that the man she loved was so lost in her that even reason had left her.

That she could do this to him… it was so hot.

And as Ichigo continued to supernaturally slam into her, Yasaka managed to get her arms around his neck and pull herself up so that she was bouncing against him. And there was just so much rightness in the softness of her curved pressed against his hard muscles.

She trailed kisses along his neck and cheek and he responded by nuzzling into her.

My husband… my man… mine, mine, minemimemineminemineMINE!

And with each second, her vagina grew tighter and she could feel him twitch in response. Years of marriage let her know that he was close… that she was so close. They would… together…

“Darling, dar-ling ~!” She half-sang and half-groaned into his ears. “I’m so close, please… let me… please…”

But then, infuriatingly, he began to slow down.

Wha…?

“Ichigo…?” she said through broken breaths, still being rocked by the slow movements of his dick pressing against her womb.

But it was the Demon who looked back, with eyes burning in infernal fire. “Say it,” he growled.

“Nnn- Ichi-go. P-please.” And she tried bouncing her hips to get herself off because she was so, so close…

But he held her tight, keeping her on his mind-numbingly slow rhythm. “Say it.”

She looked at him pleadingly, but the Demon looked on without any pity.

She bit her lips, keeping the deep moan down as he punished her hesitation with a lone, powerful thrust. “I-I… inside! I want it inside! Fill me up! Get me pregnant!”

“Good girl,” and the pleasure kicked back in as he started furiously thrusting again. Yasaka fiercely bit into his clavicle as she felt herself edge closer and closer.

She felt her body tighten around him, waves of pleasure crashing over her as the familiar coil in her core snapped. “Ichigo!” she cried out, his name escaping her lips like a prayer, blending with the sounds of their passionate entanglement. Her vision blurred, the world around her fading into a kaleidoscope of colors as ecstasy enveloped her. She clung to him, nails digging into his skin, grounding herself against the storm that swirled within.

Ichigo’s thrusts became frantic, driven by a beastly urge to claim her, to fill her completely. The heat between them ignited, and she could feel his tension building, a surge of desire that coursed through him. “Yasaka,” he growled, his voice low and filled with urgency.

Time seemed to blur as their bodies collided, and then it happened. Yasaka’s climax crashed through her like thunder, shockwaves of pleasure spiraling through her limbs. In that moment of blissful chaos, she sensed Ichigo follow suit, his release surging forth, filling her as they surrendered to the intoxicating depths of their connection.

Together, they were lost in the whirlwind of passion, two souls entwined, reaching heights that left them breathless and wanting more.

He gently let her fall back to the bed, and Yasaka’s hair spread wild over the stained sheets and her pillow, her chest heaving as her legs and tails slowly unwound from her husband. Both her arms fell across the top of her head as exhaustion battled with arousal.

How many times had it been now? How many times had he filled her up? Almost painstakingly, one of her hands landed on her belly, her fingers softly rubbing the skin of her navel, even as she felt him continue to twitch inside of her. If he were anything else, if he were any other species than an infernal Demon, she knew that she would be pregnant for sure.

But the horrid fertility rate ensured that his vile kind couldn’t reproduce easily. The ever-present taint of the First Flame was anathema to all life, after all. And out of all Demonkind, it ran strongest in her husband. But still… a child, one with her husband… a sibling for her Kunou…

In a daze, Yasaka slowly turned her head and looked at the prone form of the Dragon King; her eyes half lidded as she lay there near motionless. Ichigo had already ravaged the Old One without mercy before he had moved on to her.

But Tiamat was the Primordial of Fertility in the ancient world. If she asked, her husband’s other consort could weave her authority to ensure she fell pregnant. She could be impregnated with Ichigo’s child before the day ended… all she had to do was ask.

The thought alone nearly sent another minor climax arching through her spine. But ultimately, reason cooled the heat of lust. She wasn’t that far lost in the carnal pleasure. Being pregnant now, with the cosmos edging on a scale of conflict not seen in eons would be disastrous.

But some day…

As if sensing her turmoil, Ichigo leaned down and gave her a soft kiss, it was as possessive as any other kiss of the last twenty-four hours. But there was a gentleness there now.

She slowly cupped his cheek with one hand, and his lips pulled away, she caught sight of his eyes still burning in demonic fire. And not just that, as he moved over her, she was made keenly aware he was still deep inside of her, and still very, very hard.

Ichigo let out a dark chuckle, and he nipped at her breasts with his teeth as he slowly pulled out of her. Yasaka let out a soft moan as she felt him pull against the folds of her walls, and her inside tighten again in his absence.

He gave her another soft kiss, this time on the cheek and murmured low, “Rest up.”

And it boggled the mind, how he moved to position himself behind the Dragon King, and slowly slid himself in between her butt cheeks.

He really should have been given lust, she thought.

======

Tiamat lay on the bed, exhausted and sore, her body still humming with the remnants of pleasure from her earlier encounter. She felt the weight of fatigue pulling her under, yet a lingering ember of desire sparked within her, igniting a need that refused to be quelled.

As she surrendered to the warmth of the sheets, the sound of movement stirred her senses, and she caught a glimpse of her beloved shifting behind her.

Again… she noted with fatigue.

His presence radiated heat, a dark energy that set her heart racing anew. She felt him draw closer, a familiar thrill coursing through her as he positioned himself behind her.

He was going to take her; he was going to tear into her.

With a low growl, the Demon claimed her, his thrusts firm and demanding. Tiamat gasped, the sensation of him filling her igniting a rush of pleasure that shot through her body. She felt him deep inside, pushing her limits, devouring her once more as he made sure that every ounce her was marked and stamped with his being.

And not just physically.

In their shared mental bond, she could feel the raw, maniacal want and desire he flooded into her mind. It was the darkest meld of adoration and savagery. Of tender love and brutal possessiveness.

The Demon and Dragon made one in the most animalistic sense.

And it made her come on the spot.

The fox had it simple, she only needed to endure the carnal pleasure. But every fiber of Tiamat’s psychic being was set afire by her beloved’s sheer desire. And just as strongly, she wanted him. She wanted him to dominate her and make it clear that she belonged to him.

She arched her back, pressing her body against his, relishing the way he moved within her. Every thrust was a reminder of his strength, a fierce declaration of his desire. Tiamat rejoiced in it, her instincts taking over as she surrendered to the primal rhythm they created together.

“Hah… anh… belov-anh!”

Ichigo's hands gripped her hips, holding her in place as he drove deeper, each thrust causing her to cry out, a mix of pleasure and wild abandon escaping her lips. She felt herself unraveling, the world around her fading away as she lost herself in the sensation of him.

With each powerful thrust, she felt the tension coiling within her, building, swirling like a storm ready to burst. Tiamat's body responded instinctively, her muscles tightening around him, urging him on. She wanted more, needed to feel him consume her entirely.

As he continued to take her from behind, Tiamat let out a low growl of approval, her head falling back against his shoulder as she sought the heat of his body. His breath was hot against her skin, and the sound of their bodies meeting filled the room, echoing the chaotic energy of their connection.

The edge of pleasure loomed near, and Tiamat could feel herself teetering on the brink. With a surge of instinctual need, she pushed back against him, matching his rhythm, desperate for release. He responded in kind, his thrusts growing more erratic, fueled by their shared intensity.

She could feel him straining against her, the power radiating from him like a force of nature, and it only heightened her arousal. Tiamat's body trembled, and she could sense the waves of ecstasy cresting, ready to crash over her.

“Ichigo,” she breathed, his name a primal chant as she surrendered to the storm of sensation engulfing her. She could feel the fire within her igniting once more, and with a final, powerful thrust, she let herself go, spiraling into bliss as pleasure consumed her.

The world exploded in a kaleidoscope of colors as her climax washed over her, and in that moment of blissful chaos, she sensed him follow suit, his release surging forth as they surrendered to the intoxicating depths of their connection.

Together, they became lost in the whirlwind of passion, their bodies entwined in a fierce embrace, reaching heights that left them breathless and wanting more. Tiamat lay there, her body still trembling from the intensity, and in the wake of their union, she felt a profound sense of completeness. They were one, bound by a love that defied time and space, and she would cherish every moment she shared with him, now and always.

She would never lose him…

But as her eyes fell heavy, she felt his seed once again flood her womb, and those ancient weaves of her very being roared, demanding that she allow him to impregnate. And though she wanted, desperately wanted, to be pregnant with his child, she knew it was not time.

Not yet.

======

Ichigo pulled out of Tiamat, his breath heavy but even as he gazed down at the two women beside him. Their bodies lay entwined, glistening from the remnants of their passionate encounters, the air thick with their shared scent of lingering desire.

And they were so damn beautiful to him. More than anything else in the world.

His crimson gaze sharpened as he could still sense the carnal energy still thrumming within them. And the undercurrent of their fear and anxiety from the weeks past that pulsed alongside their need. It was intoxicating, awakening the demonic instincts that coursed through his soul; and he fed upon their emotions that flickered just beneath the surface. All their trepidations and doubts, and all of it, all of it, had come from his brush with death.

They loved him that much; they drowned in sorrow and desperation and dread out of love for him. And the Demon basked in it.

His gaze shifted between Tiamat, still reeling from the intensity of their immediate bout of sex, and Yasaka, who mirrored a similar exhaustion but glowed with satisfaction. He felt a possessive surge of strength flow through him, a heady mix of their desires intertwining with his own as he moved to position himself between them, sitting against the head of the bed.

His, always and forever. He vowed he would never let anything happen to them. He would protect them with everything he had and more.

But in the moment, with deliberate slowness, Ichigo reached out, threading his fingers through Tiamat's long, wavy white hair. His eyes softening and the edge in glare dimming, as he loving stroked her head. He did the same with Yasaka, giving her gentle pets on the top of her head, feeling her warmth seep into his touch.

But then he tugged gently, eliciting a soft gasp from their lips. A jolt of electricity that ran shared amongst the three of them, and Ichigo felt

“Clean me off,” he commanded, his voice low and filled with authority. The words hung heavy in the air, thick with expectation, and he watched as they both looked up at him, their eyes glimmering with a mix of submission and desire. There was an unspoken understanding, a bond forged in their shared sense of dismay now eased with his intimate touch.

Tiamat exchanged a glance with Yasaka, and in that fleeting moment, a mutual agreement passed between them. Slowly, they began to shift toward him, their movements tentative yet driven by the need to obey. Ichigo’s heart raced as he felt the anticipation build, the connection between them pulsing with energy.

As they positioned themselves, Yasaka took the lead, leaning toward him first. Her warmth radiated against his skin as she engulfed him with her mouth, her tongue swirling around his length, cleaning the remnants of their shared ecstasy. Tiamat followed suit, her gaze fierce yet laced with tenderness as she watched Yasaka. The sight sent a thrill coursing through him.

Ichigo leaned back slightly, allowing them to take control as he basked in the sensations. Tiamat and Yasaka took turns, alternating between gentle licks and teasing sucks, their mouths working in tandem to clean him off. Each stroke, each swirl of their tongues ignited the lingering fire within him, fueled by the desperation and hunger that they both exuded.

The warmth of their mouths enveloped him, a combination of softness and firmness that left him breathless. He could feel their lingering desires, the way their bodies responded to each other, and it fed the Demon within him, amplifying his own need. The air was thick with the scent of lust, and he closed his eyes, surrendering to the moment.

With each satisfying motion, Ichigo felt a wave of pleasure ripple through him, mingling with the overwhelming sense of possession. He gripped their hair tighter, guiding them as they continued their ministrations, their soft moans vibrating against him, resonating deep within his core.

Tiamat’s eyes flickered up to meet his, the ocean blue filled with primal energy, and he felt a surge of power course through him. Yasaka followed suit, her gaze equally fierce, both women embodying a balance of strength and submission. They were a perfect reflection of his desires, an embodiment of the fierce strength that both extraordinary women possessed that had drawn him to them both.

And they cleaned him, Ichigo’s senses heightened, and he could feel the vibrations of his own pleasure ripple through his spine

With a final, deep pluck of their lips, both women pulled back, panting slightly as they gazed up at him, their expressions a mix of satisfaction and lingering hunger. Ichigo could sense their yearning, their desperation for more, and he reveled in it.

In that moment, as he looked down at the two women who had become central to his existence, and all the demonic energy scattered like rain in the wind, only a warm sunlight remained as Ichigo pushed down his infernal nature back to the depth of his soul.

Eyes brown and warm once more, his hands in both their hair loosened, and he gently rubbed the top of their heads.

“I love you so much,” he breathed.

And without another word, Tiamat and Yasaka crawled up his body and tightly snaked their arms around his neck. And Ichigo hugged them desperate back.

======

While the bulk of Ichigo’s existence was very deliberately occupied elsewhere - warm, sated, and pressed between two literally supernaturally beautiful women who were utterly consumed with giving him the best morning of his life - this fragment of his being sat scowling behind his desk as he did his best to keep a lid on his immense sense of vexation.

He was failing quite spectacularly.

The entire atmosphere of his office in Iravex had taken on a distinct edge, the ambient magical currents running just a shade hotter than usual. Not just that, the usual purple sky of Infernity was now a myriad mix of colors. On one hand, there was the furious joy and bliss from his main body leaking into the realm and adding hues of gold and ocean blues to the atmosphere. On the other hand, the more present avatar of Ichigo was radiating seething jealousy, tainting the sky with shades of churning red.

Reduced to being resentful of himself, how had his life come to this!

Across from him, on the other side of his desk, Sylvanna and Bennuides sat tactfully silent. Both Pillars having the good sense to happily ignore his apparent bad mood that was quite literally affecting the world around them.

Resting his cheek on a fist, Ichigo flipped through the various reports one last time. “So, to summarize…”

And Sylvanna spoke first, recognizing the invitation to answer his unasked question. “Over the last two weeks, the Ministry of Law has processed three hundred and twelve civil petitions specifically related to importing and exporting. The majority stem from the Satans’ announcement of there being a ceasefire among the Three Great Powers in the works. Many businesses are hoping to establish footholds into previously outlawed markets. Legal footholds.”

She chose her words carefully, but Ichigo snorted, nonetheless. He had no doubt that several members of the Nobility ran smuggling operations in and out of Fallen and Angel territories.

Sylvanna continued. “Most claims are still pending, though many have already been dismissed as there is no current legal precedent to rule upon. We deemed it politically advantageous to avoid any hearings for the time being.”

Ichigo looked over the numbers before him one more time before gruffly saying, “Tell the courts to let all petitions continue to pend unless there is an egregious breach, in which case proceed as normally. Otherwise, just stall. The Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Magic will be establishing government run monopolies, so until they get their choice picks, everyone else will have to wait their turn.”

Sylvanna parted her mouth just slightly but quickly closed it. Though the movement didn’t go unnoticed by Ichigo who commented wryly, “Were you hoping to establish ‘legal’ footholds of your own?”

“Ahem.” Sylvanna broke eye contact and neatly tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, much to Ichigo’s amusement.

But his mirth was short lived as Ichigo let out a sigh and returned to scrolling through the endless files and documents: instantly assimilating and memorizing every detail that entered his eyes. He registered the numbers, the names, the judgments rendered - all filed neatly under his authority as Crown Prince. “Any pushback from the Pillars?”

“None,” Sylvanna replied. “Though a few formal objections from families of the Lower Nobility aligned with House Bael, but nothing escalated beyond rhetoric.”

That earned a faint tightening of Ichigo’s jaw. He made a mental note to revisit that later. “Make a list of all of them and have it forwarded to Meril. And what about criminal cases?”

“Nothing that warrants your immediate attention, my Prince,” she said smoothly.  

And as she settled and went quiet, Bennuides picked up where she left off, his voice carrying the calm weight of a veteran commander. “On the Order side, internal security has been… strained, but functional. There is some minor concern amongst the populace over the proposed military deescalation. Many are wary and skeptical of a truce with our ancient enemy. Which isn’t unexpected, we Devils do know how to hold a grudge.”

Ichigo glanced up at him briefly. “And dissent?”

“A few dozen minor protests,” Bennuides admitted without hesitation. “But all investigation has shown them to be disorganized and unrelated. Most of it is ideological, stemming from voiced grievances in local pubs. Of course, we are continuing to monitor them closely.”

“Good,” Ichigo said. He turned another page, brow furrowing slightly. “You increased patrol density in the Marax territory?”

“Yes,” Bennuides replied. “House Marax, after having lost their pure-blood status and place in the Upper Nobility, have been historically vocal about their displeasure with the current Satans and the Pillars. Nothing deemed rebellious, naturally, but enough petty grumblings to warrant increased patrols to scare them into submission. Especially given the ongoing conflict with the Old Satan rebels.”

Ichigo exhaled slowly through his nose, some of the tension easing despite himself. He set the tablet down and finally looked at them properly, meeting Sylvanna’s cool gaze and Bennuides’ steady one. “Thanks” he said plainly. “You two have been exceptional as always.”

They reacted exactly as he expected: Sylvanna with a respectful nod, Bennuides with a hand to his chest in formal acknowledgment. Neither lingered on the praise.

“We are ever at your disposal, my Prince,” Sylvanna said.

“Always,” Bennuides echoed.

Ichigo waved a hand, dismissing them without ceremony. “That’s enough for today then, you two go have a well-deserved rest at home.”

They bowed in unison and withdrew, the door sealing behind them with a soft thrum of magic.

As the office fell quiet, Ichigo leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, momentarily banishing all of the worries of bureaucracy and politics, and took a deep breath of ease. Allowing the stress from the various governmental issues he had gone through in the last several hours to wash away. And it would be too soon if he had never had to deal with them again.

Unfortunately, that just wasn’t happening.

He was going to be doing this for centuries, millennia even. He wasn’t even 25 years old and he was considering retirement. How on earth did Yasaka do this for four hundred years on her own? At the very least, he had four other Satans to fall back and rely upon. His wife ruled her empire all by herself. The Kyoto Yōkai clans were as much as political opponents as they are retainers, after all.

But as he thought of his wife, he instantly remembered where she was and what she was currently doing. Even now, a snippet of his main’s body’s perspective flashed into his mind: Yasaka’s moans and the soft curves of her body against him.

Gah! Never in his life did he empathize with Zangetsu as much as he did now!

But before he could sink further into that incredibly odd line of self-loathing, a chime sounded in his ears. He looked down to see his tablet lighting up, a translucent interface unfolded in the air before him with a prominent magical sigil resolving into a priority message tag.

He instantly recognized it as a direct message from Serafall.

Ichigo straightened slightly and flicked his fingers, and thousands of files cascaded open in layered windows: genealogies, combat reports, psychological profiles, magical analyses. And all of it was bound together by the core concepts of Divine Dividing and one Vali Lucifer.

All of his previous irritation and annoyance, that had built up over the hours, melted away, replaced by the sharp drive and focus of battle honed instincts.

“Back to the grind,” he said quietly to himself.

======

Every single time he found himself in the presence of his fellow Satan descendants, Vali was forced to question the decisions of his life.

He genuinely wondered if their ancestors were this annoying as well. Maybe that’s why his own ancestor, the first Lucifer, was such a miserable person to get along with. His fellow Satans drove him mad with their sheer stupidity.

Nevertheless, he listened in silence as he leaned back, resting against cold stone of the wall with his arms crossed. Meanwhile, Shalba Beelzebub’s near-comically waved his arms in the air as his voice boomed unnecessarily through the air.

Did he really have to yell so loud? The room wasn’t even all that big.

“Those foul upstarts!” Shalba raged, lips curled in a thin approximation of annoyance. “Daring to lay their hands a proud, pure-blooded scion of their rightful rulers! But this is as much Katerea’s fault! All that power! And she still gets dealt a crushing defeat! Utterly shameful!”

Creuserey Asmodeus looked as annoyed as Vali did. He was the only one Vali held some modicum of respect for as the Asmodeus Lord was actually capable of forethought and comprehending consequence.

Idly swirling a goblet of dark wine, Creuserey sneered, “More than that, her capture complicates matters. With her in custody, I have no doubt she’s all but given away vital military intelligence to the rebels. Never mind she can’t keep her own mouth shut; Katerea would probably divulge everything after just being denied one meal. I’ve had to relocate dozens of bases, re-write encryptions and alter our plans entirely! Useless girl: it would have been better is she had managed to get herself killed instead of captured.”

Vali absently wondered how Katerea would feel if she heard her compatriots speak of her thus. Then again, she looked down on them as much as they did her. There was no true unity amongst the descendants of the original Satans. Hell, if it wasn’t for how he couldn’t even be bothered to expend that little effort, he would have killed them himself long ago.

It was somewhat embarrassing that he was related to Katerea, Shalba and Creuserey.

Shalba waved a dismissive hand. “It hardly matters. Even if the false Satans suspect something, they’re already too late.” His grin widened, smug and sharp. “I’ve secured a foothold inside Ajuka Astaroth’s house. A minor one, but one sufficient enough for our purposes. It will be child’s play for us to lure him out and assassinate him directly!”

Somehow, Vali highly doubted that.

As much as he would have liked to, Vali had never had the pleasure of directly confronting the new Sin of Greed. He had come close during the crisis at the Fallen-Devil border during Kokabiel’s incursion into Japan, but simply observing the Demon from across the landscape was enough for him to sense the monstrous gravity Ajuka exerted on existence. Even with his own prodigious demonic magic and the weight of Divine Dividing’s Juggernaut Drive, Vali knew he was not the Demon Lord’s match.

These two dreaming of assassinating, arguably, the second most powerful infernal being existence? Not even in a thousand years.

But he kept that thought to himself. If they wanted to get themselves killed, that was their business.

Speaking of power, Vali felt a slight pressure that crawled along his spine, ancient and heavy, like a burning sharpness resting just shy of his throat. His gaze slowly drifted towards the entrance as footsteps echoed, leisurely and utterly unconcerned with secrecy.

Cao Cao of the Hero Faction strode into the room openly, his dark hair falling over his blue eyes as his lithe and tall form stepped assured and unhurried. The True Longinus rested easily against his shoulder, even as its immense holy aura pressed against the very fabric of reality and demanded reverent submission. It was only the presence of Albion’s ancient weight that kept his Devil heritage from flinching on sight.

His fellow descendants had no such luck.

Vali watched with mild amusement as the two Old Satan leaders went deathly pale, their bravado evaporating under the suffocating presence of the immortal-slaying weapon.

Creuserey stiffened and visibly flinched, fingers tightening around his goblet until the glass cracked. Shalba, with what little self-control he had, took two steps back, staring fearfully at the leader of the Hero Faction and the weapon that could utterly vaporize him with the smallest nick.

Cao Cao’s eyes flicked toward them, sharp and assessing, before he smiled, a pleasant expression that somehow made the weapon feel even heavier. “Sorry for the interruption, but I was hoping to have a quick talk with Vali, if that’s alright with everyone?”

Shalba swallowed nervously, an undercurrent of indignant anger mixed with a healthy dose of fear marred his face. “This… this meeting can be resumed later.”

Creuserey nodded stiffly, already retreating wisely. “Another time.”

Cao Cao smiled politely and watched as both Devils essentially fled the room. And as the leader of the Hero Faction turned back towards him, Vali raised a single inquisitive brow and said, “You could have just sent a text.”

“And miss them nearly pissing their pants every time they see me? Why else do you think I have this out in the open?” And for emphasis, he gave the most powerful Sacred Gear ever created a shake. “Do you have any idea how inconvenient it is to lug this thing around through hallways and doorways?”

Vali resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “What do you want, Cao Cao?”

“It wouldn’t kill you smile and make small talk every now and then, Vali.” Cao Cao replied.

“I have childhood trauma, get over it,” Vali said dryly.

Cao Cao shook his head but smiled wider. “Kurosaki Ichigo. I want to know your impression of the man who threw away his humanity and then became the metaphysical enemy of all humankind.”

For a single second, his blood pulsed within him. He recalled the gigantic oceans of power that the new Satan had unleashed so easily in his battle against Katerea. It had been a one-sided beat down. Even at Ultimate-class, even with the addition of the Infinite Ouroboros’s blessing, Katerea had been helpless.

The monstrous power… the waves of demonic energy ripping through the false dimension… and even Time itself shuddering as he made it bend to his will. The simple memory of it filled Vali with a thrill, filled him with a need to unleash carnage.

He had wanted to test his mettle against the youngest of the Crown Princes right then and there, but Albion had been quite clear: Ophis was present and watching. And the Void Come had a very specific outcome in mind. The Sin of Wrath was someone else’s prey that day, all he was to do was weaken him as much as possible.

Which had proven to be disappointingly easy... but, again, Albion had unveiled to him that the Satan had foolishly expended himself in warping Time. And Vali trusted Albion’s wisdom and insight more than anything.  

With all that being said though… why did Cao Cao care?

Unless, the Hero Faction were anticipating conflict with the new Satans, there should be no reason for him to be interested in Kurosaki Ichigo. And last he heard, the Hero Faction were busy running operations for Indra through India and parts of China.

Ah, but Creuserey did say that plans were being redrawn...

‘I sense Ophis’ coils in this,’ the White Dragon Emperor’s voice rumbled within his mind.

Which made sense to Vali. He had no idea what the impossible dragon was plotting - actually, a part of him wondered if there was any plot at all? For all they knew, Ophis was simply carrying out random whims to amuse itself.

But turning his attention back to the matter at hand, Vali gave a casual shrug from his place against the wall. “Feel free to fight him and figure him out for yourself.”

For a second, Cao Cao’s smile vanished, replaced by a blank look of coldness, but it quickly went away and he chuckled. “A pity, I had hoped you would be more cooperative. You’ve shown a level of rationality and intelligence missing from your fellow Satan descendants. I suppose that’s your mother’s blood showing its influence.”

Vali’s gaze immediately hardened. “If you’re looking for a fight, say the word. Albion and I hadn’t had any decent entertainment in a long while.”

Cao Cao raised both his hands defensively, even as the True Longinus glinted easily against his shoulder. And his eyes flicked briefly to Vali’s chest, to the faint aura of draconic power that clung to him like a second skin. “You’ll have to choose eventually,” he said lightly. “Human or Devil. History isn’t kind to those who try to stand between.”

Vali didn’t bother responding and Cao Cao didn’t wait for one either. With a cheerful wave, the Hero turned on his heel and departing as casually as he’d arrived.

When the chamber was empty once more, Vali exhaled slowly and grimaced. More than Cao Cao, the metaphysical weight of the Spear of Destiny grated against his very being. It had taken quite a bit of self-control not to punch Cao Cao in the face in response to the obvious hostility of the holy weapon. He was, after all, the descendant of its greatest enemy.

Albion then stirred within him, the dragon’s presence coiling through his thoughts. ‘Do not underestimate them, the ancient voice warned. Those of the Hero Faction are young, but ambition paired with their power makes them tremendously dangerous. And that one in particular is the most dangerous of them all. Not for naught did the Spear of Destiny choose him as its bearer.’

Vali’s eyes drifted to the shadows where Shalba and Creuserey had stood moments earlier. “I know,” he replied quietly.

‘But he is not the only one who should be wary of: the youngest Satan sends waves through time and space as his power continues to swell, Albion continued. ‘And not just Ophis; I have sensed the lurking gaze of the Great Red as well. The Wheel of Fate turns on that young monster. Be ready, Vali. He will come for you with hands marked for revenge.’

And for the first time all day, Vali smiled.

He was counting on it.

======

Waking up in the morning was always a diametric thing for Ichigo. With Yasaka, he was almost always punctually up as the first light of the morning crossed the darkened horizon. Which wasn’t surprising since his wife was a facet of the Holy Sun and had an internal supernatural sixth sense when it came to all things solar.

As for Tiamat… well, there was more than one morning where his lazy dragon got the best of him and Ichigo abused his powers over the reality of Infernity and reset the sky. Did he get a lot of complaints and grumblings from the hundreds of millions of denizens about their day being reset? No. Because no one was dumb enough to complain to Satan. Poor Meril on the other hand…

Regardless, after spending the entire morning and most of the early afternoon having the best sex of his life with the two women he loves most, Ichigo had left bed famished. And not just him, Tiamat and Yasaka were also feeling more than bit puckish.

Which is why Ichigo currently sat cross-legged on the tiled roof of Yasaka’s palace with a low table conjured between the three of them as steam curled lazily from ceramic bowls and porcelain plates. Why were they having their breakfast-lunch hybrid on the roof of the Kyoto palace instead of the dining room or even the kitchen.

Because, while they had remembered to reinforce the bed and bedroom with magic, they had forgotten to put up the silencing wards. Which meant everyone who passed through Yasaka’s personal floor had heard them. Everyone. Including Kunou…

That was not a conversation anyone currently wanted to have. So, for both his and Yasaka’s sake, but not Tiamat’s because the word shame didn’t exist for the brazen dragon, he had suggested eating on the roof the palace.

Which surprisingly suited both of them just fine. Tiamat enjoyed being high in the sky, and Yasaka got herself a healthy supernatural dose of sunlight.

And a small intrusive part of his mind wondered if Amaterasu had been peeking in on their session…

Ichigo blinked, banishing that thought away and returned his attention to the immediate now.

On his right, Yasaka sat with her usual brand of practiced elegance; her robes arranged loosely for comfort rather than ceremony, and she held a pair of chopsticks in hand as she neatly but quickly ate mouthfuls of rice colored with egg yolk. It was her fifth bowl, not that Ichigo would ever vocally admit to counting. Instead, he admired the gleam of the sun reflecting off her golden hair and giving her a delightful glow.

On his left, Tiamat was her usual lackadaisical self, reclining rather than sitting, with one leg folded beneath her and the other stretched out across the clay tiles while she nimbly took apart the filet of salmon before her. Not a small filet either, but the entire side of the fish cooked perfectly which she occasionally dipped in a bowl of Miso. Again, wisdom pushed him to appreciate her pale hair spilling down her back, catching the sunlight and scattering it prismatic like water.

All the while, Tengu servants came and went on silent wings, setting down dishes, refilling cups, vanishing again before anyone could acknowledge them.

Ichigo ate absently, more aware of the weight and warmth of the two women beside him than the food itself. Like Yasaka, he was on his nth bowl of rice, though he had a bunch of fried mackerel.

They ate in silence, and occasionally, Ichigo found himself moving food from his plate onto Yasaka or Tiamat’s. And in return, they would, at times, take turns feeding him.

Once their impromptu meal was over, the same Tengu servants rushed over, cleaned the empty dishes and promptly served them tea. Though Tiamat opted to forgo any beverage and simply contented to close her eyes and put her head down into lap. As for Yasaka, well, Ichigo doubted anything short of an apocalypse would get his wife to skip after meal tea. Though she did let a bit of her rigid tea ceremony austerity slip as she leaned against him.

So, there he was, sexually satisfied, a meal fit for royalty sitting in his stomach, and two utterly gorgeous women on either arm.

Life was good.

They continued to sit in silence for several more minutes, as Ichigo had one arm wrapped around Yasaka’s waist and the other gently stroking Tiamat’s hair. And every so often, he’d lean over and kiss his wife’s golden head even as Tiamat would kiss the tips of his fingers.

Yasaka was the first to break the comfortable quiet.

“There’s something I need to say,” she said, her tone light and easy, but careful in a way that made Ichigo’s attention sharpen immediately. “Something I experienced while you were… away.”

He turned toward her, brow furrowing slightly.

She took a slow sip of tea, eyes drifting toward the horizon and Ichigo followed her gaze, watching the way sunlight traced the edges of the clouds, and waited.

“I had my own immersion into the Fourt Dimension,” Yasaka said at last.

Ichigo’s shoulders tensed despite himself, a familiar knot forming in his chest. And in that moment, he remembered the all too real feeling phantom of Yasaka he had perceived just before he had his audience with the two Dead Kings.

Apparently, it wasn’t just a vision of a possible future, he really had seen Yasaka in the golden world of Timelessness.

“I was…” and she paused, searching for the right words. “Made to experience a moment beyond Time by the Eternal Dream.”

And Ichigo’s eyes widened briefly. So not just him then, Yasaka had also been caught in the Dreaming of the Great Red. Huh… which meant that, in some fashion, all three of them had been touched by the Apocalypse Dragon. Tiamat who was given freedom and new form. Ichigo who had been given truth of his existence. And now Yasaka…

Ichigo glanced briefly at Tiamat. The Dragon King’s expression had sharpened, her usual languid composure replaced with something more alert, more focused. Few knew the Divine Dragons better than she did, she was the oldest of the Dragon Kings after all. And fewer still had been more directly influenced by their limitless power.

Yasaka exhaled slowly. “I found myself in an emanation of Takamagahara in the Fourth World. It was there I encountered Amaterasu-sama, Tsukiyomi…-sama, Susanoo-sama and Thor of the Aesir.”

Ichigo noted the hesitant addition of the respectful suffix to the Shinto moon, but he didn’t begrudge her. Four hundred plus years of religious devotion didn’t just go out the window in a single evening. Nevertheless, he still felt a flicker of surprise at that, quickly followed by concern. “The Shinto triumvirate were all together? And Thor?”

“Yes,” Yasaka said with a quiet. “They explained to me, even as Grayfia had come from the Underworld to bring me to you, I had paradoxically been drawn into the Fourth Dimension by Will of the Great Red at the same time.”

And Ichigo listened intently as she went on to explain, voice steady and clinical, of Izanagi’s children and the, now obvious with hindsight, tension amongst them. How the Breathing Storm had explained to her of the manipulation of the Divine Dragon and after that, the Norse Lord of Thunder and his role in leading the Valkyries in repelling the wolves Sköll and Hati who had invaded Japan.

Yasaka’s gaze returned to him, sharp and intent. “The Aesir asked me to pass on a message to you.”

Both of his eyebrows climbed up. Aside from a few souls he hunted along the borders of Helheim, he had little to no exposure to the Germanic pantheon. “Which was?”

“To seek out the Sapling of Yggdrasil in your realm.”

Ichigo let out a thoughtful hum. He wasn’t expecting to hear that, but even then, he still couldn’t push past the idea that both Divine Dragons were now playing with, not just his life, but with Tiamat and Yasaka’s. After remerging from the Irameron and having had the time for his Tiamat’s mind to reacclimate, he managed to pull from her the memory of Ophis’s shadows arising in his garden of Infernity. When she had been with Millicas.

“The fuck are they planning,” he said to himself.

Tiamat shifted in his lap and looked directly up at him. “Do not waste time trying to unfold the skeins of their minds. There are none. They are far older than this reality and they shall ride long past its destruction.

“For now,” Tiamat continued, “your focus should remain where it belongs. Your destined enmity with the Moon and those that would call themselves the Khaos Brigade. Though, knowing the Eternal Dream, I think a boon awaits you if you would resolve whatever path it has laid out for you with the Norse-kin.”

Ichigo’s mouth twisted tartly, but he nodded in agreement. But that would have to be taken care of after he regained his full strength. He really did need to be getting back to the Irameron as quickly as possible. He had indulged himself long enough.

“Dear,’ and he turned towards Yasaka’s curious gaze. “I vaguely recall you mentioning the World-Tree having an offshoot in your realm. But details escape me, care to rekindle my memory?”

At her words, Ichigo looked down at Tiamat, and his familiar was the one who answered Yasaka. “After Albion and Ddraig’s sealing, many wyrmkind attempted to usurp their position as Heavenly Dragons and a great many wars and battles were raged as they carved their own kingdoms. The Germanic realms were effected adversely in particular due to many of my powerful kin present in the realm. Níðhöggr, Fafnir, Grendel, Lindwyrm Regis, Ófnir, Jörmungandr; the list goes on. Their battles reshaped the branches of the World-Tree, upending entire realms. The mortal races found themselves drowning in claw and fire for decades.”

“Incidentally,” Ichigo cut in, “those decades coincided with the Devil Civil War. Once Sirzechs and the others won, their attention and efforts were solely on rebuilding and securing the nascent Empire. As it were, several supernatural Germanic tribes fled from the dragons into the Underworld, including a large group of Ljósálfar, Light Elves, that settled eventually settled in Infernity. Like I said, Sirzechs and the others were too busy pay direct attention to a realm that had been abandoned ever since the original Satan fell at the height of the Great War, so they gave the elves tacit approval to settle.”

Yasaka listened intently as he continued.

“The Ljósálfar didn’t come empty-handed though,” he said. “They brought with them a branch of Yggdrasil. A sapling that they planted and it, surprisingly, took root in Infernity and grew. And I mean grew. You could sit mountains on its branches, it’s that damn big. And even then, it’s still puny compared to the real Yggdrasil. But still, the Sapling is enormous by any reasonable standard.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “Is it sentient? I’ve heard the World-Tree is capable of speech, though it rarely communicates. Or is the tree in your realm merely an extension of its being?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” Ichigo admitted. “I’ve spoken with it once - when I first claimed the realm and took fealty from its cities and most powerful denizens. It responded positively, but whether it’s an extension of Yggdrasil’s will or a consciousness of its own, I can’t say.”

He paused, then added, “My suspicion is that it’s linked to the original, but distinct. Like a cutting that grew into its own mind.”

“And the Ljósálfar?” Yasaka asked.

“They keep to themselves for the most part but mingle well enough. Unlike certain elven tribes in Infernity, they allow other races to come in and out of their cities.” His mouth twitched as he gave Tiamat a rueful look. “That being said, a certain someone nearly got swatted from the sky by one of mini-Yggdrasil’s branches.”

Yasaka gave a curious look as Tiamat let out a low growl. “An eyesore, overgrown, piece of wood! If it does not desire to be struck by lightning, perhaps it should refrain from intruding into the sky?”

Yasaka’s lips twitched despite herself, amusement flickering through her eyes.

Ichigo smiled faintly at the exchange, but the weight of the moment still sat heavy on him.

There were too many forces moving, too many ancient powers stirring from long slumber. But here, now, with Yasaka and Tiamat at his side, he had managed to have the best day of his life so far.

But then, as he touched that fragment of his being back in Infernity, he realized it was time for it to come to an end. He could no longer afford to put off reinforcing this new body. Otherwise, it would fall apart under his own power.

“I have to go back,” he said softly.

And just like that, the softness amongst the three of them was broken, and both of his girls sat straighter, and they turned to face him solemn.

“I’ll be back in a day,” he said firmly, even as he looked into both pair of golden and blue eyes.

They both smiled tenderly, and he took turns giving them both a caste kiss on the lips before fading back into the Underworld.

======

As he crossed the threshold back into the deeper strata of Infernity, the division between selves collapsed with a familiar, faintly uncomfortable sensation; like sinking into warm water that already knew the shape of his body. The avatar’s consciousness folded back into him, thoughts and impressions aligning seamlessly with his own.

And immediately it began complaining.

Fucking asshole, the fragment informed him with crystalline clarity, equal parts irritation and long-suffering resentment. You send me to drown in paperwork and posturing while you drown between a dragon and a fox. Un-fucking-believable.

Ichigo snorted softly under his breath, and he instantly reabsorbed his avatar, effectively ending its sapience. A more amused part of his brain wondered if that counted as a form of suicide.

The air thickened as his shadow stretched unnaturally long beneath him, pooling at his feet before rising up like a writhing mass. One by one, figures stepped free of the darkness, solidifying into towering forms that radiated unrepentant violence and ancient cruelty.

Nihil emerged first, vast and still as a mausoleum, its presence a void that drank in ambient light. Ruel followed, it’s claws carefully folded along it side as its sharp eyes scanning the surrounding corridors with habitual precision. Ecayd unfolded itself from the shadows with serpentine grace, wings twitching once before settling. And Furia manifested last in a flicker of ember-bright fury, its eyes burning with an unending fury.

The Imperators, the strongest of Reavers all stood vigil and ready, awaiting his command.

Ichigo felt their attention lock onto him, absolute and unwavering, and gave a brief nod in acknowledgment. “Guard the entrance,” he ordered simply.

Four heads inclined in unison.

As they took their positions, the space behind him sealed, shadows knitting together into an impenetrable barrier that only he could pass.

And Ichigo turned towards the Irameron and its gate, the ancient monolith that Satan himself had forged ages ago to serve as the font of dark power. Now it was his.

And as the titanic doors slowly crept open, filling the chasm with the sound of a low scream, a furious light poured through, all the while filling Ichigo with a raging strength and purpose.

Time to finish healing. Time to become whole again.

And with that thought, Satan’s eyes burned crimson, as his mind turned towards revenge.

======

A/N: I think I get why people write sex scenes. It's so much easer than writing plot and free word count! Anyways, I hope I didn't gross anyone out, I tried to make it more about the emotions of the act that the physicality of it.

This chapter was fun to write, because I enjoyed having to balance Ichigo against Satan.

Also, I think I misspelled Creuserey like 5 different ways when typing this. What a horrible name to spell out.