Far Into the Future

"Onii-san, what do you think? Don't I look cute?"

Ichigo briefly glanced up from his newspaper to see his step-daughter strike up a pose in a rather provocative Santa outift. "Adorable," he quipped dryly, reverting his attention back to the crossword puzzle.

Kunou crossed her arms and pouted, sending him a glare which he did his best to ignore. "You didn't even look properly!"

"Your mother is not going to approve," he replied absentmindedly.

"What? Why? It's not even that bad! I mean, have you seen the stuff Okaa-sama wears half the time? Never mind, of course you have. Whenever you're both in the same room, you have your head half-way shoved up her cleavage."

Ichigo's eyes narrowed as he looked at her. "Are you trying to get yourself grounded?"

But Kunou thoroughly ignored him. "Ugh, it's so unfair. I'm eighteen now but mine still aren't as big as hers. Onii-san, you don't think mine are too small, do you?"

And as Kunou folded her arms and pushed up her breasts, Ichigo allowed a hint of demonic power to enter his eyes. "Kunou."

"Che!" She looked away defiantly, but the pout and blush on her cheeks let him know that she was well aware she had crossed a line. Inwardly, he sighed to himself. Kitsune were a rather sexually active species, add on top of that the mess of adolescence and the fact Kunou was stifled under the burdens of inheriting a theocratic empire - his daughter was a bundle of barely suppressed raging hormones.

"Why are you dressed like that?" he asked with a hint of exasperation, breaking the tense moment.

"I'm getting together with some school friends for an end of the year party," she said softly, still not meeting his eyes. "The girls talked it out, and we thought it'd be cute to do some cosplay."

He went back to his crossword. "Be back before nine and don't let your mother see you like that."

Kunou let out a gleeful squeal and clapped excitedly before jumping over to him and giving him a tight hug. "I will, and I won't! Promise!"

Ichigo grunted. "When are you leaving?"

"As soon as Millicas arrives," she said, pulling away from him.

He raised a brow. "Millicas is going?"

Kunou nodded. "Yeah, I convinced him to come hang out with us. He spends too much time studying and training! He's such a nerd."

Ichigo held in a snort. Despite the connotations of her words, he could clearly hear the fondness in Kunou's voice for the Underworld's youngest celebrity. Sirzechs' son had made waves as he tore through the junior leagues of Rating Games. Virtually everyone was eagerly anticipating his professional debut. On the other hand, Grayfia practically buried the kid in study sessions to ensure he could smoothly run his father's titanic empire one day. Not that any of the current Satans were going anywhere anytime soon.

And as soon as that thought ended, Ichigo felt a buzz against the palace wards.

"I guess that's him," Kunou said at the same time as he noticed.

Ichigo waved the wards, allowing him entry, and as soon as he did, a bright red summoning circle appeared on the floor before him. Millicas rose sharply out of the ground, dressed immaculately in a formal black suit and tie. They locked eyes at once and the young Devil put a hand to his chest and gave a half bow. "Greetings Nii-sama, I hope you're doing fine today."

Ichigo opened his mouth to respond but Kunou beat him to it. "Yo, Millicas! You're late!"

"Ah, Kunou, I-." The boy's eyes immediately lit up and he instantly began ignoring Ichigo. But Millicas' words died in his throat and he went still.

Ichigo noted with a frown how the young Devil's eyes widened, but aside from that he remained perfectly frozen in place.

Kunou mirrored his frown. "Millicas? Hellooo? Let's get going already."

However, as Kunou went to grab his hand and drag him away, she quickly stopped herself. And both father and daughter watched bewildered as a trickle of blood flowed out of Millicas' nose.

The teenage Kitsune took a step back. "Eh? Millicas?"

And suddenly, the light trickle of blood became an overflowing font and Millicas's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he fell to the ground in a dead faint.

"Wah!" Kunou let out a panicked shriek. "Millicas! Not again! Millicas!"

Ichigo pinched the bridge of his nose as he got up and called for the maids and a doctor.