\n“They are interesting; I’ll give them that,” Kurai said, after
\nan afternoon of observation. “I can see what would attract Hatter.”<\/p>\n
\n“They’re very strong-willed, for children,” Noise agreed.<\/p>\n
\n“One would not let them catch one referring to them as children,”
\nBelial observed, sliding out of a patch of shadow. “Have you considered
\none’s request, lovely Queen?”<\/p>\n
\nBefore Kurai could answer, Noise said, “This seems like an awful lot of
\neffort just for a soul that’s already been signed away.”<\/p>\n
\nBelial flattened a hand over hir heart. “One is a great believer in quality
\nand thoroughness in one’s work.”<\/p>\n
\n“I’ll just bet,” Noise grumbled. “…Kurai-sama?”<\/p>\n
\n“I’ll do it,” Kurai decided. “Which one’s Sanada
\nagain?”<\/p>\n
\nBelial indicated one of the humans. “That one.” Se paused. “One
\nwould mention that he is touchy.”<\/p>\n
\n“And you have nothing at all to do with that,” Kurai said, absently,
\nstudying the boy in question.<\/p>\n
\n“Perish the thought,” Belial murmured, as the boys began clearing
\nthe tennis courts. “Ah. It would appear that one has been noticed.”
\nSe moved off to speak to the boy in question; Kurai and Noise trailed after hir.<\/p>\n
\n“More friends?” the boy asked, with an assessing glance at Kurai and
\nNoise. Kurai looked back at him just as critically, beginning to understand the
\nattraction of this particular soul.<\/p>\n
\n“Kurai, queen of Gehenna, and Noise, her retainer,” Belial said, with
\na sweeping gesture. “Your Majesty, Yukimura Seiichi.”<\/p>\n
\n“And what brings you to my tennis courts?” Yukimura inquired, politely
\nenough, despite the hint of steel in his voice.<\/p>\n
\n“Hatter’s invitation,” Noise said.<\/p>\n
\nYukimura looked at Belial. “And are my tennis courts going to be a social
\nclearing house for all sorts of demons now, Belial?”<\/p>\n
\nKurai felt her eyebrows hit her hairline, while Noise’s jaw dropped.<\/p>\n
\nBelial waved a hand. “Not at all,” se said. “Her Majesty is
\nhere to relieve certain misapprehensions regarding her husband’s domain.”
\nSe glanced pointedly in the direction of the boy se had indicated previously,
\nwho was standing a little ways off and obviously trying not to look too much like
\nhe was hovering.<\/p>\n
\nYukimura followed the glance. “Ah,” he said. “I see.”
\nHe looked back at Kurai. “In that case, welcome.”<\/p>\n
\n“Thank you kindly,” Kurai said, drily. “We’ll try not
\nto trouble you too much.”<\/p>\n
\n“I appreciate it,” Yukimura said. He paused. “Your husband?”<\/p>\n
\n“Hmph. We’re separated,” Kurai said, sparing a mild glare for
\nBelial. “Hatter-san can explain, if you’re curious. Noise?”<\/p>\n
\n“Ready, Kurai-sama.”<\/p>\n
\n“Then we’re off,” Kurai said. She stuck her hands in her pockets
\nand sauntered towards Sanada, Noise following close behind. “Hello.”<\/p>\n
\n“And just who are you?” he asked.<\/p>\n
\nKurai hid a grimace, as Noise stiffened. Touchy didn’t begin to cover it.
\n“This,” Noise said, “is Her Majesty, Queen Kurai of Gehenna.”<\/p>\n
\n“Kurai’s fine,” she added hastily, placing a hand on Noise’s
\narm. “You’re Sanada, right?” He nodded. “Good. Now, it’s
\na lovely afternoon for a walk, don’t you think?” Without waiting for
\nan answer, she linked her other arm in his. “Why don’t you walk with
\nme for a ways?”<\/p>\n
\n“What—” Sanada began to protest, but Noise seized his other arm,
\nand the two of them managed to propel him forward while Yukimura and Belial laughed
\nbehind them and the rest of the boys stared in open curiosity. He struggled to
\nfree himself, and was remarkably strong for a human, but Kurai and Noise were
\ndemons and managed to keep their grips on him easily enough. “Let me go!”
\nhe hissed, as they pushed him away from the tennis courts.<\/p>\n
\n“In a bit,” Kurai said, cheerfully. “First we need to talk.”<\/p>\n
\n“I’m not interested,” he said, instantly. “I don’t
\nwant anything to do with your bargains.”<\/p>\n
\n“Bargains?” Noise laughed. “You think we’re crazy enough
\nto try and bargain with you after Hatter-sama’s declared you off-limits?”<\/p>\n
\nKurai silently applauded Noise. That had piqued Sanada’s curiosity enough
\nto make him stop struggling for a moment. “Off-limits?” he repeated.<\/p>\n
\n“Absolutely,” Kurai said. “And even if Hatter-san hadn’t,
\nYukimura-san’s expression when we arrived would have made it look like a
\nbad idea. He seems very protective of what’s his.”<\/p>\n
\nSanada didn’t seem inclined to argue this. “If you’re not here
\nto buy my soul, then what are you here for?”<\/p>\n
\n“To talk,” Noise grunted. “At no small inconvenience to Her
\nMajesty, I might add.”<\/p>\n
\n“Not that much,” Kurai shrugged. “So, tell me, Sanada-kun—what
\ndo you know about Hell?” <\/p>\n
\n“It’s where damned souls go when they die,” he said, promptly.
\n“To be punished for their sins by demons.”<\/p>\n
\n“Okay. And heaven?” Kurai said, encouragingly.<\/p>\n
\n“Where good people go after they die,” Sanada said. “To be rewarded
\nby angels.”<\/p>\n
\n“Uh-huh.” Noise made a rude sound. “Those angelic bastards definitely
\nhave the better propaganda machine.”<\/p>\n
\n“Like that’s news,” Kurai retorted. “But then, they’ve
\nbeen playing a game rigged in their favor.”<\/p>\n
\n“Who could forget?” Noise released her grip on Sanada, who had followed
\nthis exchange with a faintly confused expression. “Damned souls. Punishments.
\nRewards. Hah! Do humans ever get anything right?”<\/p>\n
\n“Not often,” Kurai said, mildly. “I do hope you don’t
\nhave your heart set on that particular vision of Heaven and Hell, Sanada-kun.
\nIf you do, I’m afraid you’re going to be terribly disappointed when
\nyou die.”<\/p>\n
\n“I will?”<\/p>\n
\n“Oh yeah, especially if you’re planning on going to Heaven,”
\nNoise muttered. “They’d soon kill you as look at you up there.”<\/p>\n
\nSanada blinked. “But… angels are good?” he ventured.<\/p>\n
\nKurai really couldn’t help the laughter, especially when he drew himself
\nup, looking offended. “There’s no more saying that all angels are
\ngood and all demons are evil than there is saying all humans are good or all humans
\nare evil,” she said, finally. “It’s a mix, just like it is with
\nhumans. Sure, the Host likes to pretend they have the moral high ground, but when
\nit comes right down to it, all of us, angels and demons alike, tend to be bastards,
\nreally. Demons are just more straightforward about it.”<\/p>\n
\nSanada frowned. “He sent you here, didn’t he?”<\/p>\n
\n“He?” Kurai echoed. Sanada jerked his head in the direction of the
\ntennis courts. “Oh, you mean Hatter-san. He asked me to come, yes.”<\/p>\n
\n“Then how can I believe a single word you’ve said?” he demanded.
\n“Even if I were inclined to take the word of a demon?”<\/p>\n
\n“I suppose you don’t have to believe us,” Kurai said, calmly
\nenough. “It’s your decision, after all. Hatter-san is notoriously
\ntricky.” Noise snorted, and muttered something under her breath. “But
\nit seems to me that Hatter-san is going to extraordinary lengths to be reassuring.”<\/p>\n
\n“Seiichi doesn’t need reassuring,” Sanada muttered. “He
\nthinks everything is fine.”<\/p>\n
\n“Not him, silly.” Kurai smacked him upside the head, but gently. “You.
\nHatter called us here on your account. She’d like to add you to her collection,
\nbut she’s abiding by Yukimura-san’s wishes, so she’s doing the
\nnext best thing and trying to make you see that it’s not as bad for him
\nas you think. You don’t need to worry so much.”<\/p>\n
\n“You’re a fascinating group of souls,” Noise observed, while
\nSanada looked flabbergasted. “Anyone in Hell—or in Heaven, to be fair—with
\nan ounce of taste would be overjoyed to have you.”<\/p>\n
\n“Have us?” Sanada managed.<\/p>\n
\n“It’s fairly standard exchange—services rendered after death for
\nfavors received during life.” Kurai waved a hand. “Of course, I don’t
\nknow what terms Yukimura-san and Hatter-san have agreed to, but I doubt it’s
\nanything exotic.”<\/p>\n
\n“I still don’t know that I can trust a word you’re saying,”
\nSanada said, after a moment.<\/p>\n
\n“Stubborn,” Noise muttered.<\/p>\n
\n“I expect we should consider it part of his charm,” Kurai said. She
\nunhooked her arm from his and stepped away. “In any case, I don’t
\nbelieve we can say or do anything else to change his mind.”<\/p>\n
\n“That’s probably true,” Noise agreed. <\/p>\n
\n“Look, Sanada-kun. You trust Yukimura-san, right?” Kurai said. He
\nnodded. “Am I right in saying that he has impeccable judgment?” Sanada
\nnodded again. “Then trust that he knows what he’s doing. You’ll
\nboth be happier that way.”<\/p>\n
\nSanada considered this. “A question,” he said, finally.<\/p>\n
\n“Yes?” Kurai waited.<\/p>\n
\n“When you die, if you don’t go to heaven or hell, what happens?”<\/p>\n
\n“Reincarnation, usually,” Noise said, promptly.<\/p>\n
\n“In Yukimura-san’s case, he’ll probably serve in Lucifer-sama’s
\ncourt, as retainer to Hatter-san,” Kurai added. <\/p>\n
\nSanada’s frown at this was less angry than thoughtful. “I see,”
\nhe murmured.<\/p>\n
\nKurai smiled. “I think we’re done here, Noise,” she said. “It
\nwas interesting talking to you, Sanada-kun. I do hope we meet again.”<\/p>\n
\nHe snorted. “I’m not sure I can honestly say the same yet, but—I
\ndo thank you.”<\/p>\n
\nKurai chuckled. “To be fair, that’s more than I really expected. Take
\ncare, Sanada-kun. See you around.” She gave him a little wave, and walked
\naway.<\/p>\n
\nNoise caught up with her after just a moment. “Think it worked?”<\/p>\n
\n“Dunno, but we gave him plenty to think over,” Kurai said, with a
\nlittle shrug. “Hatter-san can’t ask for more.”<\/p>\n
\n“You never know,” Noise said, shivering. “So, home?”<\/p>\n
\n“Well, we could go home,” Kurai conceded, “but since we’re
\nin Assiah anyway, it couldn’t hurt to pop over and visit Setsuna, right?”<\/p>\n
\n“And the real reason you agreed to this comes out,” Noise said. <\/p>\n
\n“I prefer to think of it as being efficient,” Kurai said airily. “Come
\non, let’s see if we can find the Messiah.”<\/p>\n
\nAs they headed off, Sanada turned around and headed back toward the tennis courts,
\nwhere Yukimura was waiting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kurai and Noise explain things to Sanada.