Fiendish Interests (Rei no Kaado)

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Naoki looked sympathetic as the meaning of his words hit Seth. He stepped forward and sat down on the bed across from Seth, but he sat on the end of the bed instead of on the side facing Seth. His body turned so that he was still looking at Seth.

"I wasn't given a choice in becoming a demon. I was turned into one in order to survive, and in doing so, lost the ability to make my own Reason," Naoki explained. "I chose Lucifer's path because I realized the Reasons my friends, who had gone insane with power, had created would do nothing but perpetuate the cycle YHVH had created for our world, and many others."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "Indeed, coming here won't change anything. I do not regret killing Nikaido or Cain, and their deaths served the purpose they were meant to. Your king now understands what he must do. But even so... I do not want him to forget his memories of his human life like I have."

He looked almost pained at that statement...

[mugenginga]

Seth was frowning. He didn't know what Naoki meant by "Reason". Honestly, he didn't understand about 90% of what the man (the demon, he reminded himself. He couldn't allow himself to forget that.) was saying. What he did understand was that he'd made his choice to break a cycle, just like Abel had done. Seth didn't understand the way time flowed between dimensions, but he had a feeling it was going to end about as well as Abel's attempt had. Or already had. He shook his head.

"I don't want you taking this as approval for what you did, merely as understanding. The Enforcer had to die for your purposes, and I don't believe General Cain expected to live much longer. He walked into this death with open arms," Seth paused again, giving a critical look at Naoki's pained expression. Was the man really not manipulating him? His expression was flat as he continued, but he almost felt bad for him. He had to ask the same question he'd often asked himself of Abel. Where did this person's, if he was being truthful, humanity end?

"You haven't forgotten them, not if you remember your friends," Seth frowned a bit more, "But none of that explains why you're here. Telling me you understand won't change anything. And I doubt you think I'd intended on letting His Majesty lose more than he has to."

There was a long pause, of thirty seconds at least. Seth had glanced away and seemed to be thinking. What he wanted to say... he didn't know if Hitoshura knew. If he told him and he didn't, it would be revealing something that could easily be turned into a weakness. His king would be upset he'd revealed what was arguably critical information. In all honesty, almost no one knew. Not even the demons. He looked back at Hitoshura and found those emotionless eyes, still concealing something more. Seth stood up.

"I'm not a normal human anymore, I hesitate to call myself human at all. If your intent was some attempt to 'save' me, that chance ended when you forced me to take Cain's life," It wasn't accusatory. Merely descriptive. He sliced a thumb across his throat, "I can't die, and I remember every life I've ever lived. True immortal, in other words."

That was a lie, but Seth didn't show it. Quite frankly,. he couldn't be sure it was a lie at all. It was back to that question he'd had since he'd realized his new "power" as it were. Could he die if he was killed properly? Could he be crushed? Would a removed limb heal? Would he come back if he could? He didn't know, but the way he revealed it... maybe, just maybe it would make Hitoshura consider things. If the demon thought he couldn't be killed, it might work as an advantage.

He wasn't unaware it could also lead to torture... "tests", even. His expression became more serious as that thought crossed his mind, giving Seth a mature danger to his expression. He didn't doubt Hitoshura, as a demon, would think of that with his words. But he didn't think he regretted the revelation.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Naoki said nothing as Seth continued to speak. The man was correct about one thing; he had no real reason to come here for any reason other than interest in this human who shared the same situation Naoki had when he was still possessed his human heart. The man was wrong about his memories, though. The only memories of Naoki's former friends that remained were the ones from after the Vortex World was formed. From after he became a demon.

He looked more attentive when Seth spoke again. He gave a slow nod as Seth confirmed what Naoki already had begun to believe. Seth could not be killed. He remembered every life ever lived, much like Cain. He'd gained a more powerful version of Cain's curse, then. Of course, Seth's inability to be killed would cause issues if he did have to remove the Prince from the picture, but at the same time, it would open up other possibilities...

And then, without another word, he stood up and turned toward the door. He took a few slow steps toward it before turning toward Seth once more. "Abel will likely abuse that. He is your brother, but at the same time he is a demon. Should he fall too far, he may decide to test how far your regenerative capabilities go."

[mugenginga]

Seth watched Naoki intently as he stood up. The man was going to leave? Then he'd been telling the truth? The Prince of Bel hesitated at that. He couldn't figure any stragetic reason for it, and if that wasn't the reason, it left Naoki's words. He was just... interested. There had been something like distant pity in his actions before Cain's curse had transferred, and he'd attempted to kill him with a single blow. Seth's mind was still trying to wrap itself around the sincerity of a demon's actions when Naoki paused and turned towards him once again, delivering his words.

The Prince of Bel gave a deep sigh and nodded, hanging his head. He was aware of that, and it meant Hitoshura had picked up on the other possibilities like he had expected him to do. He hadn't needed that reminder, but he wasn't ungrateful Naoki had been willing to say it out loud. It seemed almost comical, because with how it sat it seemed they could be allies if Abel didn't want his head. Seth took a few steps forward and slipped in front of Naoki, opening the door for him. He'd seemed to have accepted the demon's presence more, and the fear had dissipated. He wasn't afraid, merely cautious and respectful, like one might be around a rattlesnake.

"I know that, and I'm prepared as humanly possible for that development," Seth said, a borderline fearful honesty to his words. It delivered the weight of how much he understood that possibility, "You told me you want him to retain his human memories. I want him to retain his human goals. If he has to torture me to keep the true humans safe..."

Seth closed his eyes. His chest felt tight and his breath felt heavy, "...I'll cross that bridge if it appears."

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Naoki moved to the side to make room for Seth as the man slipped in front of him. The man was treating him cautiously, but the fear from before was gone. There was a fearful honesty to Seth's words, and that was all Naoki needed to be able to tell just how much Seth understood that possibility.

"...I see," Naoki said. He gave a small nod and walked through the doorway. He didn't respond to Seth in any other way than that small acknowledgment. He would have not minded speaking with the human more, but he had already risked too much by coming here like this. If Abel returned now, Naoki was not sure he would survive.

He paused and turned toward Seth again. "I would not mind speaking with you again some other time." He turned away again and continued walking down the hallway toward the stairs.

[mugenginga]

He saw. If he'd been human at one point (Seth could think of no reason other than truth for claiming that), maybe he really did. Seth watched as the man stepped into the hallway, not intending to close the door until he'd seen him go down the stairs. He wouldn't underestimate his potential demonic speed.

Seth returned his gaze when he turned around again. It almost seemed like the man didn't want to leave. When Naoki gave his parting words, Seth's eyes widened. He tried to come up with a response, but Naoki was already down the stairs by the time he found his voice.

We could be allies... Seth thought to himself, his expression pained at the thought. He wouldn't bring it up to Abel. Not only was it not his place... but Abel would want to know why. He closed his eyes and frowned. Leave a demon to understand a demon, it still wasn't impossible he was being manipulated. Seth closed the door and turned towards the mess he had almost forgotten about. He sighed and moved towards to clean it up, one word raising above all the others in his mind.

Why?