We left the room and continued to walk across the halls asking questions about each other. He seemed to be enjoying this question game he created.
We somehow ended outside and were walking across the little river that flowed throw the garden. I stopped to take in the view and let the breeze flow through my hair.
"Are you just a rude demon lord? Or are you just someone who saves people?"
Orochi laughs, "I am a demon lord. I have done things I regret, I just don't talk about it."
Nodding, I lean over the bridge and stare at our distorted shapes in the water. My face seemed to start back at me as much concentration as I was.
"What was your family like?" He asked leaning up against the railing of the bridge like me.
I look to my hands, envisioning the smiling faces of both my parents. A soft ache comes to my heart like an arrow piercing a target when I think of our last time all together eating the night I got into an argument with my father. My throat tightens before I speak making it difficult to elaborate on the question.
"My parents, are the best parents anyone could have. My mother is someone who wished for the best for me and is harsh on me. She cared even if it didn't look like that. My father is such a dedicated man to work." I admit to him but he only sits and listens.
"He taught me right from wrong. What it meant to work hard and how to pays off in the end. He was the softer side to everything I had." My voice begins to croak and the arrow-like feeling sinks deeper into my chest making it ache more.
Every time I think about them the hole gets wider and I realize every passing day I get more homesick. Then, I feel warm arms around me.
"What are you do-"
"I'm sorry. I realize you probably are worried about your family and are upset that they might be looking for you every day." My head is suddenly being crushed to his chest and blood rushes up to my face.
"Y-yeah," I say against his chest. I can feel his heartbeat against my ear, steady and slow. Unlike mine. "Orochi, let go of me."
I feel him laugh against my cheek, making my vision shake for a second before he lets me go. I feel my face get warmer and look back at the water. He is so to me, how is he even a demon lord?
"Orochi, I have a hard time being that you are even a demon lord. Aren't they suppose to be all evil and kill people just for fun?" Side-eyeing him, under his raven purple, long hair I see his jaw clench in some internal anger.
He exhales and looks at me, "I don't want to be known for being an ignorant, evil, and rude person who kills humans for fun. I want to be different from people because being kind is rarer than diamonds in this world."
I find myself agreeing to what he is saying, kindness is rare.
"Better yet, I wouldn't have anything I have now if I was rude to people. If I was like that I would be considered something like my father and he has made mistakes he can't take back." He looks off at the water and seems to be trapped in deep thought.
"Do you think you'll turn out like that?"
"Eventually, I think I will be stubborn like all old demons are with the experience."
"Well, I don't think any of that besides the fact when your drunk you are too blunt."
He frowns with a guilty expression, remembering what he said. "I suppose so, huh?"
Chuckling and I punch his shoulder lightly, "Hey, just be glad Tomoko didn't do something," a nervous laugh comes out of him after that. "wait- Something happened! She did something? Did she tell you off?"
"Well, she slapped the girls into running away and me after. Then, she changed forms and slammed me on a wooden post, proving her point. So if you call that something then yes." He looked away ashamed that such a small girl did such a thing as a person himself.
I burst out laughing, "Hahaha! Good, you deserved it."
"You don't have to rub it in, my shoulder still hurts from it."
I smirk and poke his shoulder. He hisses and gently rubs it after.
"Ren, your such a cruel woman. How am I going to survive such abuse?" He hides his face with his hands.
I shake my head and chuckle. We both trickle off and end up sighing back into the air letting the happy moment settle. I look down smiling but then I remember my arm. The dream and how the mark changed.
My eyebrows furrow and I bite my lip. Should I tell? Maybe he would freak out and I would be considered a danger to the other demons in this world. I mean, who would let a killer into their home? Tomoko said not to but I need answers. Orochi might be the only one who knows anything.
"Ren, what's wrong?" I jump and see him looking at me.
"I-I don't know if I should tell you." Whispering as I look down at my sleeve.
He straightens up and looks at me confused, " If it's about last night, then I promise it won't happen again."
"It's not but thank you. It's just," I exhale in defeat. "I had a dream and something appeared on my arm. I tried to see if I was something that could come off in the bath but it didn't then it changed. I don't understand it at all."
"Let me see," He steps forward and lift my sleeve to show him the pink flower again. "Well, that isn't new what's the big deal?"
Groaning in frustration and begin the explanation of my panic, "Well, I had a dream about me walking up to an innocent demon. Claiming he had crimes to pay and decapitated him."
He chuckled, "Punch me."
I stepped back alarmed at his statement, "Huh?!"
"Well, don't punch me. But listen to what I have to say next." He turns me so I am face to face with him, eyes shut.
"Take your hand and make it a fist. Concentrate on the shape and feel of it. How the fingers rest together, making a tight ball. Strengthen your grip, think about water rushing past you and clenching it shut so nothing gets in."
I listen to his words feeling my hands becoming more firm and my nails put pressure on my palm.
"Imagine all your weight and strength being put into that hand, making it stronger."
My arm begins to feel kind of warm and my fist starts to feel like a heavy ball.
"Swing your fist at me."
I open my eyes and throw a punch at him to see that our hands are shaking. My fist enclosed by his hand.
"Just as I thought, no one should be able to make me shake unless you are part demon."
I step back away from him, holding my hand to my chest, "What?! I'm not a demon!"
He laughs, "I know your not but you are a demon slayer."