A teenage boy with black hair and olive-white skin has one of his knees planted firmly on the ground. He's bowing to the individuals before him, the Vatican Council and the Pope.
"Niccolo di Angelo, you are hereby appointed as the observer of the Demon Master April Frost and his demon servant, Ferigo von Purson. If they are deemed dangerous to the Church and to humanity, it will be your responsibility to end them using your power."
"Yes Your Holiness."
Sea-green eyes sparkle amidst the darkness as the teenage boy pushes up his eyeglasses.
***
"So, this is Niccolo di Angelo, a new resident in Plum Blossom Mansion!" Sakura-nee introduces the boy beside me who only responds with a smile and a slight bow.
"Please call me Nicco."
And his Japanese is good!
"Don't worry if you see him around April most of the time. He was sent by the Vatican to be April's observer since our little April here is apparently a Demon Master."
Geez Sakura-nee! Stop being so blunt about it!
"An observer from the Church?!" yells Ryuuji-san.
Oh my gods! What's with the thick bloodlust from Ryuuji-san? Does he have some sort of anonymity towards the Church for him to act like this?
Wait, what is he even doing here? I thought he lives in their family's yakuza headquarters?
"April is a Demon Master?" exclaims Himeko-nee-san who freezes in shock.
These people really…
"He will not be doing anything other than keep an eye on April and his demon servant."
"Demon servant?" Licht asks. "April, you have a demon servant?"
Speaking of, I have to speak to this guy later about... my current situation.
"Anyway…"
Wow. Sakura-nee just dismissed all their questions like nothing.
"Apart from Nicco there is another new resident, Noir, a familiar in the form of a crow. You will be seeing him a lot from now on."
Noir, who has been perched on my head, flies towards the coffee table and bows.
I'm amazed. He's such an intelligent bird! I wonder how he became Ferigo's familiar.
He returns to me and perches on my shoulder.
"Well, that's all. Get acquainted, be friends! If you need me I'll be in my office facing the bane of my life." I can hear the distaste in her word. I can tell what she meant.
She means paperwork. Definitely paperwork.
Even the most powerful onmyouji of Japan and the high priestess of the Tsuchimikado Clan can't escape paperwork it seems.
"So, you now have an observer from the Church, huh?" asks Himeko-nee and motions to the unmoving figure beside me.
"If you mean gaining a glorified stalker, then yes I certainly have acquired one." I say, voicing out my thoughts. Said observer doesn't seem to be fazed by my words though. He's still as stoic as ever.
"Hmm… I think it's more of a babysitter." Himeko-nee replies with a snicker.
She's going in for a hug again, I'm pretty sure of that.
And she did try it.
Seriously this woman. Her obsession with kids is making me worry about both our future and any kids she will encounter in the future.
"Anyway, Nicco, let me show you to your room." Shizu offers. "We have already prepared one for you."
"I am April Frost's observer and I have a duty of being with him all the time to ease the minds of the leaders of the Church. I-"
"Don't worry we prepared the room across April. Sakura-san already prepared that beforehand." Hiiro-san retorts.
He sounds annoyed.
"We cannot give you the rooms next to him since they're occupied by his childhood friends so you can only settle for the next best thing; the room across his room." Hiiro-san adds. "And April, Sylvia and Klint will be coming home tonight."
"Really? Is Klint really okay now?" I ask.
"Yes."
Thank goodness he's fine now. Although Klint have always been someone who recovers really fast whenever he gets injured, I still can't help but worry about him. Sylvia is the same but her healing rate is much slower than both me and Klint.
Hmm… I should prepare my gift for their return. I bought a lot of stuff for them from Okinawa.
I head to my room to fetch my gifts.
I can feel shivers on my spine and I have a feeling it's because of a certain someone.
I have been arranging my things in my room but I can feel the stare from my 'observer' from across the room. Nicco insisted that my door should be open so he can see what I was doing.
I probably should've declined the observer-thing from the Vatican Council if it's going to be as uncomfortable as this.
Ferigo… What kind of trouble did you get me into?
*CAW!*
Noir?
"What is it little fella?"
He keeps tapping at the back of my left hand. Why is he doing that?
"April?"
I hear Licht's voice from my door.
"Can I talk to you?"
"Licht. Good timing. I have something to ask you as well."
Just as Licht closes the door, a foot suddenly lodges itself between the door and the doorway, stopping it from closing. Nicco comes inside with a stern look on his face.
What is this guy's problem now?
Right…
He's my observer, that's his problem.
"Niccolo, Licht and I have something to discuss privately, if only you can-"
"No. I am your observer. I must keep an eye on you."
Seriously this guy. I'm already annoyed that someone will be tailing me, and now he's invading my privacy? That's too much!
Hmm? Why is he acting scared all of a sudden?
Hey! Why are you bringing your weapon out?!
And Noir? Why are you flapping your wings like you're in a panic or something?
*SLAP!*
Ow!
"Licht!"
"Calm down you idiot! You're releasing too much killing intent that it's very hard to breathe in this room."
"What?"
I must've looked like an idiot with my confusion since Licht is shaking his head in disbelief.
"How can a kid like you even have that much bloodlust?" he asks.
Bloodlust?
Me?
Crap. Did I actually spill it because of my annoyance?
Stupid April!
"Uhm… I apologize for that. To the three of you. I was just…"
"I understand that you do not like this arrangement April," Nicco suddenly says, his expression much calmer than the one he had before. His weapon is also nowhere to be found. "But I have my duty to be your observer."
"And despite that I'm pretty sure you also know the word 'privacy'." I snap.
I can't help it!
"There should be a limit to how close you are to me for your duty."
"I-"
"I will not go anywhere without informing you first. And when I go outside, I'll make sure to have you with me. Is that enough?"
He's not responding, but I need to draw the line in this situation.
"So Niccolo, while we're inside the mansion, can you at least leave me to my own devices? I'm pretty sure you also have some things you want to be done. Like unpacking your things for example?"
Ooh, his expression is getting softer, no longer tense like the time I first met him.
"I'm not a bad person Niccolo, no Nicco. As long as you don't cross the line or press on my boundaries, I'm a very nice person. So let's keep it at that okay? And besides, the demon that's the reason why I have an observer in the first place is not even present, you should be at ease."
"I- I suppose you have a point. Then I will let you talk to this kid privately. If you need me, I'll be in my room."
Licht and I both watch as he leaves, closing the door as he go.
Well at least he actually has manners.
Hmm…
"He called you a kid." I say to Licht. "He didn't realize you're a demon?"
"I think so."
Now that I think about it, I never really used
But first, Licht and I have to talk about something.