Turning Back The Clock

Turning Back The Clock: Chapter 38

Meliodas had never thought demons would be sent to find him. It wasn't how things were done in the demon realm. Though, with his brother's protective nature, he was a fool to not. It had been a long time since they had fretted over him, and honestly, he had expected them to be so busy with the war, that they wouldn't have time to look. But he was wrong. Oh, so so so so so wrong. And it cost lives. His stupid dillydallying and pretending to be a human put a lot of precious blood on his hands as he returned a very different demon from the one he was when he left. 

In fact, Meliodas was sure he'd never be the same again as his home now seemed... empty. Hollow. He didn't feel an ounce of nostalgia or joy as he walked through the realm back to the familiar castle walls. Because now he knew what made a real home, and it wasn't a race or a realm, no, it was a family. 

And as he marched through the castle doors in search of his own, he hoped that he could still call his brothers family now that he knew what it really meant. Because he felt bonds that went deeper than blood for them, but did they for him? He didn't know. He wasn't sure anymore. But the doubt from before faded some as they must've felt SOME attachment still if they sent valuable soldiers to find him four months after his disappearance, right? He hoped so. Because the answer would determine how things would go next in Meliodas's life. Would he finally get what he wanted? Would he get to live peacefully among his brothers in the human realm? Or would he fight another war. One he wouldn't lose....

He ignored the bewildered looks from maids as he marched with purpose. He wasn't looking for any of them and he wasn't about to stop to allow them time to explain. No, he would only stop once he found his brothers as for once in his life, he'd make them listen. He'd do whatever it took to make them hear him as he desperately hoped they would. If he explained it, if he explained just how similar humans were to demons, maybe they'd understand. They had to understand. The bonds the three used to have had to be enough to show them. If he could just show them how humans had families just like they did. Families like Rou and Sara...

No. No time for thoughts like that. He had to fix it. He had to take action. There was no room for guilt or any of those emotions. He didn't have a right to feel them. Because this was all his fault, and Rou would be feeling every bit of misery that the demon was, plus some. So, Meliodas didn't have time for sadness. Not yet. Not until this was over. 

It was clear to the three watching, that Meliodas was still in shock. He had immediately gone back to the demon realm after the deaths, and he was forcing himself to avoid the grief by barreling into motion. That dazed, spastic, intense, behavior was exactly why they had ignored what he said after their reunion. They were more concerned about his physical wounds still recovering rather than the emotional ones. But really, it was so clear to see how much he was hurting over this. Just looking into his eyes alone showed the pain and overwhelming agony he was suppressing. If only Zeldris had looked closer. If only he had paid attention when it really mattered. Because as much as it stung, and as much as it wounded his pride, he understood why the blond felt the way he did about the humans. The countless memories shown with the demon laughing and having fun with them... it was happier than the two brothers had seen him in years. And they had taken that. Zeldris's orders had stolen that away like it didn't matter. That alone would be a burden for the ravenette to bear, even without what came next to add to it.

Instead of Meliodas finding his siblings like planned, they found him instead as the maids he passed alerted the two royals of their sibling's return. Though, the reunion was more emotional for them rather than him. He had no time to appreciate how it felt for them to hug him again and show genuine care over his wellbeing. This mattered too much. It was too important that he told them what he needed to about the humans.