Guardian of My Heart

Chapter 23: Familiar Misfortune

Iruma's POV:

"Today's the day, I finally tell him how I feel! I'm so nervous, my heart feels like it's going to leap out of my chest. But even though I'm scared, I can't run away now. I need to go for it!" As I made a dramatic pose with my tail fluttering through the air, my ears bouncing atop my head, I couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped my lips. Ameri seemed to follow suit with me, and soon enough the two of us were rolling on the floor and desk respectively, lost in our own laughter. Eventually, Ameri seemed to regain most of her senses. "Sorry, I know that this scene is supposed to be a big moment for Rin, working up the nerve to make her confession of love and all, but I just can't take it seriously coming from you!" "Yeah, I know. It feels odd to talk about romance with my big sister of all people." Ameri paused and went silent for a short moment after that, but it was only for a moment, after which she looked at me and asked a question that I felt both dread and pride to hear. "And what about you, Iruma? Do you have anyone you feel in love with?" The soft smile on my sister's face made it seem like a genuine interest, and to a certain extent it was. But her teasing tone morphed that gentle smile into a coy smirk and gave away her true intentions. "I think so. It's . . . complicated?" When I noticed that Ameri was devoting her entire attention to me, I knew that neither of us were going anywhere until I elaborated.

Releasing a sigh, I relented. "I'm in love with Asmodeus, and I think he likes me a lot too. And not in that weird 'servant master' relationship he wanted after I beat him the first time during our duel. I think he likes me for just being me." And me. Yeah, and you too. It felt strange to keep considering recent events as strange in an odd way. Everything was chaotic and different all the time, I was starting to fall into a pattern with it all. Ruin slowly becoming less of a jerk, me getting more and more confident, having friends and family that actually care. Mom, Grandpa, Kalego, Balam, my sister Ameri, my rival/brother Sabnock, my best friend Clara, and my new boyfriend Azz. I just wish I didn't need to lie all the time. Most of them already know the whole truth, why can't Azz and Clara know too? Why not indeed? As both halves of myself pondered this inner turmoil, the bell howled out across all of Babyls, signaling the transition to the next period. "Well, Iruma, I'm happy to hear that you and Asmodeus seem to be getting along well in your new relationship, especially after it started out so rough. We'll need to continue this chat another time, but do be sure to talk with me if that boy gives you any sort of trouble." I gave my big sis a warm smile, my ears perking up so fast they might have ripped off my head. "Thanks, Ameri, I'll see you again at lunch tomorrow." With that, the two of us parted as I made my way to homeroom with the rest of the misfits class.

As I made my way into the room in the nick of time, thankfully once again with no more traps to assault me, I noticed that Kalego seemed to be absent from his usual spot at the front of the room. For a few minutes I simply sat in silence, occasionally chatting with Clara and Sabnock, the former having taken refuge upon the latter's shoulders, as well as just generally catching up with the rest of my classmates. Jazz and Lied were easygoing enough to talk with, and I couldn't help but notice how the two of them were slightly blushing the whole time as we talked, never quite looking each other in the eye. I couldn't exactly blame them though, as not too long after the same heat rose to my face when Azz took his seat next to me, threading his fingers with mine as he subtly pulled on my hand forcing me to lean on him. This is so embarrassing! What if the others see this?! What will they think?! Who cares what they think of it? Let them gossip, Asmodeus will take care of it for us. Besides, I'm cold again, and our boyfriend always knows how to warm us up. While I was still worried about being a social spotlight for the class and possibly the entire school if Grandpa got wind of this new development, Ruin was certainly right about Azz being warm. Leaning on him with his chest to my scarred back, I felt the inner storm brewing inside me calm ever so slightly. The feeling didn't last for long, however, as the door opened to reveal . . . That isn't professor Kalego. Who is this?