Book 2: Seven Demon's Hearts

Episode 40: Pride's Plan

Episode 40: P r i d e 's P l a n

"Aiko! My dearest boy!" Jin quickly snatched the boy as soon as he exited the gates and hissed in a low voice. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Uncle Jin! Listen, listen so today I went to school and I made a friend!" He excitedly began to explain his day.

"That's all fine. But what isn't is how you thought it was okay to suddenly go off somewhere on your own without letting me or Sera know!" Jin argued.

"But Sera doesn't want me home."

"I don't care about what she wants! She doesn't have an opinion on that because she's also living as a guest, might I remind that ungrateful wench! Besides, that home is your birth-right, Aiko! Don't be foolish."

Jin carefully looked around before placing a golden key in his hand. "This is the portal that's going to take you home. Make sure you use it when no one is around." Demonstrating with his own key, Jin inserted it into the air as if there was a lock. But once he turned it to the left, the space around it rippled, opening up a dark portal.

"Let's go home. We have a lot to discuss."

In the next moment, Aiko found himself back at the mansion.

"Sera!" Jin called the girl from upstairs.

"WHAT!"

"Come down here right now or you lose your rent."

In a flash, Sera was standing in front of them in a gray sports bra and tight galaxy print sports shorts. She took a glance at Aiko's "new look" before rolling her eyes. "Quick, I have to go work out."

"Both of you, sit down." He pointed to the table, taking the head seat. Complying for once, the two of them sat opposing each other, then looked back at Jin.

"For starters, if we're going to live together, there have to be rules we all need to understand. One, Sera, as the bigger person--"

"He's a year older than me."

"As the mentally bigger person, I would highly appreciate it if you were to communicate more efficiently with me about Aiko. Like, for example, why you received a call and failed to tell me it was him."

"You're spying on me!"

"I'm not spying. I'm being cautious. And it's a good thing I am, or else I wouldn't have known where he was. Anyway, that's one. Two. Aiko, did you happen to lose control at school today?"

The boy nodded with guilt. "Sorry, Uncle Jin. I still don't know how to control my powers yet." Jin nodded with understanding.

"We can fix that with practice. But I need you to promise me that you'll try your best to not get into trouble."

"I promise."

"Good. And Sera, for starters, please don't make your boyfriend the target of Aiko's anger."

"It's not my fault he's such a loser." She shrugged her shoulder, resting her cheek on her fist as she stared back at Aiko's sad expression. "Always looking like a damsel in distress."

"Sera, as the bigger--mentally bigger person, you need to understand that Aiko is technically two weeks old. It takes a normal demon about two months to adjust to social normativity and common knowledge. And since he was born, this kid didn't have a chance to do anything close to normal customs."

"Well, that's not my fault." She continued to argue. "Why should I have to walk on eggshells around him and promise you that I'll look after him. What am I? His mother?"