The Demon's Lover (Meliodas)

Chapter 19

Once they get back to the tavern Ayano begins to tidy up some more.

"Hey, did you know this about Gowther, Captain?" Diane asks

"This is my first time hearing about it" Meliodas replies

"And I didn't know anything and denied everything he said... But Gowther must have been completely serious" She looks at the ground

"Don't worry, Diane. I'm sure Gowther can handle it" Meliodas smiles

"You're really something, Captain. This didn't surprise you at all" Diane says

"Well, I've seen all kinds of people and things, Ayano is a demon after all... and besides, no matter what Gowther might be, it doesn't change the fact that he's our important comrade... That he's a member of the Eight Deadly Sins, right?" Meliodas looks at her

"Captain.." Diane smiles and looks at Ayano "Hey you didn't seem surprised at all, since he calls you his sister you've must've known, why didn't you mentioned it before?"

"I didn't think it was that important" Ayano shrugs

"So.. why do you and Gowther call each other siblings?" Diane asks curiously "Since we know you're a demon and not a doll, you two aren't actually blood related"

"well..." Ayano sighs "A long time ago" Meliodas looks at her curiously, wondering if she'll tell the truth, Ayano sits on the bar and looks at Diane "I found Gowther, broken and abandoned, I thought it was a pity that such a beautiful doll was destroyed, so I gave it magical power and brought him back to life. With that Gowther has the power he does today, at first he asked if he should call me mother" Ayano giggles "but I told him that we'd be siblings, from that day on Gowther and I had been brother and sister"

"I never knew that" Diane smiles "Ayano you truly are one of a kind"

Meliodas turns towards the holy knight Slader "Hey, Slader, do you wanna join us for a while? We already have this thing with Gowther and we're down two members, so it'd help a lot"

"Of course, since I've been instructed to aid the Eight Deadly Sins by his Majesty as well" Slader replies

"Sir Meliodas please let me come with you as well!" Elizabeth shouts

"Elizabeth.." Ayano looks at her

"We already told you" Meli looks away from Elizabeth "The battle to protect Liones is over. There's no reason for you to put yourself in harm's way anymore"

"I'm your comrade, too!" She declares "...Am I the only one who thinks that way? Do you think of me as some extra baggage... That'll only weigh you down?"

"That's right" Meli looks at her blankly

Elizabeth cries and runs out

"Stupid Captain!!!" Diane punches him

"You goddamn swine!!" Hawk hits him

Both attacks send him into a wall.

"Meli!" Ayano runs over to him

"What the hell Ayano, you going to help him after what he just said to Elizabeth?!" Diane asks.

"Elizabeth is a princess, Diane" Ayano looks over at her as she helps Meliodas up "if she gets hurt or even dies during a battle what are we supposed to tell her kingdom, let alone her father"

"I...I didn't think of it that way..." Diane looks at the ground

"Meli are you alright?" Ayano looks at him