Work Text:
Purple Hyacinth
Iruma stepped into the world he had left behind for a long time. The world where he originally came from, a place he had not seen for a long time but had not missed. A world that keeps its dark past which is full of grayness, without love, without tenderness. The city he is currently stepping on is not the city he used to live in, Iruma may have not set his feet in this world for more than 12 years, but he still remembers enough about the old memories that are only stored in the depths of his heart.
The human world hasn't changed much, but 12 years without stepping foot into that world makes Iruma, His Majesty, The Demon Lord feel completely foreign. What a completely different world. To this day, he still wonders why he was able to adapt so well that he finally occupied the throne of The Demon Long at a very young age, namely on his 24th birthday. And after approximately six months of negotiations, Iruma, The Demon Lord finally got permission to visit the human world for 666 seconds. Actually, with his ascension to the throne as the Demon King, he is free to do anything without any problems, including crossing the realms of the world. However, Iruma is not a person who likes to act arbritaly, plus the job as The new Demon King is very troublesome. Even though no one dared to give His Majesty an assignment, still, Iruma still had a sense of responsibility that he couldn't just let it go.
His mission this time is to find his biological parents who sold him to the world of Demon, the world that transformed him into the person he is today, 12 years ago. As a King with Yodh rank, to find two human figures is very easy, with just one second, Iruma has been able to find the exact whereabouts of the humans he used to call Dad and Mom. But Iruma did not expect himself to be taken to a secluded place, a corner of the city, a place where the trash from all over the city is dumped, at their supposedly touching meeting in the middle of the night shining with this full moon.
Iruma took a deep breath, he looked at the whereabouts of his three trusted comrades, Asmodeus Alice, the Head of Lust of the 13 Crowns and also as his right-hand man whom he entrusted to manage all order in the Palace, then Valac Clara the second right-hand whom he entrusted to take care of their demon elementary school which they have developed since last year, and Azazel Ameri, a part of the security of the demon world who is still under her father's direction and will become the head of the next few years. The three of them, behind him, gave a nod of confidence before making himself take another step forward. In front of him were now two human figures, a pair of middle-aged man and woman, with thin bodies, tattered clothes, in a cardboard house that had been shaped in such a way as to be a shelter, but not safe enough to be called a shelter. What is it? Did his grandfather not give them the treasure he promised when they sold himself? No way, his grandfather never and never will break his promise. So maybe the problem lies in… Well…
Iruma gulped before spitting out a word or two.
"Mom… Dad…"
The two human figures raised their heads, staring in disbelief.
"Long time no see…"
Iruma gave a warm smile, a hint of longing radiated from that smile. Unknowingly he began to shed tears little by little. Why is he crying? Shouldn't he have had a stern face and an expression of hatred after what they had all done to him in the past? He don't know, Iruma himself doesn't understand.
His mother and father gaped in disbelief, their eyes lit up, their voices cracked but it was clear enough to understand that they were trying to say a name they haven’t said in years.
“I…Iruma…?”
Iruma nodded slightly, giving a confident answer.
“Yes… It's me, Iruma. Your son who was sold to a demon named Sullivan.” Iruma paused slightly to wipe away the tears that had begun to flow. "How are you? Mom Dad? Have you been living happily by spending the money you got fromー”
Iruma had not finished speaking, now the two human figures referred to as his father and mother crawled quickly and grabbed both sides of Iruma's legs saying sorry without stopping. Hug him tightly, not wanting to be left behind.
Iruma sighed, he bent down, sat down next to his parents. Iruma took out some devil bread that he had prepared earlier and gave them to his parents who ate them voraciously.
After feeling both of them enough to fill their stomachs. Iruma resumed the conversation.
“You know, I thought I hated Mom and Dad for all the things you've done to me in the past. For all the difficulties I felt in my childhood. I was just an innocent kid who didn't know anything at the time, and you guys have forced me to be able to do everything. I do not understand what love or affection are, how the relationship between parents and children should work. I had absolutely no idea.”
His parents lowered their eyes, Iruma didn't know what kind of face they were making, Iruma didn't really care. And he said again.
“The thing I always thought about was how to give happiness to you so that I could get a smile and attention from you, so I always did everything, clean the house, cook, repair things, work to survive on my own. I did all that just to get one word of praise from you.”
His parents were at a loss for words, silent in a thousand words. Not even the sound of their crying could be heard anymore.
“You think I have the right to hate, right? Yes, I think so too, I should hate you. You made my childhood miserable without tasting the fruit of love. I really should hate you right…?”
“Iruma… we…”
One word was uttered unintentionally, intending to say sorry for the tenth times.
"Stop. It’s enough, I'm not here to ask for apologies. Because even six thousand words of apology will not change the suffering that I have experienced for many years. It’s true that I'm angry, very angry. But in the end I can't hate both if you for some reason. I don't even understand myself."
“…”
“In fact, I came here, to give my thanks.”
“Huh…?”
His parents started to straighten their faces again. Didn't expect that those words would come out of the mouth of his former son who should hate them to the bone.
“Thanks to you, for selling me to a demon named Sullivan who became my grandfather on the same day you sold me to him. Thanks to you, because of that I was able to meet my new family who I can truly consider as my own family like Grandpa and Opera-san who can give their love and affection with all their heart just for me.”
“….”
“Thanks to you, that's why I was able to go to school, meet all kinds of demons, make friends and learn new things which was really fun. Thanks to that I was able to make friends with the figures who are still by my side to this day. They are all my soulmates now.”
Iruma stood back up, raised his hands behind his back to introduce his beloved soulmates. Alice, Clara and Ameri simultaneously pay respects. His parents just stared in confusion.
“Thanks to you, I was able to meet someone I really love. At first I had absolutely no idea what this feeling was like. But day after day I spend time with this person at Babyls school which every moment somehow makes me feel more comfortable and happy makes me realized what kind of feelings is this.”
He looked at his parents who were still silent. Iruma flashed a beautiful smile.
“Mom, Dad…, next month I will marry to this demon…. Too bad you guys couldn't attend the ceremony. B-but I can give you a little gift along with a portrait of myself with my partner on my wedding day. Of course, if you want hahaha…” Iruma gave a small laugh accompanied by mixed tears. Whether it comes from sadness or happiness.
Clara behind him called out, coming forward to hold up a handkerchief which she then used to wipe Iruma's tears.
"Thank you Clara," said Iruma with a single sentence that was returned with a smile.
Take a deep breath for the umpteenth time.
"Once again, thank you so much." Iruma said while paying his respects to the two strangers in front of him.
Ameri in the back took a few steps forward, giving His Majesty a whispering message that time was running out. Iruma nodded in understanding.
Staring deeply at his parents. Iruma spoke the last few sentences.
“Anyway, it looks like it's time for me to go home. I didn't expect much, it's just, I beg you. Please, live well."
Giving a final greeting, Iruma turned around. Get ready to go home.
At that moment, his three soulmates came forward to his parents, giving their deepest respects.
With that Alice said on behalf of the three. “Thank you very much for giving birth and bringing Iruma-sama into this world.”
After a while, the three of them straightened their faces again then gave a warm smile to hand over to Iruma's parents, before finally simultaneously turning around and following Iruma to return to their home.
And somehow, the four of them just disappeared. Iruma's father and mother let out a very very long breaths, collapsing on the ground full of trash. They both screamed, letting out the remnants of the tears that were still stuck. Until they fall asleep without realizing it.
SUKIMA
The next day, it was noon in His Majesty's office. Iruma as usual was checking important documents from the demon society accompanied by Alice who was helping him on his right side. The day went on as usual, as if the events of last night never happened. There was silence until Alice finally decided to open the conversation, asking what was on his mind.
“Your Highnessー”
"Iruma."
“Iruma-saー”
"IRUMA."
“I.. Iruma… About your parents yesterday… Is it really okay to just let it them go like that?”
Iruma placed the document along with the pen he was holding onto his desk. Then answer the question after taking a deep breath.
“You know, I originally intended to give them capital to work with, but now that I think about it, considering the personalities of my parents, I think it would be just as pointless. So, I decided to hypnotize some people around there to recruit them to work.”
Alice stared in disbelief.
“But isn’t that illeー”
“Shh” Iruma cut Alice off before he could finish. "I know it's illegal, so don't talk to Ameri, okay?"
Alice melted instantly when he heard the request along with the sweet smile that always adorned his beloved figure.
Alice again started to open up another topic that he also wanted to immediately ask. “By the way Iruma, about your wedding withー”
“IRUMACHIII!!”
Before Alice could finish his sentence, he was cut off a second time by Clara, who suddenly broke down the office door and shouted His Majesty name.
“Cl-Clara, what's wrong!? Don't surprise us!!" Alice gave an annoyed expression.
"Irumachi!!... Makkachin..!” Clara said in an uneasy tone.
"Ameri? What's wrong with Ameri?" Iruma scrambled to his feet, afraid that something bad would happen because he had brought her to a world where they shouldn't have stepped on. As he recalled, Ameri did not attend breakfast together this morning.
Clara ran, carrying Iruma and Alice to the guest room that Ameri had occupied since a few days before. Iruma gave a few knocks on the door. No answer. He tried to put his ear to the door, he knew this is rude, but it could still be serious if something serious were to happen.
But suddenly a loud cry was heard from inside the room.
"Ameri?? Ameri?? What is it!?? Answer me please!!”
There was no answer, Alice prepared himself to forcefully break down the bedroom door.
"Excuse me" he said before giving a kick that made the door automatically open.
The three of them rushed in. Inside, there was Ameri in the same uniform she wore last night, her hair and face a mess.
Iruma slowly approached trying to question what was really going on.
Ameri replied to Iruma's question with a sharp look.
“I…I…”
"I..Yeah?? Why?"
"I…-"
"Yes…?"
“I CAN'T MEET THE AUTHOR OF HATSUKOI MEMORY HUUUAAAAAAAAA!!!!”
"Eeeehh....."
Alice stared in disbelief behind him while Clara just smiled in relief that nothing serious had happened.
Ameri pointed at Alice's face “STOP THAT LOOK!! DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!!! AND YOU!!" Pointing at Clara “DON'T GIVE ME A RELIEF SMILE LIKE THAT!!! THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM YOU KNOW!!!!”
“A-Ameri… Calm down pleseー”
"AND YOU!!! I’VE GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO GET YOU PERMISSION TO CROSS THE NATURE!! NOW YOU OWN TO BRING ME TO THE AUTHOR OF HATSUKOI MEMORY!!!”
"Eeeh B-but.."
“NO BUTS!!”
“YES SIR!!!”
END