146 Nightmarish Reality

Laurence's POV:

"Hmmmph~" Toru moaned out on top of me, eating a bowl of rice on my chest. He perked his ears up in delight then took another bite and wagged his tail as he shifted his weight on me while I watched TV over his head.

"Toru," I mumbled. "Do you have to be sitting on me?" I asked and rubbed his head. He looked up at me from his bowl of rice then laughed before he kissed my cheek and knocked his bowl of rice into the floor on accident. He whined sharply as he yanked back to look at it on the floor then lowered his ears, tucking his tail between his legs.

"My rice," he whined and pouted.

"Sorry sweetie," I purred out in amusement. "We'll get you a new bowl." He looked towards me then gave a soft whine before he nuzzled his head up under my chin. I suddenly was standing in a dark room, the smell of blood suffocating me as the sound of flesh being cut reached my ears. A pair of red eyes looked up at me from the darkness then and grinned evilly at me and disappeared, the sound going with it. I glanced around and started walking. "Calix?" I asked. I tripped over something heavy then and landed in a pool of blood smelling strongly like Toru, the blood getting on my clothes and in my hair from the fall.

"TORU!" I yelled and started to panic. The lights flickered on then and I caught a glimpse of Toru's mangled body at my feet, his tail and ears stained red with his blood as his eyes stared straight at me lifeless. His throat had been ripped open and his kimono was soaked with his blood like he had been stabbed multiple times. I heard a laugh above me then but it didn't sound familiar to me. I trembled as I looked his body over. No.... who would do something like that to him?

"Laurence~" I heard Toru purr sweetly, nipping me on the ear suddenly as I was back in my bedroom with Toru on me and his bowl of rice in the floor. He nuzzled his head against me and tucked his head under my chin, laying his ears back. "Did you have another vision?" I looked him over and wrapped my arms around him, kissing his cheek.

"I don't know," I told him. He laughed happily as I kissed his cheek then wagged his tail before he snuck a kiss from my lips.

"Can I have another bowl of rice?" He asked me sweetly. "I'm still hungry."

"Of course.... I'll make myself some too and put some soy sauce and fish in it. Want one like mine?" He nodded quickly then rolled off me then transformed into his fox form and yipped at me, nipping at my shirt and gave a playful growl as he wagged his tail and lowered himself onto the bed, an excited look on his face. I picked him up and carried him towards the kitchen, purring sweetly to him.

"I need to call Calix," I told him. He looked up at me as he curled his tail around his body before he licked my cheek and put his front paws against my chest.

"L-Laurence," I heard Silas groan further down the hall, stumbling. "Get help," he begged me, small droplets of blood landing on the floor as he held onto the wall, leaving a bloody handprint. I gasped and dropped Toru, running up to him.

"Silas?" I asked and looked him over. "You're supposed to be planning your son's wedding," I told him. "What happened?"

"Some maniac ripped Lyle's stone out and crushed it," he hissed and then winced, gripping his chest. "He took mine too! Laurence! He's going to crush it!" He told me in a panic then grabbed me quickly. I suddenly saw the gaping hole in his chest and he fell backwards as his eyes rolled up into the back of his head. I widened my eyes and pulled out my phone, calling Calix quickly for his help. I felt Toru nip at my shoelaces quickly before he whined and licked my ankle before he rubbed his soft fur against my leg.

"What?" I heard Calix hum out, sounding careless. "I'm busy in the Bahamas. Get someone else." Click. I looked towards the phone and frowned. Toru wandered up towards Silas's body as it started to decay then yelped as Silas's hand snatched him by his throat and crushed it. He fell limp against Silas as he started to bleed out, making a small gurgling noise as he tried to call out towards me. Silas smirked darkly then transformed into a servant before the human closed it's eyes and stopped breathing. I widened my eyes and ran up to Toru.

"Toru?" I asked. He managed to kick away from the dead human then laid his ears back as he hacked up blood and started to tremble as he shut his eyes and cried out in pain, his little heart racing in his chest and causing him to lose his blood faster as he choked on it, not being able to breath. I bit down into my wrist quickly and forced my blood down his throat. "Drink this," I told him. He whimpered and tucked his tail between his legs as he obeyed and licked it up, only to throw it up seconds later. I frowned quickly and pulled out my phone, calling Calix again. "Please Calix," I begged.

"Whaaaat?" Calix growled out in annoyance as he answered the phone. "Quit calling me."

"Someone is after my family," I told him. "They hurt my maker- his brother- and Toru is in trouble. Please help him," I begged.

"That little rat?" He asked in disgust. "Ew, no way. I'm not helping him. He's trouble. Just kick him aside and go get who's hurting your family."

"Calix, I love Toru. Please show him respect and help him." I hissed through the phone.

"Ugh, I've got to go. Emile is bringing me a drink." I heard him hang up again, leaving me with my problem as Toru started to grow still, his little back paw kicking a bit as he wheezed, trying to breath. I frowned and called Everest quickly, holding Toru close to me as I forced him to nurse on my blood. I heard it ringing nearby, but he didn't seem to be picking up as Toru couldn't even put up a struggle. I frowned and called Nico then.

"Hello?" Nico asked quickly as he picked up. "Listen, I don't know who you are but please! Leave me alone! This is getting creepy! You need some serious help! I'm going to call the police on you if you threaten me one more time with ripping me apart! My father will kill you if he gets his hands on you!"

"Nico, relax. It's just me. Can you come to me, I need your help."

"No!" Nico started to cry then. "I'm not coming! You'll do something to me like you did A'slin!"

"I didn't do anything to A'slin. What're you talking about?" I asked.

"YOU KILLED HIM! YOU MONSTER! YOU SLAUGHTERED HIM AND KILLIAN ON THEIR HONEYMOON!" He screamed at me. I frowned and pulled away from the phone. What? I hung up on him then and rubbed my head. The hell is wrong with him? Toru's head started to slip from my wrist before he fell and laid his ears back, my blood dripping out of his mouth and onto the floor. I could hear someone walking up behind me before a hand shot through my back and out through my chest, gripping my crystal before it yanked back through me with it. I widened my eyes and looked behind me in shock. Red eyes met mine and a smirk formed on the man's face before he started to crush it in his hands, my world going dark.

I was suddenly laying in bed again with Toru tucked up under my chin in his fox form, curled into a ball as he licked his little white paws, the bowl of rice on the floor. I widened my eyes and pulled out my phone quickly, calling Calix. It went straight to voicemail on me, asking me to leave a message after the beep. I called him again quickly. Toru picked up his head and looked towards me before he gave a sweet yip and licked my chin. His phone rang six times before it went silent then rang six more times, going dead silent once more before a distorted ringing started up again, sounding like children screaming six times. I hung up and tried calling him again. I heard a dark laughing on the phone this time before my screen cracked against my face. I pulled back from the phone and slung it against the wall before looking down at Toru. "Are you okay?" I asked sweetly. He wagged his tail then nuzzled against my neck.

"Uh huh~ Are you?" He asked me sweetly. "You blanked out for so long...."

"How long?" I asked.

"Three hours," he told me innocently then looked at the TV as it was playing something different. "It switched over to Annabelle. I don't like it. It's scary." He whined then and shrunk against me. I turned off the tv for him and got up, carrying him in my arms.

"We need to go see someone," I told him. He looked up at me then perked his ears up, wagging his tail slightly.

"Who?" He asked, getting excited.

"I'm going to hell," I told him. "I'm going to go find someone to take me there. Calix doesn't want to." His little eyes widened then.

"H-Hell?! WHY?!" He tensed up in my arms and quickly placed his front paws against my chest.

"Because I'm going to go search in the pile of pureblood crystals," I explained. "I think something is going to happen." He gave a growl then and nipped at my ear.

"No! You're not going to Hell! They'll eat you!"

"Toru, I'm stuck," I explained.

"S-stuck?" He whined then nuzzled his head against me, laying his ears back as he brought his tail close to him. "What do you mean?"

"I've seen this twice already," I told him. "You're about to die, Silas is going to die, Lyle is dead," I said quickly and started for the doors. "I've got to get to hell." He looked up at me in a panic then ahead of us.

"D-die?" He asked me then quickly looked over my shoulder then back in front of me. I nodded.

"This keeps occurring," I told him.

"No it hasn't! I just spilled my rice three hours ago and then you quit moving!" He told me and looked up into my eyes.

"Are you sure?" I asked. "How do I know this is real?" I asked.

"Because I've been laying on you waiting this whole time," he whined and licked my cheek.

"Are you sure?" I asked. "SILAS!" I called out. Oh right, he's not here if this is real. He's in Russia. I rubbed my head and went back to the room to get my phone and I called Calix again.

"Devil's hotline~" I heard Calix purr into the phone as he picked up after the third ring. "How may I help yooooou?" He purred teasingly.

"Come here," I told him quickly.

"Sounds needy. I don't like the sounds of that. Emile is going to be back in the bedroom soon. You don't want to be on the phone when that happens~" He purred to me.

"Calix, I'm serious, come here," I told him.

"You're going to make him jeaaaaaloooous~" He sung out into the phone.

"Why would I do that? I'm not asking you to come here in that way. I need to see you."

"Psh, it can wait," he told me and I heard him laugh.

"No it can't Calix. I'm worried and I need you right now."

"Did you know that some people believe that everything happening right now is you seeing the flash before your eyes as you die? What if it's true?" He asked me and laughed. "We'd all be somewhere dying right now, reliving our lives in an endless loop."

"Calix," I mumbled. "Don't throw that lame thing at me. I need you to get your demon butt right here right now."

"So I've thought about it and thought about it and thought about it and ding! I figured out why you can see the future! Your flash before your eyes is special. You keep getting glimpses as you relive your life of later moments in your life and it gives you a second chance to correct what you regret. Think about it. Multiple universes revolving around one person because they could change their flashback because they could see later into their own life." I rolled my eyes and hung up on him in annoyance. Toru licked my cheek as I hung up then tensed up as a gunshot went off in the castle. I frowned and took him into the closet quickly, locking the door. I hid him in the dirty clothes hamper.

"Shhhh," I told him. "Don't make yourself known." He let out a whine and started trying to climb out.

"What are you doing?" He asked me, laying his ears back.

"Saving you," I purred out sweetly to him. I put some extra clothes on top of him then. "I'm going to go, but stay here Toru."

"Don't leave me," he whined quickly and struggled to get out before he transformed into his human form then yelped as the hamper fell over with him inside. I paused and looked towards him.

"Toru, I don't want you to get hurt. Please stay in there." He crawled out then and looked at me before his eyes widened as a few more gunshots went off, a lot closer to the room now. I sent him a warning look.

"Transform and hide," I told him. I grabbed a gun from inside one of the shoe boxes we had in here and aimed it at the door, guarding it. He transformed then ran back into the hamper quickly, hiding for me. The door busted open and the guy from earlier that took my crystal was back, aiming a gun at me.

"Bang," he said then shot me in the chest. I shot him quickly, not hesitating. It went through him and he smirked at me before he shot me in the leg, making me fall over before he aimed down the hamper to shoot it. I quickly aimed at his head and shot him. It went up into the wall by his head and he shot the hamper, making sure to get every piece of it. I could see Toru's blood leaking out of the sides slowly before the man laughed evilly. "Don't you love watching rats die? I know I do." I looked towards Toru then and rushed to his side, looking him over.

"Toru," I whispered. He had been shot in the side a couple of times and got hit in the head, his blood slowly staining his snow white fur as he stared off blankly, buried in my clothes. I picked him up then and curled up with him in my arms, holding him close. "It's okay," I whispered sweetly. His body started to become cold as his blood got on me and his tail dangled against me. The man laughed then aimed me down. I kissed the top of his head before taking the gun and shot myself quickly in the chest.

I felt Toru stir on my chest, buried into my shirt as he napped, his bowl of rice forgotten on the floor. The TV was still going, playing his cartoons he liked watching. I pulled out my phone and called Calix quickly.

"Hello?" He asked me curiously as he picked up after a few seconds.

"Don't even bothering coming to check on me. I might die today," I told him and hung up. I got up and carried Toru with me, heading into the closet. I grabbed the gun from the shoebox and took it as I went over to a window and opened it up. I busted the screen out and crawled out the window, making sure I'd land on my back with Toru. I groaned as I hit the ground but got up quickly and started for the garage, being sneaky about it. Calix appeared in front of me with a frown then.

"Laurence, what the hell did you say?" He asked me then crossed his arms. Toru slowly opened his eyes as he was disturbed from his sleep.

"I said I might die. There's someone inside, trying to kill us," I told him as I made sure to put a finger over my lips and shushed him. I was quick to carry Toru into the garage and put him in one of Rei's cars. Calix had followed me and frowned as he watched me. Toru sat up from where he was placed then looked up at me, perking his ears up innocently.

"There's no one inside trying to kill anybody," Calix whispered to me.

"There's not? But I keep having the same- thing. I keep dying Calix and so does Toru and I keep waking up in my bed. This is like the fourth time it's happened. There's someone in there." He frowned at me then shook his head.

"No one's in there," he told me then gave a small smirk. "No one's in there because he's out here." I frowned and looked around then, my heart stopping as I looked towards Toru, checking for his safety. He was growling at something in the back seat, his fur raised up on end as he slowly stepped back in on the passenger seat then fell into the floor with a sharp yelp. I quickly dived in for him, grabbing him and held him to my chest as I crawled back out of the car. I saw a dog jump up against the car window then, snarling and barking loudly at us as fire seemed to be burning it's flesh. It let out a loud ear splitting howl that sent shivers down my spine as it threw itself against the car window in a crazed way. It busted the window and jumped out, starting after me as it's bones protruded through it's flesh, it's spine showing in some places. I widened my eyes and took off running with Toru, heading for the maze. It let out another howl and was soon accompanied by more from the maze and I saw another one come barreling out of it, going to cut me off as more appeared, starting to close in on me. I widened my eyes and looked around.

"Calix," I begged, looking for him. He was glaring at a shadow on the wall, his eyes starting to glow red as the hellhounds surrounded me. One leapt for Toru who started to glow white quickly. I made sure to protect Toru quickly, dodging it's teeth. Another one came up from behind me and bit down into my leg, tearing a chunk out as pain lanced through me. I quickly shot at it, moving my weight to my good leg. I pointed the gun at the rest of them circling me. "CALIX!" I yelled.

"Calix can't help you," I heard the voice from earlier purr in my ear. "This is not his world."

"What do you mean?" I asked and looked around.

"You're mine," the voice hissed then I felt Toru get snatched from my arms and saw him get thrown by an invisible force, getting slammed up against a tree before he fell to the ground, his light dimming before the hellhounds started to stalk after him. I widened my eyes and ran for him then.

"Toru!" I called out. I felt arms holding me back before the hellhounds pounced on Toru, making him screech as they started to tear him apart piece by piece. I started to cry and dropped to my knees. I pulled the gun up quickly and shot at my chest.

I was suddenly back in my bedroom again except Toru was chasing a ball around the bed, having found a squeaky toy. He gave an excited yip and pounced on it before he growled as it rolled away and laid his ears back, going for it. I looked up at the ceiling before curling up in bed. I pulled out my phone and threw it at the wall quickly. It busted and fell to the floor with a thud. Toru stopped quickly and looked towards me then looked at my phone before he slowly crawled up to me, laying his ears back as he stayed down low with a worried look. I pulled him to my chest and kissed the top of his head. I gave him a sweet purr before yanking the covers over our heads. He looked at the blankets then at me before he relaxed slightly and snuggled up against my chest. "What's wrong?" He asked me and looked up at me innocently.

"I don't know," I told him and sighed. "We're probably going to die again."

"Die again?" He asked me then laid his head down against me, laying his ears back. "We haven't died...."

"We have," I told him and sighed. "We will again most likely. There's nothing I can do." I rubbed his head. "Let's just enjoy this moment together." He whined softly and licked my cheek.

"We're not going to die," he whispered before he hid his face into my chest.

"Laurence," I heard Calix's voice, sounding worried.

"Not now, go away," I told him.

"Shit, he's not waking up," I heard Calix hiss before I felt a stinging sensation on my cheek. "WAKE UP!" I rubbed my cheek and pulled the covers off, looking around. I was completely alone in here except for Toru who was nestled against my side, not having heard anything. "Laurence," Calix hissed, his voice sounding right next to my ear.

"Calix?" I asked and looked around.

"Wake up," he hissed again. "Come on. You've got to get out of there. He's going to eat you!"

"Eat me?" I asked and felt panicked. I started for the door quickly. I felt a shaking sensation on my shoulders then but wasn't being moved as I heard Calix growl.

"Wake up you dumbass," he hissed.

"I AM!" I yelled and started to cry. I looked back at Toru and went for him, picking him up. I looked out the window quickly and glanced around for the monsters.

"Come on, please just open your eyes," I heard Calix begging before the shaking sensation started back up. "He'll feed off your fear and eat your soul! He's a dream demon! You can't let him have you!" I saw the sky was blood red outside, the moon pure black as it slowly rose in the sky. I looked down at Toru.

"Toru," I mumbled. "Do you see the sky?" I asked. He looked at it then back up at me.

"What about it?" He asked me innocently. "It's the same as always." He licked my cheek then before he yelped and yanked back. "You're burning up!" I dropped him quickly and took off running out of the room, going for the garage again. I could hear Toru crying out for me at the suddency of being left, sharp whines coming from him. I looked over my shoulder but kept running. I can't go back for him. He doesn't see the sky like I do. He's not the actual Toru I know. He gave a heartbroken whine and sunk down low to the floor, laying his ears back as he watched me go.

"Laurence, you've got to wake up!" I heard Calix hiss again. "This is life or death!" I looked around as I got further down the hall than reached into my chest and crushed my crystal.

"Calix," I heard someone hiss nearby me. "He's mine!" I was suddenly standing in pitch blackness and saw Calix standing twenty feet in front of me, reaching out for my hand as his red eyes focused on me. I felt a hand snatch mine then before my hand was brought up to someone's lips and they kissed it. "Get out Calix. This is none of your business! He's mine! STOP INTERFERRING!" Calix snarled then and I saw his teeth sharpening.

"He's mine!" He growled out quickly. "HE'S BEEN MINE FOR A LONG TIME!"

"Calix!" I yelled and snatched my hand away quickly, starting for him. He glared at someone behind me then looked at me.

"Laurence, come here. Now!"

"No you don't," I heard the man hiss again before I felt chains wrap around my wrist and I was sent to my knees on the floor, the chain connecting to it. "You're my little soul, not his!"

"Calix!" I called out and looked up at him. "Help me!" He narrowed his eyes then started for me quickly but was sent flying back.

"This is my world, not yours Calix," the man said firmly. "You have no control here!" Calix groaned as he hit an invisible wall then sunk to the floor. "Get. Out." He blinked slowly before he picked his head up and glared behind me before his eyes started to glow and his nails sharpened, turning pitch black like the area around us. I looked behind me quickly.

"I'm not yours," I hissed. "I'm Calix's little soul." A pale demon stood behind me, his eyes a fiery orange filled with rage. He looked towards me then snarled, showing off a pair of sharp canines and another pair right behind it, double sets of teeth.

"No, you're not! You're mine," he snarled. "You're not his. You don't have a contract!"

"That doesn't mean anything. I'm still his, I'm in debt to him."

"No you're not," he growled. "Nothing counts if you don't have it in a demonic contract! The devil would approve of me eating your soul, and I will eat your soul. Your nightmares are the best," he told me then walked up and snatched my neck, yanking me up hard as the chains dug into my wrists.

"GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF MY SOUL!" Calix snarled and got up quickly, charging at him but was thrown back.

"Didn't I tell your loser ass to get lost?" The demon hissed. I yanked my body away from his touch quickly and spit at his face.

"I don't give a shit what the devil has to say. This is my soul and I'm giving it to Calix when I die." He snarled and threw me back down against the ground before he pulled out a phone and dialed six six six on it then lightly tossed it to the ground, watching as it went up in flames. The flames flickered before going out entirely. I could hear footsteps approaching.

"What is it?" I heard a bored voice ask. "I was in the middle of watching a tennis match." The demon purred quickly and kneeled down.

"My king~ I'm sorry to have called you, but Calix is interfering in my rights to this soul!" The demon said quickly and looked up towards where the footsteps were coming from. Calix slowly shrunk down and got an oh-shit look on his face. I looked towards the footsteps, watching as the shadows released a beautiful- wait a minute- am I calling the devil beautiful? Hell yeah I am. The shadows released a very beautiful flesh of a man- who was just a little taller than both demons in the room- and myself. He was in a dark robe that draped over his body and he had dark black hair that almost looked like flames instead, dancing on his head and curling around his face. His eyes were like the color of hell's fire.... if you could even imagine such color. His robe was open to his naked- but well built body. Very muscular. Dark feathers was floating around his body like magic and drifting to the floor.

"Well.... What do you have to say for yourself Calix?" He asked, his tongue could have been made of silver his voice was so smooth.

"This is my soul," he said quickly. "I own it. He can't have this soul or any other soul near this one."

"He doesn't even have a contract with this soul anymore," the demon hissed. "He tore it up."

"Why'd you tear it up?" The devil asked and eyed me over before walking closer to me and started to circle me.

"My chosen mate was angry, and so I honored his wishes and tore the contract apart, but I do own this soul. He chooses me," Calix told him quickly and got to his feet, tensing up as he watched the devil closely. "He's mine," he hissed.

"He chooses you?" The devil asked. "You're a contract type of demon Calix... You don't like to just take souls without contracts~" He hummed out. "Am I right?" Calix tensed and looked at me then at the devil.

"I am a contract demon," he whispered nervously. "This is, however, my soul."

"Without a contract," the devil chimed out as he kept circling me. I suddenly felt him kick me over as his foot landed on my back. "Anyone has rights to take from this soul as they wish and you've got absolutely no 'this is my soul' rights to spill out. Neither of you do as a matter of fact. He's still breathing and he's still alive. Until he's dead, you both can't go just eating his soul." He took his foot off me. "Do I make myself clear?" They both smirked then like they got an idea.

"That can easily be arranged," they both hissed then glared at each other.

"I'm going to kill him right here and right now!" The nightmare demon growled at Calix. "You're not getting your filthy hands on my pure sou-"

"Laurence, form a contract with me," Calix purred sweetly and made a contract appear in his hands.

"What's it say?" I asked. I felt the devil shove his foot back down onto my back.

"Why do you both want this soul so badly? What's so special about him?" He asked. They both froze and looked at the devil nervously.

"His... dreams are perfect," the demon said and bit his bottom lip. "They're tasty to me, and it easily fills my hunger. His nightmares are cultivated from specific memories and from his previous contract. He's perfect food for me."

"He's special because I fucking said so," Calix hissed then. "I'm taking him because I found him in an asylum and his fear in there was so... enchanting I couldn't pass it up, so he's my damn soul! I'm his protector till he's finally eaten by me!"

"Hmm," I heard the devil purr in amusement. He looked down at me. "That's all? He's just tasty, enchanting, and a meal?" He asked. "That's all you two could come up with to describe his soul?" Calix tensed and looked at the devil.

"N-no," he admitted and looked at me worriedly. "That's not all."

"Do enlighten me," the devil said. I heard metal moving around me then as he stepped away and suddenly the chains broke from me and metal bars shot up as I was trapped in a cage. I heard the devil sit down on top then. The sound of loud breathing came out of the shadows as demons with horns appeared- four of them. Two for both demons as they grabbed hold of their arms. They were made of gold. Calix widened his eyes then.

"You won't try to take him, will you sir?" He asked quickly, eyeing the devil down as he stayed where he was. I heard the nightmare demon grumbling under his breath about the other demons holding him.

"Enlighten me," the devil sung out. Calix frowned before he looked at me then at the devil.

"I've grown to care for him more than just a meal. He's... hard to describe, but he is. He's helped to feed me many times before, ending some of my previous contract's lives so I could eat their souls instead of waiting for them to die of something non-demon related. He's interesting to me, sir. Even without the contract, I still do things for him every now and then, and I protect him like I would if he was under contract with me. I still form contracts with others though and eat their souls normally. He's special to me though and not just because my mate wanted me to rip his contract up. It's because he felt bad that he had a contract with me not because he was going to eventually be eaten by me but because he knew I was starving waiting for him to die. I made the contract with him while he was human, but when he was supposed to die, he was turned into a vampire and sentenced to live for eternity till he would die a brutal death. He felt he had trapped me, and I never had a soul feel that way before, so my interest was sparked," he explained and watched the devil closely. "He's also gained the favor of a Japanese god named Inari who has gifted him with one of his kitsunes."

"Inari?" The devil asked and chuckled. His foot bounced lightly then as he leaned over and looked into the cage at me. "Are you being protected by a kitsune?" He asked me.

"The kitsune's name is Ritoru. He's one of his younger ones," Calix muttered, watching closely as he dared not come over. "He's called Toru for short. He's currently in the human world curled up next to this soul's body trying to protect him. In fact... he might eventually figure out how to expel little dream boy over here from my soul's body," he growled, looking towards the nightmare demon who growled back. "Does it burn?" He asked and smirked.

"He hasn't been able to get me yet," the demon hissed in anger at Calix.

"So~ Do you have a better reason for wanting this one's soul?" The devil asked the dream demon. The dream demon tensed then looked at the devil.

"He's food though! So what! Calix doesn't have a contract with him! He's up for grabs!" He growled then. "If he was stupid enough to tear up the contract, then he doesn't deserve the soul."

"Number guessing time. If you two can think of a number between one and ten and get the number right- you get him. If you don't get the number..." He trailed into a tsk. Calix frowned then.

"Sir, he's worth more than to be left to merely chance," he said and tried to rip his arms away from the other demons.

"Seven," the dream demon purred out.

"Guess a number," the devil said quickly. I watched as the golden demons held Calix firmly. Calix growled slightly before he studied the devil and thought about it then looked down at the ground, thinking hard.

"Three," he muttered.

"My number was five," the Devil laughed out.

"So we're tied for closeness," the dream demon purred. "You should just give him to me~"

"You're not getting him," Calix hissed at him then narrowed his eyes at the dream devil. "Scum... sucking off people's dreams then eating them. Why don't you go haunt a coma ward?!"

"Since you're tied... It's a fight to the death," the devil said calmly.

"What?" Calix asked and frowned.

"YES!" The dream demon purred then laughed evilly. "I'm going to kick your ass Calix! This is my world. I have the upper hand!"

"No. You both will fight in hell, where you'll both be given a fighting chance," the devil said calmly. "The match will be settled in an hour. You'll both be in the fighting arena. His soul will remain with me until then," he said and suddenly they started to fade. I saw Calix get a small confident smirk on his face as he disappeared from my sight with the dream demon who was frowning. When they disappeared, the demons walked over and picked up the cage, lifting it. The devil calmly sat on top and I felt a shifting in my core as they carried us into shadows until we were walking out and up to a throne. The devil sat down in it and the cage disappeared. A collar appeared around my neck and the leash to it stretched out to the devil's hand where he tugged me into his lap and wrapped an arm around my waist. I felt my core pulse as I felt pleasure course through me from touching him.

"You'll behave while we get a nice show," he instructed me. I heard the demons he was using stand near us and freeze up. "It won't be long and you'll see them battling it out for your soul down there." He pointed to the arena. There was scorching sand steaming down there where dead bodies was scattered- corpses from the victims of the arena. They look like they've never been cleaned up from their fights and their bodies was rotting. I saw Calix walk out into the arena then, looking around then kicked a body out of his way in disgust before he looked across the arena, completely demonized. His eyes were glowing a bright red and he looked too perfect to be real, his canines sharp along with his finger nails being shaped into points and pure black. He was wearing full out leather, showing off his fit body. I looked him over in awe, blushing lightly. I hope nothing bad happens to him. I felt the Devil's lips kissing my neck as he let out an amused purr. He glanced up at us then frowned a little before he glared, looking for the dream demon on the other side of arena who hadn't come out yet. It was a few more minutes before he came out and he stood, looking at Calix then hissed, showing off his double row teeth and earning a disgusted look from Calix. A teenage girl walked up in a pink- flowery dress with a tray of foods and held it out to us, offering it. I looked the food over in slight interest, reaching out for a cheese cracker and went to eat it as the devil ate a grape from the tray. I saw Calix shoot a look over before he widened his eyes.

"DON'T YOU PUT THAT IN YOUR MOUTH!" He hissed out at me quickly then got punched by the dream demon. I dropped the cracker then as I watched Calix, gasping a little in concern. The devil chuckled and ran his fingers through my hair. I heard Calix growling down there before he slowly looked at the dream demon then narrowed his eyes in anger. "You little bastard," he hissed then punched him back before he grabbed him by the front of his shirt and kneed him between the legs then threw him to the ground, stomping on his back. I heard the demon howl in pain as the sound of his spine cracking reached my ears. Calix smirked big time and laughed. "Oh~ I love that sound from your lips. I want to hear it again~" He purred at him then dug his stilettos into the demon's back, earning a shriek. "Don't you love my stilettos? I do! They're so fashionable and so practical." I tensed up as I watched Calix. The devil grabbed a vine of grapes and started to eat them. Calix suddenly had his foot ripped out from under him and the dream demon climbed up onto him, snapping his fingers and laughed as Calix's hands became restrained. He smirked and leaned in.

"You know what's great? For the next hour, all you're going to be able to hear is the sounds of your own screams~" He bit down harshly into Calix's shoulder, earning a groan from him before he squirmed and gasped as the demon ripped the chunk out and swallowed it, moaning at the taste before he looked at Calix hungrily and went for another bite. Calix widened his eyes then bucked him off before he scrambled, trying to bet his hands free from the restraints and then got to his feet as he took off running to put distance between the two of them. The demon laughed then got up, walking after him calmly. "There's no where to go~ You could just... forfeit the soul to me," he suggested and smirked. Calix narrowed his eyes then looked at the chains on his wrist then at the demon before he glanced back at the chains then stopped running and started for the demon. He clasped his hands together then snarled, bringing his hands down across the demon's head hard to hit him with the chains. The demon screamed as he got hit then held his bleeding head before he glared Calix down and stumbled to grab him but Calix stomped down on his foot then dug his nails into the demon's neck, managing to get his hands around it before he crushed it.

I widened my eyes as I watched Calix crush the guy's throat. Good! He deserves it! He hurt Toru. He shoved the guy down then before he smirked and the demon gagged, trying to get away. He let go then pushed him down on his back before he stomped down onto the demon's throat and continued to do as the demon scratched at his stilettos, trying to get him to stop. He smirked and squished his neck before he kicked the head and watched as the demon's head went flying across the arena. He looked at the chains then as they became sand and fell down to the ground. I widened my eyes and went to run to Calix but the devil brought me back into his lap and held me down. Calix watched the demon before he smirked then snapped his fingers, making fire appear in his hands then set the demon's body on fire and turned to face the devil, starting in our direction confidently.

"You don't get much deader than that," he purred out to the devil and smirked. "Was that satisfactory to you?" The devil ran his fingers up to the collar around my neck and rubbed my skin there under it as he ate a grape.

"Quite~ It's a good thing you got rid of him." The devil said. "He's been bothering other demons." Calix frowned then and got out of the arena, approaching.

"Bothering other demons? Has he been stealing souls from other demons too?" He asked and then I heard his stilettos start to click as he got onto harder floor. "I bet he's been bothering you- calling you like that."

"I've personally been ignoring his calls... but I was interested when I knew you were involved. How's your other contract doing?" Calix looked at the devil then purred.

"He's been doing great. He turned all his siblings into little demons," he told him then laughed. "It was quite funny to watch." The devil's fingers caressed my skin and I felt a little tired from his touch.

"That's good, I can't wait to meet them some day," he said.

"That won't be necessary," Calix told him. "His kind will catch them and cleanse them. They won't be demons forever," he told him then shrugged. "Anyways, if you will kindly return my soul to me sir, I'll be out of your hair."

"Don't worry. I'll return him. Go back to his bedside, he'll wake up soon," the devil promised. Calix purred then nodded, giving a slight bow to the devil before he disappeared to do as he was told. The devil looked towards me.

"You have a good demon watching over your soul," he whispered to me. I felt darkness taking over me and my eyes fell shut.

I opened my eyes and felt my body pulse in soreness.... like I haven't moved in a long time. I could smell Toru's scent near me along with Calix and Emile. I looked around, seeing them and relaxed. "Thank you Calix," I purred softly. Calix looked at me in slight relief before he nodded and leaned over, brushing my hair back from my face.

"You're welcome Laurence. You should thank Toru too. He came crying to me when you wouldn't wake up and he could smell a demon on you," he purred to me then looked at Toru. "There you go. Don't let another demon get him," he growled the last part to him then reached out and rubbed Toru's ear, earning a blush from him as his ear flicked in his human form.

"I won't," he whispered.

"Good, I won't have to force Laurence into a contract with me then," he told him then pulled away. I looked Calix over and sat up slowly.

"Calix, I want another contract with you. I don't want something like that coming across me again," I told him softly. "Form another. It can be simple...." Emile gave us a frown.

"Laurence, you really want another one?" Emile asked me. Calix tensed slightly, looking me over before he sat down on the edge of the bed and crossed his legs.

"If you're really sure about this Laurence, just know that this one won't be ripped up," he told me and rubbed his leg. "What would you even want? Protection? Care? Or just to plainly be able to give me orders to do things? If you are wanting protection from things like that, you are going to have to sign over your soul again, but we can put in a clause that states that you won't be killed by me or the contract becomes void and that you won't be eaten by me at the time of your death unless that is what you desire is to be eaten by me," he told me the ran his fingers through his hair. "I could always give you a second life after you die if I get your soul you know- as a demon. If your soul is mine when you die, I can make you a contract demon like me instead of either storing you away or eating you. You'd be able to come back to your family this way and be able to come back to Toru. He just might be frightened at first." He laughed then and looked over at Toru who widened his eyes. "So would you like protection and the rights to call me to you at any time in exchange for your soul at the time of your death not at my hands then be turned into a contract demon yourself for a second life?" He purred and looked back towards me with a small smirk. He reached out and pulled me into his lap before he made a contract appear and slipped it into my hands, script outlining all he just said. He handed a red quill to me then kissed my cheek as he wrapped his arms around me, waiting. Toru whined and turned into his fox form before he jumped up into my lap, looking up at me as he laid his ears back.

I looked down at Toru and kissed the top of his head. I looked towards the contract, thinking it over. At least with this... I'll know where I end up at after death.... but what if I die as a demon? Could I even handle being a contract demon- No I shouldn't think like that. With this contract it would be hardly impossible for me to die. He would protect me- especially from other demons. With this contract- I'll be damn near impossible to kill- and if the chance comes, I'll come back as a demon... but as a contract demon? Would that even be worth it? Death or demon? Then what after I die as a demon? Death. Death for good. "I don't know Calix," I whispered. "If I die as a contract demon, that's it... Plus I wouldn't want to enslave you under a contract-" I looked over the first part. "I just want a contract with you that states you're my loyal best friend and you'll do anything for my safety. When I die, you can have my soul and do with it as you please."

"So just protection in exchange for your soul?" He purred softly and ran his fingers through my hair. "I guess that works. Maybe I will just keep you locked up in Hell once you die," he told me then laughed. "You could take care of my house and keep it clean and nice for me." He smirked and chuckled. "Or I could turn you into a demon servant for me. Would you prefer that? You would stay with me, and you would lose that tasty scent your soul carries. I wouldn't ask you to do much. You would be sort of like... an assistant. I would feed you and take care of you as a demon and be responsible for you. You would technically be classified as a servant demon though. It wouldn't matter much. You would just continue to live on as a demon underling with a good life under a contract demon who feeds and protects you." He rubbed my cheek then. "Unless you want to live as a tasty soul in Hell in the confines of my home there. Toru couldn't go with you though. He doesn't belong in Hell. You could keep him as my servant though if he doesn't shrink away from you. The likelihood of you dying is very small anyways. I'm the best demon out there~" He kissed my cheek and laughed only for Toru to growl at him lightly, tensing.

"The hell Calix. I don't want to end up as your servant." I narrowed my eyes quickly. He nodded then rubbed my cheek.

"Okay, I won't turn you into a servant then. I might just make you a normal demon. You would be able to pick your own lifestyle... or I could send you to be reincarnated but who knows where you would end up? Maybe you're better off stuck in my house as a soul." He gave me a thoughtful look then sighed.

"Don't separate me from Toru," I mumbled softly. He frowned and then glanced back at Emile as Toru rubbed his head up against my hand before he managed to get me to place my hand on his soft fur.

"What do you think Emile? I can't take Toru to Hell. That might cause a war between Inari and all demons... and he wouldn't fare well in Hell- he might even get killed... or get sick." He wrapped his arms around us then and watched his lover. "He won't be able to stay here either as a soul. He'd have to become a demon in order to stay near Toru properly and remember him.... I mean... I guess I could try to bring him back to life, but that's hard when they lose their bodies and they're killed for good."

"Then you'll have to make him a demon," Emile said calmly. I frowned. That's the only choice I have it seems like... It's not a very good choice though.

"I guess that's the only way," he hummed out then looked at me. "I'll turn you into your regular demons and you can pick your own lifestyle. You'll stay with me though as you're learning to feed." He made a new contract appear and passed it to me to sign. "Protection in exchange for your soul when you die~"

"Okay," I paused and frowned. "I said friendship," I told him and frowned. He frowned at me then.

"Friendship? Why that? You don't need that in writing. Protection is good enough," he purred. I frowned and sighed.

"Fine." I grabbed the pen and went to sign my name. "Protection for my soul." He snatched it from me then and looked it over before he added a clause onto it then handed it back to me.

"There's your friendship," he told me. Toru growled then snatched the contract, running off with it quickly as he jumped down off the bed and disappeared under the bed. I frowned and got up, going after him.

"Toru?" I asked. "This is for good. I don't want another demon trying to take my soul." He poked his head out from under the bed then laid his ears back against his head with a soft whine. I could see the contract under his body with him laying on it to keep me from getting it. "What's going to happen when another demon comes along and you both can't save me?" I asked him. "I'll be gone.... At least with this, I will have a longer chance." He gave a slight growl then and went to rip the contract with his teeth. Calix quickly took it from him, saving it.

"Look, you're too young to protect him on your own from other demons," he told him and frowned. "It's not like I'm going to devour his soul anytime soon."

"Yeah, he wouldn't do that." I looked towards Calix, remembering what he told the devil. Toru growled then came out from under the bed, going for Calix's feet.

"See, now this is why I call you a rat," he tsked then scooped Toru up and dropped him on the bed. "Quit it. It's for his own good." I rubbed Toru's head to make him feel better.

"I want it," I reminded him. "Please don't make me lock you in a suit case to get this done." He quickly shifted into his human form then grabbed my hand.

"He'll do something to you," he told me and gave me a worried look as he held my hand tightly. "He's a demon! He wanted to eat you before! What if he's lying?" His ear flicked then as he watched me and his tail curled up against his legs. Calix quickly draped a blanket over Toru's lap and frowned at him.

"I'm not lying."

"He's not lying," I told Toru sweetly. "He gets my soul out of this contract and that's okay both ways." Toru watched me before he slowly relaxed and released my hand. Calix purred then handed me the contract.

"There you go. Sign and then we'll be back on contract terms," he told me and gave a small smirk. Toru laid his ears back as he watched us and brought his knees to his chest, hugging them. I looked the contract over, reading it to make sure he wasn't trying to trick me. It had the protection clause in it, stating that he had to aid me if I was to come into mortal danger, and it had the friendship I asked for, outlining that we both had to be friends and be on good terms even after I died or a punishment would be put into effect decided by the one who tried to stay friends, and it stated that at the time of my death by means other than Calix himself my soul would transfer into his possession to do as he pleased and throughout my life, it would be considered his but in use by me. I signed it then, giving the contract back to Calix. He signed it then smirked before he made it disappear then walked over to Emile. "Emile~ Do you like my outfit? I killed a demon in it~ I think it outlines my body perfectly too," he purred out and got right up against Emile, tugging on Emile's belt loops to make him get closer to him.

"Yeah~ I'm a little jealous I didn't get first look," Emile told him and purred. He wrapped his arms around Calix and kissed him. I looked down at Toru and rubbed his head. Calix moaned softly then yanked on his belt loops, deepening the kiss. Toru looked up at me and blushed before he perked his ears up and then laid down, stretching out before he looked towards his abandoned kimono on the bed and reached for it. I got it for him and pulled it around his body.

"There," I whispered. I looked towards Calix then. "How's your kid?" I asked curiously. He tensed then pulled back from the kiss.

"He's fine. He's with Nico right now... and his mom I believe," he told me then looked over as he stayed right up against Emile. I nodded and smiled. His kid is so cute~

"We should go see him," Emile purred out. "He loves seeing you." Calix purred then looked at Emile.

"You think so?" He asked him and then gave him a kiss, biting his lower lip gently to play with him.

"Yeah! You can't tell it but I can. He adores you. You're his father. He's never had one before." He rubbed Calix's head. "He's your only son too- unless you count Laurence over there," he teased. Calix purred then kissed Emile's wrist before he wrapped his arms around him.

"Alright, let's go see him before I get side tracked by you," he whispered in Emile's ear then disappeared, leaving me with Toru. I frowned. They didn't even offer to take me! I would have loved getting to see that cute little neko again. I looked down at Toru and purred happily. I still have him, that's all that matters. Toru looked up at me as he heard me then laughed, reaching up for me and grabbed my shirt, pulling me down onto the bed as he sat up and gave me a small kiss. I gave him another and rubbed my head against his chest, purring.

"Toru, I don't ever want to lose you," I told him sweetly. He blushed and looked at me.

"You don't?" He asked me softly then ran his fingers through my hair, playing with it.

"Yeah.... I watched you die multiple times," I mumbled. "I mean.. it wasn't you but it felt so real." I shook my head and pulled him down with me. I looked towards the TV and sighed. I almost don't want to sl- I stopped and looked at the ground for the rice bowl. I felt Toru give my cheek a kiss just as I saw it, laying there on the floor with it's contents spilled out on my carpet floor. I felt my heart race and I sat up quickly, beginning to panic.

"No- no no no no no non ononon no!" I yelled and got out of the bed quickly, backing away from the rice bowl. Toru frowned at me then and sat up.

"What's the matter?" He asked and gave me a hurt look. "Come back here. We just got you back from the dream demon! I was worried sick!" I ran my fingers through my hair.

"I'm not out," I cried to him softly and fell to my knees.

"Yes you are," he told me and frowned, getting to his feet. "Calix got you out. What makes you think you're not out?" He walked over then knelt down in front of me, giving me a concerned look.

"The bowl of rice," I told him. "It's always there when I wake up." He looked at it then laughed.

"Is that all? I had some while you were asleep and came back to wake you up but you wouldn't wake up, so I panicked and dropped my bowl," he explained. I looked towards the window to check the sky. Little white stars twinkled in the black sky, the faint outline of trees hiding more stars. Toru watched me then frowned, leaning in and kissing me quickly. "I'm real," he whispered to me. "All of this is real." He gave me another kiss then. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him closer, watching the stars closely.

"Are you positive?" I asked him. He nodded and gave a soft whine.

"Do I have to prove it to you?" He asked me then moved into my lap, his tail brushing up against my leg.

"I don't know...." I trailed off. "Let's go get a bowl of rice. I want to put some fish and soy sauce in it," I told him. He looked at me then gave me an excited look before he kissed my neck then got up, rushing over to the door in excitement. I looked at the bowl of rice and pulled out my phone, texting a maid to clean it up. I followed after Toru then, excited to get to eat. He watched me as I walked up then grabbed my hand and gave my neck another kiss with a playful growl as his ears twitched. I kissed his cheek and pulled him along to the kitchen, cautiously looking out to make sure nothing would come and kill him. He hummed softly as he had a huge smile on his face, not worried at all. When we got into the kitchen, he ran straight to the pantry and came out with the rice, bringing it to me.

"I want a bowl too~" He told me sweetly, giving me a grin. I nodded and got to cooking us two bowls of rice- mixing the fish and soy sauce into it when I finished. I gave him a bowl than got mine. I fixed us two glasses of tea, putting a slice of lemon in both of them. He laughed as he got his food then took a sip of his tea before he darted for the door, but paused as it opened. I looked towards him curiously, going to follow him out. He stepped to the side as a servant walked in then watched him before he laughed and ran out, wagging his tail. I followed after him, eating a bite of my rice with my chopsticks. He went back up to our bedroom then got in the bed, starting to eat his food as he curled up at the head of the bed on our pillows. I sat down at the foot of the bed and ate my bowl, taking a sip of my tea. He quickly ate his food then gulped down his tea, putting it on the nightstand before he looked at me then gave me a happy look as he rolled over onto his stomach and rubbed his head against the pillows- specifically mine.

I sat my empty bowl down and put the glass on the nightstand before crawling up the bed and laid down, pulling him into my arms. Maybe this is reality. He smiled and wagged his tail before he kissed my lips, tilting his head to deepen it. I kissed him back and rubbed his head. He laughed and looked at me before he gave me a playful look then leaned in towards my neck, laying his ears back as he nuzzled his head into the crook of my neck. I could feel his soft ears ticking under my jaw as he kissed my neck sweetly. I giggled and wrapped my arms around him before flipping us so I was on top. He blushed and gave my neck another soft kiss as he wrapped his arms around my neck. I leaned into his neck, burring my face there. He laughed and perked his ears up as he squirmed a little under me then kissed my cheek. I relaxed and sighed. He kissed my cheek again then laughed as he moved again, his leg brushing up against mine.

"Toru," I mumbled. He rubbed my head then.

"What?" He asked me and leaned his face against the side of mine.

"Did you get enough to eat?" I asked curiously.

"Uh huh," he told me innocently then kissed my cheek again. I nodded and smiled.

"Good." I looked up at the ceiling before closing my eyes. I felt him kiss my neck again as he snuggled up to my side. I purred as I felt myself drifting off to sleep, exhausted for some reason.