78 Restless Reality

[Word Count: 1405]

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The morning seemed to drag on for Shouzou, its pace almost lethargic.

Ever since Leo's fateful confrontation with the Karma Devil and the subsequent defeat of the Gun Devil, Shouzou had lost all contact with Leo. And if he were to be honest, an unexplainable emptiness gnawed at his insides. A bitter sensation took root in his chest, a feeling he struggled to define.

Takeshi's carefully crafted plan had been executed flawlessly, yet it was never meant to unfold after Leo's abrupt change of heart just before the execution... and then the Karma Devil emerged. The intricate details of the scheme were known to only a select few, and for good reason. Only Shouzou and Takeshi held the complete blueprint, while Leo had been fed fragments as they progressed.

Shouzou heaved a sigh, the weight of his responsibilities bearing down on him. "He's fine..." he muttered.

At present, the office was bustling with activity, as Shouzou attended to the matters of the day. Today, of all days, would be a demanding one. From towering stacks of paperwork to a ceaseless stream of phone calls, the gears of political machinery were churning. The imminent replacement of the Prime Minister loomed on the horizon, a transition that demanded nothing short of perfection.

A pang of tension echoed through Shouzou's temple as he climbed the stairs, making his way toward his office. Despite the recent upheavals, the grand plan was set to continue its course, propelling forward amidst the shifting circumstances. To ensure its success, Shouzou needed to remain several steps ahead.

As the door closed behind him, the air in the room seemed to thicken. Shouzou's stride faltered, his gaze locking onto a striking sight – Leo, seated in his chair, his head resting upon the desk. Leo's attention, however, was fixed upon a Newton's Cradle ornament positioned on Shouzou's desk.

An inexplicable force seemed to hold Shouzou rooted to the spot, his eyes tracing the edges of Leo's features. The once familiar eyes of Leo were now transformed into a malevolent shade of red, radiating an unsettling aura. Leo's vacant gaze remained locked onto the rhythmic motion of the Newton's Cradle, its spheres perpetually swinging from one side to the other.

Following the pendulum-like path of the spheres, Leo's eyes suddenly shifted to lock onto Shouzou. His hands rose, fingers interlacing as he dramatically rested his chin upon them, evoking the image of a sinister mastermind from a Bond film.

"I declare war, on anybody standing in the way of what I dream for,"  His words had weight, each one carrying the intensity of his red gaze. "Which side are you on?"

"What dream?" Shouzou inquired, his brows furrowing even though he maintained his composure.

Leo's smile spread slowly. "One day, the worlds going to end. On that day, the era of devils will begin. And on that day, I'll stand with a crown on my head like a god..." he continued, rising from Shouzou's chair. He dramatically raised an imaginary crown and then placed it ceremoniously upon his own head. "...with every step that I take, I won't second guess what I want."

Shouzou's fist clenched and his teeth gritted together. As he stared at the carpet, the bitterness that had taken root within him earlier now felt like a gaping hole in his chest. "Nothing lasts forever, huh?" he whispered quietly.

"So, what did you think?" Leo's tone shifted abruptly, causing Shouzou's eyes to widen.

Leo's eyes reverted from that malicious red to their usual black, the scar on his face still present but less pronounced.

"I've been rehearsing this in my mind for a while, but I never had the chance to test it out in person." Leo's tone was light-hearted and playful as he circled around the desk. "So, what did you think?"

"Your portrayal of me was surprisingly accurate," Yoru's voice resonated in Leo's thoughts, accompanied by a nod from the Fire Devil.

"Really?" Leo glanced toward Yoru, tilting his head.

"Yes," Yoru confirmed, playfully nudging Leo with her wing.

"I'm sure it would've been even better if I did it myself," Yoru added.

"Most likely," Leo agreed, a smirk touching his lips.

"Indeed," Yoru chimed in, nudging him again.

"Absolutely," Leo chimed back.

"..." Yoru fell silent, nudging Leo once more before giving up. It wasn't fair; she wanted to play with the power of nuclear weapons too, but Leo denied her that pleasure. Why did he get to have all the fun? "Life isn't fair," she muttered.

Returning from his inner thoughts, Shouzou stood motionless, refraining from uttering a word.

Gradually, his tense posture softened, and he moved toward Leo.

"Shouzou?" Leo questioned, his head slightly tilted.

As Shouzou stood before Leo, he suddenly embraced him tightly, his arms wrapping around Leo's shoulders in a trembling hug. "Fuck man, that shit was too real," he admitted, his voice wavering.

Leo, nearly the same height as Shouzou, awkwardly reciprocated the hug, patting Shouzou's back. He knew what had struck a chord – he knew how it felt like watching your family die without the chance for a final farewell. "It wasn't entirely planned. Sorry for the scare, cousin," Leo murmured.

.

"Fuck man," Shouzou groaned, sinking into the couch while rubbing his face. "So, the Karma Devil..."

"It came out of nowhere," Leo recounted, settling down a small distance from Shouzou. "I was almost ready to wrap it up, but that little shit caught me off guard. Ripped my arm apart with my own attack. The burns I could have explained, but a mangled arm and a gaping hole in my back would have raised too many questions. So... I had to commit to faking my own death."

"You really committed to it," Shouzou muttered.

Leo's chuckle cut through the tension. "No point in doing things halfway."

"Heh, so I assume you're geared up for the next steps?" Shouzou inquired.

"No..." Leo confessed with a hint of sorrow, tears brimming at the corners of his eyes. "It all ended too suddenly, and now my chest feels empty, and on top of that, there's still at least another three months of this. I just want to see my kids again."

Shouzou's surprise was evident, but he nodded understandingly. "Shit... family life really changed you."

"I'm a simple guy," Leo replied, wiping away the tears. "I enjoyed the adrenaline rush from devil hunting, but this consistent happiness my kids bring me... it's a different kind of high."

"We all find our rhythm eventually. For me, it's been about making Yuki's dream come true, one step at a time," Shouzou mused, sinking deeper into the couch.

"...no rest until it's done," Shouzou muttered, determination etched in his voice.

"...no rest," Leo echoed, the same resolve coloring his tone.

"What's your plan now?" Shouzou queried, his gaze fixed on the portraits lining the walls.

"What I've always done. Keep the monsters away till the sun goes down... I just won't be going home anytime soon..." Leo's voice held a tinge of sadness as he spoke.

A comfortable silence ensued. Both of them had their responsibilities, and they were committed to seeing them through. Yuki's legacy would continue through Shouzou, aided by Leo, while Leo's family would find safety during the day so they could rest soundly at night.

"By the way," Shouzou interjected suddenly. "Need a new outfit?"

Leo glanced down at his partially exposed chest. "You know, it's strange. No one has mentioned the fact that I've been half-naked ever since I took down the Gun Devil. I was starting to think I was losing my mind."

Even when taking back alleys to avoid public attention, no one Leo had encountered had questioned his near-naked state. His attire had been burned or torn apart during his battle with the Karma Devil, leaving him with little coverage.

"Well, I imagine when people see a half-naked guy covered in dried blood, their first thought isn't to wonder why he's shirtless and bloody," Shouzou quipped.

Leo let out a sigh. "I guess that makes sense..."

"Absolutely," Shouzou snorted. "It's just common sense. Do you have spare clothes somewhere?"

"Yuki's apartment," Leo muttered.

"I see," Shouzou mused, rising from the couch. "Speaking of which, are you ever going to wear the jacket she gave you? It should fit perfectly by now."

Leo shook his head softly. "I'd hate to get it dirty."

Shouzou smirked. "Oh? Afraid you're not strong enough to keep it clean?"

Leo's gaze met Shouzou's playful smile, a smirk tugging at his own lips as he pointed at Shouzou. "Count your days, old man! I'm strong as heck!"

Shouzou burst into laughter as he exited the office.

"One day at a time," Leo muttered, gazing at the framed pictures on the wall.