Chapter 12 “The Weight of Choices”

Why did she drink it? Wasn't she happy with her being engaged to Kenji?

Was she alright now?

Would this affect the engagement between him and Ravel at all?

As soon as Kenji had processed all the questions in his brain, he managed to answer them.

'I don't know, I don't know, evidently not, probably, since the Sitris are famous throughout the Underworld, for not only producing the one who held the title of the Devil King Leviathan, but being excellent doctors throughout the Underworld, and probably not. ' Kenji reasoned, in his head.

But then, the question he'd asked himself 'Why did she drink it?' he began to think about the answer in a way only he could.

'Wait, was it because of me? Was she only acting like a bitch because she really wanted me to be with her, and I was just bullying her?' Kenji asked himself. 'Am I really that bad of a person?' Thoughts like this continued to plague Kenji's mind until he came onto the floor his room was on, where he ran into Zest.

"Hey, Kenji. " She smiled, at seeing her favourite Gremory and slight love interest.

"Hey, Zest. " Kenji replied, with a half-hearted smile.

Zest could sense that something was up, and walked towards Kenji.

"What's up, Kenji? You seem kinda out of it. " She observed.

"Yeah. " Kenji replied.

"I just heard that Ravel Phenex tried to kill herself. " Zest's eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, I was one of the first to hear. " The maid replied.

"It's sad, isn't it?"

"Yeah. " Kenji replied, walking into his room and slumping down onto his bed.

"If I'd known that she wanted to be with me, I could've done something to stop her from killing herself!" Zest sat down beside Kenji and put a hand on his shoulder.

"It isn't your fault, Kenji. " She said, to the 16-year-old Devil.

"You couldn't possibly have known what was going on, on Ravel's side of your engagement. You and Ravel, when you're supposed to be engaged, have little to no contact-"

"You support this marriage, too?!" Kenji asked, flaring up slightly.

"No. " Zest said, patiently.

"Of course I don't. I'm just pointing out that you and Ravel have had almost no contact with each other.

I shudder to think what you and Ravel would be like when you get married. "

"Me too. " Kenji said, smiling.

"I think I'd be better off…" he stopped himself, before he said the words.

"Yeah. " Zest replied, wrapping an arm around Kenji and hugging him gently.

Kenji noticeably stiffened slightly when she hugged him, but allowed her to hug him. Zest sighed, inwardly, as she knew that Kenji was quite touchy when it came to personal space.

If she ever managed to further her relationship with the teen Devil, it'd be the first thing she'd try to do, getting him to be less stiff when she hugged him.

Zest looked up at Kenji, and she giggled slightly to see that he was asleep. Lying down, she decided to sleep as well.

And she wouldn't miss an opportunity to sleep in the same bed as the one she harboured a crush for.

Line Break

When you were young and your heart was an open book

You used to say live and let live,

You know you did, you know you did, you know you did

But if this ever-changing world in which we live in

Makes you give in and cry…

Say live and let die!

Live and let die!

Kenji's arm reached out and turned off his phone, stopping his alarm of Live and Let Die by Guns N' Roses. Sitting up, he stretched his arms and looked around his room.

Everything was the same as before, but Kenji couldn't help but think that something was amiss.

Looking at his bed, his eyes widened to see Zest there, sleeping soundly, with her rabbit ears folded cutely.

'She looks kinda cute down there. ' Kenji thought, and, offhandedly, reached down and let his hand fall softly into her white hair.

"Hnn…" Zest stirred slightly, and woke up. Through half-lidded eyes, she regarded Kenji with a small smile.

"Good morning, Kenji. " She said.

"Did you enjoy your sleep?"

"Yeah, it was alright. " Kenji answered, lying back.

Zest lay back next to Kenji, and smiled at him lightly.

"Hey, Kenji. There's… something I want to say.

" She said.

"Mmm? What's that?" Kenji asked. Zest scooted a little closer to him, and said.

"I… I think… I think I'm in-" The door opened. Kenji and Zest both jumped away from each other, and saw Venelana standing there, giggling.

"Oh, Kenji. Don't mind me, continue having your time with Zest.

" She smiled. "You don't have to worry about little old me.

" She smiled, and Kenji blushed a darker red than his own hair.

"MOM!" he shouted. "You don't have to say things like that!" Ven stopped giggling, and just started laughing.

"Oh, Kenji. You know I'm just messing with you.

" Her face suddenly gained a different look, one that Kenji NEVER wished to see on his own mother. "Or am I?"

If Kenji could blush any harder, one could easily mistake him for an oddly-shaped tomato. With one violet spot and one turquoise spot on it.

"Lady Venelana, I-" Zest stood up and tried to help Kenji out of his situation, but Venelana cut across her.

"It's fine, Zest. Really, it is.

" She said, smiling. "It's always nice to know that there's someone other than me who can look out for Kenji.

" Zest smiled.

"Of course, Lady Venelana. "

"Zeoticus says get up, Kenji. Today's the day that you and Rias go and get your Evil Pieces.

" Kenji's eyes widened. Today was the day?!

Kenji jumped out of bed and changed his clothes as fast as he could, then ran out of the bedroom door, very nearly crashing into his mother, who had to dodge out of the way.

"He's going to be a great King. " Zest remarked.

"Indeed he is, Zest. " Venelana replied.