Chapter 1
Title: A Cruel Lesson

Theme: #22 - 一期一会; ichi-go ichi-e (never again)

Disclaimer: I do not own Demon Diary or any of its characters.

Summary: Raenef realizes something about his fate while grieving a friend’s death.

Sobs wracked the demon lord’s body, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the balcony railing. Eclipse stood silently behind him, watching his shoulders shake. He offered Raenef no comfort, though it was killing him not to do so. His lord had to learn about these things eventually.

Raenef had not stopped crying since he’d heard the news of Chris’ death. The cleric was old and had died peacefully after living a full life of doing great things. But this knowledge was not enough to console him. Chris had been one of his dearest friends. If Raenef had known then how hard this would be… No. He shook his head. He would not regret his friendship with the human; he could not. But many more years would pass from this day, and many more friends would meet their mortal deaths. And Raenef would have to lose them all. He would never see them again.

Turning abruptly from the railing, Raenef clutched at Eclipse’s robes, burying his face against his servant’s neck. Eclipse willed his arms to stay by his sides and made no move to embrace the other. But he let him stay where he was until he was done crying and only then did he place his hand on Raenef’s back, gently reminding him that out of all the people Raenef would have to lose, he would not be one of them.

Raenef sighed softly and watched the puff of exhaled breath that formed before him in the cold air. He rested his crossed arms on the railing of the castle balcony and closed his eyes. It was late, but he couldn’t get himself to fall asleep. He missed his mentor.

‘Eclipse…’

The older demon had been attending a meeting for the past few days and his absence was starting to get to the demon lord. He hated that Eclipse wasn’t there with every day. Granted, there were only a small percentage of days when Eclipse was gone, but still…Raenef didn’t like it. He got bored, and besides, he liked Eclipse. He made him feel safe. With Eclipse by his side, it felt like home.

‘Eclipse…I wish you were here…’

His eyes opened as he suddenly heard a rustling noise behind him and felt another’s presence. He turned around and couldn’t hold back the gasp of delight that escaped.

“Eclipse!”

He ran up to his servant, wrapping his arms around him and grasping his black robes.

“You’re back!”

Eclipse smiled down at his young charge and lightly returned the embrace.

“Because you thought of me, my lord.”

Raenef pulled himself closer, savoring the feel of Eclipse’s warm body against him.

‘I always think of you…Eclipse.’

Raenef loved being hugged by Eclipse. It wasn’t an occurrence that happened very often, so when it did it felt all the more wonderful. Warm hands on his shoulder and small of his back, ebony tresses brushing against his cheek, delicious heat from his mentor’s body enveloping him… When they hugged, the little lord never wanted to let go.

The only trouble was, sometimes when Eclipse hugs him, Raenef forgets to breathe. Eclipse’s arms will encircle him and his breath catches in his throat. His heart pounds faster, his eyes grow wide. He can’t breathe, but he doesn’t want it to end. But when the need for oxygen becomes too pressing, he’s forced to slip free of the older demon’s embrace. He offers a smile quickly, so he doesn’t hurt his feelings, but sometimes Eclipse turns away so soon, he won’t see the smile. At those times, Raenef wonders if it would’ve been better to just die in his arms instead.

I'll add the rest later, the other document is on another computer.

Chapter 1
A few, white clouds drifted over the nameless castle. A gentle breeze rusteled through the trees which were strewn sparsely in the castle's beautiful courtyard. Erutis took advantage of one of the tree's shade and collapsing underneath it, she lazily ordered for the high cleric, Chris, to hit the practice dummy she had assembled for him two hundred times. With a frustrated moan, Chris began to swing as Erutis yawned and, corssing one leg over another, drifted off to sleep.
Strong rays of sunlight infiltrated one of the castle spire's windows and graced the pale skin of Raenef the fifth's gentle, careless visage.

I used to love this story! I read every single book, hehe.