Reaching up she undid the clasp in the back and took the band off. Staring at it for a minute she rolled it up in her palm and incinerated it. There, that'll remove any evidence of this little foray we had. She thought as she looked up at Koji. Tilting her head she looked at him You seem a bit uncomfortable just standing there. Have a seat. She gestured to the other chair, which was not as large as hers, and a small padded stool. Taking a sip of her drink she looked into the fireplace for a minute.

Looking back over at Koji she asked him If you had the chance, would you go back home or stay here? She watched his face carefully to see the expressions when he answered. Depending on how he answers may give me some insight into how he got here and if my idea may work..

Koji stood up slightly to move over to the chair Madam scarlet gestured too he would have sat in the chair but Madam Scarlet gestured to the chair, also the chair was more comfortable and closer to him. he settled into the seat as she watched the fire. His eyes drawn to the fire after a moment as well.

If you had the chance, would you go back home or stay here?

the question caught Koji off guard. "I.." he shut his mouth to think and to give a proper answer and thought to the question. The simplest and fastest answer was he'd stay here if he could... but that posed an issue. Living under Madam's wing, so to speak, was great but he may want his own place eventually and from what little he knew that didn't seem likely. However, there were really only one thing he wanted from back home. It was his book "Noctum" but the true reason for wanting that was to return to the nether to confirm or deny what was written in it. Other than that... he didn't really care about his home nobody cared about him, just his grades...

So decision made up he took a deep breath and answered "Madam Scarlet.....I would stay here....there are things here that excite my mind.. and although I do wish I could live on my own, even under your supervision the rest of my life would be interesting, not just more of the same....back home those who knew me, knew me for my brain not for who i was...you seem to notice more than that when it comes to me" Koji had spoken strongly firm in his belief in what he had said, but when he was finished he quickly fell silent not wanting to babble to her. He was curious though why did she ask? and what would her response be.?

Scara raised and eyebrow and looked at him when he began to speak then get quiet, smirking slightly she thought Caught him off guard with that question, but at least he caught himself before he gave me an answer. She watched him as she could see he was thinking carefully before answering. His answer did not entirely surprise her, except for that end part. Notice him for his brain? she thought what an odd notion. Around here demons were noticed for their strength, speed, agility and ferocity. Humans have odd ideas what to look at people for... she furrowed her brain at that thought.

So there's nothing back home for you? You'd give up everything to stay in a realm where you're seen as the lowest race? Interesting.... Scara looked over into the fire and thought for a while, her tail still swinging lazily. I can understand wanting to be out on your own, however given your current...state of being that would be impossible. You'd be snatched up right away. No humans live on their own down here, ones that serve well still live in their masters houses, they just have more freedoms than the others. Plus, you'll have to learn a bit more about our customs and such before you'd be alright. However once you know that much I may have an idea to solve one issue. The part she didn't want to tell him is that he'd have to wait at least a month for the next full blood moon. It was a complex ritual she'd only heard about and would have to gather more information on before she brought it up, plus...there was that one catch...

So there's nothing back home for you?......I can understand wanting to be out on your own, however given your current...state of being that would be impossible......ones that serve well still live in their masters houses, they just have more freedoms.....Plus, you'll have to learn a bit more about our customs and such before you'd be alright.

Koji sighed deeply thinking about the key points in Madam Scarlet's response she brought up some very good points. He couldn't deny that, but it still didn't change his decision. the thought about learning more about the culture excited him, the thought of living in Scarlet's house didn't bother him considering the alternative, and something about how she mentioned his current state made him think he might be able to change and become a permanent resident easier than expected...

....once you know that much I may have an idea to solve one issue.

Koji couldn't hide his curiosity at this last phrase so he spoke up " at the risk of owing you one question Madam Scarlet, may I ask what you have in mind?" He didn't want to try asking a question when he didn't have one available to use but his curiosity got the better of him that time. "I apologize, I asked a question I did not have...as for you question of what is back home for me, the only thing back home that I'd want.. is one of my books. It's title is "Noctum" it was a huge archive of your clans and races...but i would only want to return here with it to see if it was accurate.." he didn't mention the spells in the back of the book because he doubted she'd be interested in that, and he had no intention of messing with those for a while...

Scara chucked and held up her hand. You had two questions earned before we left the house and I never said how many you got once we got back. She listened to the rest of what he said and when he got to the mention of the book her eyes widened in surprise. Great Nether! That's how he got down here! Quickly she changed her expression back to normal. That book had been rumored to have been destroyed...that's the missing key to Lucifers puzzle. If he get's his hand on that book he'll have his way into the upper realms.. She thought carefully about how to approach this situation. To leave it there might open up the possibility of someone else coming down and bringing the book with them, but to bring the book in was to open the door and invite in trouble.

My child.. she began slowly I do not yet know if it was fate or luck that hand you land in the tree near my home, however you should really thank your lucky stars. I must ask that from now on you do not mention that book by name lest you want trouble to knock at your door. That book was written centuries ago by a necromancer who snuck his way in and learned everything about all of us. Soon we found him out and exiled him and entrusted the destruction of the book to our greatest general at the time. We were told it was destroyed and none thought to question his actions until now. For you see, in the back of the book he wrote a spell to transport himself back and forth between realms. Lucifer believed the book still existed and has been searching for it since....that is why I'm not sure if I can send you home to get it or not. Falling silent Scara stared into the fire...Even if I escorted him home I might get caught in that realm..I've heard stories of what gets done to "monsters" they find. She shuddered slightly and remembered stories of her childhood.

Koji relaxed a bit that he hadn't owed Madam Scarlet a question and that he had more than he thought. he was also glad to hear she was intending to reward him with some questions after the errands. He'd assumed he hadn't gotten any when she didn't say anything about it when they got back.Koji noticed Scarlet's Reaction to his mention of the Noctum, and he imagined it was the same name as a powerful...something.. in this world just had a similar name. However, when she spoke slowly and seriously about the book he stayed quiet and listened carefully to what she said about the book.

Thinking back after she was done talking, he vaguely remembered the spell he read was written into the book and rather hurriedly. But what continued to confused him was that the spell worked for HIM... As far as he knew it wasn't just any human that could use magic...but does that mean...? nah couldn't be.. realizing he'd been silent for a while he looked back to madam scarlet realizing she might be trying to send him back for the book and he noticed her shudder briefly he pretended not to notice questions about that wouldn't be entirely welcome he guessed so he went back to his current train of thought "Madam... you don't need to try and send me back... as we're discussing i would choose to stay here unless you wanted the book?" he couldn't imagine a use for the book other than what she mentioned Lucifer had in mind but maybe she could use it for some other reason. he of course wanted the book now more than ever but she called the shots in his life now.

[[sorry thought i hit submit for this last night..]]

I know you choose to stay here...yet something must be done about that book. I imagine you must've set the book down when you recited the words. I also figure you must've done it from your domicile above. Time flows are slightly different between the realms. One day here is two up there, surely by now your family has noticed your disappearance, so the book may not be where you left it. We can only hope your mother or whomever thought the book rubbish and put it back on a shelf...if not it would be a difficult thing to find quickly. The other problem is opening a rift to go there and return, once it's time, without alerting any of the "Sky Patrols". While Lucifer my want to go into your realm to wreck havock and chaos, he does not want his plans ruined in advance by some other going up for no real reason. So he has a force you have to request permission from to be able to leave and return at the same place at a certain time or risk being "found out" and killed.

Scara fell silent for a moment and stared into the flames, trying to figure out how to work things. She then realized he would ask how he made it through without discovery. Looking over at Koji she answered his unspoken question. The reason you made it past the patrol was the spell set up by the necromancer starts up a strange cloud gathering that blocks their ability to detect if a rift is opening or not. The clouds also contain a sort-of "anti-nether" field. Should any of us demon, were, shade or beast try and go through the clouds to look around they are tuned to your weakness and will strike you down. None can survive short of two beings Lucifer and....the Other. At the mention of the Other she quickly closed her eyes and recited a chant her parents taught her to ward off it hearing her. Once she was sure it hadn't she opened her eyes again and was deep in thought. I'll also add that for today's journey you get four extra questions. You tried you best to stay out of the way while carrying that heavy bucket and the interference by the ice demon was none your fault. She said before looking back into the flames.

((It's ok. We all have days the internet hates us. ^_^ ))

Koji listened to Madam Scarlet considering the points she was making. When his family and his disappearance was mentioned he sighed, I'm sure they're looking for me.. but how hard or why is the real question there...he turned his head and gazed to the fire as he responded in concern to the location of the book"I can guarantee that either of my parents would have just put it up on a shelf, they thought my whole fascination with this realm was rubbish, not just the book" while still staring at the fire he listened to the description of how he got through undetected although he didn't understand fully he made sure to remember what he did understand. As Madam Scarlet told him about his question reward he smiled and bowed in his seat to her"Thank you madam I promise not to waste them or the knowledge I gain from their answers..

Leaning back in her chair Scara crossed on leg over the other and thoughtfully curled her tail in the air. Good, for now the book will be safe then. Best they all think it's rubbish, we'll still have to do something about it before one of "them" catches wind though. Propping her chin on her hand she stared into the fire as she thought for a while. Her thinking was interrupted by the quiet rumble of her stomach. I think it's time we had something to eat, while breakfast was hearty the events of today has long burned that off for both of us. Smirking she rose and entered her "kitchen".

Going through her cupboards she tried to decide what would be good. I think some bloody entrails with flesh balls would be a tasty meal. She pulled out a large pot, filled it with water and set it on the stove. Carefully directing a tendril of flame under the pot she got a small fire going to boil the water. After adding some salt to it she rummaged around her icebox looking for some meat. Once she found what she was looking for she placed the balls on a pan and slid them into the oven to bake. A few minutes later the water began to boil and she dumped a box of "dried entrails" into the water. Once those got going she pulled down a jar full of a deep red sauce and poured it into a second pan and put it over a small flame on the stove so it would heat. Turning she looked at Koji Please set the table again while I finish cooking. Knowing he would she turned back to the stove to stir the sauce.

Slightly entranced by the fire Koji didn't notice Madam Scarlet had gotten up and started to cook a meal until she spoke to him

Please set the table again while I finish cooking.

Getting out of his seat quickly Koji moved to the kitchen cubboards "Of course madam" remembering where everything was wasn't too hard for him and he was able to set the table quickly so it'd be ready for the both of them When Scarlet was finished cooking "The table is ready for when you're done Madam Scarlet, do you need to have me do anything else?" Koji stood still awaiting any instructions. His mind was buzzing with the facts he'd just learned about he book. and he had 4 questions to ask when he thought of any. One was forming in his head but wasn't quite worded well enough for him to ask it yet.

Scara looked back over her shoulder at the table, once again he had set it up efficiently. That will do it for now, the food is almost done. She answered before turning her head back around to look at the pot she checked the "entrails", they were done. After straining them she placed them in a bowl with some serving utensils. With those done she placed the sauce in a large dish that looked similar to a gravy bowl and pulled the meatballs out of the oven and placed them on a plate.

With everything served up she placed the dishes on the table and grabbed two bottles of the orange colored juice from the fridge. Popping the tops off each, careful to make sure they didn't drip foam on the floor, she set one at each plate. Pulling out her chair she sat down and placed her napkin on her lap. Looking up she gestured for Koji to be seated as well.

At Madam Scarlet's gesture for him to join her Koji sat down and grabbed a napkin for his lap. Looking across the table at the food he waited for Madam Scarlet to begin eating before he served himself. The orange colored juice was delicious and so he had to make sure he didn't chug it and look like a slob, when it came to food he again served himself everything there was that was offered despite the entrails being part of the meal he had to eat and whatever he was offered, he would eat if he didn't...we'll he'd just have to go hungry and be rude and he wouldn't want to do that.

While he ate he thought about how to ask his next question stopping to wipe his mouth of the sauce before asking."Madam Scarlet?...in consideration of our previous conversation about me staying willfully and how that would require me to learn about customs and traditions may I ask to be taught lessons as an occasional reward instead of earning questions?....for example my questions have been concerning what i can observe like the mixing of different races in towns, but I cannot read or understand the runes or languages here..except of course when English is spoken, and i believe lessons in this matter would be more beneficial than constant questions." Koji felt he was making a bit of a leap with this question/request but he also didn't think it was too large of a leap any more, and so readied himself for Madam Scarlet's response

((Btw, the "entrails" are Linguine noodles. It was just what they called them. :XD ))

Scara watched as Koji tentatively dug into his dish. She chuckled to herself as she watched his face change as ate and drank the juice. She noticed he had a hard time putting it down, and then remembered it did have that effect on humans. While eating she contemplated what to have him do next and figured that working on making his room more presentable wouldn't be a bad idea. It would give her time to write the report which had to be done before sundown lest she be considered negligent.

She looked up in curiosity when Koji stopped eating for a moment. He must've come up with another question. I didn't think it would take him long. she thought as she listened to what he had to say. She had to work hard to control the smile that wanted to spread across her face. She wasn't sure why but she was pleased he was being forward and wanting to expand his knowledge even more. There is something different about this one... she thought as she put on a slight show of thinking it over. Very well. I deem that will be fitting. If you are to branch out on your own one day you will need to understand demonic tongue. Obviously we all speak what is known as "Common" which you refer to as English, however each race has it's own writings. I will only be able to school you in the demonic.

[[lol ok]]

"Thank you Madam Scarlet I will gratefully learn whatever you will teach me" Koji bowed in thanks at his chair and continued to finish his food. Upon closer inspection what he thought to be entrails were actually Pasta. Apparently his mind was playing tricks on him after the brief almost scuffle in town. When he'd finished he excused himself from his seat and got up and started taking the dishes away waiting for approval from Madam Scarlet to say she was done before he took her plate.

When he was done gathering the plates he began to clean all the dishes Madam Scarlet hadn't asked him to but it was a chore he was used to doing...Hopefully Madam Scarlet didn't mind since he was doing the dishes instead of just getting up from the table and leaving. She knew as well as he that all she had to do was say the word and he'd stop and do some other task.

Nodding her head to Koji she finished eating, laughing in her head as she saw him realize the entrails were not in fact real entrails. Once she was done she signaled to Koji to go ahead and take her plate and put the food away. Standing she stretched and walked over to look out the window to the back yard. I've never thought to teach someone our language before, this should be interesting... Seeing nothing amiss she walked over to her desk to begin the report.

Sitting down she pulled out some leather skin used for special messages and began her account of being in town. Tracing her finger over the letter she used her powers to burn the runes into the skin. She omitted some facts and changed a few around so it would seem like a "normal" thing to happen. She made sure to account how he had mouthed off to her and his family's sigil which he had been wearing around his neck. She also added in that it looked to be a crest of honor and his actions proved he should be stripped of such. Once the letter was written she walked over to the fireplace, pulling down a special jar there she tossed some of the powder within into the flames and watched as they turned purple. Once they were the right shade she tossed her report in and knew the squad would get it shortly.

A flash of purple light drew Koji's attention away from the last few dishes he was working on. As he paused he wondered what was happening for a while, but returned to the dishes as the color faded away. He quickly finished his task putting the now clean dishes away and making sure no other messes were in the kitchen. Satisfied with his work he grabbed a towel with a slight whoosh from the towel as he began to dry his hands

As he put the towel back a slight yawn escaped his mouth. I guess i'm more tired than i thought... covernig his mouth more after the yawn than during or before he turned to Madam Scarlet "Madam Scarlet.. I'm done in the kitchen is there something you need me to do somewhere else?"

Staring into the fire Scarlet sincerely hoped the squad would think nothing much of her report and just strip the demon of his honor and make him work to earn it back. However, should her parents catch wind the next thing she'd know is they would be visiting. Sighing she shook her head and looked up when she heard a soft sound from the kitchen, glancing over she caught Koji in the middle of a yawn. Smirking she quickly looked back at the fire before he turned and saw her watching him.

When he inquired about more to do she turned to face him, half her face being illuminated by the fire. "No, today was a long day and you should rest as there will be much to be done tomorrow." With that she strode over and sat down in her chair, back to where Koji was standing. She'd have to figure out how to teach him her language, it would be a touch difficult as he was no demon and couldn't learn it the same as she. Not only did she write each symbol but felt them in a way as well. Deep in thought she rested her elbow on the chair and propped her head in her hand, the fire outlining her profile.

Koji waited a bit after being dismissed before bowing to Madam Scarlet "Thank you Madam Scarlet" He didn't need to add if she wanted him for her to come get him, she would if she needed him. So he slowly turned and went into his room climbing under his cover and quickly falling asleep.

Koji's dreams weren't pleasant to say the least. He kept dreaming about the fight in the square. It all happened how he remembered but it was a bit more..sinister. He wasn't able to move he just had to watch as the ice demon walked toward him the jagged ice shard in hand Koji looked around, but unlike what happened Madam Scarlet wasn't there to stop the demon and Koji had to watch as the shard rushed to his chest...

Koji woke with a start in a cold sweat the cover thrown off his bed. After checking his chest to make sure he was ok, Koji closed his eyes and calmed down. A slit of dawn's light allowed him the realization that he'd slept through the night and wouldn't have to go back to sleep,so he laid back and rested...He was wide awake.. but he was able to rest...