Archive of Our Own

Ameri still couldn't wrap her head around it. Everything had gone well, suspiciously too well. After her father's story of how he'd met her mother, with the sad epilogue that followed, Ameri had overcome all doubt and uncertainty. She had to act now, before some other demon-no, before the Netherworld took Iruma away from her. And so she'd followed the declaration, which Iruma had accepted and reciprocated. Their faces had both turned so red and incandescent they could have rivaled the flames of Asmodeus. Things had happened, including the revelation to the boy that demon-human couples had preceded them in the Netherworld, and other things had led them to this point.

Yes, one of the most important hurdles a demon must take into account when deciding to romantically date a human: the moment of intimacy. Ameri blinked again, her eyes fixed on the ceiling of her bedroom. It all seemed like a dream, but in reality it was all real. The warmth of the body to her left testified to this. Iruma was in the exact same position: covered up to his collarbones with the covers of her bed, only his arms uncovered and held parallel to his sides, his stunned gaze fixed on the ceiling, deathly silence and so many thoughts swirling in his mind.

Ameri couldn't bear that silence any longer. "Iruma, are you okay?" she asked, turning her head toward the blue haired boy. "I-I am fine, don't worry! And you? Are you okay, Ameri-san?" Iruma asked with a note of concern, propping himself up on one elbow and looking at her face. Ameri blushed at the sight of Iruma's bare chest, the same chest she had been hugging her own until moments before, as they pursued a shared pleasure.

Ameri began to have a thousand unanswered questions. Now that she officially knew of Iruma's human nature, would things between them change? How could they contain the Demon Border Patrol led by her father, to prevent Iruma from being sent back to his own world sooner or later? Pureblood or not, Ameri was an Azazel. She would fight even against all the demons of the Netherworld to keep Iruma safe. No one would have the right to interfere in their relationship.

The red haired demoness smiled and replied, "I'm fine. I've never felt better before". Iruma blushed at that answer and lay back on his back. A small thud came from the back of his head landing on one of the many pillows the demoness used to make her bed comfortable. "It was... different, but... yes, it's the same for me" the blue haired boy confessed, his eyes on the ceiling of the girl's room.

It was Ameri's turn to get up from the bed, shocked by that statement. "What are you talking about, Iruma?! Have you slept with someone else before me?!" she asked, halfway between shock and a wave of unstoppable jealousy. The young human looked at her for a moment, the blush on his face spreading to the rounded tips of his ears and his neck. Ameri hadn't noticed that she was now the one with her chest uncovered. Iruma covered his face with his hands, with a modesty that Ameri found adorable and cute, and replied, "N-No! Never! I mean... I took some sex ed classes in middle school, and it was... different. Maybe I missed some important classes because I didn't understand... what's different?"

Ameri tilted her head slightly, surprised, and the movement caused a strand of hair to slide down one of her exposed breasts. "Sex ed? What's that subject about? Is that a human thing?" she asked, genuinely curious. Iruma let out a whimper of embarrassment, rolled onto his left side, and curled up, his face still covered by his hands. The demoness smiled, deciding not to press the matter... for now. Ameri positioned herself on top of the young human, her hands resting on either side of Iruma's head. She lowered her head until her mouth was inches from his right ear, and asked in a low, soothing voice, "How about a review, to see what's different?"

Ameri felt embarrassed by her own impudence and the embarrassment of that statement. Contrary to her expectations, Iruma turned his head toward her and removed his hands from his face. His cheeks flushed, his eyes shining, his lips parted so innocently and invitingly at the same time, his body turning completely toward her. Ameri couldn't resist it all. As Iruma wrapped his arms around her neck, she lowered the blanket covering his small body. A good review helped practice, after all.

…

The days passed, and the new couple couldn't have been happier. Iruma was happy not to have to keep that secret from her anymore, just as he had finally put a name to his feelings for the demoness. Ameri, for her part, was happy to have achieved the first part of her ambition: becoming a couple with Iruma. The second part was to remain one forever.

If she had already observed Iruma often before, now he was constantly at the center of her thoughts and gaze. When she was in the Student Council room, she would often look out the window with feigned nonchalance to look for him, often finding Iruma in the company of Asmodeus and Clara, occasionally with other Misfits or teachers. They texted frequently, to the point that Ameri would end up going to sleep with her Hellphone still in her hand, a goodnight message from Iruma lighting up the screen. Fleeting hugs and quick kisses had become the new normal for them, a kind of challenge whose forbidden flavor made things even more exciting. Azazel Ameri was a demoness who had chosen, pursued, and successfully captured her partner.

Nothing would change her mind. Not even what happened a few weeks later.

The symptoms, at first, went almost unnoticed. Iruma found himself increasingly nauseous, especially in the morning upon awakening. He tried to clear the plates Opera served him so as not to waste food, but over time it became increasingly difficult. Fish, in particular, had become completely indigestible and therefore unpleasant. Fatigue became a constant throughout Iruma's days. Even after the most peaceful night, even after the short naps he took here and there, earning the Misfits the nickname "Slightly taller Agares".

Iruma was plagued by a strong sense of tiredness and fatigue. Sullivan and Opera were concerned by the boy's strange behavior, as well as the mood swings he seemed to be subject to out of nowhere. Iruma, despite his attempts to reassure the two guardians, found himself confined to bed for a couple of days, resting an absolute and imperative command. He felt a little uncomfortable for having caused so much concern, and passed the time texting Ameri, Asmodeus, and Clara, staying in touch with the Misfits, and playing on his portable console. He didn't actually spend all his time in bed. Iruma got up frequently, both to eat during the day with Sullivan and Opera, but much more often to go to the bathroom. He began to feel an increasingly frequent need to urinate, getting up several times, even in the middle of the night, constantly followed and monitored by the hellkittens.

While Iruma had initially dismissed the symptoms as minor or fleeting, over time his guardians' concern infected him. Something was indeed strange about him lately, but he didn't have the knowledge to figure out what it could be. So he turned to the only demon he could think of.

"I'm sorry to admit it, but I have no idea" Balam confessed sadly, as Iruma put on the top of his school uniform. Teacher and student were in the Netherworld History Prep room, having recently finished one of the young human's routine health checks. "You have no fever, nor do you show any symptoms of poisoning or intoxication that could explain the nausea" the gargoyle summarized, looking at the notes he'd just taken. "I could explain the tiredness with this year's class schedule. You're already halfway through your second year, even demon students feel tired from the spells they're learning. And... you say you go to the bathroom often?"

Iruma nodded, his fingers closing his shirt jacket, and replied, "Yes, every half hour or so. It's never happened to me, not even when I had colitis. Plus, I smell... stronger, shall we say? I mean, now I can smell the cafeteria special of the day even from Royal One! Today it's devi curry!" Balam nodded absently, confirming that it was the cafeteria special. He added this new mystery to the list of those present, no hypothesis looming on the horizon.

"If only I had a human medicine manual..." he muttered, holding his iron mask in one hand thoughtfully. Iruma's face lit up and he jumped up from his chair. "I know where to look! Balam-sensei, I'll be right back!" Before the teacher could reply, Iruma ran out of the room.

"What volume are you looking for, Iruma?" asked Ameri, surprised by the young human's request far more than by his unexpected visit. The blue haired boy stood in front of the secret bookcase in the Student Council room, where the collection of forbidden books called "Hatsukoi Memories" was hidden. Iruma mentally recapped the plot and events from volume to volume, even though he wasn't up to date on many of the latest volumes.

"I'm looking for the arc where Kakeru gets sick, when Rin goes to visit him at home!" the blue haired boy explained, then picked up a particular volume and began leafing through it. Ameri, from behind him, leaned slightly to look at the pages. In that part of the story, after a failed attempt to poison Rin by her romantic rival, which resulted in Kakeru becoming ill, Rin went to visit him at his house to take care of the boy. Ameri still didn't know the meaning of the balloons, since Iruma hadn't read them aloud yet, but she had always been moved by the manga protagonist's dedication and care for a sick boy.

Her gaze shifted from the manga to the young human who continued to leaf through it, muttering incoherent remarks under his breath. "Iruma" the demoness stated, placing a hand on his back. "Are you feeling okay? Your complexion isn't great". The blue haired boy smiled and nodded, but she didn't believe him. Ameri took a quick breath of courage and grabbed him with her hips, lifting him off the ground and placing him in her Student Council President chair. The demoness knelt before him, so she could look him straight in the eye at the same level.

Her hands rested on the young human's sides, on the armrests, as she said, "You've seemed... different for a while now. Your scent, your real scent, has been changing. I can smell it when you don't use cologne. And it seems like you're not getting a good night's sleep. If there's anything troubling you, talk to me. With me by your side, there's nothing that can harm you". Iruma blushed and looked down at the manga he held in his hands. "Thank you so much, Ameri-san. But it's nothing, really. Probably some illness I've contracted, but it's different from others I've experienced, so... I thought I'd look here" he explained. The news, instead of reassuring the demoness, only increased her concern. "Are you ill?! This is serious! We need to find the source right away so we can think of a cure!" she exclaimed.

Iruma was about to repeat his reassurances when he suddenly covered his mouth with his left hand. His right hand released the manga he was holding, letting it fall to his thighs and clutching his stomach. Ameri jumped up. "What's wrong, Iruma?!" she asked, concern leaking into her alarmed voice. "The nausea... is a little more... stronger..." the young human managed, hunching over. Ameri acted quickly. She removed the manga from the boy's thighs, placing it on the desk, and at the same time took the wastebasket from under the desk and placed it in his hands. The demoness turned her head out of respect for him as Iruma dumped that morning's breakfast into the wastebasket.

When Iruma was finished, Ameri took the wastebasket from him and helped him tidy up. "I'll help you find a solution. You're not alone, Iruma" she promised, determined to see him well again. Iruma, further weakened by the vomiting, nodded wearily. Ameri took him to the infirmary to give him a place to lie down and rest, then went to inform Sullivan of the situation. The old demon quickly showed his own deep concern, and, followed by his faithful Security Devil, hurried to his grandson and took him home early so he could rest in his own bed.

The episode, unfortunately, wasn't an isolated one. Some days Iruma felt almost normal, while others he felt like a wreck. Nausea became a rollercoaster he tried to navigate throughout the day, and fatigue became an invisible blanket that clung to him perpetually. Ironically, despite his stomach acting up more and more frequently, Iruma noticed that he had gained inches on his belly. A couple of months after the onset of symptoms, he discovered that his pants, which normally fit perfectly, were increasingly tight. After some hesitation, he decided to mention it to Balam.

Iruma expected to be questioned about his eating habits, but Balam didn't act that way at all. After asking him to lift his school uniform just enough to expose his hips, the gargoyle fingered his iron mask with concern. Iruma chuckled when the teacher felt his stomach with gloved fingers, as if trying to probe for visceral fat. Balam's brows were furrowed, a worried expression on his forehead.

"Iruma-kun," Balam asked, his eyes fixed on the boy's exposed belly. "My knowledge of humans is too limited to allow me to speculate further. I apologize for the sensitivity of such an intimate question, but I must ask: are you biologically a girl?" Iruma tilted his head, confused. "No…? I'm a boy" he stated, puzzled by the question. Balam pressed the matter further. "There's nothing to worry about, Iruma-kun. There are many demons in the Netherworld whose birth gender doesn't match their actual gender. You don't have to feel bad about yourself or anything". Iruma shook his head and gave the teacher a sympathetic smile. "Good to know, but that's not the case with me. I'm a boy. I have... everything, that's all" he replied.

Balam seemed troubled by this response, finding no reassurance in the boy's words. "As fascinating as it is, it goes against everything you've told me so far," muttered the gargoyle behind the mask, then asked, "Iruma-kun, do you happen to have a significant other?" Iruma blushed and lowered his gaze, then muttered, "Yeah..." Balam didn't need any further confirmation. He took out his hellphone and quickly typed a message. "I'm more or less clear on what might be ailing you, but I need a few more details to make sure I'm not mistaken. While we wait, can I check your belly again?" Iruma nodded, his belly still exposed, and let him. The young human hadn't understood what they were waiting for. The answer came a couple of minutes later, with a polite knock on the door.

"Come in" Balam said, and the door opened. Opera appeared behind it, their usual neutral expression on their face and a package in their hands. "Balam-kun, I understand from the message I received that you've lost your famously high resistance to alcohol. I don't think it's appropriate for you to drink on duty, but I'm inclined to turn a blind eye this time because it's you" the cat demon exclaimed, approaching the two.

Balam slowly shook his head and told them, "I'm not drunk, Opera-senpai. I meant what I wrote. By Netherworld law, I need the consent of at least one of Iruma-kun’s guardians to proceed with this exam". The gargoyle took the box from a startled Opera and handed it to Iruma, who had meanwhile adjusted his clothes. "There's a bathroom for students right next to this room, it's on the left. You'll find the instructions in the leaflet, but if there's anything you don't understand, please let us know and we'll help you" the teacher explained.

Iruma looked at the box in his hands and read the name of the product. "Balam-sensei, I'm afraid I don't understand..." Iruma stated, confused and shocked. "You don't have to be afraid. We need this to understand or rule out this possibility. Because the other possibility I have in mind is a worm infestation. I honestly don't know which is worse" the gargoyle replied, while Opera regained control of their tongue. "Iruma-sama has never eaten anything that could cause worm infestation in his stomach" they stated. Iruma flinched and, with his head down, quickly left the room, lest the two demons start questioning him about his past.

The two demons exchanged a meaningful look in the silence that hung in the room. Iruma returned after a couple of minutes, apologizing for the wait. He showed the two demons the white stick with the blue cap. Opera paled visibly, their feline tail stiffened with the tip pointing downward, and their feline ears stiffened upward in shock. Balam looked at the symbol that appeared on the side of the stick, consulted the package insert three times, and said in a flat voice, "Well. It looks like you're pregnant, Iruma-kun"

The blue haired boy felt a wave of shock that made him feel as if the ground were disappearing from under him. "W-What?! I'm a boy! I'm serious! I can't be p-pregnant!" he exclaimed, gesturing in agitation. Balam ran a hand over his face as he said, "In a normal context, as normal as it can be to learn of a human's presence in the Netherworld, I would have been thrilled. Firsthand information on human reproduction and birth is invaluable to my studies of humans. But this is about you, Iruma-kun, so I honestly don't know how to feel"

"I support Iruma-sama's position. He can't be pregnant" Opera stated, casting a cold gaze at the pregnancy test Balam held in his hand. The gargoyle turned to Iruma and asked, "You said you have a partner. Have you two gotten to know each other intimately lately?" The blue haired boy looked away, embarrassed by the topic and unable to broach it in front of Opera. He began gesticulating and pacing around the issue, muttering incoherent phrases, but Balam stopped him. He placed a hand on the student’s shoulder and, looking him in the eye, asked, "You didn't use protection, did you?"

Iruma was red as a tomato, ashamed of discussing his private life, his intimacy with Ameri, in front of a teacher and one of his two guardians, whose face was losing color as the discussion went on. Iruma nodded and said in a low voice, "Yes, she used a... protective spell? I've never heard of it before, I'm not sure how things work here..." Opera intervened, placing a hand on the boy's other shoulder. "You don't need to worry, Iruma-sama. Perhaps the spell was reversed? Or it was cast incorrectly"

Balam shook his head at that possibility. "No, that's not possible. A contraceptive spell can't work like a mirror. If it's poorly cast, it's simply ineffective. I have another hypothesis". The gargoyle removed his hand from Iruma's shoulder and covered the boy's stomach with his palm over his school uniform. "It's just a hypothesis, but..." he said thoughtfully, "Perhaps the reproductive genes of humans are weaker than those of demons. If that were the case, any human, regardless of gender, would be able to sustain a pregnancy, regardless of the gender of the demon with whom they form an intimate relationship"

Iruma didn't know what to think. Like the demons present, he was unaware of the biological rules governing the relationships between humans and demons. But he did know one thing, and he knew he had to act quickly. "Before I make a decision on what to do from now on" he stated, alternating his gaze between Balam and Opera, "I need to inform someone. Ameri-san has the right to know that I'm carrying our child. And we need to decide if we'll be capable of being good parents"

…

A demonic screech echoed from the upper floors of the Demon Border Patrol headquarters. It was the dead of night, and the demons still on duty wondered which demon had been tortured so horribly that it screamed like that. The screech seemed to be coming from the halls of the great leaders, so no one dared to pry into the matter.

The next morning, Azazel Henry revealed himself to Babyls. He once again donned anti-detection glasses, thus advancing unnoticed towards a very specific destination. The demon found his target there, in the corridors of Babyls. Iruma was strangely alone, walking in a direction that inevitably led to the Student Council room.

"Iruma," the red haired demon called, removing his anti-detection glasses and putting on his usual glasses, resting in his jacket pocket. "Oh! Hello, Henry-san! What brings you here?" the blue haired boy greeted him, smiling with his usual innocent air. Henry stopped so close to him that he was practically breathing on his ahoge. The demon grabbed him by the shoulders, spun him around, then around again, lowered his head to look closely at his belly, then straightened up and spun him around a third time. "Great. Nothing… yet" the demon muttered to himself.

Iruma felt his head spin, confused and shaken by the three gyrations. Henry then moved his hands from the young human's shoulders and placed them on his hips. Iruma couldn't help but gasp in surprise at the sudden contact. "W-What...?" he asked, feeling uncomfortable but unable to ask further. Henry muttered what seemed to be an incantation, because at the end of it, a glowing purple belt appeared around Iruma's hips. Iruma, surprised and intrigued, tried to touch it. It was intangible but very present. Above all, since he couldn't touch it, there was no way to remove it. "What is this, Henry-san?" the young human asked, curious, turning slightly to better observe the magical belt.

Henry adjusted his glasses for a moment and replied, "A chastity belt. It will activate as soon as Ameri comes within six meters of you, creating an impenetrable barrier. It bears the seal of the Demon Border Patrol, and you cannot remove it without my permission. Stay away from my daughter"

Iruma was shocked, his mouth open in shock. "A c-chastity belt?! But Henry-san, Ameri-san and I aren't-!" he tried to justify himself, but it was useless. Henry changed his glasses again and stated, "You won't be, not now, not ever. I won't let you ruin Ameri's beautiful future with an unexpected pregnancy from you. Have a good day at school, Iruma"

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving poor Iruma standing there, more confused than convinced. Azazel Henry had a new ambition, one that was inherent in protecting his daughter: to prevent her from giving him a grandchild before she was 130 years old.

THE END