The pain, the confusion, it all rages against his soul as the object of his affection practically vibrates with the hurt of his words. [i]'I do still care for you, it doesn't matter to me!'[/i] He wants to scream his thoughts, to force his hand, to keep Aoba with him no matter what. However, those words, those painful words that dropped so carelessly from the angel's lips only a day ago still dig into his chest, scraping at his wounded spirit and forcing him to test the youth. He can't help it, he [b]needs[/b] to know. He needs to know that Aoba will stay, no matter what, and that these things really don't matter to him. That. . . .That he's happy here with the demon and that it, that [b]he[/b], is enough for his Little Mouse.

Those eyes on his, so much hurt, so much confusion, he wants desperately to wrap the boy up in his grasp and never let go, but as with all things in their relationship, he knows it must be Aoba's choice to walk into that embrace. And all he can do, is hope.

As the tears gather in the young angel's eyes, Kuro's pain redoubles. Despite not having a heart, the part of him that had seen Aoba as family, as someone precious – romance aside – suddenly ruptures and he would swear before his father than no greater pain had been suffered by anyone, demon or human. [i]'He's leaving me. . . .'[/i] Even before Aoba says the words, he can tell. He can see it. The angel is fleeing, leaving the poor, broken demon to his fate, and running back into the light. Kuro keeps his breathing steady, his gaze blank and level. He can't, he won't, let himself influence the angel. It's just not his way. Then, the words drop and all he can do is nod ever so slightly.

Dani desperately wants to do something, say [b]something[/b], but even as this desire thrashes about inside him, he knows that moving now may very well end his live. He doesn't think Kuro knows how much the leash has tightened, but twitching enough to even attempt to tell him that it's too tight is more than he's willing to risk. He looks to Homura, a look of pure confusion crossing his face as he watches the eldest sibling present watching everything closely with an expression he's not sure he's ever seen before on his face.

Not knowing what to think, all the eldest can do is watch. His brother is in pain. Well, both of them are, but one is very much self inflicted. He knows he must protect his family, but Kuro is hurting himself, so what should he do? Should he go after the angel, make him stay? Should he simply kill the priest, would that make it all better? He feels anxious, a need to do something for his dearest baby brother, but as the angel finally confirms his choice the shock of pain from the dark haired mail simply floors the fire bug and all he can do is watch in stunned silence as the only one to speak up on the matter is, of all things, a little low level demon whose pitiful attempt is more sad than anything else.

[i]”I-I trusted you.”[/i]

The words are like spears to his chest, but Kuro does not flinch. He's gone too far, nothing is left but to see his decision through. He barely hears Aoba verbally signing the farm over to him, but as Aoba vanishes from view the cloud before his eyes clears and he finds his feet bringing him to the barn door. He watches, tears hiding just out of sight behind his red gaze, as Aoba climbs into the priest's truck and in a cloud of gravel dust, he's gone.

~*~*~*~*~

Of all things he expected to happen today, this was something Fenrir never saw coming. He is stunned, and for more reasons that he can even fathom. He knows that leaving the demons is a good thing, morally, but as he watches the farm vanish from view he feels the urge to scream that the little angel needs to go back, to force Kuro to speak, to tell him why he said the things he did. That urge is countered by the relief that maybe, some day, he will see the boy in person again. If he can get clean, if he can properly repent, he can return, but at the same time, he knows there is no way Aoba will survive away from his protectors. [i]'He will die without the demons, but without leaving them, he can never return. It's. . . .It's just not right. It's not fair. . . .'[/i] He starts as a drop appears on the mirror and moves to absentmindedly wipe it away. His hand freezes midway though and with inexplicably trembling fingers he reaches up and finds his cheeks damp. 

“Damn.” he murmurs, rubbing his cheeks furiously, irrationally angry at the idea of crying over what he'd just witnessed. [i]'Yeah, he's hurt, but at least he's away from the demons now. . .It's not like I was feeling bad for. . . .'[/i] Shaking his head furiously he covers the mirror. No, he can't, he simply can not have been feeling anything for. . . .For. . . .'[/i]

~*~*~*~*~

Kuro lets out a shuddering breath and the leash and collar around Dani loosens, finally letting the red head speak. Kuro doesn't hear his words, he can't hear them. He does look over when the pitch changes and he notes vaguely that Dani is small again, but as he slips out of the barn the words remain simply vague background noise. He walks slowly around the yard, checking on the animals, watching them act In more agitation than usual. With the angel gone, the demonic presence has risen and instinctually they don't like it. Once he's sure they are alright he moves off to the field and begins weeding. It isn't until he's half way through that he notices he's being watched.

Kyou had followed the youngest son out of the barn, wanting to ask him just a few things before following the angel to wherever he's gone, but as he watched he realized that there's nothing he can really get out of the broken beast. [i]'He is broken. . . Completely. There's nothing left in there. I can't. . . I don't get it. I thought the children of Satan could not experience heartbreak?'[/i] He whines softly as Kuro looks at him and his headwings beat gently as he notices a faint spark in Kuro's eyes.

The lesser demon shies back as the dark haired male approaches, going into a stance just short of cowering as Kuro stops just short of him. “Come with me.” The words are soft, but Kyou lets out a soft 'eep' anyways before following Kuro back into the field. He moves along quietly and feels suddenly stunned as Kuro begins explaining about weeding, watering, and other basic plant care. The seedlings are now past their baby stage, well on the way to actually looking like the plants they will grow into, and as Kuro explains to be careful it dawn on the little demon why he's telling him these things.

“Y-You're g-going after him.” he says hesitantly to Kuro, keeping his eyes down and mimicking his movements. It's not a question, he's sure he's right, but the nod from the dark haired male send a thrill through him none the less. “Y-You want m-me to take c-care of the f-farm while y-you're away?” This time it is a question and when Kuro looks at him, he cowers away ever so slightly, fearing that he'd get smacked for asking a stupid question.

“Only the field. . . .” The words are soft, murmured in that same calm way he'd ordered the smaller demon to follow him into the field, but Kyou still swallows hard in fear at being addressed by one in such a state. Those in intense pain are unpredictable, and he rather likes continuing to draw breath. He jumps ever so slightly as Kuro goes on, his blood pumping furiously as Kuro reveals his thoughts. “I will not force him back. . . .” he says, pulling a few more weeds as he talks, the hollow look in his eyes almost more frightening than anything he's seen from the demon thus far. “But, I made a promise. I promised to protect him, no matter what, even if he ordered me away, I swore from the beginning I would stick around, just out of sight and keep him safe. . . .And I keep to my promises. . .”

Kyou nods, swallowing again as he asks softly, “W-Why?”

Kuro shakes his head. “Not now Kyou.” He spots the little demon nodding furiously out of the corner of his eye and quietly fills him in on the rest of the plant care, saying eh would stop back in periodically with more instruction and to make sure his orders are being followed. He makes it clear there is no limit on the order and that he expects to find Kyou here each and every time he comes before finally leaving the field to him and heading to the barn.

There he finds Homura propped up against a pillar, Dani surprisingly silent settled on a post with his wings wrapped around him, his brow furrowed in contemplation. When he spots his brother enter however the little red head jumps down and opens his mouth to begin yelling again. However all that comes out is a gagging noise as Kuro silences him, having his own words to say and no time to spare. “Dani, take care of the animals. I know you know how to do it. Take care of them as you have seen Aoba,” his voice chokes slightly on the name, but he rushes on. “and I do so. Keep them alive. Keep them healthy. I am following him. I will not let him die.” Dani flashes his teeth, obviously wanting to go with, but Kuro shakes his head. “No, I will go alone. I will return once a week so you can feed, but other than that, I don't want you leaving the grounds.”

He waves vaguely behind him towards the field. “I have Kyou taking care of the field, the two of you are not to fight ever, for any reason. He has his job, you have yours, and you two will do them.” His firm, calm voice drops a bit as he looks at the ground, Dani's collar loosening. “I do not hold out any hope that he will ever come back, but just in case he does, this place will be here for him.” He looks up at Dani, the pain and darkness in his eyes working to silence the hot headed youth for at least a little longer. “I need this of you Dani. This, is what I need. . . .”

Dani growls, letting out an unearthly howl before kicking a stone clear through the hole in the roof and settling in to get out all of his cursing. When at last he's cussed himself out he flops down on the floor in a pout position and mutters, “Fine.”

With Dani's word in place Kuro turns to the final person on the grounds to address however Homura simply holds up a hand and shakes his head. Walking carefully over to his littlest brother he nuzzles the larger male and lets out a soft sigh. “You've always been the weird one Little Black Storm Cloud, and this is no different.” Giving Kuro a gentle kiss, and Dani a wave, he vanishes back off into hell without another word, the cracking flames left in his wake going out quickly in the dirt.

With a sigh, he gives Dani a hug - unable to go without at least some form of contact from his only remaining family in his time of need – and without looking back the steps out of the barn and takes to the air, his massive black wings taking him quickly out of sight of the only place he's ever really thought of as home in his long, empty life. [i]'Empty, until him. . .And now empty again. . .'[/i] Biting his lip from the pain, now resting beneath all the layers of control he can summon, he takes up a position high, high above the truck as to not alert either of them of his presence as he follows the most precious person in all the worlds to him towards the place the angel will soon call his new home, leaving behind everything Kuro offered, by choice, and where he will one day take up the mantle that will bring him back to a home that will never understand his odd Little Mouse.