"P-Power? What are you talking about?" Elariel tried to dodge the question as Akagi held her chin. "Halifax has lots of different kinds of forms. Perhaps you're simply unfamiliar with them, so get your hand off me."

"Cute that you think you'll be able to talk your way out of this one." Akagi said as she moved her hand from Elariel's face. "But sadly for you, I'm really good at seeing through other people's bullshit, especially Gods." She smirked. "And right now, I can tell that you're afraid."

{Even the Divine can feel fear. I suppose that answers one question.} (Akagi)

"What would I possibly be afraid of?" Elariel asked, the fear in question clearly audible in her voice and visible on her face.

"Me finding out whatever the hell is going on with our favorite Divine Blade." Akagi replied as she smacked the wall again. "So how about you tell me why Halifax was using power eerily similar to that of my own." Her eyes bore into the Goddess, whose body was lightly shaking. “Go on, tell me something interesting.”

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Elariel said, turning her head away to avoid looking into Akagi's eyes. "A Divine Blade created by the Gods couldn't have power like that of a Demon Lord. Are you sure that you didn't imagine it? There are many kinds of powers out there and the battlefield was also host to a Arch Devil, so maybe you sensed something from her."

"Oh sure! That must be it!" Akagi smacked her cheek sarcastically and put on a shocked face that was clearly meant to be mockery. "Obviously the Demon Lord couldn't possibly know anything about her own power." She rolled her eyes. "How didn't I, with my infinite kitty brain, posit that I was just wrong?!?"

"You can tone down the sarcasm..." Elariel sighed.

"Sure, but then I'll just have to turn to violence." Akagi gave a scary smile as she gripped the wall and tore through it slightly. "Beating info out of people is always fun!" She said as she balled up her fist and put it against the Goddess' temple. "How about we see if a Goddess can get brain damage? I'd love to know the reprocussions of putting you in a coma."

"Try it, and I'll kill myself." Elariel's words gave Akagi pause and momentarily surprised the Demon.

"You wouldn't be the first person to threaten to do so, and maybe you should recall that I don't exactly care if and how you die." Akagi replied with a scoff. “Your life means nothing to me, God.”

"True, you may care about me as much as I about you, but I know that you care about Halifax, don't you?" Elariel answered, her words seeming to come from a confident smirk but her face remained stoic and flat.

"She'll be upset that I took her kill, but she'll get over it." Akagi retorted nonchalantly. “At most she'll be pissed I took away her ability to play with you.”

"Not if she's dead." Elariel's words sent a jolt through Akagi who grabbed the Goddess by the throat.

"Are you threatening her?" Akagi growled, her words nearly an animalistic hiss. “Don't you fucking dare.”

"N-No, I'm just telling you the consequences... of... killing me..." Elariel gasped for air as Akagi's grip tightened around her throat. “She... She'll die!”

{WHAT?!?} (Akagi)

"You spout nonsense!" Akagi slammed the Goddess against the wall before releasing her. "Don't try and bluff me! I won't allow you to try and talk your way around this!"

"Bluff?" Elariel stammered out the word through a cough. "I can assure you that it's anything but a bluff." She took a breath before continuing. "I created Halifax. She was born from me, and just like the Angels died when you killed the other Gods if I die, she does too."

"So you refuse to answer my question?" Akagi growled. “Is whatever is going on with her so important that you'd risk incurring my wrath?”

"Maybe so, but first and foremost I refuse to give the information you're requesting to a Demon Lord." Elariel hissed back. "I'd rather end my own life and take Halifax with me than tell you more about her.

{Then whatever the hell is going on with Halifax MUST be important. This resistance only makes me more determined to get an answer! Fuck!} (Akagi)

"And what makes you sure that I won't just take that gamble?" Akagi smirked, noting that she'd taken gambles before. "How do you know I won't just kill you even if it does kill her? Why do you assume me unable to do such a thing?"

"I don't know it for certain, but I've seen your interactions these past weeks." Elariel said, standing up to Akagi. "You care for Halifax, and I'm willing to bet that you won't risk losing her if you can help it. I can see it in your eyes, you value her and the idea of her vanishing because of your own action is too much for you. Hence why you've been playing nicer when she's in earshot."

{The two have a connection, one that I MUST use to keep things from spiraling even further out of control. If this Demon Lord learns the truth it will be the end of everything! I will not allow her to erase my Daughter! Not now! Not after everything!} (Elariel)

"You..." Akagi paused as her mind seemed to race through calculations before clicking her tongue in disgust. "[Weakness such as this disgusts me, but so be it.]"

{Hearing that disgusting tongue still disturbs me even thousands of years later. Such a foul language.} (Elariel)

"A coin flip..." Akagi grumbled before cursing under her breath. "So that's what it's come to... And I hate those odds... Oh... How I hate them." She said before ruffling her hair in frustration. "Fine, you win in this instance, God." She said before slamming the Goddess in the stomach with her fist and causing her to double over onto the ground. "But be warned, if whatever you're hiding for me is a threat then I'll end both you and Halifax in an instant

." She hissed before turning back to Yumi. "One more warning. My fondness for an individual has its limits. You get to use that little excuse once. Attempt to use it again to try and control me and not only will I kill you I will drop the facade and I'll turn this entire world into a living hell. There will be no next time, so remember that."After collecting Yumi Akagi left the conference room, leaving Elariel alone and in pain.

{We... Well, it seems it worked...} (Elariel)

"I never... I suppose the connection between the two actually ended up working to my advantage..." Elariel took a deep breath and coughed before slowly getting to her feet, woozie from the Demon's punches. " And I never thought I'd be grateful for it."

{But I need to be careful. If Akagi ever finds out the truth about Halifax... I don't even want to imagine what would become of her. I've put things on hold for the moment but there's still the risk... I need to end things before Halifax and Labrys meet. I don't know how much it is aware of the situation, but if Halifax finds out...} (Elariel)

“She'll disappear forever...” Elariel said, quietly.

_____________________________________________________________________________

*BANG*

"Such a disgusting and irritating woman!" Akagi yelled as she punched one of the corridor walls in, denting it heavily. "And what the hell is wrong with me?!? How could I let my emotions..." She yelled again as she punched the same spot again, putting a hole in the wall.

{I SHOULD'VE JUST KILLED HER AND TAKEN THE CHANCE! WHY THE FUCK WOULD I ALLOW A RISK LIKE THAT?!? WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THAT LOOSE END COMES BACK TO BITE ME?!?}(Akagi)

"Please don't abuse the building, it did nothing wrong." Yumi said as she pat her on the shoulder. “And please calm down.”

"I need to hit something." Akagi replied, her voice returning to normal. "That bitch managed to coerce me by using my friendship with Halifax!" She grit her teeth in anger, mostly at herself rather than the Goddess. "Nobody should be able to do that! I should be more than capable of throwing such attachments away the moment it becomes inconvenient! But here I am, a fucking DEMON LORD who hesitated because she thought a friend might die!"

{I swore that nobody would control or command me again and what did I do?!? I backed the fuck down because someone I've known for a few months could die! Fuck! What the hell is wrong with me?!? How could I be so weak?!? How could I let one life hold so much sway over me?!? Yumi is the only one I should care about in such a manner!}

(Akagi)

"Calm down!" Yumi said as she spun Akagi to face her. "Don't let that idiot Goddess get under your skin! I'd say that's worse than your choice not to call her bluff." She sighed. "Besides, I don't think your hesitancy was a bad thing!"

{I have mixed feelings about the thief but it's clear that you care for her and I'm not going to let you throw that away! Its not right!} (Yumi)

"Hesitating can get people killed! One fuck up could mean that everything I care about is taken from me!" Akagi yelled back. "Allowing my emotions to get in the way-" She was cut off by a kiss from Yumi.

{MEW?!?} (Akagi)

"Stop trying to act like you don't need anyone!" Yumi exclaimed. "Listen! There's nothing wrong with caring for people and it's not a bad thing to be reluctant to cast away bonds with the people who are important to you! If you don't like the idea that those who are important to you can be used against you then why have you forged those relationships with so many people?!? Why did you take us in?!? Why did you become friends with the girls?!? If none of that mattered to you then why did you not just brainwash everyone into being your loyal slave?!?"

"I..." Akagi was slightly stunned, not expecting such a reaction or action from Yumi.

"Listen, you idiot. As much as I love the Demon Lord side of you, I also like your caring side!" Yumi shook her head as she leaned into Akagi's chest. "You make all of us feel at home, and seeing you happily getting along with the others makes me happy. In the past, you were a much more distant person, even with me and the others. So don't you dare go thinking that you need to revert back!" She looked up into the Demon's eyes, a fire burning in her eyes. "Otherwise I will get mad!"

"You really are a pain..." Akagi sighed as she brought Yumi into a tight hug. "But thanks..."

"It's why I'm here." Yumi giggled. "Someone has to be there for you.”

{Otherwise you'd just slink into the darkness...} (Yumi)

"Exactly! Who else would give me as much pets as you?" Akagi laughed. "Though I suppose the emotional support is a nice extra." She continued to laugh before having her arm pinched by the Priestess.

"Are you calmed down now?" Yumi asked her while being hugged. “Did you get it out of your system?”

"Hmmmm." Akagi thought for a moment, a devious smile forming on her lips. "Maybe, but I think I need some spoiling to really get relaxed."

"Of course..." Yumi sighed. "Did you act all dramatic just to get me to play with you?"

"I would never do that!" Akagi protested while both knew full well that she would and had. “Never!”

"Fine..." Yumi rolled her eyes. "But how about instead of just spoiling we go ahead and..." She got on her tiptoes and whispered something into the Demon's ears that made her laugh.

"You really are bad, Yumi." Akagi grinned. “But I like that about you.”

"As I said before, little kitty corrupted me." Yumi winked.

"And as I said before, the internet did that to you, not me." Akagi snickered back before opening a portal into her shadow and pushing the Priestess inside before vanishing herself.