dominion

2010

The devil is single. What a shame.

"So, did you call him?"

Satoru whoops loudly, causing Shoko to wince, gathering spectators' attention and startling Megumi and Tsumiki badly. She places her hands around her mouth and shouts, "Atta girls! Find your balance, control your speed, move your skates in a 'V' formation, and don't be afraid to fall!"

Tsumiki gives a thumbs up, wobbles violently, and falls on her bottom. She winces but calls out assuringly, "I'm okay!"

Megumi scowls and flips Satoru off. 

Tsumiki gasps audibly and rebukes her, "Megumi, put it down!"

Megumi uses both hands to flip them off and slowly skates a circle around her seated sister. 

Satoru cackles. 

Shoko shakes her head; whoever planted the idea that Satoru would be a decent guardian needs to be poisoned, healed, and poisoned again. It's a child raising children, but who else do they have? A system that would place them in an orphanage. A mother whose family disowned their daughter and a father whose family would see them separated at best and at worst, Shoko doesn't want to think about the worst-case scenario. 

"Who are you talking about?" Satoru questions and claps her hands when Tsumiki gets to her feet and gives chase to her wayward sister. "Get her, Miki-chan!"

They wobble and flail along the pavement on shaky legs and uncertain skate-covered feet.

"The cute omega we met last week."

"Whomst!? Faster, Megu-chan, faster, she's catching up to you!"

"The boy with orange hair, pierced lip, and gauges," Shoko describes.

"Oh," Satoru utters boredly. "No, I didn't," She continues and suddenly waves her hands wildly, "Not that way! Go the other way!" Her voice is full of whimsy as she responds, "but Mitsugu said an unknown number kept calling my third phone. That's probably him."

Shoko has no idea who Mitsugu is, nor was she aware Satoru had more than two phones. She is slightly disappointed her friend didn't follow up after flirting outrageously with the omega. Satoru deserves someone in her corner, it makes her wonder if what she secretly suspected remains true. Satoru still carries a torch for Suguru, which would make both of them fools for someone who left them behind. 

"I thought he was your type."

Satoru immediately shakes her head, "Nah, he's cute, but not up my alley."

"Well, that's a shame," Shoko wavers on her skates, and Satoru steadies her. "You managed to make Utahime jealous after you teased her."

Satoru wrinkles her nose, "I flirt with Utahime to make Mei jealous; it's a win-win scenario. Utahime gets her ego stroked, Mei gets a fire lit under her ass, and I get entertained. Actually," She taps her lips. "I'm putting in more labor; I deserve recompensation!"

"What about Nanami?"

"Blech!" Satoru's face screws up in circature of disgust. "He's like a brother, and I doubt he'd date another alpha!"

"What about the dates your mother and the matchmaker," Shoko can't believe she's saying this; it seems so antiquated, but it's a tradition still observed by many. "Lined up for you?"

"Shoko, why the sudden interest in my love life? Are you dating someone, hm?" A sliver of blue appears above the horizon of her sunglasses. She raises a brow, and expectation paints her features.

"Yes," She confesses, she might wonder at the past, but she does not live in it.

Satoru gasp loudly and twirls on one leg, "Shoko! You've been holding out on me! How could you!?"

"It's new," she allows the happiness and contentment she's settled in to imbue her voice, her smile, her countenance.

"So you want to spread the new relationship bliss?" Satoru astutely observes.

"Of course," Shoko says shamelessly.

"I'm happy for you," Satoru says sincerely, "but I'm good. There's no rest for the wicked, and I'm busy!"

"You should have someone in your corner," Shoko argues.

Satoru waves her away, "Why would I need anyone when I have my friends and family?"

"You know what I mean."

"I do, I thought I had someone. We both did," Satoru alludes to Shoko's crush, "Probably not the same way you thought, but I did have someone. All I need is an equal, people like me so my name can be forgotten, so I can be one with a crowd, insignificant, another face. You're one person, Shoko; Kento is another, and," Satoru points to Megumi, who lies splayed out on the grass, Tsumiki perched smugly on her back, "she is the future. Another companion, another equal."

There's a lot to unpack, but the word companion catches Shoko's attention. She takes in Megumi's disgruntled face. A companion? What kind?

It appears the devil seeks a companion.