Chapter Text
Ichimatsu sits outside the church. It’s raining and even though he wouldn’t get sick from the cold rain he has an umbrella anyways. He sits curled up, knees to his chest as he watches the shitty priest in his stupid church. He is sitting a bit away from it on a hill, more out in the open then he would have dared to be any other day. But with the darkening sky, clouds and rain, Ichimatsu is sure no one would see him.
The priest sees the last people out of the church, smile on his face as he wishes them well. Ichimatsu scowls. It’s stupid. He isn’t sure why he continues to watch the priest, or well, he is but Ichi won’t ever admit it. There’s no way he could become enamored with a shitty human anyways, let alone a priest.
Still he watches the priest day after day and it’s probably been half a year now. Demons like him had no need for sleep nor did he ever have to leave to eat. So instead he just always sat, watching the church from afar.
Originally he was on Earth to make a mess of things. He had planned to burn down the church with all the church goers in it however when he saw the priest he stopped. Not ‘cause he was a handsome man with kind eyes, no - although Ichimatsu did kinda notice that too- but he stopped because the priest’s soul shined with a light pure blue unlike any he had seen before. He worried that the priest might have secretly been an angel at first. So Ichimatsu decided to observe him so he could know what he would be up against. Ichi watched the priest everyday, rain, shine or snow. The priest always smiled and was kind. He fed the stray animals of the area and got free food from the locals. He never spent the church’s donations on himself as Ichimatsu had seen countless others do. Instead he spent it on repairs for the church and the local orphaned children. Giving them gifts and sweets, giving them kind words and comfort.
It was sickening. But for some reason it also made Ichimatsu feel weird. Sometimes he even thought about giving the priest a gift as he never seemed to get any from the town even though he gave so much to them. Ichimatsu always just scolded himself for those thoughts, what kind of demon was he? A pretty shitty one probably he thought as he continued watching the priest. He did the same things everyday so Ichi knew that in a few minutes the priest would sit in front of the large cross and pray for a whole hour. He always wondered how much the shitty priest had to say to the Gods if he could sit there for an hour every single day. Did he say the same things everyday or different?
Ichimatsu would probably never know since he would never approach the priest to ask. He let out a wistful sigh watching the priest kneel bathed in the soft candle light as the rain pattered out where he was.
A low chuckle brought him out of his thoughts, “Wow, Ichimatsu. You have got it bad huh?”
Ichimatsu turned to see none other than his self appointed “big brother” Osomatsu. Who like always was dressed in a tacky amount of bright red.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” He mumbled in reply getting another laugh out of Oso.
“Is that so~? Well then you wouldn’t mind if I went down and slaughtered the priest right?” He turned to go only to be stopped by a grip on his sleeve and a growl. Osomatsu of course turned back with his normal grin, “Younger brothers really are the cutest you know. However you know you won’t get him just by sitting here, right?”
Ichi looked at him a bit confused. “Get him?”
“Well, you’ve been watching him so long so I just figured you had planned to corrupt him and take him down to hell to be a slave demon, wrapped around your finger, yeah?” There was a pause. “Wait, you aren't? Why else would you be staring at a human for so long?” Silence took over and Ichimatsu glanced back down at the church and Oso moved to stand in front of him to get his attention again. “What else could you want with a human it's not like you-” A smirk crossed his face, “Say Ichimatsu~ Are you in love with the priest?”
Ichi looked away. “Tch, who would fall in love with a human, let alone a shitty priest.” It came out rushed and he felt his face heat up. Osomatsu lazily floated in front of him grinning wider when he saw Ichi’s face.
“Well I suppose it makes a lot more sense when I think about it. You’ve been here so long and scared away and demons that tried to come at the church claiming it as yours. But really little bro, if you like him so much why don’t you talk to him?”
Ichi scoffed at his brother’s idea. It was pretty obvious why he didn’t,they were demons after all. The priest would more likely try to kill him then say hello. He guessed he was just lucky that demons didn’t really have rules like angels did. If so he probably wouldn’t be tried for treason over technically protecting the shitty priest for so long. Demons didn’t care what you did as long as you met your quota for death and corruption, which he had already done within the first month of the year. Anything else at this point was just bonus.
They sat in silence for a while, Ichimatsu occasionally glancing at Osomatsu nervously. it wasn’t like him to be quiet for so long. It could only mean something bad would happen soon like-
His thoughts were cut off as Osomatsu spoke, sounding triumphant.
“I got an idea!”
Oh no, Ichi scowled at Oso, the other didn’t seem to care. “Don’t worry Ichimatsu, big bro is gonna help you get your priest! What kinda brother would I be if I didn’t help out after all!”
“Liar, you just want to cause trouble and see if something entertaining comes out of this.”
“Aw, you know me so well Ichimatsu. I’m embarrassed,” He said acting bashful before a dark smirk took over his features. “Besides if I have my fun and you get your priest then what’s the harm?”
“Osomatsu I swear you better not-”
He was cut off as Osomatsu pressed their lips together, taking the opportunity of surprise to bite his lip and lick up some of the blood. He started murmuring a spell and Ichimatsu tried to push him away quickly realizing what he was trying to do. Of course it was too late.
He felt his chest tighten as if he was suffocating and the body burning as Oso finished the spell. Ichi’s wings and horns felt like there were going to fall off. He curled up and whimpered, dropping his umbrella and feeling the cold rain fall against his burning skin.
“You b-bastard,” He let out through grit teeth. “What are you planning?” Oso had sucked out most of his demonic energy. His body hurt, it felt heavy. To save energy his wings horns and tail had disappeared leaving him looking human, minus his purple irises. Hell, he was probably about as strong as a human now. Granted his energy would come back after a few months but he was basically defenseless now and Ichi sure didn’t trust the look his brother was giving him.
“Ichimatsu,” Oso said. “you better run to your priest for protection or else this big scary demon might just kill you.”
“You can’t be serious.” Ichi’s voice had a tone of disbelief as he looked up at Oso who was looming over him smirking. He didn’t even have to reply because Ichi was already off and running down the hill and to the church.
Oso followed lazily, enjoying the little chase and the rare look of fear on his brother’s face and well he didn’t really want to kill him, he would if he had to.
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. Ichi’s body felt like it was failing if he was being honest. It all hurt from his lack of energy and burned from the feeling of using his legs without the help of magic. In human standards he was kinda out of shape.
It was no surprise that Oso was easily gaining on him. Ichi didn’t think he would make it to the church before he was slaughtered. So, for the first time in his life he screamed for help.
If he was being honest he was terrified and he was sure his screams echoed that feeling as he heard his brother laughing behind him. Asshole. Luckily the priest heard him too and opened the door just in time to see Osomatsu tackle him down and claw at Ichimatsu who curled up in a ball as his skin was torn open. For just scratches they felt like they were burning his body and he whimpered.
It went by in a blur, Osomatsu hissing and running off as the priest yelled bible quotes and waved a cross. The fool probably never seen a demon before since he knew Osomatsu was definitely acting, no demon ever hissed in pain. That was just a stupid thing humans thought.
The priest’s hand touched his shoulder and Ichi flinched, he could tell that the man was saying something but he just felt to dizzy and tired to focus. He tried to get up and stumbled into the priest's arms and passed out before they even entered the church.