Haizaki watched the others from his seat on the couch. They all looked content if not happy listening to Kashina. He could understand. Kashina was a wonderful person. Her visions were interesting and she didn't mind sharing them. It was most likely that which drew Akashi and Aomine in. She was however also a good speaker. She spun fascinating tales and was truly a great story teller. All seers he had met were. Maybe it was a trait of theirs.

It bothered him to see them content. If they knew that their little nymph was sick they wouldn't be like this. He didn't really understand why they had gotten so attached so quick but they just were.

He himself had started spending more time with the nymph now that he knew. He couldn't help it. Even though it had been more than a few centuries ago it was still fresh on his mind. His mother had suffered. Kashina had found him next to his mother's cooling body. Tremors had still run through it every now and then. The blood spilling from her lips had still been warm. Kashina had gotten him out. He had vowed to himself he'd help any other out who suffered the same fate as him and his mother. His mother had suffered. He knew that even though the nymph was trying to keep a stiff lip he was suffering from the same symptoms his mother had suffered.

The boy was never seen eating and sometimes when he concentrated hard enough he could see the soft indigo glow of illusions covering the boy's body. He had likely lost a lot of weight already, sleep as well if they way the boy sometimes just stared at nothing was any indication.

There was something odd about the boy, though. Something aside from the sickness that was steadily taking a hold of the boy. There was something terribly familiar about him. He could feel the memories in his mindscape but every time he tried to grasp them, they escaped from his fingertips. It was maddening.

The nymph himself seemed to be suffering from the same problem. At times he would smile and it was just the slightest up tilt of the lips but it was the most beautiful thing in the world. He would like at Haizaki with such heartbreaking tenderness, like Haizaki was something terribly precious to him. There would be this warmth spreading in his chest that felt quite a lot like the mating bond he shared with the others. The more time he spend with the nymph, the more this warmth would spread and the more sure he was that somehow he knew this slip of a boy.

It maddened him that the boy didn't tell the others about his sickness. Except for Ryouta who had figured things out by himself – and wasn't that a surprise?- none of them knew of the damage done to the boy's core.

There seemed to be some hesitance over his father's death. Haizaki had wanted to sneer at the boy how the man had been the most terrible father. He hadn't out of fear the other would point out just whose fault that was.

Frustrated he stood up from the couch he had been seated in. The others barely acknowledged him. It wouldn't be the first time for him to angrily stomp out the room with seemingly no reason.

Maybe he should tell Kiyoshi. The demon god was trustworthy and protective, at least to those he liked and Kiyoshi seemed quite fond of the little nymph. He would be understanding and kind.

Solomon was to out of it to be understanding or supportive. He was barely holding himself together as it was. It was obvious the two shared some kind of past. He didn't bother asking. It hardly mattered with the boy's speeding demise. Logically the duty would have fallen to him since they were obviously the closed. He was useless as it was.

Lucifer seemed to know and like the nymph as well but the problem with him was obvious. Hell's ruler couldn't afford to let his attention slip for anything. He made as much time free as he could to spend with both Solomon and the nymph but as Solomon could hardly stand to being near the nymph out of some seemingly misplaced sense of guilt it still left only a small amount of time for the boy.

Mukuro was an obvious choice as well as it was obvious the man and the prince was close. Except the illusion master was hardly a people person. He wasn't kind and he wasn't understanding. He was bitter, jaded and cynical and his new friend's sickness wasn't helping matters. That his illusions weren't helping any seemed to piss the kid of as well. Haizaki would have found it hilarious as he found the kid way too arrogant. Except it would have been nice if the nymph could have been helped with illusions.

That left Kise. Ryouta was doing…surprisingly well. He rarely left the nymph's side. Whenever the nymph looked queasy a water bottle was pressed into his hand and when the nymph would have this strange look on his face Kise would coax him out of it with firm but loving touches. It was strangely intimate to watch. Like it was private. It wasn't sexual in any way but there was so much adoration if the incubus eyes every time he looked at the boy and his feelings showed in his actions.

The most surprising about that was his own lack of jealously. Haizaki was terribly possessive about his lovers. It was why he had agonized the young prince when he had first met him. Fury had filled him at the thought of his lovers fucking any others. He didn't feel that way watching Ryouta caress Kuroko did cause him any anger. Instead it made him feel satisfaction and when Solomon or Lucifer would touch the boy the same way Ryouta would something inside him burned with fury.

Maybe he had come to accept the boy as one of their own. All he knew was that Tetsuya seemed terribly familiar to him at times. It was maddening. There was no way that he could know the kid before all of this had happened. Besides, he had only started getting this feeling of familiarity after the kid hit his maturity.

He opened the door to the baths. The nymph was almost always in there nowadays. Besides, somehow he could feel where the boy was.

Just like he had thought the small form was sitting in the large bath. He was the only on there. Huh, that was rare. Ryouta stuck to the boy like a leech. It had been five days since he had left the boy…Ah, that was likely where the problem lay. Ryouta needed to feed regularly so he was likely off to find a partner and satisfy his needs.

Just as well. He pulled off his clothe and lowered himself next to the boy. The nymph's eyes opened slightly to regard him before he sidled closer. Haizaki froze. That was a first.

It felt completely natural. Like Tetsuya was right where he belonged. Midorima or Akashi would have questioned and analyzed this. But he wasn't them so instead he threw an arm over the boy and drew him in closer. If anything, the boy melted again him. That was it. Haizaki gave up and let his instincts take over. He pressed a kiss to the boy's head and heard him sigh in relief. He grinned into the azure locks. His sweet boy. A flash of flushed skin and sweaty locks filled his mind. He blinked. Yeah, there was probably something going on here.

Solomon thinks about it a long time. He thinks and thinks and thinks until he can't anymore. Lucifer just sits across him, watching. A small part of Solomon knows that Lucifer shouldn't be here, that he has duties and that he is here means he shoved them off on someone else to be here. The vindictive part of him hopes Kashina was that unlucky one. Lucifer wouldn't do that though. She was entertaining their guests.

Everything circled back to them, didn't it. Should he return their memories? Or keep them. He still felt that they didn't deserve Tetsuya. But this wasn't about him. It wasn't even about them. Tetsuya was the only thing that mattered. The nymph was wilting. Dying.

Somehow Ryouta seemed to have regained his memories. Tetsuya bloomed under his attentions. Affection and adoration hung in the air whenever they were together. It would be sickening to watch if it weren't for how much happier his friend seemed to be when with incubus.

The same counted for Haizaki. While the Naga didn't seem any wiser about their history together he seemed to instinctively know the nymph was precious now that Tetsuya's magic was the same as Ayus had been. He was careful with the nymph and surprisingly affectionate. It was strange to watch. Even with Ayus he hadn't been this careful. He guessed it had to do with how quickly Tetsuya's health was degrading. The nymph flourished under his attentions, soaking it all in.

If Solomon told the others they likely wouldn't leave Tetsuya side. The care he would receive would do the nymph good. When he died he would surrounded by his mates. The way he should have been the first time.

Perhaps the choice had been obvious all along. He looked up. Lucifer stared at him from his spot across the room. The other leaned forward.

"Finally made your decision?"

Solomon swallowed the anger and resentment he still felt for the demons. "The choice was clear from the beginning, wasn't it?"

Lucifer shrugged. "Hatred often clouds minds. Even one as exceptional as your own is no exception."

Solomon took it as the consolation it was meant to be and gives a short nod. Lucifer pushed off the wall and moved closer to him. The angel pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

"He'll appreciate it."

Solomon sighed and answered. "I know."

He looked over the other's shoulder and stared at Kiyoshi who's watching him with a calculating look. "I know." Then he addressed Kiyoshi.

"Go get the others of your group." The demon made move to leave but Solomon halted him "But leave Kise be. He's attending to his needs."

The demon left. Solomon settled back down in the couch and Lucifer left to retrieve Haizaki and keep the nymph company in his stead.

When the angel entered the baths he finds them leaning against each other. Kuroko was dozing against the Naga's shoulder. He made sure to keep his voice soft when he addresses the demon.

"Solomon needs you and the others of your group to gather." Haizaki froze at his voice but stiffly nodded. He looked down at the nymph with hesitance.

Lucifer tried to reassure him. "I'll keep him company."

The demon sneered. Lucifer fondly remembered the last demon he had slaughtered for that before encouraging the other to take his leave.

With an angry look the Naga left. Such a child the demon could be.

Lucifer leaned down and scooped the nymph into his arms. The body felt terribly frail in his arms and for a moment he was reminded of years where the nymph would be sandwiched between him and Solomon. They'd tried for him. It hadn't been enough. Maybe they hadn't been enough. It mattered little now. The nymph still holds an important place in their hearts but Lucifer knew they weren't the ones that made him happiest. It was just the way things were.

This was sure to be for the best.