Promise You

A/N: Just a bit of comfort for myself. Since he's left... again. This time for good. I don't know, but I just need to comfort myself, and the strangest thing happened today. You guessed it, I was depressed, and I turned to manga as usual to placate myself. The manga I happened to be reading (and finishing) was Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro, right after the part where Genuine suicided by blowing herself up, and she asked Yako a question right before that. "You risk losing everything you hold dear. Knowing that, will you still press on?" And then in a chapter or two, Sasazuka was killed by XI and Sicks, and Honjou revealed that he had been the mole and killed himself in front of Yako.

I really felt Yako then, losing the people close to her. You know, that heavy weight that presses down on you? That feeling of depression, like everything's come crumbling down and you want to run away from it all, you can't move on? Yeah, I was feeling all that. And then.. the funniest thing happened. It was like a slap on the face. I know it was just a manga, but the words really got through to me. Neuro, looking all angry and disappointed, looked over his shoulder and said, "You're a coward." And after that was a chapter where Aya Asia came to offer Yako advise, and yet again, it made me realize something.

So yeah, sorry for the long Authoress's Note, but that's my reason for writing this for a bit of comfort. No copyright infringement intended, MTNN doesn't belong to me.
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Promise You
MazdaKitsune

"How long do you plan on staying like this? Slave, look at me when I'm talking to you."

The deep voice rang out across the room, sounding pretty much displeased. Emerald turned to meet emerald, except that the second pair of eyes were staring down at the girl lying on her bed from the shadows of her ceiling. Jade blinked, then cast her teary gaze aside, feeling worn out. "Go away, Neuro. I'm just not in the mood today."

A scowl adorned the face of the man on the ceiling, and with a casual flip, landed neatly on the floor of her bedroom, not a lapel of his navy blue suit out of place. He was tall, lean and had just the right amount of muscles to send any normal schoolgirl drooling, and his dual colored hair of blond with black bangs made him stand out in any crowd. But Nougami Neuro was far from being a normal human. He was one of the strongest demons around, coming to the human world in search of food; intriguing mysteries. He ran a detective agency with his pawn, Katsuragi Yako, and Jade Cross had met them (and had very unfortunately gotten involved) during a case where she, a huntress, had been mistakenly tagged as a murderer. Jade was somewhat like Godai, fiery and resilient, but Neuro had taken an interest in her.

Because there was always a scent of mystery that hung around her, and he didn't mean the strawberry scent that always got the louse's mind longing for Strawberry Fondue, etc.

The young girl of 20 was an intriguing mix of emotions, and Neuro treated her no differently than how he'd treat Godai and Yako, but Jade always endured his torture with a grin and some sassy words that made him want to rip her tongue out with one of his Demonic Tools to tame her. But where was the fun in that? Break her down too fast and he'd lose a source of entertainment. It was always refreshing to have at least one of his slaves stand up against him. Besides, everyone evolved differently. Whether it be by heaping more and more hardships on someone to build up courage and resilience, or giving someone responsibility.

But first, he needed to get past the maze of emotions and get to the core of her soul if he wanted to give her a faster boost of evolution. He tapped his chin thoughtfully as he glared at the girl in bed, running a list of what he could make of her. Childish and annoying stood out. Yet there were times she showed a bit of maturity, and she was a very good pawn on his chessboard. An open letter lay on her table, and he picked it up to read. That was it, then. The source behind her absence to the office and the reason behind the mystery of her tears.

"So he's not coming back, huh?" Neuro tossed the letter aside. "That's the reason why you're lying in a dark room without eating or sleeping? Humans... I'll never understand them."

"I don't expect you to," Jade mumbled, eyes staring listlessly at the ceiling. "You won't understand the pain of losing someone close to you. When you care so much about them, and you have to let them go one day. They know and you know it, that you've been let down, and as much as you try to smile and say "I'm fine", you'll never be fine inside." Her chin trembled as her eyes filled with tears. "If only we hadn't met! If only he had just said he was leaving and left it as that! If only he didn't say goodbye with all those sweet words directed at me! It hurts, it really does. It feels as if heavy weights have been piled up on my chest and I can't go on. I can't..."

"And you think it would have been much easier if he had just said goodbye without an explanation?" Before she knew it, Neuro was on top of her, gripping her wrists tightly as he pinned her down on the bed, all humor gone from his expression. Deep emerald glowed in the dimness, boring intensely into her. He was so close, she could see the glint of every sharp teeth, feel his breath on her cheek. And frightened, she tried to twist out of his grasp. "You think you would feel better if he simply said, "I'm leaving and I probably won't come back? You're nothing but a child."

"....." In open shock, Jade gazed up at him, ceasing her struggles. ".... what?"

"To wish you hadn't met him. To not appreciate the words he said, his explanation. To forget all the memories together. To cry and feel sorry for yourself, and throw a silent tantrum to show he was wrong. You are nothing but a child. A spoiled brat," Neuro growled, narrowing his eyes. "I never thought you would be such a coward."

Her fear of him was tempting. He could see it now, the helpless look on her face now that he had stripped away her many facades to the very bone, letting his words hit home. It was like a slap to her face, he knew. But he also knew that he couldn't treat her the same as he treated the louse. If he told her to leave, she would, and never look back. She needed a good whipping, to be steered in the correct direction and given a good dose of reality to grow up.

"I am not a child," Jade whispered, then glared at him fiercely. "I'm not a spoiled brat. I'm a grown woman."

"Then show me, without the tears. I forbid you to cry." Neuro gave her a little shake before he leaned down and captured her gasp and her lips.
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Pleasure so painful it made her scream. Pain so much like pleasure it made her want more. The wonders of what a simple kiss from a demon could do. But in the end, Jade lay trying to catch her breath beneath him, a heavy weight on her body, eyes swimming with tears. Neuro made no move to roll off her, but simply closed his eyes and spoke, "Cry. I give you the right to cry and weep for as long as you want to. Just this once, but no more."

"Neuro...." Jade's voice came out choked before a torrent of tears burst forth and she raised her voice in a keening wail as her body rocked and contorted against him with every sob. For once, she clung to the demon, hiding her face in his shoulder as she cried, pouring out everything. And he let her, simply looking off to the side with a disinterested look as he let the girl cling to him, crying until she ran out of tears. No, he would never understand her grief. The closest he could ever come to understanding it would probably the sense of loss when one of his powerful pawns. "Are you done?" he finally asked after her sobs had receded.

She nodded and Neuro gazed thoughtfully down at her. "Answer me one thing, slave. Did he leave you a fond memory in that letter?"

"Aa... he said I was like a ray of sunlight to him..."

"Then you're not reading between the lines, you worm. He knows he's let you down, he's worried you might do something, but at the same time he knows that it's alright if it's you. If it's you, there's no problem. No matter what trial there is, you'll surely climb over it, is what he knows." A rare smile graced the demon's face as he placed a finger right between her breasts. "There will always be a heavy weight here, but be glad you are still alive and able to do what you want to do. Believe that he will return, hold on to that belief, and one day he will. And during this span of time, while you wait, become a shining light that will guide him back to yourself. He left you with sweet words and memories, and he has apologized while indirectly thanking you. Cherish those, and use it to support yourself. Evolve, worm. And become a glowing butterfly that will tell him where to find you next time."

Jade gazed in wonder up at him as he lifted himself off her and stood, straightening his clothes. "Neuro...." she asked, pushing herself up to look at him. "Why are you saying this to me? Why even try to cheer me up?"

Glancing over his shoulder, Neuro simply answered. "Because humans are my food source. And your race has the ability to evolve magnificently and produce even more succulent mysteries that appeal to my appetite. Evolve, Jade Cross. And let me see what you'll become."

As he left through the window, Jade sighed to herself, holding up one hand to her chest. Like Neuro said, there was a heavy weight there, one that she'd have to get used to. It wasn't easy losing someone close. And it wasn't easy to follow his instructions either. But then again, if the butterfly didn't have a hard time squeezing out of it's cocoon, then it wouldn't have the strength to spread it's wings, wouldn't it? She needed the strength. Neuro's words had given her a newfound confidence, and she promised herself... she would become a shining light, a beacon so that wherever she may be, the man she care for would be able to find her. It was a promise.