I swear, this house is huge, but the huge asshole behind it is causing this to be a nightmare. Cassie approached the door and was about to knock on it when it opened up. There was a woman on the other side who had a big smile.

"Good afternoon Cassie." The woman said.

"Good afternoon..." She replied.

"Akuma is waiting for you down in the workout room. Would you like me to show you where it is?" She nods, "Then follow me, miss." The woman then turned around and began to walk inside. Cassie went to shut the door when the woman spoke, stopping her, "That's fine, someone else will get that." Well okay... why does it feel like I'm about to get hit over my head and wake up in some room in this place? Cassie ignored the door and followed the woman as she guided her down a set of stairs against the back wall.

Cassie could hear the sound of clanking metal, the woman then began to slow down and opened the door. "He's inside here." Cassie nodded and walked past the door only to see the back of Akuma as he dropped the weight in his right arm. Holy shit... look at those things! Cassie didn't dare move as not to alarm him that she was in the room. Just a few more seconds before he turns around. As she thought that, Akuma got up and looked at her. His expression went from somewhat surprised to smirking in an instant as he removed his air pods and responded.

"You're late." Not today asshole, "But I'm sure you have some good reason for showing up late when I invited you here."

"Then I guess your invite must not mean much." She stated. Akuma chuckled.

"Cute, but anyways, I did forget what time you were supposed to be here. I got caught up down here, but I guess that's good for you." Hell yes it is, but you seriously don't need to know that.

"Not really, you're just sweaty right now." Cassie mumbled.

"Still, it doesn't turn you on?'

Her eyebrow raised, "Sweat?"

"No, I mean my arms." Cassie said nothing, "You're always staring at a guy's arms you freakin' weirdo," Cassie's face was bright red at this point, "But if my weirdo wants to be interested in arms... well, there's worse kinks out there."

"I-I don't have a kink!" She stated.

"That's not what that stutter is saying." Cassie just sighed, "Look, where's the harm in telling your lover the things you're interested in?" He rested his arm around her shoulder and got as close as he could, "Isn't that supposed to be some kind of intimacy thing?"

"Well for couples, maybe, but that's something we're not." She said, trying to back away.

"You're older than me and you believe that? You must still think Santa's real too." She rolled her eyes at him, Akuma chuckled and looked her up and down, "You really should have worn something a bit better for this weather. It'll get hot in here pretty soon." Cassie moved and managed to get from his arm when she spoke up.

"Can I just learn what you wanted to ask me?" She said quickly.

"That's right, I bet you only came here because I promised to feed you..." And you're not wrong. "Well, I wanted to ask if you'd come to my birthday party." Cassie snickered a bit, "It's not a joke and I'm not really asking. Consider this me being nice, but in reality if you don't show up I'll have someone bring you."

"Please don't do that." Akuma smirked, "But why do I have to show up?" She asked.

"Because me turning twenty is a monumental moment. Besides the fact that I'll be one year closer to my old man's death, these parties have to happen because of all the people who believe they're relevant to the company and the family." He said with a bitter taste in his mouth, "I don't have a choice in having this, but I'd like to at least enjoy it and you being there would be good enough to get me through it." Well, I really didn't know what to get Akuma for his birthday anyways... so maybe this'll be good?

"Okay, but do I have to stay all night?" Cassie asked.

"No, just stay long enough for me not to just kick everyone out of my house." Akuma stated.

"Okay, but I'm not dressing up."

"It's Halloween and you won't dress up? You're totally not like other girls." He mocked, "At least consider the options of the sexy insert anything."

"I won't, I'll show up like I just got ready and leave when I'm ready." She explained.

"Fine, whatever makes you happy." Akuma stated, "But let me get cleaned up and let's have a nice lunch together."

...

Cassie found herself looking for her jacket, she dug through the pile of clothes on her bed and eventually just knocked everything over.

She kept pushing things around until she finally found her jacket, she got her phone and checked the time. Cassie went into the main room to find her bag sitting on the floor and right as she was about to put it around her shoulder, there was a knock at her door.

"The hell? I'm not late so why..." She sighed and went to her door where she opened it.

"Are you ready Cassie!" Hearing the loud voice of Quana, Cassie didn't respond, but instead tried to recall some event Quana planned with her. Quana opened her eyes at the silence and spoke, "Are you just getting ready now?" Quana asked.

"No, what are you talking about?"

"Akuma's Halloween party!" She stated as a matter of fact, "But I know you got invited, so where's your costume?" She asked.

"I'm not wearing one, Akuma said I just have to be there as some kind of reward for putting up with this thing."

"But, you could still dress up."

"I'm not staying there all night, so there's no point to dressing up... plus I really don't care for Halloween." Cassie stated.

"The one holiday where your weird obsession with demons and stuff would be accepted." Cassie smiled a bit, "Well, I guess there's no time to dress you, but I know you'd be so cute in a little wolf costume."

"Wolf? Why that?"

"It doesn't matter why, I just know some cute ears, sharp teeth, and a fur collar would look perfect on you!" Cassie said nothing, Quana then pulled Cassie out of her door. "Whatever, I don't wanna be late to this thing so let's get going." Cassie sighed and left out with Quana pulling on her.

"Speaking of that, why are you Sailor Moon?" Cassie asked.

"I knew you'd know about this," Quana giggled, "Last year I went as Black Widow, but that costume gave me a wedgie, so I decided to be one of those cute girls I saw in a 90s aesthetic edit." Quana then pulled out her wand and waved it around before only barely getting the pose the girls normally do. "Isn't it perfect?"

"I guess, I never really watched Sailor Moon." Cassie remarked.

"Are you kidding? I thought you watched that show."

"Yes, because I've watched every anime to grace planet earth." Cassie said rolling her eyes, Quana then gasped.

"Okay, besides you being sarcastic, which was rude, I bet you'd be perfect as that guy... uh... what's his name?" Quana thought for a long time.

"Tuxedo Mask." Cassie answered.

"Yes, him! You'd be hot as him!" Cassie let out a chuckle.

"Okay, referring to me as hot is weird under any context, let's just go." Cassie pulled her along.

"Come on, we can rent a suit real quick and-"

"No."

...

Quana had paid for an Uber and they were driven to Akuma's house, but not before being asked several times if they were really invited. Quana had a... more than friendly conversation with the driver.

"If you don't believe us that's one thing, but you're asking us as if we didn't give you an answer!"

"Quana, just let it go because we're already here!" Cassie said, trying to pull her from the window.

"Yeah, but it's not everyday a little girl pays for an Uber!" The driver argued back, "Maybe you should let your mom over there take care of this." Quana let out a very frustrated sound before moving to go to the driver seat door. Cassie managed to get Quana in her arms and dragged her backward toward the entrance of Akuma's house. Quana had been yelling obscene things over the booming music coming from the home as Cassie pulled her away, but as soon as they got to the door, Cassie was able to get her somewhat back to why they were out in the first place.

"I swear, people just love to pick fights with me!" Quana huffed and pulled down her skirt to fix it.

"Well look, maybe it's because you're so cute, people have no idea how to handle you. So instead they tease you." Cassie said, reaching to fix Quana's headband, "Besides, no one wants to see a sad anime girl."

Quana smiled a bit, "Fine, I'll forget about it." Quana then huffed, Cassie nodded and opened the door only to be met with the loudest people yelling in their general direction. Quana then giggled, "For sure I'll forget about it and have fun!" Quana yelled pushing Cassie inside of the house and into the crowd of people.

The pair had arrived at the party around eight thirty, it was now almost twelve in the morning and the intensity of the party hadn't died down in the slightest.

Cassie didn't know if that was a good thing or bad thing, but one thing she did know is that there was no way she'd be heading home with Quana as she had disappeared from her side about halfway through the night.

Being the introvert that she was, Cassie had decided to shrink into a corner where she could hide the night out. Her initial problem was that Akuma had invited her here, yet she had seen none of him. Cassie walked through the slightly familiar house where she found a set of stairs that were empty, she went up about halfway before stopping and sitting on the step.

She sighed and reached for her phone where she thought about texting Akuma. But, I don't wanna see him, I wanna go home... Am I really thinking about asking for permission to leave? Cassie shook her head and just opened her gallery to look through a few of her images.

Though that didn't last for very long as she suddenly heard someone walking to the stairs she was sitting on, she sighed softly and mentally prepared to have the most awkward encounter with them in order to excuse herself.

"So this is where you were." Hearing Akuma's voice, she stopped and looked down only barely able to see him in the dim light of the stair case, "You should have texted me that you were here."

"It's kind of hard to do that, when everyone's asking you why aren't you dressed up." Cassie said.

"That's why you should have texted me, if any of them knew I personally invited you here they'd be crawling to kiss your ass. Not that I would let that happen however." Cassie just sighed.

"But, is this good enough? Can I leave now?"

"I just found you, of course it's not enough." He said holding out his hand to her, "Would you want to spend more time together?" She stared at him.

"Something tells me that's not an option." Cassie stated, Akuma laughed.

"Now she's learning!" He took her hand and began to lead her up the stairs.

Cassie walked with Akuma hand in hand as she was taken to one of the many rooms on the third floor. From there, she was taken to the back of the house where a room rested. When Akuma opened the door she wondered if this was his room, so she decided to ask.

"Is this your room?"

"Why? Is that something you're curious about?" You can never just answer my damn questions!

"No, I'm just wondering."

"It's not, it's a guest bedroom." Cassie nodded as Akuma turned on the light and they went inside. Akuma sat down on the bed first and Cassie could now clearly see his costume.

"You went as a prince?" Cassie noted, Akuma smiled at her.

"Of course, besides nothing else being good enough, I figured this was perfect." He said standing up, "You could be my princess." Cassie looked off.

"I doubt it." She softly stated, "B-but, do you mind if we just talk about... anything really." Akuma nodded and went back to sit on the bed.

"Seeing your face is good enough, but sure let's talk." Cassie remained standing and rested against the wall. Something had been on her mind for a while and she felt like now would be a good time to ask about it.

"Uh, I don't know if this is obvious or not, but can I how me being here helps you?" Akuma stared at her for a while, "I-I mean, I don't mind the inclusion, but I don't get how me just existing near you is good enough to help you in some way." Akuma then chuckled.

"Little things like that are part of the reason," She looked at him, "Because I know you're thinking of some reason as to why I want you here, it might be right or it could be totally off the mark, but either way you've already made your judgement about me." He explained.

"And that's a good thing?"

"In a world where my perception goes from a saint to a devil daily, yes it is." Akuma paused, "I'm not looking for validation, but I'm looking for people to mind their own damn business. Nothing I do has anything to do with anyone besides the people apart of it. Who are those assholes outside, probably drinking themselves into a coma, to tell me I should care about my father? Or that I should think about how others will feel? I don't care, and it's not just for them, I don't care about the majority of things you say either."

"I can tell." But is that really something you want to tell to someone who you consider your future wife?

"Now don't get the wrong idea. It's not because I devalue your opinion or something like that, it's because of what I just said." She stared at him, "You might lie, but I doubt it, so tell me if I'm right; you think I invited you here to get you alone in my room, or a room, and seduce you so I could fuck your brains out." Cassie's face went red. "Am I right?"

"Yeah..." I was thinking that, but why'd you have to say it like that?

"So, honestly, do you really think if I wanted that, you'd be standing against a wall?" She looked at him.

"No, you'd probably be up against me or something else." She stated.

"Exactly. So you're assuming something of me based off of previous actions I've committed and or things I've told you I want to do, right?" Cassie just nods, "So think about it. Who would I rather put up with, someone who I share a mutual understanding with, or someone thinks they can tell me what to do having met me this morning?" Cassie let out a small sigh.

"But that doesn't explain-"

"Yes it does. Let me put it into terms I'm sure you'll get; if your favorite game removes a character you love for no reason, but they add a feature you've wanted for a while, would you get the game?"

"No, they removed one of the reasons I probably play the game in favor of something I'm not even sure they'll do well." She explained.

"That's what I mean. You're the favorite character being removed. I would rather have you and you only for the rest of my life, then put up with a bunch of people who will change their judgements as they see fit. I have no security in that, but I know I have that with you." Cassie stared at him as she thought about how serious he was being. She wound up looking away as a result of her being unsure of what to say and feel. "But I know that's really heavy, and I should get something from you since you made me get all sentimental on my birthday." Cassie sighed a bit.

"I was just asking a question." She stated as she walked over and sat on the bed with him, "But... it's not that late for me; we can talk for a bit longer." Akuma looked at her.

"How about you give me my gift instead."

"And that would be?"

"A kiss of course."

"How about a nice platonic hug instead?" Akuma chuckled, "Besides, I did forget something. It's still your birthday so... Happy Birthday Akuma."