Akane nodded. "Yes, but they accepted it regardless. So, I do believe there is a high chance I will get in. Lucifer is under the illusion that I dislike Ibuki-san after all."
"And Lucifer likes to keep her enemies close to him. If you mess up even once, he can have an excuse to get rid of you." Toh finished for her.
"That's why I am the best person to do this. I am not close enough to Ibuki-san to draw Lucifer's suspicion. But, at the same time as her former fan I am one of the ones who knows her well."
Indeed, if Sumire has lost her memory. She will need someone to help her trigger something important to her. If Nagawa Akane can trigger Sumire's love for music, there is a high chance she will remember Terashima. After all, Sumire often told him that her love for music came from watching Terashima sing.
"I don't think you have to worry about him hurting her." Akane added.
Sensing her shift in tone, Toh frowned. "What aren't you saying?"
"I've seen Lucifer touch her."
At those words, his gaze dimmed. He was already getting all sorts of images in his head. But, until he hears- until he knows for sure. He can't lose his composure. "Clarify."
"It's exactly what you think. I've also heard rumors around the grounds that 'The master is so taken with the woman that even when he beds her outside, he dismisses all the servants so nobody can see her."
Toh's gaze dimmed more. It should be a relief to him that Lucifer isn't treating Sumire like the other women in the organisation. That he has a degree of respect for her honour. But, how can he be okay with this?
"I don't think Ibuki-san would have slept with him if-"
"Of course she wouldn't." Toh snapped.
"So she truly believes he is her husband."
'I knew Lucifer would eventually touch her. It was the first thought I had, the moment I heard it was Lucifer who had taken her, but I didn't think she would reciprocate. Memories or no. I thought she would still sense that he was wrong for her.'
"Mashima-san, you never learned why Lucifer wanted her did you?"
Toh sighed deeply. "I did."
"It's just a theory. Ever since I became a member of the company, I have gradually collected information as I'm sure you have since you became attached to her."
"Did you find anything?"
"A theory, one that you may find unbelievable."
"It's better than nothing."
Akane paused and didn't speak for a few minutes. "What if the reason he is interested in her, the reason he marked her and his confidence is because there was a time where he actually had her? Where she was actually his, willingly?"
Toh frowned. "That's not possible. Your brother was her first boyfriend, then it was me, Kanagawa Ren and then Terashima."
"I am not talking about this life." Akane paused again and sighed. "As unbelievable as this may sound. From what I have gathered and observed from the Lord's behaviour. I believe Ibuki-san was Lucifer's lover in a past life."
Supernatural powers, blood sucking beings exist in this life time. So the concept of reincarnation shouldn't surprise him. Even in this life, their ancestors had unusual powers that no history books can properly explain. But, it's still hard to believe this. Nagawa Akane however does make a point. Lucifer's obsession with Sumire isn't normal. For a girl that was never his, why is he so interested in her? Why did he even mark her? If Sumire did belong to him in another life. It would make sense why he is so crazy to get her back.
"Can you, find out more? I want to be sure before I tell her companions this."
'Although, thinking it through. Amongst Sumire's friends there is someone who may know something. I will have to pay a visit to Kusaji Atsuro.'
Akane nodded, before she could say another word. The girl's phone rang.
From: Unknown
To Miss Akane
You have been selected
Please report to the manor in F region by 6 sharp.
The lord will want to speak to you first.
Akane turned to him. "I can use this chance to see if I can learn why he took her."
Toh nodded. "Please do, and check on her. If she has been staying with Lucifer, no doubt he has helped heal her injuries. But-" He recalled the amount of blood that was left on the scene.
Narasaki's blood aside, the amount of blood that was Sumire's horrified him. It took him a few minutes longer to sense that Lucifer had been there too.
"And Mashima-san? You should look after yourself too. You look like a mess. She wouldn't want you to be in this state, and also your the best person to take charge not Tsueno." With those words said Nagawa Akane exited the room and Toh exhaled deeply.
'How can I look after myself knowing that she is with Lucifer? Knowing how obsessed Lucifer has been with her this entire time, knowing that the two of them-' Toh shook the disturbing thought from his mind. Nagawa Akane is correct, he can't continue wasting away like this.
He takes a deep breath before taking his phone out. "Arata? Are you busy?"
Arata laughed. "This is rare. Are you going to hire me for a job? You of all people?"
"Sumire's been taken. Lucifer has her."
At those words Arata paused and sighed deeply. "Well, that isn't a surprise."n0velusb.c0m
"Do you know something about this?"
"Just a little. I have heard rumors that Lucifer has been dismissing certain women from his service. You know, the ones he has slept with before. It made me think, that he doesn't need them anymore since he must have Ibuki."
Toh frowned. He has been so occupied with Sumire being kidnapped so he hasn't been dropping by the company, or the organization headquarters. So, he didn't know.
"Can you, help get her?"
Arata paused. "Well, I don't mind doing that. But you know what my methods are like. You should probably come up with a plan, and then pay me to do this. Otherwise, I will just take the initiative to come up with something on my own."
Right of course. But, Arata is one of the only people who can bypass those strong defences. "I will, and then I will contact you."