Your Partner (Girl Friend/Boy Friend/ Wife/Husband)

A cold jolt runs down your spine as the realization hits you hard. She's stepping toward you with that particular look—warm, certain, like there was never any question you'd end up here in front of her—and before you can process it, she cups your face in both hands and kisses you. Deeply.

The break of a dam, as her lips crash over yours.

The apartment. The arguments about dishes. The way she always stole your side of the bed. Her laugh. The last morning before everything went wrong.

You pull back, dazed. "...Nao?"

"Finally," she exhales, pressing her forehead to yours. Her crimson eyes are glossy. "Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for that?"

"You were trying to kill me thirty seconds ago," you point out with a smirk.

"I didn't know it was you!" She pulls back, gesturing at you with exaggeration. "You were wearing a helmet! I didn't recognize you!"

"I don't recall your default response to strangers being ****," you say with a chuckle.

"I wasn't trying kill or **** anyone. You really think I'd do that?" Nao says with a pout.

You pause, taken off guard by their reaction. "Then what were you doing? Especially out here in the borderlands..."

She turns silent, looking off into the distance.

"Nao?"

"There's a lot to explain..." She says quietly. You look her over with a frown. You take hold of her hand. "Sorry," you say with a sad smile. "We just found each other again. None of that really matters right now. I'm just happy to see you again."

Nao opens their mouth, but words never come. She melts into you again, gripping the back of your head as her hands search you for lost time. It's tender and sweet. But short-lived. She pulls back again to look you over, before falling into familiar habits and fussing over every inch of you. You don't mind it. The love of your life is now the ruler of a demon realm and is currently smoothing down your hair with both hands and frowning at your collar. But it's still them.

"You look exhausted," she announces. "Are you eating enough? Do they have rice here? You need rice."

"Nao..."

"And don't think I didn't notice the armor." She steps back, arms crossed, one perfectly arched eyebrow raised. "Patched leather, Rika. Patched?"

"I'm broke!" you say. "I just got here!"

"You've had time to go on quests, apparently." She gestures at the scorch marks around your feet. "You had time for a reconnaissance mission."

"That's—this is—" You press your fingers to your eyes. "You're yelling at me about armor after you just tried to stab me."

"I said I didn't know it was you!" She pauses. "Also," she adds, her voice dropping into something between pointed and petulant, "you didn't take out the trash before you died."

Dead silence.

"...I saved someone's life," you say.

"Yes, and that was very heroic, and I love you, and I am so glad you're here—" she steps forward and grabs your hands, squeezing them like she'll never let go— "but you still didn't take out the trash."

You stare at her. She stares back, completely earnest. You both breakout into a laugh. "I love you," she says, leaning in to you for another kiss.

Before you can reply, something crashes through the undergrowth behind her. A demon soldier in heavy armor drops to one knee, head bowed.

"Your Malevolence. The border patrol sensed a disturbance and came immediately. Are you unharmed? Shall we dispose of the human?"

Nao—Lilith—releases your hands your hands in a flash. The warmth doesn't vanish so much as it gets carefully tucked away, replaced by something seamless and regal and frankly a little scary to witness up close. She turns to the soldier with a look that could stop a war.

"I was not in need of assistance," she says coolly. "This human is of no concern. Leave us."

The soldier hesitates. "Your Malevolence, we only—"

"Leave," she repeats. The shadows around her feet curl like cats flexing their claws. He goes.

The forest is quiet again. She turns back to you. The cool authority softens.

"I have to get back," she says quietly. "But I'll find you."

"You literally just tried to kill me," you say. "That's not...reassuring."

She laughs. "I'll find you," she repeats. "I don't want to lose you again, hun."

She's gone before you can answer, her red cloak dissolving into the dark like smoke.

You stand alone in the clearing, scorched earth at your feet, and try to figure out how to explain any of this to your party. You head back to the Inn.