( A new home. This is where he grew up. He's never even thought of living anywhere else.

He puts the watering can down, straightening. )

I've never lived anywhere else. Where exactly is it...?

Somewhere where we're less likely to be bothered by humans walking by and sticking their noses into things that don't concern them.

[ More easily defensible. ]

Of course, it still has to be close enough to the human settlements if I require supplies.

( Basil takes a step forward then. A place away from humans... Despite the last four years, the fact that he may not see any of his friends fills him with an indescribable loneliness.

Despite that, he steps forward - gently reaching for Kazuya's sleeve. )

... Will we come back?

Once you're settled, if that's what you want.

[ He has no reason to keep a leash on Basil, after all. He's the one with all the power, and the fact the other hadn't tried to even attempt to run from this place already deserves a reward, doesn't it?

Kazuya catches his hand as it reaches for his sleeve, and kisses the back of it gently. ]

You've behaved so well, so there's no reason for me to keep you locked away.

( His lips are warm and soft on his hand, and Basil can't help but think it's a contrast to how he had come across during their good byes. )

I... haven't done anything different. I-I've just been living my life like I usually do.

( It feels like instinct, how his hand curls around the others. )

Then keep living like that, if it pleases you.

[ It's one less headache for him to deal with. ]

You can decorate your room however you please, and order around the lesser demons to your hearts content. If there's something you desire, tell them to bring it to you, and they will.

[ Kazuya straightens upwards, snapping his fingers as a dark, ominous portal appears behind him. ]

If there's something you'd like immediately from here, you can bring it with you.

( Basil looks to the portal then. It doesn't have to be permanent. He can come back. He knows better than to trust in those words, but he wants to. )

What if... I want to stay here...?

( He doesn't think he'd force him. Despite everything, he's been gentle about everything for the most part. Then again, with what's coming... he doesn't think he should go through it alone, either. )

[That does manage to catch him off guard. Why would he want to stay here, alone? Wouldn't he want something more luxurious? Wouldn't he want some kind of companionship? It's not fitting for a courtesan to be so far away.]

Is that what you want?

[There's mild disbelief in his tone, but he doesn't oppose it, not yet.]

N-No.

( He doesn't want to be alone. The thought terrifies him more than he cares to say. He doesn't care about staying anywhere luxurious. Both himself and his grandma weren't exactly well off, but the simple life was what he preferred. )

There's... a lot of memories here. It feels a little sad to leave them behind.

You can come back whenever you want.

[If it's the memories that are holding him back, then there's no reason to force him to stay at the castle for all of his time now is there?]

I'll see to it that it's kept in good condition for you, for whenever you want to visit.

( Basil takes a step back then, releasing his hold on Kazuya's hand to find one of the potted flowers he's been taken care of. A single flower -- tall and white, with feather like petals. )

... If you really mean it, then I'll come with you. But, we shouldn't wait long to bring the rest of the flowers there.

Like I said, we'll bring whatever it is you'd like from here over there as soon as you're settled. And everything here will be taken care of in the mean time.

[He'll tilt his head back towards the portal.]

Is that all you're bringing for now? I can hold something too, if it's important to you.

... Thank you. Uhm... I-I don't know if it's what you meant, but... I know that you're trying. Even though you said that demons aren't kind, I think that you can be.

( He walks forward then, holding the potted plant. )

No, this is alright for right now.

[Humans are interesting. What he sees as necessary and normal, the other sees as kindness. And in turn, it's also cruelty what he sees as normal.

Kazuya shakes his head, and motions.]

All you have to do is step through. We'll be in your room.

[And Kazuya will do so first, waiting on the other side for the other to come through. The room is- lavish, but barren at the same time. The intent is to let the other decorate it as he desires, to personalize it to his hearts content, and there's plenty of room to do so, and two book cases as well. One filled with books that Kazuya thought that the other might like about horticulture, and the other empty, a gift waiting to be filled.

And there's a large window, and a large desk beneath it. Enough to let in plenty of natural light for any plants that he might decide to decorate it with.]

( It's a strange, surreal feeling to step into the portal. It feels like no time passes at all between when Basil steps through it, leaving his home and finding his way into a room far larger, far more luxurious than anywhere he'd even hope to live.

It's difficult to believe that this is for him. He feels undeserving, and it's frankly a little overwhelming. He takes a moment to look around, gently placing the plant on the desk. )

This... This is for me?

Of course. As I said, yours to decorate and change around as you see fit.

[Kazuya himself will find his way into one of the plush two-seat couches, settling in to watch the other as he leans on his hand.] There's a connecting door to the bath just over there, also for you to use as you see fit.

[He'll motion with a nod of his head. A private bathroom too, with everything that anyone could ever want inside, fashioned out of shiny white marble.]

( Basil looks to the bathroom, and then back at Kazuya. )

I've never even been in a place this big before... It's hard to believe that I'm really going to live here.

( He moves to sit next to Kazuya then. It's going to take him a moment to get used to everything here, but he gets fairly tired easily these days... A hand moves to his stomach at the thought. )

A... Are there are a lot of demons outside...?

There are a few in the castle here to run errands for me, and now for you, but outside? Not so many. None that would dare to bother you. You're above them now.

[So long as he belongs to Kazuya, who won't stand for any demons messing with his belongings.

His eyes catch the way his hand moves, and his own moves to the same spot, covering Basil's as Kazuya leans in to give a quick kiss to his temple.]

They won't dare lay a single claw on a single hair of yours.

I don't know about that. If we're all living together, it'd be better to say that we were equals.

( He closes his eyes at the kiss, and he reaches to gently take the hand on his stomach into his. )

You... didn't have to do so much for me.

( Especially since he's still feeling wary about everything. He's scared of the fact that there are demons of all things growing inside of him. He's scared of what's waiting for him in the future. He's had a while to sit with the thought of it all, but the fact that the eggs have been growing inside of him so quickly hasn't... been helping. )

They can't be equal to us. Demons don't rule in terms of equality, demons rule by might. I'm their king because I hold absolute power, and you, by proxy, hold that power to.

[Which means despite not being a demon, Basil holds the distinction of being the second strongest demon.]

And I take care of what is mine, and what is soon to be ours.

[The eggs, he means.]

I... don't have any power.

( It's a strange feeling, though. Despite it all, there's a strange feeling of attachment to the life growing inside of him. Was it instinct? Or something else? )

W-What will you do with the demons once they hatch?

You don't need to have power to hold it. Your closeness to me gives you the ability to command other demons as you see fit.

[He won't tell him to use it or not, that's up to him.]

As for that question... They'll be returned to the demon realm after a short while, where they'll fend for themselves.

[It's not like most demons are known for strong parenting skills.]

( That's so cold, though. That doesn't sit well with him at all. )

Will they be okay? W-Won't they just be newborns?

Demons aren't defenseless, even newly born. It's normal for them to go off on their own so soon.

[ Which is for the best. No strong parenting skills, as mentioned. As well as the fact demons are content to snack on useless, dependent offspring.

It's a demon eat demon world out there.]

Ah, maybe... but...

( Is it weird to feel attached to them? Probably. )

N-Never mind... Does that mean that they'll be dangerous when they're born?