I'm pretty happy with this, but I might add in another shadow layer. I might've gone overboard with the cloth in the trees, but it's the first time I've successfully put the concept to a piece, so I'll chalk it up as getting better at it the more I do it.

Story segment below.
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By now, Po was getting accustomed to his very strange life in that part of the Underworld known as Miguo. Named by its eccentric, succubus ruler, the kingdom basically drew lost souls to it. However, it was the kingdom's enigmatic and capricious ruler that he understood the least, and with good reason. Every time he approached Demon Lord Renki, the succubus seemed to twist his will down to a simpering kitten who could do nothing more than live for whatever desire the demon lord had at that particular moment, whether what followed was what one would expect from a succubus... or something completely different.

For his part, Po's strength lied in will power, and it was starting to get around that he could simply power through nearly any distraction. While he knew he'd always been hard headed-one of very few details he could recall about his mortal life now-he'd felt that in recent time, he'd been getting stronger. Possibly because of his newly gifted demonic power... possibly just because his will was under such constant, unrelenting assault by Demon Lord Renki's mere presence. Regardless, he periodically drummed up the courage to try to ask the demon lord why special interest had been taken in him, and this was one of those times.

Po found Renki looking over a scroll, which wasn't unusual. As he walked in, Renki set it down, and smiled at him in that kind, disarming smile the demon lord was so good at. Then, the wicked creature cracked a truly malevolent grin, fangs exposed. "My my, feeling particularly defiant today, are we?" taunted Renki. She sat there in the form of a rat like woman with horns-her preferred female look, as opposed to the same form, but male. Po wasn't sure which gender this creature truly was-he had decided at this point it didn't matter.

"Call it whatever the hell you want. I've been thinking about our contract, and since I get whatever I want... I want some answers." Po focused, deflecting the mental onslaught he was currently under. "Also, I'd like you to get properly dressed so we can talk about this outside."

Renki ceased the malicious smile, flourished her hand, and her usual short robes and coverings grew instantly into her preferred garb for wandering around outside the palace. It wasn't much different, but she was as fully covered as she ever chose to be. "All because I'm covered up doesn't mean you can resist me any better." She said, deliberately sending Po a psychic push with all the signals.

Po resisted, however, and softened his tone. "Seriously. This has been bothering me." He knew the beast could read his thoughts, and with spending all of his mental resources blocking the pushes to turn him into a quivering puddle of yes mistress, he was certain Renki was reading his thoughts.

She sighed, leaning back. "I know it's been on your mind, but life is better with some mystery, right?" They were suddenly outside, on one of the paths in the swamp surrounding the kingdom. "Trust me, just because we're out here doesn't mean you'll be able to resist me any better. Heck, you're already cracking. Should I turn you into a woman again so you can practice everything I was teaching you?"

Po glared for a moment, but relaxed. "That sounds like fun, as usual... but I really want to know. You told me about how your visions have... well, not quite stopped, but you can't see as much of the future as you're accustomed to."

Renki shot him a cold glance. It wasn't a popular topic.

"Are things getting better? You said one of the things you saw was that I have a prominent role in this mystery of yours."

Renki sighed, but relaxed herself, and smiled a little bit. She grabbed her tail, and began twirling it in the air. "Look. I can tell you everything about it, but at the point I do so, that's it. I need you to be mine, no matter what. You can still get out now, and I'd much prefer you didn't... but the nature of our current contract is such that I have to disclose that to you. I answer this question... you're family. Do you understand?"

He paused. "I thought I was already family?"

She let her tail dangle limply for a moment. "Sort've. Like I said, you currently have the escape clause. I'd prefer you didn't-I want you as my creature, no possibility of other binding loyalties. My price for those answers is that absolute acceptance. The last step into the abyss."

He thought for a moment, as the last time when they talked seriously, his mind was suddenly unclouded. The capricious ruler of Miguo had decided at the founding of the kingdom that all infernal bargains would be done with honor and never coercion.

"I'll need some time to think about that... but there is another question. You have been... with me quite a lot of late."

She waved her free hand. "You're the new toy, it will pass."

"Will it?"

She smiled again, and wrapped an arm around him, the light from the lantern staff glowing warmly on them both. "I can't say for how long, but you're the current favorite. So much so I do want you in the family, properly. Not just as a card carrying member. Seriously, when you're out there, you prove you were born to be a demon."

"I get the feeling you feel I was born to be with you. And don't give me that succubus business, I've seen how you treat the ones that are just because you're a succubus."

She nodded. "Sometimes I think that... it's fun to actually have someone try to resist me-especially when that person actually can from time to time. But that's why I need you all in before I answer your question. You've got to decide if you'd rather be one of us forever... or if you're going to give that ring of reincarnation a shot. Or even if you think being my minion isn't how you want to spend eternity."

"Well... From what I've seen, the benefits are amazing." He smiled at her. "And I'd imagine that most everyone else is less fair than you are when it comes to these kinds of things."

She nods, solemnly. "While you don't know the depths of it yourself, you genuinely do have an idea of it out there. ...and that next question... I'm making you ask that one."

He stopped for a moment. He really wasn't prepared to SAY that, but it certainly was on his mind, and she was clearly reading it like an open book. "Fine.. is it love? Do we have something? Or is it just momentary?"

"It's love." she replied, simply. "Whether its burning eternal love, or just for the moment, neither of us will know for a while. Make no mistake kid-I really do like you. For how long...? Who knows."

He nods. "Better than I could hope for from what I remember about that subject. There's one more thing. Do you think that I can actually fix whatever it is that's blocking your sight of the future if I go down the path with you?"

She nods. "I can't say for sure on account of that I can't really see the future clearly right now, but I can say this. Events ARE waiting for you to decide just how closely you stand with me. It will make a difference."

"I dunno if it's the right choice, but at least right now... even with all your hijinks and everything you do to me, I'd rather go all in with you. This has been the most fun I've ever had, and I could never go back to being a mundie after this."

She nods. "Yeah, your spirit looked like it tried that and it didn't go so well for ya. So, to answer your question... yeah, I have been working more and more with you. I'm not sure when, but at some point, you and I are going to have to work together the way you and Scribe work together."

"Wait, you mean you and I will be fighting side by side sometime!?"

"Yeah. The nature of this new agreement... just so we're clear... is that need to look out for each other. And if anyone ever tries to change that? You handle it like a demon."

Po nods. "I think I can do that. So... gonna make me a girl and make me get on my knees now?"

"I've been thinking about it the whole time, but y'know... I think I'd rather go for a walk with you tonight, and just enjoy my kingdom with someone else."

Smiling at one another, they held hands and proceeded to walk down the lanes, cross the marshes, and pull cheeky pranks on anyone out there that night. And as they did so, laughing together, forging for the first time a bond of actual friendship instead of using one another for each other's goals, fate's deck began to cycle once again.