The night was still. Almost unnaturally still. A faint breeze whispered through the trees around the Oga household, carrying the occasional rustle of leaves that sounded like soft warning bells to anyone awake. But sleep was no ally for the Oga family tonight.
Beelzebub, wide-eyed and trembling, sat up on his futon and let out a small squeal that crackled with electricity. It was not a cry of hunger nor fear; it was a desperate alarm, the kind of primal, visceral wail that only a child—and a demon child at that—could produce. Sparks shot in erratic bursts across the room, illuminating Oga's dark, tired eyes in sudden flashes.
Oga stirred violently, nearly toppling over the futon. "Ah—Beel... not again..." he muttered groggily, heart thumping in recognition of the warning cries. He remembered all too clearly the last time Kogen had left without a word, the grim night when Oga had followed him into the blood-soaked wilderness, witnessing horrors that had left his stomach churning and his mind spinning.
The memory of the titan—the monstrous, human-like creature, the colossal mass of muscle and fury Kogen had faced single-handedly—surfaced like a ghost. The vivid images of Kogen, completely stoic, eyes cold and dead, covered in blood but moving with terrifying precision, replayed behind Oga's eyelids. He had felt helpless then, the weight of fear almost suffocating. And now, that same icy sensation crawled over him, coiling around his chest.
Beel's cries escalated, small sparks fizzing along the futon sheets, jolting Oga fully awake. The baby demon's tiny fists clenched and shook as he emitted a high-pitched squeal that vibrated through the room. Oga groaned, rubbing his eyes with one hand while the other tried to shield himself from the erratic electrical sparks. "Dammit... what is it now?" he muttered, his voice hoarse from sleep deprivation but already tying his shoes to follow kogen.
Kogen had left quietly—no fanfare, no warning—and Beel, sensitive to every nuance of his mama's habits, had sensed it immediately.
Through the window, Oga could make out a shadow moving in the moonlight, sleek and deliberate. And then he saw it: Kogen, serene and impossibly calm as always, stepping lightly into the darkness. Beside him, a small, sinuous form padded with fluid grace—black fur glinting in the moonlight. The kitten from earlier? No... it had changed. Its form stretched, muscles rippling, tail lengthening and swishing with predatory precision. The tiny black cat had transformed into a juvenile panther, still with the same regal air, but far larger, more commanding, and undeniably dangerous.
Oga's stomach dropped. "No... not again..." he muttered, recalling how helpless he had felt the last time Kogen had gone off alone. Beel, sensing the same memory, emitted another squeal, sparks flying more violently than before, almost as if he were trying to warn Oga not to follow or to brace himself. Oga followed him with beel till they reached a clearing. There they saw something they did not think was possible. The little kitten that was following oga and kogen around transformed into a black panther.
Kogen knelt down near the panther, his twin swords sheathed at his sides, eyes glinting faintly in the dim light. "Long time no see, Jagua," he said softly, almost tenderly. The panther's ears twitched, and it let out a low, rumbling purr that seemed to resonate through the earth itself.
Oga blinked, frozen mid-step, as Beel trembled in place. "...Wait... wait a second. Who... what... is that?" Oga demanded, voice cracking with a mix of fear and confusion. He could barely process the enormity of what was happening.
Kogen's gaze shifted to Oga, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You do have a talent for following me, don't you, darling?" he said lightly, though Oga barely registered the teasing. His heart was hammering against his chest, and Beel's tiny body was shaking in alarm beside him.
Ignoring the "darling," Oga managed to choke out, "I... I mean... who... what is this thing?!"
"That," Kogen replied, voice calm but tinged with authority, "is Jagua. My familiar. The jaguar of death. And now, it is part of our family."
Oga's jaw dropped. "Family?!" he sputtered, looking from Kogen to the panther and back again. "You mean... this thing... is like... a demon... your... pet or...?"
Kogen's expression softened, almost imperceptibly, as he turned slightly, allowing the moonlight to illuminate the panther's powerful frame. "More than a pet, Oga. Jagua has been my companion for centuries. And now, it will be little beel protector as well."
Beel's tiny eyes widened. Sparks fizzled along his fists, more from awe than anger this time. The baby demon had never seen a creature like this, and yet he recognized something familiar in the panther—the same unwavering loyalty, the same quiet, deadly power that Kogen exuded.
The panther crouched slightly, head tilting as it regarded Beel. Then, in a deep, resonant voice that seemed impossibly human, it spoke:
"You are the child my master has chosen to raise," it said, its voice a deep rumble that reverberated through the ground beneath Oga's feet. "And so, you are mine to raise as well."
Beel froze. Sparks fizzled along his tiny fists, his jaw dropped, and his little ears flattened in shock. He had never heard anything speak like that. His tiny body quivered as he tried to comprehend the meaning: This... this creature is claiming me... for mama...?
Oga blinked, gaping. "Wha—Wait... you can talk?" he stammered, voice cracking. "You—this panther... what do you mean, mine to raise?!"
Kogen crouched slightly, resting one hand on Jagua's sleek black fur. "Do not fear, Beel," he said softly, his voice gentle but firm. "Jagua will protect you from now on. Just as I will. You are safe in his presence, as you are with me. There is no need for fear."
Beel's sparks flickered, but his little fists slowly unclenched. The tiny demon's eyes, though wide, softened slightly. Kogen's calm, steady presence had a strange gravity, something Beel had always trusted instinctively.
Jagua stepped forward, lowering its massive head until its glowing green eyes were level with Beel's. Its enormous paw pressed gently on Beel's head, not with force but with unmistakable authority. The baby demon flinched initially, then relaxed under the firm but protective pressure. Jagua's deep rumble vibrated through the ground again, like a purr amplified a hundredfold.
Beel blinked, then squeaked softly, curling slightly into the panther's paw. Sparks still crackled faintly around him, but there was no anger, only a mixture of awe and the tiniest hint of relief.
Oga stepped closer, still tense. "So... wait... this thing... it's... going to... protect Beel? Like, permanently?" he asked, voice still shaky, unsure if he was imagining the scene.
"Yes," Kogen replied simply, one hand resting gently on the panther's back. His expression was calm, though his eyes held that faint melancholy that Oga had seen once before—the same shadow from the night Kogen had faced the titan alone. "From now on, Jagua is his guardian. And Jagua does not fail in his duties."
Beel squeaked again, a high, delighted sound, and nuzzled the panther's massive paw. Jagua responded with a slow lick to the baby demon's head, a clear marking gesture, declaring Beel part of his own kin—just as cats did when claiming those they considered family. Sparks danced lightly, but this time they were harmless, a kind of magical energy born of approval rather than jealousy.
Oga's jaw dropped so far it nearly hit the floor. "...Are you serious...? The... panther... just... licked Beel... like... he's... family... or something?!"
Kogen's faint smile deepened, tinged with warmth. "It is done," he said softly. "Jagua is his protector, as I am. Beel, you may rest assured: nothing will harm you while we stand together."
Beel, still squeaking in a mixture of excitement and relief, latched onto Kogen's sleeve, pressing his tiny forehead against the man's arm. Sparks now flickered gently, not in anger, but in the contentment of a tiny demon who felt safe for the first time in days.
Oga rubbed his temples, muttering under his breath. "...Tch. Great... now we've got a talking panther following us around... and Beel's acting like he's found his new mom... and I... I'm still supposed to survive this... somehow."
Kogen's eyes flicked to Oga, lips curving into a soft smile. "You are capable of more than you realize, darling," he said teasingly. "You and Beel... together, you can endure far more than you believe. And Jagua will help."
Oga groaned audibly. "...You just keep calling me that... and I'm going to lose my mind before sunrise."
Kogen chuckled softly, ignoring Oga's muttered protests, and bent slightly to stroke Beel's head. "You see? Everything is as it should be," he murmured. "You are protected... by those who care for you."
Beel let out a happy squeak, leaning closer to Jagua, while the panther's massive head lowered until its emerald eyes met Beel's, unblinking and unwavering in silent promise. Oga could only watch, still half terrified, half amazed, as the tiny baby demon and the jaguar of death formed a bond that radiated calm and absolute protection across the moonlit night.
And in the distance, the faint memory of Kogen's last escape—the titan, the blood, the cold, dead eyes—loomed in Oga's mind. But now, with Jagua by their side, and Kogen's quiet assurance, a small part of Oga dared to hope. Perhaps... this time, they were truly safe.