ALLOWED TO QUIT BEING HUMAN

　Koko had left with nothing but the clothes on her back. There had been no time to pack what few belongings she owned, now turned to ash in the inferno that had engulfed her hometown. Aside from her newly-acquired spellbook, the ragged cardigan and dress she wore were the only things remaining in her possession.

　She pulls her sleeve down over her hand.

　"We ought to find you something else to wear." Zophis speaks up from beside her.

　Koko holds out the hem of her dress in both hands and inspects herself in the full-length mirror, twisting from side to side.

　"Wouldn't you prefer to wear clothes that better suit you?"

　What kind of clothes would suit her? It wasn't something she had ever been given the opportunity to explore. Always having to settle for whatever garments she could manage to get ahold of, wearing them until they were threadbare, and continuing to wear them even then.

　"I'll get you whatever you’d like, Koko. I could even have something made for you."

　"What? You'd really do that?"

　"Of course. You are my partner now." Zophis takes the ratty fabric of Koko's clothes between his fingers, looking at it with clear distaste. "...And I don't want my partner to be seen in something like this. Your appearance should be more... befitting of your position."

　"...It can really be anything I want?"

　"Anything." A thin smile crosses Zophis's lips. "That is, as long as I approve."

　Koko lets out a little laugh, surprised and amused. It was her first time receiving such an offer. In the past, her pride would have kept her from accepting it, but now...

　"Come." Zophis takes her by the arm.

　He leads her across the room and sits at an antique bureau. Koko watches curiously as he leans down and produces a notebook from one of the drawers, flips open to a blank page, and puts pen to paper.

　"Perhaps... something like this?"

　A rough but readable sketch.

　"Just an idea."

　Koko leans over him from behind the chair and blinks down at the drawing.

　"Oh, wow..."

　She's both impressed by his artistic ability and by the design of the outfit. It's more elegant than even the nicest dress she's ever owned, as low a bar to clear as that may be. It almost reminds her of something Sherry would wear, almost.

　Koko frowns and moves in, angling herself so that she can reach the desk.

　"But, maybe..."

　Zophis allows her to take the pen from his hand, and she begins to make her own adjustments to his illustration. She knows she's no good at drawing, and it most likely looks as if she's just scribbling over her partner's hard work, but... Koko leans back and admires her handiwork, one hand still on Zophis's shoulder. A shorter skirt, looser sleeves, more frills. Tall boots with high heels.

　"So that's what you like, Koko..." Zophis holds the paper up and examines it with a slight tilt of the head. "I wouldn't have expected that, with what you've got on now. So reserved..."

　Koko's self-satisfied smile falters momentarily.

　"...But, after all, you are my fated partner. It's only natural for you to have good taste."

　The words "fated partner" felt heavily weighted. Surely they didn't carry the implications she heard in them, but to be called as such, to be praised for a simple thing like that... Like a valve, something in her heart twists and tightens.

　"Of course!" Koko allows herself some confidence. "I just wasn't able to express myself until now."

　"Ohh."

　She leans closer, making to rest her head against Zophis's, when suddenly he rises from his seat.

　"I'd be pleased to see you wearing such a lovely outfit. But, I'll need to take your measurements if you'd like me to tailor it." A lispticked smile of little needle teeth. "Why don't you go sit over there?"

　Koko follows his hand with her eyes as he motions to the bed. She remains fixed in place.

　"Just while I get things ready, Koko."

　"Right... Right."

　Hesitantly, she makes her way over and perches herself on the edge of the mattress. Sitting on her hands, ankles crossed, she watches Zophis rummage through the drawers of the bureau at the corner of her vision. The quiet clattering of various objects being shifted around fills the sudden silence between them. Zophis returns to her again before long. Now that Koko is no longer standing, it's clear to see who is leading their little dance.

　"Pardon me a moment."

　Before Koko has the chance to ask what for, Zophis lifts her chin so that her eyes meet his. Koko blinks, feeling Zophis's palm flat against her forehead, as if he were checking for a fever. Warmth rushes to her face when Zophis closes the short distance between them.

　"Zophis..."

　Koko can't avert her gaze. Zophis stares intently into her eyes, purple and pupilless, already reflective and glassy. His ink-black irises suddenly shift to concentric circles of red and yellow. Emitting an eerie glow, the demon's concentrated gaze penetrates straight through to the back of Koko's mind. Koko thinks she must be mesmerized by the vibrant colors, if not by the light, but soon thinking at all becomes difficult; She feels her consciousness being sucked up and sealed away in some tiny box hidden deep within her. Her head is full of haze as Zophis's voice echoes inside it.

　Quiet your thoughts for a bit, and just do as I say.

　Koko's autonomy is switched off so simply.

　After ensuring the light had completely faded from Koko's eyes, Zophis removes his hand and backs away.

　"Stand by the mirror again." He orders her.

　There was no purpose in verbally commanding a puppet, but there was a certain amusement to be found in it. An ignorant and prying eye may not easily recognize the degree of control the puppeteer held. Koko takes her place in front of the mirror once more. Standing beside her, Zophis is little more than half her height. He looks her up and down slowly, scrutinizing.

　"Undress yourself."

　The knitted outerwear falls to the floor first, then Koko's frayed fingertips pull loose the string at the neck of her dress. The removal of the ill-fitting frock is utterly graceless— Hiked up above her head it was indistinguishable from a crumpled bed sheet. She pulls it off her body with a jerking motion, almost mechanical, automaton-like, staying wrapped around her arms for a moment before being shed completely. The spectacle earns a dry chuckle from Zophis.

　Expressionless and unmoving, Koko would look at home only in the world's saddest show window. She stands exposed in her undergarments, which are in as sorry a state as the rest of her clothes. Dingy, mismatched, plain. Zophis circles around her, less shark and more vulture— Not corralling his prey, but preparing to descend upon something that's long been a carcass. Koko's mind is desert-empty. Zophis slips a finger into the space between Koko's ribcage and the worn elastic of her bra and sighs. Does nothing fit this woman? He shifts his gaze downwards over the protruding bones of her pelvis, over her shins, mottled with bruises. Zophis notes that her arms, too, bear similar discolorations, when something else grabs his attention. Rows of shallow lacerations, some more faded with time than others.

　He examines her wrist, transfixed. His pulse quickens at the litany of thin horizontal lines etched upon her skin. How unsightly. How horribly human. How wonderful, Koko, my beautiful Koko... It was easy for him to understand why Koko exhibited this uniquely human behavior. He had already peered into her memories, reading those painful recollections of a miserable past like an open book. Beaten in the streets like a feral dog. Countless nights spent curled under a tattered blanket, cold and starving. Held down and violated against her will, tear-stained cheeks pressed to filthy cobblestone, pressed to wooden planks, pressed to the same tattered blanket.

　Sherry. Smiling Sherry, warm Sherry, cheerful, awkward Sherry. Beloved Sherry, hated Sherry. Sherry who could never fathom Koko's pain, who somehow remained ignorant to the extent of her suffering. Koko who always smiled at her dearest friend, masking the resentment that grew with each encounter. You work so hard, Koko. As if she had a choice. You're so strong. But Koko did not think herself strong as she took the blade to her arm, as the red blood beaded on her skin, seeped out like a poison. In the secrecy of her heart, she despised Sherry as much as she truly cared for her. In the secrecy of her room, she cast a blood curse. It was in equal parts vengeful and penitent. A self-inflicted punishment for thinking it would have been better to let Sherry drown that rainy day all those years ago. Koko hated those who had wronged her, and she hated herself all the more for the contempt she felt towards the one person who had shown her true kindness.

　A jagged grin threatens to split Zophis's face in two, and he has to hold himself back from cackling with glee. He runs his thumb over Koko's forearm, thrilled by the subtle changes in topology. Beautiful, Koko, splendid. You look so ordinary, but what a fascinating girl you are! It'll be such fun to make use of you. My precious partner, my perfect plaything...

　Zophis snaps his fingers, freeing Koko from his spell. Molesting a mannequin had its undeniable appeal, but he was more curious now to see her reactions. Koko's awareness returns to her all at once, and she immediately notices the state of undress she unexpectedly finds herself in. Rather than shielding her body, her first instinct is to hide the scars on her arm.

　"Zophis, what happened to my clothes?" Koko's words come out quickly.

　"You took them off so that your measurements would be as accurate as possible." Feigning both ignorance and concern, Zophis tilts his head. "Are you feeling alright?"

　Koko furrows her brow as she tries in vain to recall disrobing.

　"I must've just spaced out..." Reassuring herself like this did little to ease her concern, but she nonetheless relaxes her posture.

　Zophis responds with a disinterested hum. He's taken out the measuring tape and stretched it out before him. Not needing a stool to stand on, he hovers further off the floor and presses the ends of the tape to his partner's shoulders. Koko flinches almost imperceptibly under his touch, at the cool plastic pulled straight over her clavicle. Zophis holds it there for a moment, making a mental note of the number. Next, he circles around back of her and winds it around her torso, her breasts bisected horizontally by the tape. Feeling the pressure there, a single, soft syllable escapes Koko's lips.

　"Ah..."

　Embarrassment overtakes her— She quickly cups her hand over her mouth.

　"Please lower your arm." Zophis speaks without looking away from the instrument held between his fingers. "Or else it may not fit you properly..."

　He's already moved on to measuring the underbust, the tape now wrapped around Koko's ribcage.

　"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Koko."

　But how shameful it all was! Practically stripped naked before such an elegant creature, when she herself was so dull. To be touched so carefully by him, to be doted upon... Koko's heart pounded so much so that she worried Zophis could feel it, although his hands did not touch her directly. She wished he'd linger longer, but more than that she wanted him to embrace all the parts of her body with that thin strip of plastic...

　"Oh, I love it, Zophis! It's perfect..."

　The pair again find themselves before a tall mirror, but the image of Koko reflected therein has changed considerably. Her form-fitting scarlet garments couldn't stand in more stark contrast to her wardrobe from before her fateful meeting with Zophis. Koko admires herself, watching how the darker material of her corset and boots catches the light. Zophis admires her as well, the corner of his mouth pulled into a wry smile. While aspects of this outfit had been Koko's decision, she was still his dress-up doll in the end. How gorgeous she looked, clad in his favorite shade of red. Zophis traces his fingertips under the ruffled hem of his partner's skirt, to confirm its volume.

　"Everything fits as it should?" He asks, glancing up at her.

　"Mm, it's actually very comfortable." Koko twists her torso to demonstrate.

　"Very good..." A pause. "You look marvelous, Koko. What a pair we make!"

　Zophis chuckles, pleased with himself, pleased with how he has molded his partner.

　"All thanks to you, Zophis."

　All thanks to him, Koko felt truly beautiful for the first time in her life. Like a work of art, Zophis's masterpiece put up on a pedestal. Not only this, but he had given her a taste of power beyond her wildest imagination, allowing the flame of her destructive desires to grow and completely consume her. And from the ashes sprung a new self.

　All thanks to Zophis, no one would be able to hurt her ever again.

　Koko bends down at the waist to be nearer to Zophis, her freshly manicured hands placed over her leather-covered knees.

　"I'm really so grateful... I feel like I can do anything. I will make you King, I promise." Her eyes narrow, she smirks. "And then..."

　"And then I'll remake the Demon World to my liking. From the ground up." The mere thought of it brings a wicked grin to Zophis's face. "With someone like you by my side, my victory is all but assured. My ideal world, within my reach..."

　He brushes one of the long side locks of Koko's hair away from her face, cupping her cheek. Something solid lightly taps against his knuckle.

　"...Where did these come from?"

　Koko returns to an upright position and tucks her hair behind both ears. A rectangular earring hung from each, carved from lacquered wood and light in color. A sun was emblazoned in black upon the left, and a moon upon the right.

　"Do you like them? I made them myself."

　The idea for the tiny accessories had come to her at complete random, but she could not shake the feeling that it had been somehow absolutely necessary for her to include them in her new ensemble. However, she repeatedly failed to place the importance of the celestial symbols, as any time she tried, it felt as if her train of thought was attempting to push through a deep sludge. And so at times when Zophis was preoccupied with strategizing, Koko would whittle away at the little wooden blocks until they were finished.

　Zophis purses his purple lips. In all honesty he found them tacky, unrefined in comparison to the rest of Koko's attire. Personally, he would have chosen a simple gemstone stud... But to restrict Koko on such a trivial matter may prove to be a mistake. Why not allow her a few paltry freedoms?

　"They're certainly suited to you."