The Place You Will Return To
Take Note:
This is a sequel to 'The Air That You Breathe'. To completely appreciate the story, please read the prequel before proceeding. Thank you.
Full Story Summary:
(Mikoto Suoh x fem!Reisi Munakata) And so the butterfly effect begins. Months passed since then Red King, Mikoto Suoh, had made the ultimate decision to set himself free from the influence of the Slate. Without the Red King to guide them, Homra plunged into a great fallout, endangering the group's very existence. A new and powerful enemy has risen and has caused a dilemma that could endanger mankind. Graciously accepting the duty as the guardian of the mysterious Dresden Slate, the Blue Queen, Reisi Munakata, is then faced with a crisis that might lead her to her untimely death. (also contains Izumo x Seri and Saruhiko x Misaki)
Chapter Three:
The Ashes Calling Their Names
There's a memory of how we used to be
That I can see through the flames
I am hypnotized as I fantasize
Forgetting lies and pain
But I can't go back
The ashes call my name
'Your powers are not meant for destruction. They exist to protect.'
Those had been Tatara Totsuka's words to Mikoto before, regarding Mikoto Suoh's Red Aura. Little did Tatara know that Mikoto faced a great struggle in accepting those words. Anna, unlike Tatara, knows Mikoto's disdain and bitterness towards those carefree words that once left Tatara's mouth. For Mikoto, the Red Aura had been his biggest cross which he was forced to carry. Try as he did, he could not see the Aura as a power to be used for protecting people because to him all that he created while wielding that great power was chaos, destruction.
'Can I turn this power into something that protects?'
"It's no longer my Red. It's different. It's your Red, your Color, Anna…" she could feel the amazing power coursing through her veins, through her nerves, through her body as Mikoto spoke to her, "…no, I mean…Red Queen."
The power she is feeling inside her body is no longer Mikoto's Red. Then that means that this power isn't the same pretty yet scary Fire that once ate Mikoto from the inside-out. Opening her eyes, she saw Mikoto holding her hand with his right hand, the very hand that serves forever as a reminder of the tortures he had faced while wielding the Red Aura.
When Anna opened her eyes, Mikoto immediately met with her eyes. Her eyes were no longer magenta – but they glowed with a red color. A shudder passed through Mikoto's spine, goose-bumps appearing across his skin. The little girl who had been so scares, so frightened to the bone a few seconds ago, is now looking at him with an amazing strength and resolve he had never seen in her before. The smooth piece of rock which Mikoto recognized as the Dresden Slate beneath Anna began glowing beneath her in a familiar red color. Mikoto stepped back, watching as Anna accepts the Power being granted into her.
"No blood…" Red Aura glowed from Anna and it left her small body in outstanding vigor. It looked like it has a mind of its own, a giant cradling a tiny girl. "…no bone…" Anna lifted her head, the hood over her head falling. She raised her arms to her side while the force coming from the strength of her Aura shattered the birdcage she was placed in, freeing herself, "…no ash!"
The Red Aura left the girl in violent waves; looking like water willowing in the sea, crashing against rocks. Mikoto watched in awe as she floated in mid-air, carried by the red light around her. The pressure, the force and the strength of her Aura shattered the glass of the windows in the room. There came a howling of wind inside the room and its strong force pushed Mikoto but he stood his ground; keeping his feet planted firmly on the floor. The heat radiating from her Red scalded his skin. The brightness coming from Anna blinded him and he wanted to look away but he couldn't. It was so beautiful. He never would have thought that something as dangerous as the Red Aura from the Slate could look so beautiful. It swirled around Anna and slowly forms the shape of wings on her back. Translucent red angelic wings. The sparkling Red exploded all around her like confetti. Mikoto's eyes followed that light encircling around Anna as it floated up. His eyes widened when he recognized the shape the Aura was forming.
Misaki was as dumbfounded as Mikoto and Izumo was. He stared at Anna and he couldn't look away even if there were already bright flecks of light that formed in his eyes.
Mikoto's jaw dropped as he sees what was being formed over Anna's body. It was the Sword of Damocles. His heart hammered violently in his chest and as he was staring at the Sword, he sees the memories of last time – the time when he still had the Red Aura. He remembered the moments when he was so high with the Power granted to him, the moments of being haunted by the demons that tried to seduce him into causing havoc and destruction, and the moment of his greatest, sweetest fall. He saw his own Sword of Damocles above him as it was dissolved into tiny flecks of red lights being carried by the wind. If Anna were to experience the same thing…will a little girl like her, one who has faced so much heartache in her life, take it all?
Slowly, Anna descends from mid-air while the Red Aura that billowed out of her body disappeared as her feet got in contact with the ground.
Looking behind him towards Misaki and Izumo upon feeling a shudder run against his back, he sees their whole bodies being engulfed by a greater, brighter red color. Yes, it is no longer his Red…but Anna's…
"Power…" Misaki mumbled softly; marveling at the color that rushed out of him, "I'm overflowing with power…"
Izumo glanced at Misaki, opening his mouth to speak but as soon as the Aura from Anna has disappeared, the armored Green clansman dashed towards Misaki, throwing pieces of kunai towards him. Izumo sent a wave of his Aura to shield Misaki while the younger redhead moved in towards the enemy as soon as Izumo's Aura had dissolved. Misaki and the Green clansman exchanged blows at one another – blade against the wooden stick. Misaki feels how Anna's Aura had increased the strength in him. Seeing an opening from his opponent, Misaki delivered a forceful punch at the ninja, sending him flying and then falling to the ground.
"Anna!" Mikoto watched as the wings on Anna's back began to sway in an irregular fashion, looking as though they had developed minds of their own. Anna looked frightened. It looked like she was losing her control on her newly-discovered powers. Her Aura on her back began to take a different form – from wings to a phoenix, a bird that rises from the ashes after it was burned to the ground. The phoenix-shaped Aura was lifelike, looking like it was on a rampage. Anna falls on her hands and knees, gasping for breath. The look of strength and resolve returned on her smooth face as she glanced at the Slate beneath her, glaring at it.
"Stay back…" Anna muttered as Mikoto and Izumo anxiously took a step forward at her. Taking a deep breath, Anna mumbled at the Dresden Slate, "I won't lose to you."
Looking up at the Sword of Damocles, Mikoto watched as the phoenix flew up; destroying everything in its way. He glanced over back at Anna who was still in a deep stare-down battle with the Dresden Slate. The newly-enthroned Red Queen was shaking all over. Mikoto then looked back at the Sword of Damocles, watching as the phoenix vanishes at the mere touch of the large orb on the Sword's handle. From the debris that shattered from the phoenix's rampage, Mikoto sees the familiar figure of two men. Squinting, Mikoto then recognizes that it was the Black Dog and Yukari Mishakuji. They continued to battle even if they were falling in mid-air from the ceiling, the blades of their swords glowing in different color; creating sparks as they parried. The two landed on the ground in a distance from Mikoto and the others. Catching his footing, Kuroh lunges at Yukari with an amazing hustle, hitting the man and throwing him across the room and on the wall.
"Kurosuke!" Neko exclaimed.
Despite being able to damage his opponent, Kuroh sank on his knees, spitting blood. Neko, who had been hiding even before Anna unleashed her Red Aura, wanted to rush to her companion's side but she was stopped at the sound of the green parrot cawing the name of Kuroh's opponent. Even with Kuroh successfully hitting him, Yukari stood up from the attack, not a strand of hair out of place and a cocky smirk still on his lips. The small green bird landed on Yukari's slender shoulder.
"Are you satisfied, Yukari?" The bird's once high-pitched voice suddenly changed into a lower-toned voice, one that apparently belongs to a man. "Please return. You've done enough. The one who stands before you is no longer a clansman targeted for capture…"
Mikoto looked up at Yukari and at the speaking bird as he assists Anna to stand.
"…She's the Third, the Red Queen."
"But, Nagare, I won't be satisfied unless I return with one head, at least. Only puny little Red pawns are here to defend the girl. Mikoto Suoh, the ex-Third, is here and I can easily defeat a defective reject like him. Besides, the Red Queen you speak of is but a newborn and she can barely control her powers. I can handle her easily too."
"We achieved what we set out to do. One must know enough is enough."
Mikoto decreases his distance from Anna and Izumo and Misaki rushed in front of the Red Queen as though they mean to act like her knights.
"Nagare Hisui…the Green King?" Izumo exclaimed in shock.
"The fucking bird is the Green King?!" Misaki says.
"Nah, the bird's prob'ly just a medium." Izumo answered, "The Greens are capable of all sorts of tricks."
A wide smile crept on Yukari's lips, appreciating Izumo's knowledge about them and their King.
"I regret that I cannot greet you in person, but how do you do, Red Queen?" says the voice coming from the parrot's mouth. "I am Nagare Hisui, the Fifth and Green King. Please excuse me for having to leave so soon. As a gesture of apology, allow me to send you a little birthday present. It could also be remained gift."
"Show me how lucky you are by not dying here, Kuroh." says Yukari, "We'll meet again." He walks away and with a twirl, he was engulfed by a blinding green light before finally disappearing.
As soon as the Greens had left, Neko rushed to Kuroh's side, helping him stand up.
"Damn it! They ran away!" Misaki said angrily.
"Maybe they just left us out." Izumo said, calmly, "Anyway, let's get the hell out of here…" he turned to leave.
"Wait."
The way Mikoto spoke that single word made Izumo and Misaki pause from walking away to look at him. There was something. Mikoto could feel it on his gut. Something tells him that there is something absolutely wrong. The twitching and distinct static sound of electricity filled his ears and glancing around them, Mikoto saw a green electrical current passing against the surface of the walls.
"What's that?" Mikoto muttered.
"Hey, what's goin' on?" Izumo said.
"Up there!" in a jolt, Anna glanced up.
They followed where Anna was looking at and saw her Sword of Damocles and Green cackled around it like lightning in a stormy night.
"What the fuck is that…?" Misaki mumbled.
From the corner of his eye, Mikoto sees a slight movement from nearby. The Green clansman who had been Misaki's opponent a while back is awake and lifting his face, he mumbled, "The Lightning Bolt technique…?" Hearing him, Misaki paced angrily towards his direction, and grabbing the collar of his shirt, pulled him close, demanding, "Hey, explain this!" The mask over the ninja's face finally falls from its face with how hard Misaki was shaking her, exposing a female's face. The woman glanced at him; she was a blonde woman with green eyes covered with a pair of glasses with pink frames.
"Y-you're a w-w-woman?!" Awkwardly, Misaki release the woman from his grasp; stammering and turning red as he backed away from her.
"It's a technique where the Green King amasses power from lower-ranking clansmen to create lightning."
"This ain't good." Izumo muttered before glancing at Mikoto. Mikoto, on the other hand, didn't look back at Izumo. He continued staring at the green lightning cackling around Anna's Sword of Damocles.
"He's going to blast us all at once? Damn!" mumbled the woman beneath her breath. Misaki turned to look back at the woman but she was already sinking to the ground with the use of her manipulation technique. Apparently, even she is not aware of what her King planned on doing.
"We should get out of here!" Neko panicked.
"It's…" Kuroh answered, "…it's too late."
The Black Dog is right. Even if they were to run away, it's too late now. Mikoto watched a huge green orb form above Anna's Sword of Damocles. Swallowing at the saliva that accumulated in his mouth with a loud gulp, he gritted his teeth together. Within a heartbeat, a heavy and huge green lightning shot from the said orb; coming at their direction in an astounding swiftness.
Anna raised her palms and quickly, a shield formed around her Sword of Damocles, protecting them from the huge blast of electricity.
Mikoto glanced at Anna, calling out her name but she did not seem to hear him underneath the sound of static and explosion.
This is too much for her to handle, he knows. She can't do this, not all alone and in the state in which she is in – exhausted, pressured and still new to the Power of the Red Aura. Clenching his hands into fists, Mikoto closed his eyes; feeling the painful throbbing of his brain against his skull. It infuriates him that he is unable to do anything to help Anna at the time of need, with all their lives at stake.
On and on, the lightning was brought forth at their direction; pounding at the shield Anna had set up to protect them. It wasn't stopping, not even lessening with its intensity.
"This time, I'll protect…" Anna said, "…everyone!"
All of them held their breaths as Anna continued fighting back the lethal electricity ready to slay them.
But Mikoto was right. This is too much for her to handle, and she cannot do it on her own. Their eyes widened as they watched Anna taking a few steps backwards in exhaustion, losing her balance before falling back to the ground, the shield around her Sword disappearing. In haste, Izumo catches the Red Queen's petite body in his arms. The lightning had stopped the second Anna's shield had broken apart but Mikoto knew it wasn't finished. Electricity continued to pass against the green orb before again, shooting another huge lightning at them.
Seconds after the green lightning was shot, Mikoto saw a translucent shield wrapping over them, the same as that of Anna's but different in color. A small smile crept on his thin lips, his tensed demeanor relaxing as he sees another Sword of Damocles floating above them, just beside Anna's. As soon as the lightning had touched the blue shield that was protecting them, lightning was eaten by light blue crystals. The whole length of it was consumed by the snow-like crystals, up until the orb and within a heartbeat, the lightning shattered in a million tiny lights falling around like snow.
"Reisi…" the name slipped out of Mikoto's mouth without him meaning it to as he sighed in relief. He looked up and he is certain that he is grinning like a complete idiot while he eyed his lover's Sword of Damocles.
Sighing out loud, Izumo scratched his head, "Guess we gotta thank your Glasses Girl, huh, Mikoto?"
Anna opened her eyes slowly. Izumo had made her lay her head on his lap and from that angle, looking up, she could see the Blue Queen's Sword and hers as well, both floating mightily in the sky. It was such a sight indeed.
Chuckling, Mikoto shook his head, "She never fails to surprise me. Damn, she makes me crazy…" He whispered, smirking. "…that's why I love her."
Misaki blushed upon hearing Mikoto's mushy words for the Blue Queen. He never would have thought Mikoto would speak like that about anyone, especially the Blue Queen. All the times they were together, Mikoto is not one to share his thoughts and his feelings through words…so when he spoke like that, it was a real shock for Misaki. He shuddered and shaking his head, he said, "Uh…we should go…"
As if waking from a trance, Mikoto cleared his throat, smirking, "Yeah."
. . .
Reisi could only imagine the faces of the people of Homra as she summons her Blue Aura over Mihashira Tower to act as a shield from the gigantic lightning summoned by the Green King, Nagare Hisui. Indeed, she really made sure to summon her Sword of Damocles in the last minute, right after the lightning was fired for the second time…just to make them all anxious. Very cruel, indeed, but she can't resist. She had her men line up in an orderly position while they waited for the Red clansmen who descended from the tower.
She stared at her Sword of Damocles.
A few minutes later, Izumo Kusanagi, Misaki Yata, Mikoto Suoh and Anna Kushina exits from the tower; they looked exhausted – especially the newly enthroned Red Queen. Misaki tensed all over when he saw them.
"In honor of the new Red Queen…" the blonde lieutenant spoke loudly, her voice as clear as the morning pink, blue and violet sky above them, "…men, present your swords!"
One by one, the men of Scepter 4 drew their sabers out of their scabbards before making way for the Red clansmen to pass through.
Misaki immediately followed after Anna as she walked towards the Blue Queen passing the members of Scepter 4. He glared at the Blue clansmen one-by-one as though daring them to touch the Red Queen. Behind Misaki, Mikoto and Izumo walked side by side. As soon as Izumo sees the right-hand woman of the Blue Queen, he smiled at her, "Hey, Seri-chan, guten morgen…" He greeted her.
Seri acknowledged Izumo's cheerful greeting; nodding her head at him in silence.
Misaki, coming to stand in front of his former friend as he and Anna passes him, hesitantly looked at Saruhiko. He couldn't look at him in the eye…even if he did help them find Anna. Clearing his throat and timidly glancing at the dark-haired young man, he finally gathered enough courage to mutter, "T-Th-Thank you for the help…" but Saruhiko snubbed his gratitude, thus, angering the redhead.
"Thank you for saving us." Anna tells the Blue Queen who stood at the back of her clansmen.
"I'm sure my assistance would've been unnecessary if you were in your best condition." Reisi answered.
Reisi and her polite nature. It sure did irritate Mikoto on how formal she speaks but he has gotten used to it. Pocketing his hands in the pockets of his pants, Mikoto flapped his lips, taking his eyes off of his lover who has no intention of looking at him at the moment. Reisi is ignoring his apparent existence just behind the Red Queen, being all professional and setting aside her personal life while wearing her blue uniform.
"It is a fact that Nagare Hisui, the Green King, warrants surveillance." Reisi continued, she scowled, "He is a disturbing fellow."
Staring blankly into space at the opposite direction made Mikoto immediately catch sight of the former Homra members who had been the ones present even as the group started to fall apart. There they were, just standing there, namely, Rikio Kamamoto, Yo Chitose, Saburota Bando, Eric Solt, Kosuke Fujishima, Masaomi Dewa, and Shohei Akagi. All of them looked confused and relieved.
"I'm glad all of you are safe!" Rikio sighed; breathlessly as he approached them.
Anna nodded at the group before glancing back at Reisi, "Please take care of the rest."
"Understood." Reisi said, smiling pleasantly at Anna before speaking to her people, her face changing into the serious, stern yet relaxed expression very familiar to those of Homra, "By mutual agreement of the Third and Fourth Queens, Mihashira Tower, the dominion of the Second King and the Dresden Slate are now under the supervision of Scepter 4. I, Fourth Queen, Reisi Munakata, shall be entrusted with full authority of said tower."
After that, Anna headed towards Rikio and the others. As soon as the little girl has approached them, they wrapped their arms around her, putting her in between them in a group hug.
"Hey, lemme join as well!" Misaki sad, enthusiastically walking towards the group. He did not notice Saruhiko glancing at his direction and rolling his eyes to the side.
"Reisi…"
"Mikoto!" Izumo was on his way to walking to the others and he paused from walking to turn to look over at his best friend. He grinned at him, the earring now pierced on his ear sparkling at the early sky, "Aren't cha gunna join us?"
Mikoto didn't say anything. He shrugged. 'I don't belong there anymore.', he wanted to say those words but he didn't have the heart to do so, and he didn't know if there's truth in those words. He wanted to be with them…for a while, these people had been his family, but, hell, he couldn't afford to be with them anymore. He has a different life now and with Reisi, he will have a different family…
"C'mon!" Izumo walked towards Mikoto before grabbing him by the arm and yanking him to the group, making him join the group hug. They cheered happily, "No blood! No bone! No ash!" over and over, louder and louder; pumping their fists in the air. It took a while for Mikoto to join them with their chanting. Mikoto is still in shock of what just happened. Anna is now the Red Queen, the one chosen by the Slate to replace him. After three months of not seeing one another, Homra was finally reunited. He was again being overwhelmed with happiness and after watching Anna protecting them from the Green King's attack just now, he couldn't be prouder of her. He glanced at the member of Homra one by one, they were all so happy – tears were falling from Misaki's eyes, Izumo was smiling from ear to ear and Rikio was laughing too much, to the brink of crying.
Mikoto had to admit, Anna took the crown of Red Queen more graciously than he did despite her tender age and despite her knowing his deep struggle to wield his Red Aura before. He had been right – Anna Kushina is indeed strong, and she seems to have decided to use the Aura to protect people instead of using if for destruction.
"Anna, I think we should go and I think that you should take a rest." Izumo said with a smile.
Anna nodded her head.
While the other members of Homra left the area, Mikoto stayed among the grounds of Mihashira Tower. He approached Reisi as soon as he noticed that there were no more members of Scepter 4 who had their eyes on their Queen while she was looking around, "Aren't cha going home, Reisi?" Mikoto said, scowling; he grabbed Reisi by the crook of her arm before decreasing their distance from one another. He then puts his arms around her, sighing.
Reisi squeezed out of his grasp, "I think I can manage a few hours of rest, but I have to get back to work as soon as possible, Suoh." Then she scowled at the redhead who endeavored to show her affection, "And we talked about this. No public displays of affection and no calling me by my first name in public."
"What's the point to that? Yer peeps know about us and so does Homra." Mikoto chased her while she moved on to walk around the grounds. He scowled.
"It makes me uncomfortable."
"Whatever." Mikoto shrugged, "How 'bout we head home together?"
"I still have something to do." Turning around, Reisi caught Mikoto frowning at her answer but much to his surprise, she tried to make it up to him, smiling at him and saying, "I would love for us to head home together…so, can you wait for me?" He did not expect that, he actually thought that she would send him away.
"Yeah."
"Also, don't walk around freely. Stay there."
"Yeah."
After that, Reisi didn't say anything to him anymore.
Mikoto watched as she headed into the tower, leading her people into the tower. Perhaps, before leaving, she wanted to scrutinize every corner of the tower and arrest the Jungle clansmen who are unable yet to flee. He admires her dedication to her job but sometimes, it could really get annoying. He once insisted that she stay home but she refused. He once insisted that she do office work only and not go out and about the places in person but she refused. He grew tired of being persistent so he let her do her own thing. Mikoto actually has no idea what happens to her whenever she's at work. Hell, he doesn't even know if ever or whenever she suffers contractions…
He sighed, crossing his arms to his chest as he leans against the front entrance of Mihashira Tower.
Before descending down the tower, as soon as Misaki and Izumo had left the chamber of the Dresden Slate, Anna stopped Mikoto from following them just for a while so that they could talk in private.
"Mikoto…if you want, I can give you the Red Aura from me…"
That time, Anna was able to see right through him again. She saw it – how much he saw himself as weak while being without his Red Aura. She took hold of his hand and stared at him with unblinking magenta-colored eyes.
Mikoto became speechless after that. He did not know how to respond. It's true that being stripped of the power he wielded for five years needed getting used to, but he couldn't ignore the troubles the Red Aura gave him. With that power, he almost lost control of himself, he almost burned everything to the ground because of the voices that beckoned him to do so. He declined her innocent offer. He was afraid that if he receives the Red Aura, even if it was Anna's and not the same one as his, he would again end up being tempted by his demons. Anna told him that she would be there if ever he changes his mind.
Minutes passed and Mikoto enjoyed the cigarette in his mouth in silence. He had been careful not to smoke around Reisi since he was told that it wouldn't be good for Nazo and it isn't good for Reisi as well.
Seri Awashima made her way out of the tower, startled by the strong odor of cigarette that greeted her. She glanced at Mikoto and she made a scornful expression at the sight of the redhead.
"Where's Reisi?" Mikoto asks, snapping out of his thoughts as soon as he noticed Seri looking at him.
"Captain is on her way back down. Your group did a number at the chamber. She just checked the state of the Dresden Slate in the damaged chamber."
Mikoto doesn't really like Reisi's right-hand woman. He respects how strong and smart she is but he can't stand her boastful face, her arrogant swagger and most especially her interference with his relationship with the Blue Queen.
"Suoh-san."
He scowled, glancing at Seri while wondering why she still has not moved on and left him. She looked like she wanted to say something.
Seri doesn't like Mikoto Suoh. She appreciates his love for the Captain but she's still scared of him, yes, and she doesn't trust him at all even if he is the father of her Captain's child. There is something in the way he languidly moves, how he glares at everything as though he hates everything. He is still the epitome of destruction in her eyes. He may love Reisi Munakata as he says and as he shows but to her, it is not enough. She had been seeing a different side of him since the Ashinaka Incident and he may have changed for the better but there is no assurance that he won't revert back to his former self, especially now that the Red Queen is Anna and there is the possibility of her giving him the Red Aura. Yes, she understands that he may have changed but that doesn't mean that he is no longer the same Mikoto Suoh as before.
"…it's good that you show so much care for Captain but I think that you should double your efforts in doing so. You and I both know that Captain needs to stay away from stressful environment so how about trying to convince her to rest? If you can't convince her then at least keep your eyes and ears at her 24/7…"
"Are ya tellin' me ta join Scepter 4?"
"No."
"Listen up, Miss Lieutenant." Mikoto said, "Reisi is a capable woman who can take care of herself. She ain't the type who needs people treating her like how a mother-hen treats its baby. And if she tells me 'no' then that's that. I dun wanna force her into giving her work up. I'm gunna be there if and when she needs me. So if you ain't got anything relevant to tell me, get the hell outta my face."
"No need to be hostile, Suoh-san." Seri said in return, "I'm just concerned with Captain."
"Compared to my concern for her, yours is but a tiny, tiny speck of dust. Fuck. The. Hell. Off."
After all that happened, Mikoto thought that Seri had learned to mind her own business. What he despises more than anything is sticking their noses in other people's lives and acting like they know everything and telling him what to do even though he already knows what he's doing. Like Seri Awashima. She must have been nice to him before because the fact that he is no longer the Red King hasn't gotten in her head. Now that they're equals, she doesn't hold back and hide whatever ill-feeling she has with him.
"What is going on with the two of you?"
Mikoto and Seri stopped glaring viciously at one another at the mere sound of the Blue Queen's voice. She had just stepped out of the door of the Mihashira Tower. Seri cleared her throat before mumbling, "It's nothing, Captain."
"Yeah. It's nothing." Mikoto answered before quickly spitting the cigarette from his mouth and crushing it with his foot.
Seeing Reisi looking at them with a stoic expression which Mikoto read as her not believing the two of them, Mikoto tried his best to form a smile on his lips despite being so pissed off with his exchange of words with Seri. "Let's go home, babe." He approached Reisi, putting his arm over her shoulders.
"Suoh." Reisi glowered at him, "What did I just tell you?"
Mikoto sighed, "Stop it, Reisi. I'm just being sweet is all. Can't a man be sweet to the woman he is to marry?"
"You're giving me morning sickness, and I haven't agreed to marrying you, remember? I'm just wearing the ring you gave me."
"You said you're gunna marry me after all this shit."
Ignoring Mikoto and turning to look at Seri, Reisi said, "Awashima-kun, I'm leaving you in charge. I'll be back as soon as possible, call me if you need me."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Let's go." Reisi said to Mikoto.
Seri watched as Mikoto and Reisi walk away from the place. She only meant well for the Captain. Pity that Mikoto saw her concern as prying and interfering. She shook her head. She has no time to convince someone who refuses to understand to accept her the way she expects to be accepted.
Glancing at Reisi as soon as they got in a distance from Mihashira Tower, Mikoto spoke, "Are you sure it's okay for you to walk? I can get a cab." He could sense her discomfort, her exhaustion and her pain.
Reisi nodded.
"Want me ta get a cab?"
"No, I'm fine with walking."
"Don't ya feel tired?"
"I don't get tired."
"Ain't Nazo gettin' heavier?" Mikoto smiled, putting one of his arm around Reisi, drawing him closer to him. This time, Reisi accepted his intimacy even if she told him that she didn't want them showing off into public their affection with one another, and in return, she puts her arms around his. She chuckled, "No, not really. Hey, I have an idea. How about you carry him in your stomach for me?"
"That's creepy…"
Reisi looks up to meet his eyes, smiling. She kept quiet, breathing through her nose. Mikoto could feel her breathing heavily. She's tired, and he knows that she just doesn't want to admit it. He should really just get a goddamn cab no matter how much she insists that she is fine with walking from the Mihashira Tower to their house.
"Ouch." Coming to a halt, Reisi winced in pain, grabbing hold at her bulging stomach. This cased Mikoto to stop on his tracks and gasp and stammer anxiously, grabbing for his lover's shoulders with both hands, "Reisi!"
Still with the grimace on her face, Reisi just lightly shook her head and whispered softly, "Oya, Nazo kicked me…" she sighed, relaxing against Mikoto. "Good grief, if our child grows up to be like you, I'm going to lose my mind."
Biting his lower lip, Mikoto pulls out his cell phone. That's it. He will not allow her to walk a long distance in that condition. "Hello, taxi? Could you come pick us up?"
. . .
An hour had passed since he and Reisi had laid on their bed, trying to sleep. Once in a while, Mikoto would drift into sleep; only to have to wake up from the feel of Reisi stirring on the bed. She couldn't sleep. Apparently. It was frustrating because Mikoto is tired from everything that happened the day before that ended that day, and he keeps waking up. What annoys him more is that the fact that she isn't sleeping when she needed to.
"Hey, babe…"
Reisi jolted, but she remained on the position where she is – laying on her side with her back facing Mikoto.
"…can't sleep?"
"Yes. It's nothing…" she muttered, "It's just my back…it really hurts and I can't sleep…good grief."
"Definitely doesn't sound like it's nothing." Pressing his lips gently against her forehead, he gently caressed her back before rubbing his palm against her lower back; massaging her. "Ya know that you should get enough rest, right? C'mon, get some sleep."
"I know." Reisi sighed; loving the pressure of Mikoto's strong hands against her back. It felt good. She never did expect that Mikoto knows how to massage her back. The brute really does know how to treat his lady gently. He never ceases to surprise her, indeed. All through this journey she is undertaking as a soon-to-be-mother, Mikoto had always been there when she needed him and he doesn't even complain when she demands this and that from him. Through the sleepless nights, through the sickening mornings, he is there for her to make everything worthwhile. At times, she tends to be a little more demanding than she should be and Mikoto had been so patient with her. A smile formed her lips as she glanced at Mikoto, "Mikoto?"
"Yeah?" Mikoto grinned widely as he hears her saying his first name. She has indeed gained a few pounds because of her pregnancy but to Mikoto, she is still the most beautiful woman in the world…especially with her smiling at him like that.
"Could you go to the convenience store and buy me matcha ice cream and takoyaki?"
"…okay."
"After you buy those, please do cook breakfast as well…"
"Yeah."
Reisi flicked her eyes at the feel of Mikoto moving away from the bed they were laying on. Mikoto smiled, caressing the strands of hair that fell on her soft cheeks with his right hand. Reisi catches that hand in hers and guided it to her lips so that she could kiss that hand of his which was covered in burn-scars.
After that, Mikoto left her alone on the bed to run errands.
Staring blankly on the ceiling, and drowning herself in the deafening silence that surrounded her, she could not help but remember what she saw just a while ago.
While she was staring at her Sword of Damocles after the attack of the Green Clan, right after she had successfully protected the people of her lover in Mihashira Tower, she saw a crack forming on her Sword's hilt. Anxiety filled her every being but swallowing her fear, she shook her head.
'The burden of killing a King…' she smirked, '…I shall accept that challenge.'
Pouring the fuel, fanning the flames
Breaking the habit and melting the chains
Embracing the fear, chasing the fight
The glow of the fire will light up the night
The bridges are burning, the heat's on my face
Making the past an unreachable place
Pouring the fuel, fanning the flames
I know, this is the point of no return
I won't turn around
- Point of No Return by Starset -
Author's Notes:
Hello! I finally updated! Anyway, thank you for all the support y'all are giving me. It keeps me goin'. So...here we go.
Anyway, about le pregnant Rei-chan...I really think Reisi is the type of person who would absolutely still go to work even if she is knocked up as hell. She wouldn't care as long as she's doing her duties as the Blue Queen.
The next chapter would tackle on Homra and what will happen to the relationship of Mikoto and the other clansmen. It'll be based on K: Countdown.
There you go.