Ryuunosuke found herself very distracted throughout her classes the following day. It was Friday, so of course, the class was already getting restless, anticipating the week's end… but Ryuunosuke's mind was elsewhere. Had Zero been right? Did sex really mean so little in the grand scheme of things? There was a clear line between how her male classmates behaved and how her female classmates behaved. Ataru and Shinobu were as different as night and day. So different, in fact, that it was almost impossible to believe that the two were once a couple. As this concept surfaced in Ryuu's mind, she couldn't help but remember her experience with Zero the previous night… the warmth of his palm on her back, and the secure feeling of complete acceptance that came with their shared nudity. Maybe… what if the whole world truly were like that? Is such a thing even possible?
Moreover, these feelings of hers… they weren't just familial. Even though it had been his functional role (despite being around the same age as Ryuunosuke), she didn't see Zero as an adoptive father to her. He was somehow more than that. But… what?
"…unosuke? Ryuunosuke?"
Ryuu snapped out of her dreamscape to hear Shinobu's voice.
"Huh? What?"
"Something wrong, Ryuunosuke? You're acting different today," stated Shinobu.
"Nah, it's nothin'," Ryuu insisted. "I'm just thinkin' about some stuff."
"Stuff?"
"Don't worry about it, I don't wanna trouble you," Ryuunosuke replied.
"It's no trouble at all. Come on, tell me about it," Shinobu insisted. She had an interest in gossip, but Ryuu knew that she was also genuinely concerned about her as a friend.
"Well… there's this guy…"
"A guy?!" Shinobu nearly shouted, stifling herself only just quickly enough to avoid gathering the attention of everyone in the class. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Is it the one from yesterday? The guy with the scar?"
"I, uh, I mean…" Ryuu hesitated to admit it. It felt like a confession somehow, just stating that she was associated with him. "…yeah," she finally conceded.
"I think you two would be cute together," she said in oblivious encouragement. "I think it's good you've found someone, even if he's some weird nudist alien guy. I mean, I always thought maybe you were interested in, y'know…"
"Hm?" Ryuunosuke leaned in suspiciously, anxious to hear what Shinobu was about to say. This was one very rare occasion where Ryuunosuke very much resembled her paranoid father. "In what?"
"Ehhh…" Shinobu clammed up, not really wanting to continue. Ryuunosuke's glare forced her to keep going, though. "Well… girls."
"No way!" shouted Ryuunosuke. "What do you think I am, some kind of pervert?!"
"Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean anything by it!" Shinobu hastily apologized with a half-hearted smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Ryuunosuke sighed. "Look, there's nothin' between us, all right? He's just… this guy who's lettin' me crash with him for a while, that's all."
"Eh? You're living together?!" Shinobu sounded shocked.
"Well… yeah."
"Is he… always like that?" Shinobu leaned in close, trying to keep their conversation quiet, but oblivious to how obvious she was making her secrecy to everyone around her.
"Like what?" Ryuunosuke asked.
"You know… naked. In his spaceship."
"Spaceship? What the hell are you talking about?"
"He doesn't live in a spaceship, like Lum?"
"What? No! He's from Earth! He's got this house uptown, and-"
"…from Earth? Seriously?"
"Yeah, I mean, I think so."
"So…" Shinobu paused, thinking to herself for a moment. "He's just a plain old nudist, then."
"You're taking this weirdly well," remarked Ryuunosuke, snidely.
"We have a half-naked alien princess in our class."
"Yeah, you got a point there."
The two girls continued to discuss Ryuunosuke's housing situation and her relationship with Zero, but every time the latter would come up in conversation, Ryuu felt a twinge of doubt in each answer she would give. "He's just a friend," or "We just live together," or even something cheesy like "He's like a guardian angel"… none of these seemed to quite describe how she felt about him inside. More and more, she was starting to see that, but still resisted the idea of ever admitting it to anyone. She realized that she was at an impasse with herself.
Ryuunosuke arrived home from school that day with a tense expression on her face. Zero recognized this just as soon as she walked through the door—she clearly had something she wanted to say, but was unwilling or unable to spit the words out. Still, he did not want to prod her, for fear of driving her away… and before she could muster the courage, she hurried past, closing her bedroom door behind her. Zero was disappointed, but resumed his task in solitude.
Hours passed, and still Ryuunosuke did not emerge. Strange… usually she approached him for a training session by this point in the day. The evening would arrive soon. Zero wasn't too worried about Ryuunosuke—she could take care of herself. Still, wanting to be sure she was feeling all right, he gave her door a knock. Just as he did so, however, it opened, as if she had been just about to come out when his knuckle struck the wood. She was fully undressed, and surprised to see Zero standing there on the opposite side of the door frame—apparently she had been planning to come out on her own right around the same time. Caught off guard, Ryuunosuke stuttered, trying to defend herself.
"I…I was just going to ask for… a training session! That's, that's why I'm dressed like this! I mean… not dressed! I mean…"
Zero reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder gently to calm her.
"We've still got some hours in the day. I'll be happy to spar with you," he replied. The two began on their way to the home's small dojo, and on their way, Ryuu began to speak:
"If… if there're any techniques you've been keeping from me because you thought I'd get angry at being touched or anything… I… I think I'm ready, I mean, I want to learn them, if that's okay."
Odd. Ryuunosuke was asking for physical contact. At this point it was well clear to Zero what state of mind she was in, and what she was trying to accomplish… in fact, he was quite glad when he realized it. Still, he held some hope that she would be able to progress the situation herself, and for now, simply obliged her.
"I'm afraid I don't have any techniques like that… not for fighting, anyway," he responded. "Everything I have to share, I have shared openly." Ryuunosuke looked very slightly disappointed. She was clearly trying to hide it, though. "I suppose…" Zero continued, "we could try some grappling today."
"What, like judo?"
"It's not really my specialty, given that it relies so heavily on physical strength, but it might be useful to practice."
Thus, the two began a session of close-quarters combat practice, with an emphasis on holds. For the first time, Ryuunosuke felt as if she didn't have a disadvantage, as Zero was himself inexperienced in this style of combat… and truth be told, in terms of raw physical strength, Ryuunosuke may have had a slight edge on the divine being. For the first time, they fought not as master and pupil, but as equals… and for that reason, this experience was, in some small way, a special one to her, and to him as well. When all was said and done, both felt as if they had learned much from the short session.
"So, how do you feel?" Zero inquired, his breath heavy.
"Pretty good… I had you on the ropes for a while there," Ryuu replied, more confident than ever. She began to inch away.
"Off for a bath?" he asked.
"Y…yeah." There was some hesitation in Ryuunosuke's answer, as she nervously considered whether she should say what she was now thinking. "Listen… if you want to, you can… uh…" She decided it was easier to simply get it over with rather than thinking about it. "…j…join me…" She avoided eye contact with him. She was sure he must be thinking about what a pervert she was right now. "I mean, y'know, I could wash your back, and you could… I mean… it'd be easier, and-"
By this point, Zero had calmly stood up and began to approach Ryuunosuke, herself occupied with nervous ramblings. In an effort to ease her nerves, he replied: "I'd be happy to."
Ryuunosuke blushed in surprise, hiding her face from Zero. She hadn't at all expected him to actually take her up on the offer. Maybe she hadn't thought things through as well as she'd imagined… maybe this wasn't such a great idea. What was she going to do? But she was committed now. She had to oblige him, for better or for worse… maybe it would be better if she laughed it off as a joke, tried to talk her way out of it. But did she want to?
Before she could spend much more time considering her options, Zero had placed his hand on her shoulder and begun walking towards the bathroom. Her body moved with his almost involuntarily; it was so automatic, she didn't even realize she was moving until she was at the bathroom door. Herself frozen in place, Zero entered first and started running some cold water. Ryuunosuke snapped to.
"…eh? Aren't you going to heat the water?"
"No sense wasting gas," he said. She hoped he wasn't intending for the two of them to take a cold bath… although, at this point, maybe it would be for the best. By the time the water had finished, he hadn't turned the temperature dial once—the whole tub was ice cold. Unfazed, however, Zero placed his hand in the water, himself seated on the rim.
"How warm would you like it?"
"…huh?"
Confused, Ryuunosuke dipped her hand in the water. It was lukewarm.
"How did you…?"
She stopped herself, realizing how silly it was to question Zero's strange abilities after spending so much time with him. The water began to heat up, further and further; the heat seemed to be coming from Zero's hand. She motioned him to stop when the temperature was about right. Ever the gentleman, he then stood up and motioned her to enter. Ryuunosuke had other plans.
"You… get in first," she hesitantly requested. Zero shrugged and obliged. He was then followed by a still-trepid Ryuunosuke, who warily stepped into the water and reclined in front of him. It felt exactly as she had expected it would. This was the feeling she had so long sought after… the "femininity" that had forever been beyond her grasp. But… what was it, exactly, that made this moment so, she wondered? Was it… submission? Vulnerability?
Suddenly, it hit her. This was the first time she had been together with a man whom she respected as being truly stronger than her. She finally had what she envisioned to be the proper relationship between man and woman; she had someone to protect her. She could finally act like someone to be protected. Was that really her concept of womanhood, though? Certainly, this was a strange place for such reflections, but in that brief moment, Ryuunosuke had begun to question everything she had been working towards. It was pleasant, this brief reprieve in a man's embrace… but it wasn't Ryuunosuke. The thought of spending her entire life as a submissive… a dependent, relying on another? Maybe there were some women like that, but she couldn't bear the thought of such a life. Had she really not understood the full implications of what she had been seeking until now, when she had finally gotten a taste of it? A taste of being "the weaker sex?"
Her mind was now abuzz, distracted by these queer thoughts… and it showed. If there was one thing Zero was not, it was oblivious, as he calmly made an attempt to ease her troubled mind:
"This is nice."
"Hm?" Ryuunosuke snapped out of her daze.
"You've never let me… let anyone get this close to you before. It's nice that we can do something like this together, that's all."
His arms were around her waist, loosely embracing her in front of him. The tub was reasonably large, but still a tight fit for two people. It was true. If anyone else had so much as tried to touch her, she would have sent them sailing to the moon. Was this really all right? Being this close to someone? She could even feel his parts bulging involuntarily against her rear. How had she gotten into this situation? Why had she gone so far to invoke it?
Maybe she had been a little warped from her upbringing, she thought. Maybe she had been so desperate for a real, compassionate, loving father figure that she had somehow gotten that desire intertwined with her concept of having a lover… maybe there was never that much of a difference between them to begin with. She knew that she did not see Zero as a father, though… and yet she saw him as something greater than a lover. Whatever he was to her, he was important, and she wanted to show him that. She was glad to let him in.
"…Yeah." She finally replied to his comment warmly. He was right. It was nice. No matter how she tried to reason it out, the one thing she knew was that she was enjoying this moment, and that she would continue to do so, regardless of what her brain might do to try and prevent it. She relaxed further, slouching in Zero's embrace, reclining ever deeper in the warm reverie. As she reclined, Zero's hands remained in place, sliding up to the edge of her breasts. She didn't mind.
Without words, the two understood each other. Zero's hands began to move gently across her bosom, kneading ever so softly so as not to overwhelm Ryuunosuke, who, despite her relaxation, was still prone to reject this foreign experience if he were to try to take things too quickly. Thus, he took his time, easing into slightly stronger movements and eventually toying with her now-erect nipples. A voice inside of Ryuunosuke told her she should be fighting these sensations, that she should strike him for this behavior, beat him within an inch of his life… but, for the first time in her life, Ryuunosuke didn't listen; for the first time, she told that inner voice of hers to leave her alone. Sparring with Zero had taught her that, all too often, one's instincts were not to be trusted. Curious how such a lesson would carry over into a situation like this. And, for the life of her, she could think of no reason that the two of them shouldn't continue. And so, she relaxed, succumbing to his caresses.
Reclined between Zero's legs, Ryuunosuke could feel his muzzle press into her hair, as if kissing her head. It was a little bit awkward as an expression, but in their present position it was all he could do to bring their faces closer to one another. She allowed her head to sink into his chest, unintentionally reclining even further. By now she could feel something very firm pressing heatedly against her upper back. She knew what it was, but… she wanted to see it.
Without warning, Ryuunosuke sat up and turned around, making no effort to hide her interest in Zero's equipment, which was significantly larger than the last time she had seen it. Her eyes fell upon it, curiously, which Zero picked up on immediately.
"It's all right," he told her, reassuringly. Ryuu was embarrassed that he had noticed her eyeline, but took him up on his offer. It was the first time she had had any interest in a male, thanks in no small part to her image of the sex being largely destroyed by her father before. She grasped his shaft tightly—perhaps a little too tightly. She wasn't expecting it to feel so… spongey. She played and kneaded, experimented, tried to familiarize herself with this thing she had so long been mistaken by others to have, but never had any hands-on experience with. Ryuunosuke had led a very peculiar life.
In moments, it became rigid, causing Ryuunosuke a slight panic. "What is that? What does that mean? That's good, right?"
Zero stifled his amusement. He didn't want to laugh at the poor girl's ignorance. "It means it likes you," he told her. She looked at him, as if unsure of whether he was joking with her or not. He tried to mold his expression such that she would understand that he was mostly serious. Zero continued: "I wouldn't mind seeing yours."
Ryuunosuke immediately blushed awkwardly, as if a schoolboy caught misbehaving by his teacher. She looked down at the floor of the tub, inevitably spying her own special place in the process. She had attempted to shave it earlier in the week, as it seemed like the "womanly" thing to do, but it hadn't gone quite perfectly. Thankfully, the region had by now recovered, but… it didn't make her any less shy about it. With Ryuunosuke distracted, Zero inched closer to her, his manhood slipping into her line of sight and brushing against her groin in the water. Ryuunosuke had to muffle a reaction of surprise. She quickly raised her sights back up to Zero's face, now only inches from hers.
There was only one thing to do in this situation. She wanted to do it.
Finally giving in completely to her own eagerness and curiosity, Ryuunosuke's lips dashed towards her tutor's, and the two locked in such a way she had never before experienced, nor ever thought she would. It was incredible, the feeling of trust… of security, and intimacy. Finally being able to let her guard down felt like that great, sudden breath one takes upon breeching the water after very nearly drowning, or like that first step into the cool ocean after walking barefoot across a mile of hot beach sand. Finally, she felt free. She didn't have to worry about her clothing being stolen and replaced in the middle of the night, about having to work to pay for someone else's living expenses, or having that awkward discussion about clams tasting better than bananas. All of that… true, it had been behind her for some time, but for the first time she truly felt it, felt that she had embarked on a new life. This was freedom. This was liberation. And she knew who she had to thank.
He, surprised with Ryuunosuke's sudden boldness, took a moment to react, but soon returned her enthusiasm in full. The two felt closer than they ever had, embraced by the other's moistened skin, and when they finally separated, Ryuunosuke realized that she was unsure of how to proceed. Zero's eyes fell upon her expectantly, as if she should know exactly what to do, which itself confused her further… until she remembered his previous request. Looking down at his firm member, it was clear where his mind was. Once, this would have disgusted her, but now… well, at the very least, she was willing to try indulging him, if barely, and with no small amount of embarrassment, leaned back and separated her legs, granting her observer a full view. Her hands lay on her stomach, wanting to move down and cover herself, but knowing that to do so would be unfair to him.
"Don't… don't stare, okay?" she asked, insistently. His eyeline met hers to oblige, but his hand drifted elsewhere, floating gently towards the small, thin patch of hair remaining between her legs. Ryuunosuke's eyes, themselves distracted by her partner's, widened in unexpected tension at his first contact with that area. It was the first time anyone had ever touched her there. Even she had barely done it, due to the lack of privacy in her former lifestyle. His touch was gentle, however, and his motions patient, as he waited for her to release her tension before continuing in any way. Submitting to the sensation, she let go, and very soon after, felt the unfamiliar influence of those gentle strokes upon her unexplored opening.
"Nnh…" She bit her lip, stifling a noise when Zero resumed his movements. He stopped and looked up at her, hesitantly. "It… feels weird, that's all…" she insisted. Zero grinned, just a little, hoping not to intimidate her.
"Give it a little time," he insisted. The shy Ryuunosuke obliged.
Zero's hand moved with soft precision, the way one might pet a hamster, in such timid strokes as to not hurt the poor creature. Perhaps it wasn't so different. Here was Ryuunosuke, herself feeling about as timid, diving into something so unknown to her. She had never shown vulnerability before, and here, this act they were involved in… it required no less than the complete submission of each to the other. Her mind screamed at her, tried to convince her that she shouldn't be doing this, come up with some reason to stop right now; but such thoughts were finally starting to dwindle as her body slowly began to appreciate Zero's caresses, the physical sensations gradually overtaking her mental inhibitions. By the time Zero had expanded his motions to a sliding penetration, she had succumbed entirely, failing even to prevent her soft, pleasured moans from escaping.
She reclined, relaxing as his fingers started to churn deeper into her, until finally, they reached the point of penetration. An unknown sensation began to rise up within her, but before she could release it, his fingers stopped, much to her confusion (and frustration). Zero's eyes met with her expectant gaze, and he began to kneel down into the water…
"Hey, h-hold on a minute! What're you-"
Something soft began to move across her opening.
"…ooh…"
Ryuunosuke trailed off, dazed. It took only seconds from Zero's fanciful tonguework for her to reach her climax, clouding the water. Then, as she lay, panting, he again rose out of it. She was slumped over one side of the bath, and, taking advantage of the opportunity, Zero slid in the other side, lying next to her and wrapping his arms comfortably around her frame in union. Ryuunosuke was unsure of how to react to this—in fact, she was still struggling to recover from the afterglow of the overwhelming experience of pleasure she had just pioneered. Ultimately, she decided not to fight it. The two lay in each other's arms for a few moments longer; neither fists nor words were necessary now.
The walls had finally fallen.
