::Author's Note::
I know these past few chapters have been very Matsuda, Motohama, and Aika heavy. But I'm trying to provide a decent enough amount of character development to where the changes I'm having them undergo seems plausible. Jon's taken a back seat for the last few chapters but he'll be back in the action soon, I promise.
I'm also using this as an opportunity to develop Xenovia's character as well. I feel like up until now she's mostly just been kind of in the background of most of the scenes she's in, as most of the earlier chapters were so Jon and Irina focused. Now that she's separated from Irina. This is her chance to shine.
More to come soon folks. In the meantime, here is chapter 27.
::End Note::
It had been a long, stressful, and emotionally charged day. The sun had fallen over the desecrated city of Kuoh, and all six of them were beyond exhausted.
"I can't keep going on like this." Saya whined, having taken up residence on Motohama's back while the bemused gun nerd piggy backed her to their destination. "Guys, if we don't find a place to rest I seriously might die."
Motohama strained to keep her up off the ground. Unlike Matsuda, he didn't get super strength when he changed and her boobs alone had to weigh at least ten pounds each. Or at least that's what it felt like with the way they were resting on his head.
"I keep telling you." He groaned laboriously. "We're almost there. My uncle's flat is just down the street."
"It's so dark out. How will we know which one it is?" Matsuda asked.
"His will be the one that still has lights on." Motohama explained.
Rei quirked a brow at him. "What is it your Uncle does for a living?"
He shrugged despite the deadweight on his shoulders. "He's a private military contractor of some sort. I don't know the specifics of it but he's out of the country a lot. He gave me a key so I could look after the place whenever he was away."
"Is it a high rise by any chance?" Xenovia asked. "It would be nice if we could get a view of the city and plan out the rest of our route."
He nodded. "It's a duplex overlooking most of Kuoh. There should be plenty of supplies. A couple of firearms. Oh yeah, and also a humvee! One of the old military style ones too. Complete with armor plating."
They all perked up at those words. That would cut their travel time down significantly.
Saya groaned almost erotically before relaxing even more onto Motohama's back. "Honestly, I don't care about a hummer as much as I do a shower. Between the zombie guts and the sewer I've never felt dirtier in my life."
Okay, as much as he was trying to behave himself. Between her boobs resting on his head and now that comment, he couldn't.
"Yeah...I couldn't agree more."
She immediately flared and kicked him square in the gut with her heel. The air left his lungs and he keeled over onto the ground.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" She growled angrily, still straddling him with her hands on her hips.
They eventually reached the flat in question and found it to be pretty well fortified. The humvee was parked in the garage and the fences were high enough to where zombies could not get over them. And just as Motohama had promised, there was still power on at the place.
Once inside, the group immediately began taking stock of everything that was available to them. Saya immediately rushed to the shower and checked it out.
"Oh thank God. The hot water is still running." She sighed in dramatic relief.
Rei went into the kitchen and inspected the pantry. "Hey, there should be enough here to cook a pretty decent dinner tonight."
"Shower first! Dinner later!" Saya called insistently from the bathroom.
The boys headed upstairs to check out the sleeping quarters. Their were only two beds but one of them was a King. Worst case scenario one of them would be sleeping on the couch tonight.
Besides, that was hardly the thing that interested them the most. In the Master Bedroom, stuffed away in the corner, was a large metal locker with a passcode lock. Motohama had never seen the inside of it before. But he was determined to crack it open one way or another.
Aika, meanwhile, explored the living room while Xenovia took a seat on the couch. She walked up to a cabinet that had been sealed by padlock and grinned.
"How much you wanna bet there's booze in here?"
Xenovia quirked a brow at her. "Is that really a good idea?"
"Oh come onnnn." Aika pleaded. "We've been through hell today. If ever there was a time for a drink it would be now."
She sighed before standing up and walking over to the cabinet. With a single swift tug she pulled the entire cabinet door off its hinges, revealing a veritable treasure trove of high end liquor.
"Eeeeee!" Aika clapped her hands together excitedly. "You're the best, Xenovia!"
She rolled her eyes and grabbed the strongest whiskey she could find before returning to the couch. Aika, meanwhile, grabbed several bottles of various spirits and skipped away like a little girl in a candy store.
Once they had all settled in, the girls left Matsuda and Motohama to figure out a way into the locker while they helped themselves to a desperately needed bath.
First to strip was Rei, who quickly tossed away her soiled skirt and blouse before removing her white bra and matching cotton panties. Next was Saya, who did away with her tarnished blouse and skirt as well, revealing silk panties and a pink lace bra which she quickly did away with as well. Aika felt slightly flustered undressing in front of three gorgeous girls, but did away with her school clothes and purple bra and matching underwear regardless.
"Hey, are you looking at me?" Saya glared at Aika while covering her busty chest. Meanwhile, Aika quickly turned her eyes away in embarrassment.
"Oh don't be such a prude." Rei chided her. "We need to conserve our hot water so it's best if we all bathe together. We already decided that." She then turned and smiled at Aika. "It's okay. You can look at me if you want. I really don't mind."
Aika blushed deeply before turning and gazing at them. "For what it's worth, you're both incredibly gorgeous girls."
Saya made an indignant noise before turning her crimson face away, her arms crossed. "Yeah well...just don't get any funny ideas She-Perv."
"Honestly, the three of you getting so worked up over a little exposed skin. It's not becoming of such fine young ladies."
They all turned to see Xenovia entering the bathroom. She turned around offered her backside to them before pointing at the neck of her battlesuit. "Would one of you mind helping me out of this?"
Saya gave her a disbelieving look. "Uhhh yeah, none of us exactly know how your crazy space suit works."
She chuckled in amusement. "It's not that complicated, I assure you. Just undo the latch at the neck of the suit and pull on the zipper that appears."
Rei stepped up and did as she asked, unlatching the top of the suit before slowly unzipping it all the way down to the small of her back. Xenovia wiggled her arms free of the stubborn battlesuit before bursting out in all her Triple D glory.
She sighed in relief before tossing the combat suit aside, now dressed in nothing but blue cotton underwear which she quickly slid out of. "Much better."
As she turned and faced them, all three girls jaw's dropped at the sight of those massive...things hanging off her chest. Aika in particular seemed to be at a loss for words as to what she was seeing.
"What?" Xenovia appeared to be genuinely perplexed as to what they were all gawking at.
"How does she not have back problems lugging those things around?" Rei whispered to Aika.
"They can't be very helpful during combat either." Aika muttered back to Rei.
It was Saya who finally had the decency to look away and instead focus on the battlesuit laying on the floor. She picked it up and inspected it thoroughly. "So what's this thing made of? And what makes it so special that you can't just wear normal kevlar?"
"It's composed of an advanced polymer similar to kevlar, however it absorbs most of the kinetic energy produced by ballistics and small arms fire. Getting shot still doesn't feel great, but that suit will make sure the bullet never pierces your skin."
Saya suddenly got a whiff of the suit and grimaced, holding it away from her face. "As fascinating as that is, the only thing I REALLY care about is whether or not it's machine washable."
She nodded. "It is."
"Thank Christ." Saya added the suit to the laundry pile.
Xenovia chuckled. "Forgive me. It's been awhile since I've had a chance to take it off."
As if that wasn't obvious by the visible sheen of sweat glistening off her body. The girls were still trying to wrap their head around how a woman could simultaneously kick ass like a battle hardened warrior and look like a High End Adult Film Star all at once.
Not that any of them would have dared to say that out loud, lest they risk getting tossed through a wall.
Aika and Xenovia both sank into the bath, sighing in relaxation.
"God, I needed this." Aika stretched her arms and rested her head against the tub. "It feels like I'm just melting away."
"I have to admit, after weeks of bathing in a freezing cold fountain, this really is luxurious." Xenovia spoke honestly.
From a few feet away, Rei and Saya shared the shower heads together. Scrubbing themselves clean of all the days hardships.
"This IS shampoo right?" Saya asked curiously. Inspecting the grey bottle of men's soap.
Rei took the bottle and read the back. "Shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, and lotion."
Saya stared at the product incredulously. "So what...they just rub themselves down with all the same stuff?"
She nodded. "Yep. This is pretty typical for men's products actually."
Saya groaned in exasperation. "Boys are so weeeeeird."
"Just be grateful we even have soap." Xenovia lathered her breasts thoroughly as she spoke. "We could be camping outside somewhere right now."
Aika couldn't help but stare at her heaving mounds as she cleaned them. At last Xenovia finally spoke up.
"Why are you staring at my breasts?"
She turned pink. "W...well can you blame me? I mean, good God you're gigantic!"
Xenovia stared down at her chest as if considering them more thoughtfully. She played with each breast carelessly before shrugging. "Irina's said something similar to me before. I don't get what the big deal is."
Aika gave her a skeptical look. "You're almost impossibly gigantic. I mean...there's no way those things are real, right?"
She raised her breasts out of the water. "I assure you they are. If you'd like to feel them you may."
"W...what?!" Her face lit up. "Are you sure?"
Xenovia nodded. "Why not? I truly don't mind. It's just the bodies we were born with. I've never been shy about such things."
Aika gingerly reached out and grabbed each heavy globe in both hands before bouncing them in her palms. "Holy shit...they are real…" Suddenly she felt her face heating up again, this time however, for completely different reasons.
Saya listened to this unfold, her eyebrow twitching in annoyance. "Jeez, do we need to hose her off?"
"Oh leave the poor girl alone." Rei giggled. "She's just trying to relax, same as us."
"I still don't see why you insisted on letting her bathe with us. I mean...she IS gay, you know. Wouldn't it make more sense to have her bathe with the guys? Or...I don't know...by herself?"
She shook her head vehemently while applying body wash to her skin. "I don't want Aika to feel ostracized. It must be difficult being the only not straight member of this little group."
Saya made the mistake of turning around and watching Aika fondle Xenovia's chest, only to flush in embarrassment and turn immediately back around, focusing on her lathering. "Still, I think she's having way too much fun. Considering the circumstances of our current situation I don't think we should be-Waaahaaa!"
Her entire back went rigid and her chest pumped out as she was suddenly blasted with freezing cold water. During her little ran, Rei had adjusted the temperature to its coldest setting before blasting Saya in the small of her back. The indignant moaning that sprang from her lips sounded far too much like something more erotic than just a bit of cold water to the back.
Rei snickered devilishly. "God you're so dramatic. Though I bet Motohama would LOVE to hear that noise you just made."
Saya immediately retaliated, filling her wash basin with freezing cold water, a furious smile on her face. She proceeded to dump the freezing water over Rei's back who made an even more erotic sounding noise as her back went rigid.
"Same goes for you." She grinned impishly. "That's assuming those two perverts aren't spying on us right now."
Rei shook her head insistently. "I imagine they're too busy working on the locker to bother with us."
As the girl's bathed, Matsuda and Motohama were busy taking a crowbar to the stubborn locker. The sounds of feminine giggling flooded their ears as they worked.
"Sounds like they're having fun…" Motohama gulped, sweat starting to form on his brow.
"Hey, don't even think about it. I ain't looking to die today, Bro." Matsuda insisted as he jammed the crowbar into the locked door. "Besides, we're better than that now."
Motohama shook his head clear of all distracting thoughts. "I know I know." The evil gleam returned to his eye. "Besides, I'm far more curious to see what's in here than what's going on down there."
"Yeah well…" Matsuda grunted and strained as he pulled on the crowbar. "...as stubborn as this door is, I'm gonna be real pissed if there's nothing good in here."
"There has to be." Motohama insisted before pointing to the adjacent cabinet. "We already found the ammunition."
Matsuda pulled with all his might until at last the stubborn door popped open. What awaited them inside made both men smile with glee.
"Well hello beautiful." Motohama spoke as if talking to one of the girls downstairs.
Inside the locker, three large guns lined the bottom racks as well as two more smaller arms on the top shelf. Starting on the left was an Ithaca M37 12-Gauge with custom scope. In the middle was a Springfield M1A1 Super Match with attached bayonet. Finally, on the right, was an Armalite AR-10 Semi Automatic Sniper Rifle. Hanging on the top rack was a Barnett Wildcat C5 Crossbow. And finally, a Kiku Crest Luger P08 pistol.
Motohama was in Heaven. With that look of psychotic glee on his face he pulled the Super Match from the cabinet and began inspecting the weapon thoroughly. "So it's the semi-automatic brand. Good. M-14s are nothing but a waste of bullets anyway." He spoke in a low dark tone before pulling the magazine and inspecting it. His smile grew wider. "A twenty bullet mag, Uncle? That's illegal in Japan." He snickered devilishly.
Matsuda looked genuinely concerned for his friend. "Uhhh, you okay Bro?"
Next he went for the AR-10. "Oh I see...he completely modded this one to the specs of an SR-25. ALSO very illegal."
"Dude...you're scaring me."
Next was the crossbow. "A fucking Wildcat! Made in Britain! You could take down a bear with one of these things."
Matsuda groaned wearily. "Great...he's totally lost it." He then peered into the locker and grabbed the shotgun. "What about this one?"
"The M37? That bad boy is made in America. It's a riot gun with killer knockback power that played a huge role in the Vietnam War."
"I see." Matsuda proceeded to cock back on the weapon and carelessly aim the barrel at Motohama. "So...like this?"
"Gyah! Are you crazy?!" He quickly pushed the barrel away. "Get that thing out of my face!"
"Oops! Sorry." Matsuda dropped the gun on the ground.
Motohama sighed and shook his head. "Look...there is one universal rule to holding a gun. You never point it at another person…"
That wicked gleam shown in his eye again.
"...unless you intend to shoot."
Matsuda considered the gun with more respect now. "Okay...got it."
A thought occurred to him as they spoke. His expression darkened but he was no longer smiling. "Hey...if it comes down to it…and I get bitten…"
Motohama glared up at Matsuda severely.
"...don't you hesitate in blowing my head off."
Matsuda was floored. He had no idea how to respond to that. But by the look in his buddies eye, it was clear he meant business. Finally, he nodded in understanding.
"Yeah. Same goes for you."
"It's a deal."
They bumped fists and continued taking inventory of the locker. Meanwhile, down below, the girls had finished cleaning up and changed into something more comfortable. Their were several department stores they passed along the way that had women's clothes, which meant they all had something clean to change into tomorrow.
However, there wasn't anywhere that sold women's pajamas on their route. So they had to settle for whatever they could find. Rei put on a pair of comfy pink cotton panties and a tank top while Saya went with a pair of white underwear with blue stripes and a white support bra. Aika settled on a black t-shirt and purple underwear and Xenovia had to make due with a red silk robe considering she couldn't find anything that fit her chest comfortably.
Saya and Rei took it upon themselves to head upstairs and check on the boys. Who were busy loading magazines with ammunition. Upon seeing the girls in their nearly stark glory, both Matsuda and Motohama nearly keeled over, turning white as ghosts.
"I freaking told you so. God you two are pathetic. It's not like we're naked or anything." Saya snickered devilishly, her face flushed from alcohol consumption. In her hand was a bottle of vodka, that she'd already taken several swigs of. Though not quite intoxicated, it was clear she and Rei both had been drinking.
Rei's giggle sounded especially bubbly as she replied. "Oh be nice to them. They're just shy."
"Can we uhhh...can we help you ladies?" Matsuda asked while trying desperately to focus on literally anything else.
"Listen, we're bored." Saya explained bluntly. "So the girls have decided that, despite my warnings about you, they'd like for the two of you to come drink with us. So as long as you perverts remember to keep your hands to yourself and don't do anything too weird, you can come downstairs. Okay?"
Matsuda and Motohama shot each other disbelieving looks before staring back at Rei and Saya like deer in headlights.
"Come on!" Rei insisted in a bubbly voice. "It'll be fun."
"We'll uh...we'll be right down." Matsuda was already starting to sweat.
Saya scowled in annoyance. "Just don't take too long!"
They both shut the door and headed downstairs. Whereupon Matsuda broke down into a full blown panic attack.
"Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit. Motohama, what the fuck are we gonna do?!"
Motohama clasped two hands on his buddy's shoulders and gazed at him severely. "Keep it together, Man. Now is not the time to lose it."
"What am I gonna do?!" Sweat dripped from his brow as he started to breath faster and faster. "Motohama, I really like this girl! I don't want to screw things up!"
He slapped him sharply across the face, sobering him back up. "Listen to me. We've been training for this since the day we met Jon. This is finally our moment. Now is when we show him, show the school, hell show all of Kuoh that we are not those same loser perverts anymore. We can do this."
Matsuda took a deep breath and finally calmed down.
"You're right."
"Now…." Motohama grinned at him. "...let's go make our teacher proud."
Once they were settled in downstairs, it didn't take long before alcohol started being passed around and the mood of the evening start to get bubblier.
"Okay. So let me get this straight." Saya chortled at what Xenovia just said. "You're telling me that the whole world is secretly run by three factions. The Fallen Angels. The Pillars of Hell. And the One True God. And no one even knows of their existence?"
Xenovia shook her head. "There are those who do. Members of the Church, Demons of the Pureblood Families, but on the whole, most humans are completely ignorant."
"But then…" She slurred her words a little. "...like...how do they keep it all hidden? Technology has come a long way you know. It's hard to believe someone hasn't figured it out yet."
"I don't think you quite grasp what she means by they control EVERYTHING." Aika snickered at her. "We've seen for ourselves what they can do to phones and technology. It's no wonder we're all clueless."
"But why the big secret?" Rei asked curiously. "Why don't they want humans to know about their existence?"
Xenovia frowned thoughtfully. "Because it makes them easier to control. Humans believe they are the Masters of their own fate. The Three Factions are perfectly content to let humanity think they and they alone govern the Earth." Her expression darkened. "I used to think my Order didn't do that. That we were the only ones espousing the truth. Of course...now I know better."
"Is that why you and Irina had that falling out?" Aika asked.
She nodded. "I found documents proving that most of our Doctrine, the Holy Bible, has been tampered with by human hands. Most of what the Church espouses is a lie."
"Psh! I could have told you that!" Saya blurted out, causing Aika to elbow her in the ribs.
"But Irina...she didn't see it that way. She sees all this as just another test of her faith." Xenovia cast her gaze away worriedly. "I fear what will become of her if she does not see reason."
"Obviously she's in denial." Saya spoke bluntly.
"Or…" Rei insisted. "...it could be that her faith is all she has left. I can kind of understand how that might feel."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever, I still think it's stupid."
While they discussed this. Matsuda and Motohama kept to themselves, silently drinking and just taking it all in. So long as no one asked them to contribute, they knew they would be in the clear.
"Hey you two." Aika spoke up. "You're being awfully quiet over there."
They both sat up stiff as boards.
"They're probably too distracted by the fact they can almost see our tits." Saya teased.
"Come on, Matsuda. Contribute to the conversation." Rei smiled at him brightly.
"Well…" He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I mean...I don't really know anything about the Occult or shit like that."
"Well ask her then." Rei encouraged. "Or better yet, ask one of us something."
"But keep it clean." Saya warned bitingly.
He gulped, trying his best to think about what to talk about. Finally, something came to him.
"Motohama, I've actually been meaning to ask you something." He turned to his friend.
"Huh?"
"How is it you know so much about guns?" He asked curiously. "In all the years I've known you, you've never once talked to me about it."
"Actually, I'm really curious about that as well." Aika admitted.
Rei nodded. "Me too."
Saya perked up and cast her intrigued gaze at him, but otherwise didn't say anything.
Motohama was frozen in place. With so many expectant looks on their faces, he knew if he didn't say something they'd think there was something wrong with him. There was no point lying to them about this anymore.
He needed to be honest.
"I've been obsessed with guns for as long as I can remember." He explained, a wistful look in his eyes. "When I was younger, my Uncle took me overseas with him to the US during one of his contracts. I got to meet a former Delta Force Operative and train with him over the summer. It was...everything to me."
"Oh my God…" Saya gawked at him. "...the school pervert is a card carrying member of the NRA…"
"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Matsuda insisted.
"I didn't want you to think I was a freak." He answered plainly.
Matsuda laughed. "Of all the things I know about you, you honestly think THAT is the weirdest?"
"Look it's not just that, okay?" Motohama insisted, a hint of anger in his voice. "The truth is, I've been terrified to hold a gun ever since…"
He frowned at him in concern. "Ever since what, Bro?"
Motohama sighed shamefully. "Ever since the accident."
Saya chuckled at him. "Wait, let me guess. Did you put a round in your foot or something?"
He stared off into space. Motohama had kept this to himself for so long. Maybe now it was finally time to clear his conscience. With a heavy breath, he spoke.
"I shot a kid."
The room fell into stunned silence. Matsuda was in shock. Rei and Aika both cupped their hands over their gaping mouths. And Saya looked like she regretted opening her mouth. The only one who seemed more or less unphased was Xenovia, though she did bare pity in her eyes.
"It was shortly before I was supposed to start my Second Year of Highschool." He explained, his voice pitiful. "A kid from my class invited me to a party he was throwing while his parents were out of town. I was never popular or had that many friends in school, so I was genuinely surprised he wanted me to come." Motohama chuckled humorlessly. "Turns out it was because someone told him I'd spent the summer learning how to shoot. He wanted me to bring my rifle and show it off." He smiled at the memory. "I was thrilled. I thought maybe this was my chance to become something other than the Loser Otaku kid at school. So I decided to do it."
"So what happened?" Rei asked quietly.
He fidgeted nervously. "Well...when I got there, some of the other kids were already drunk. At first things were going okay. I showed them the rifle, explained a bit about how to clean it, maintain it, showed them how to load a round into the chamber. Everything was going really well. Some of the girls even started flirting with me…" Motohama scowled angrily. "...until Saitaki started running his fat mouth."
"Saitaki?"
"He was one of the sports jocks." Motohama explained. "He'd been drinking harder than any of us and was getting really belligerent. He must not have liked that everyone was paying attention to me because he started calling me a fraud. Saying I was just a geek who read too many gun magazines and that I probably just stole that rifle from my Dad's gun locker or something."
"Sounds like a typical Jock, alright." Saya scoffed.
"Anyway, someone suggested I shoot some beer bottles to prove it, but that wasn't good enough for him. Anyone can hit a beer bottle. He said. Shoot something that's moving."
Matsuda felt his stomach lurch.
"We ended up out in the woods behind the house. Of course there were no critters around. There had to be at least twenty people following me, they'd all been scared away. I tried to explain that to them but Saitaki kept egging on the crowd. They were starting to tease me again. Saying I was the scared one…" He gripped his knees until his knuckles turned white. "I just wanted to shut him up so badly. I'd have done anything to just get him to stop."
"Oh my God…" Aika turned pale. "...you didn't shoot him, did you?"
He shook his head. "No...that's not what happened. I was about to give up and just leave, accept the fact I was always gonna be branded a loser no matter what...when I saw something move a couple yards behind us."
"Oh no…" Rei clasped a hand up to her face.
"It was dark, I couldn't see it clearly, but I didn't care. I was so frustrated I just wanted to prove them all wrong. I didn't think, I just aimed and fired." He shut his eyes as he remembered the gruesome details of what happened next. "It fell behind a bush after I hit it. One of the kids ran to go see what it was...when I saw the look on his face I knew right away something was wrong." He smiled sadly, his eyes beginning to well up. "I'd thought maybe I hit a dog or something...come to find out it was the neighbor's seven year old son."
"Shit…." Saya turned her head away.
"He had snuck out of the house to see what we were doing...I barely remember anything after that."
"You were most likely in shock." Xenovia observed.
He shrugged. "Either way it made no difference. The kid survived but…" His eyes shut and his body began to tremble. "...the bullet hit his spine." Tears leaked from his eyes. "That boy is going to be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life and it's all my fault!"
He broke down. In that moment Saya looked like she was about to get up and go to him but Aika moved first, hugging him tight and letting Motohama quietly let out all the pent up emotion he'd been holding onto. Matsuda was completely shell shocked. How had he never known about this?
"It's okay." Aika whispered. Saya meanwhile, looked completely crestfallen. To think he'd been holding onto this all this time...and she had been so mean to him.
Not knowing what else to do, she downed another shot of her drink.
Motohama finally calmed down enough to finish his story. "Anyway, no charges were filed as it was clearly an accident. But I lost my gun license and had to transfer schools."
"You always told me you came to my school because your Dad's work moved." Matsuda observed, still in disbelief.
He shook his head. "I lied. Honestly, I was glad I lost my license. I never wanted to hold a gun again."
"But you did hold a gun again." Xenovia smiled at him. "You did so despite your fears and past anxieties in order to defend your friends. I'd say that's more than enough to redeem yourself."
"I agree." Aika added. "You shouldn't beat yourself up over that anymore. The past is the past."
"Thanks." He wiped his face and took another swig of his drink. "Sorry for bringing the mood down everyone."
"Hey, don't sweat it, Bro." Matsuda patted him on the shoulder. "We've all got skeletons in the closet." He turned his gaze downward and glowered. "Even me…"
Rei and Motohama quirked their heads at him curiously.
"I mean, I didn't shoot anyone." He shrugged awkwardly. "But I get how much it sucks not being able to do the thing you love anymore."
Motohama frowned at him solemnly. "You mean baseball, don't you."
He nodded, a sad look in his eyes. Rei placed a tender hand on his arm and gazed at him affectionately.
"Tell us." She quietly implored.
Matsuda downed another swig of his drink and rested his arms on his knees. "Baseball was my life growing up. Watching it, playing it, I wanted to be just like the old legends from the United States when I grew up; Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams. It's silly, I know, but that was the dream for me when I was a kid."
Motohama smiled at him. "And you really were great. I remember going to every single one of your games, Bro."
He smiled at him. "Thanks man."
"So wait…" Saya peered at him questioningly. "...you played Baseball? And you were actually good?"
"He wasn't just good, he was the designated hitter." Motohama explained. "He still holds the district record for number of home runs in a single season."
"That's amazing." Rei marveled at him. "But...why did you quit?"
He didn't say anything, prompting her to get worried.
"Matsuda?"
"He didn't quit by choice." Motohama explained solemnly. "He had to retire after…"
"...after I got sick." Matsuda finished quietly.
Rei's heart broke. "W...what happened?"
He cast his gaze solemnly to the floor. "It started shortly before the season playoffs. Whenever I went to choke up on the bat my arms would start shaking." Matsuda chuckled sadly. "At first I thought maybe it was just pre-season jitters. But it kept getting progressively worse. It got to the point my arm started seizing up on itself for no reason."
"That almost sounds like Parkinson's Disease." Saya observed.
"It wasn't that fortunately." His expression darkened further. "The prognosis still wasn't too great though. Some freak genetic thing with a ridiculously long name. I couldn't make heads or tails of it. All I know is, what started out as the shakes turned into me spending the next six months in a hospital bed, barely able to move."
Rei's voice caught.
"The Doctors who were treating me eventually figured out a combination of medicines that could stabilize my condition but…" He shook his head. "...I lost so much muscle mass and my form never recovered. Not that that mattered. By then the season was over and my Scholarship was gone. I just kind of gave up after that." He shrugged apathetically. "Everything I was working for was taken away and I didn't see any point in trying to get it back. Funny thing is, I didn't find out until later that the medication I was taking would also make me go bald."
Rei shut her eyes and shook her head with a hand on her lips, tears forming.
"Hey…" Matsuda smiled at her. "You don't have to cry. I made peace with it awhile ago. And it's not like there was anything I could have done to change it."
"That's not it." She wiped her cheek and sniffed. "Matsuda, I owe you an apology. I've been lying to you about something."
"What?" He asked nervously.
"My last name." She explained. "I told you my parents died when I was little and that my Grandfather raised me." Rei frowned woefully. "What I didn't mention was that I've been going by his last name. It's not the one I was born with though."
Now he just looked confused. "Huh? How is that a big deal?"
She cast her gaze away shamefully. "Because...my real name is Rei Yuikaza."
Saya narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Wait a minute...why is that name so familiar?"
A thought occurred to Matsuda. "Didn't you say you were a Professional Gymnast or something?"
It was Aika who figured it out. Her eyes went wide and she gasped as it dawned on her who she really was. "Holy shit. You're THAT Yuikaza?"
Rei nodded silently.
"I don't get it. Is she supposed to be famous or something?"
"Rei Yuikaza was a nationally ranked gymnast who was at one point considered to be the best in the country." Saya explained, having figured it out as well. "A lot of people called her a child prodigy. She was expected to win gold for Japan in the next Olympics."
Matsuda's eyes nearly bulged out of his head as he now considered Rei in a completely different light. She for her part, simply kept her gaze cast away from him, a light blush creeping over her cheeks.
"But…" Saya continued after adjusting her glasses. "...she suddenly disappeared from the public eye after some sort of scandal. I don't read tabloids so I don't know the details of it, but it was apparently pretty messy." She narrowed her eyes at Rei suspiciously. "Why did you come to Kuoh? And why change your name?"
"It was the only way to get the tabloids off my back. After what happened...I just needed to disappear for awhile." She smiled sadly at Matsuda. "Something about listening to your story...just reminded me an awful lot of mine."
"You want to talk about it?" Matsuda asked sincerely.
After a moment of thought she began. "I met my coach when I was thirteen. A man named Mr. Nomakara."
"As in Aishi Nomakara, yes?" Saya surmised. "He's trained some of Japan's top athletes. Some call him a legend."
Rei nodded. "He was a genius. And if you ever wanted to compete in the Olympics, you NEEDED his guidance. That's what they told me at least." She clutched her knees up to her chest as she thought back to that time. "He was so good to me. And he genuinely believed in my talent. I only made it as far as I did because of his guidance." Her expression darkened. "Or at least...that's how it was at first. But after a year or so of training with him...I started to notice a change."
"What kind of change?"
"He'd say things to me like how pretty I am. What a beautiful girl I was. How I was maturing so fast. Things like that."
Motohama shrugged. "I don't see anything wrong with compliments like that."
She shook her head. "I didn't either. Not at first. But then it got worse. He'd make comments on my body that made me uncomfortable. I'd catch him staring at me. He would...touch me every now and then."
"You're kidding…" Aika paled.
"I wish I was." She replied glumly. "One night, after a competition, he came into my room and tried to…" Rei shuddered in disgust at the thought. "...he tried to force himself on me. I pushed him away and he became incredibly upset. More so than I had ever seen him before. I threatened to turn him in if he didn't stop."
Saya scowled, she could see where this was going and she didn't like it one bit. "I take it that didn't go over so well with Mr. Nomakara?"
"He ruined me." She responded bitterly. "Spread gossip to the press that I had made advances on HIM." Rei laughed angrily. "Of course...it was my word against his, and who was going to argue with such an esteemed Coach?" Her anger turned to sadness again. "Once word spread to the tabloids, my reputation was shot. No one would agree to sponsor me. I couldn't even go in public anymore without cameras getting blasted in my face. When I started receiving death threats...I knew it was time to give up."
Matsuda hated hearing this. Not only because the thought of some sicko doing that to her made him furious, but because it wasn't much different from the sort of behavior he used to indulge in. Was that really the sort of person he had risked turning into?
"My Grandfather was the only one who believed me." She concluded sorrowfully. "It was just the two of us ever since."
After a long silence, Matsuda grabbed her and held her tight.
"I'm so sorry that happened to you. If there's anything-"
She shushed him by kissing his cheek and shaking her head, a coy smile on her face. "It's like you said. It's all in the past now."
Rei cuddled up next to him and Aika smiled, taking another sip of her drink.
"Thank you guys for sharing that. Especially you two." She spoke to Matsuda and Motohama.
"Huh? Why us?"
She shrugged, a bright smile still plastered on her face. "It just makes me happy. Knowing that you guys used to have dreams and ambitions really helps put things in perspective for me." Her smile slowly faded. "I've been meaning to apologize to you. For those awful things I said?"
"Hey, we're way past that." Matsuda assured.
"Yeah, that stopped being relevant after half the city got eaten." Motohama joked.
She snickered at them. "Maybe…" Her smile glowered somewhat. "...but still. I said such horrible things to you and I didn't even mean it...I was just so mad because…"
"Because why?"
"Because what you said was absolutely true." She admitted with her head resting on her knees. "The truth is, I could have cared less what the ORCs big secret was. I just wanted to know what Asia saw in them. What it was about that club that made them so much better...than me."
Matsuda and Motohama both exchanged concerned looks with one another.
"You know...when it was just Jon...I was okay." She was trying really hard not to break down. "But when I saw her kiss Rias, it was like something inside me broke. I've been in love with Asia since the very first time she smiled at me. To think that not only can she fall in love with women, but multiple people…" Her voice hitched. "...I just had to know. But now that I do, I wish I didn't." Tears rolled down her cheeks. "Because knowing what I do now, I realize I never stood a chance. She lives in a completely different world from my own...I'll never be enough for a woman like Asia."
Rei pulled Aika into a hug who quickly composed herself. Meanwhile, Saya downed another gulp of her drink and sighed in a melancholy tone.
"Sheesh. Here I thought we were trying to cheer up. Are things not bad enough without you four bringing up your gloomy pasts as well?"
"You can always share as well, you know." Motohama offered. "I'd love to know more about you."
She blushed. "D...don't be stupid! I'm not like the rest of you."
"Oh come on." Rei insisted. "You can't seriously tell me you've never had to deal with any kind of personal hardship before."
Saya shrugged indifferently. "I'm not sure what to tell you. I don't have any sort of sob story like the rest of you guys." She straightened up and grinned proudly. "I was a rich, spoiled, genius who got everything she ever wanted from her parents." After a moment, however, her grin slowly began to fade. "I mean...sure I barely get to actually see them, what with Daddy being so busy with his career. But that's just because he's a really important person, you know?" She slowly began to sink into a depression. "So what if they're barely ever around? It's not like I care. I don't."
They all frowned at her in concern.
She tucked her knees up to her chest and her eyes welled up. "I don't care that I can count the number of Birthdays they bothered to show up to on one hand. I don't care that they sent me away to boarding schools for most of my life. I don't care that they've spent most of their lives actively avoiding spending time with their only daughter." Her bottom lip quivered. "And I certainly don't care that they may both be dead and I can't even remember the last time I spoke to either one of them." Her voice caught and the first few tears began to fall.
"Why the hell should I care about my family?! It's not like I had much of one to begin with!" She hid her head in her arms and sobbed.
After a moment, Motohama gingerly approached and carefully placed a hand on her arm. "Don't cry, Saya...I'm sure your parents love you."
"Then why didn't they come for me?!" She glared at him angrily, her eyes stained with tears. "Why didn't they try to find me?!"
"Maybe they did." He tried to sound reassuring. "Maybe they're still trying."
"They don't care about me." Saya continued quietly. "They never did. My parents just wanted to keep me placated while they focused on what was REALLY important to them." She shook her head dejectedly. "But I'm not important to them. I'm not important to anyone."
"That's not true!"
She gasped in surprise at Motohama's sudden outburst. He had an angry scowl on his face and his eyes were welling up.
"You're important to a lot of people!" He insisted. "You're important to us and…" His heart skipped a beat.
"...you're important to me."
Saya's face heated up red hot for a moment. Finally, she smiled. The bemused girl began to snicker hysterically before bursting into full out laughter.
"God you're so weird." She wiped her face clean and shook her head in disbelief. "We only just became friends today, you don't have to make it sound like we're engaged."
Motohama stuttered incoherently. Now HE was the one blushing.
Saya wiped her lashes with her pointer fingers and took a breath. "Alright. That's enough of that." She took another swig of her drink. "No more touchy feely crap from me, okay?"
Rei chuckled at her in amusement. "Personally, I'm glad we all got a chance to share our stories like this. Even if the future is uncertain, at least we can have a bit of closure."
A thought occurred to them. Each member of the group looked at one another as if mentally asking the same question.
Until all eyes turned on Xenovia.
"What is it?" She asked suspiciously. "Why are you all staring at me?"
"So what's your story?" Matsuda asked.
"Yeah." Aika nodded in agreement. "You're the only one who hasn't shared anything yet."
Xenovia frowned deeply and shook her head. "There's no story. I'm not a part of this."
"Of course you are." Rei insisted. "You're half the reason we've made it this far after all."
"Yeah. You're one of us." Motohama added.
Saya nodded in agreement.
At first, Xenovia wasn't sure what to say. They were all gazing at her so expectantly, but her past was not something she ever talked about. Not even with Irina.
But a lot had changed in the last twenty four hours. Even if they made it to Kuoh, there was no guarantee that any of them would survive this war. And it was indeed a war. Why not get a few things off her chest as well?
After taking a moment to think, Xenovia breathed deeply and exhaled before beginning.
"It was the day before I was to turn ten years old when the Order took me from my family." She began her story, that same cold, calm, and collected look in her eyes. "Looking back, it's hard to remember a time before then. But…" She cast her gaze up to the ceiling. "...I do remember parts of my life before I belonged to the Church. Like your Father, Saya, mine was fairly wealthy. He had quite a bit of influence with the French Government, and our family was well respected in Europe." Nostalgia swept over her like a tide. "Mother was kind to me always, and she loved to sing me to sleep at night. Father was a devout Catholic and we attended Mass every Sunday. Life was….peaceful back then."
"And the Church just...stole you from them?" Rei asked disbelievingly.
She remained silent for a good long while before speaking again. "Officially I went missing. Though that report was more a formality than anything." Though she didn't show it on her face, her aura seemed to darken somewhat. "The truth is...I was GIVEN to the Church."
They all sat in somber silence, mournful looks on their faces.
"I still remember that night clearly in my mind." She continued. "Father waking me from my bed, telling me to get dressed and come downstairs." Her lips formed a very small very sad smile. "I thought that perhaps they had a surprise for my birthday. Turns out I was right." Xenovia downed the rest of her drink and placed it aside. "When I saw the Priests sitting in our living room I was so confused. Father sat me down next to them and looked me right in the eye. And I'll never forget what he said to me."
She lowered her head.
"The time has come, Xenovia. As ordained by the Lord on High, your blood has awakened."
"Your blood?" Saya gave her a weird look. "What on Earth did he mean by that?"
She shook her head. "It's not important. And I was as clueless as you are back then. All that mattered is what my Father said next."
"What did he say?" Rei asked.
Xenovia's gaze fell upon the group. "He told me...that I had to go away. And that I was never going to see him or Mother ever again."
Aika placed a hand against her chest, her heart breaking. "That's horrible. You must have been so upset."
"I was in denial." She admitted. "At first I was certain Father was kidding, or that it was just a dream." Her frown deepened. "But it was no dream. Father and Mother gave me up to the Church that night without even telling me goodbye. Even as I was dragged away kicking and screaming, begging them not to let those men take me away, neither of them said a word to me. They wouldn't even look me in the eye."
"Xenovia…"
"I spent my tenth birthday alone. Locked in the room of a remote Monastery thousands of miles away from my home." She stated with cold indifference. "The next day, my training as a Holy Sword User began."
"I'm so sorry that happened to you." Rei spoke apologetically.
"That's just...damn…" Matsuda shook his head in pity.
She tried to smile again. "You know...it wasn't all terrible. The Head Mother was strict but very kind to me. And the Sisters of the Church went out of their way to make me feel like I belonged there. As for the training I received, in time I began to enjoy the discipline that was instilled in me. The idea that I was given a Divine Mandate by God to smite Satan's forces and ensure humanity's survival made me feel like my sacrifice was worth it. Whether I had chosen it or not…." Her features contorted into a bitter scowl. "I was never given the chance to live a normal life. To go to school. To make friends. To find love. To start my own family. All of that was taken away from me, and the only thing that kept me going was my faith. So long as God smiled upon my actions then I could endure any sacrifice." She clenched her fists until her palms began to bleed. "But now? Now I'm not even sure if he was even LISTENING to me. Let alone smiling."
Power began to radiate off her being and the floor trembled.
"Could he not hear my weeping at night?" She growled as all the emotion she'd kept bottled up boiled to the surface. "Was he not moved by my tears?! I've given him everything. EVERYTHING! And for what?! For a lie! All I've done, all I've killed! And it was never truly in his name! Was he smiling at me?! Or LAUGHING?!"
"Uhhh, Xenovia?" Motohama looked around nervously. "We're really stoked you're letting out all this anger and what not, but you're kinda shaking the whole house."
She stopped. Her power receded and the house stood still once more. Xenovia looked down at her hands, now bleeding somewhat, and fell into quiet indifference once more.
"Forgive me. I should not have lost control like that."
After a moment of silence, Rei smiled. "You know...my Grandfather used to have this saying. Sometimes it takes something really bad happening to bring out the really good in us." She quoted. "I've been thinking about that a lot today. How we've all gone through so much together? Maybe...maybe Irina was right. Maybe this really IS a test for us. By God, or by fate, or by life in general. Except, maybe it's not a test of our faith, maybe it's a test of our will. Maybe the whole point of this wasn't to break us down, but make us stronger."
They all seemed to consider her words for a moment.
"Maybe...we shouldn't see this as just a tragedy." She spoke hopefully. "Maybe we should see this as an opportunity."
"An opportunity for what?" Saya asked insistently.
The room fell silent as they took a moment to think about what the answer could be. Finally, it was Matsuda who spoke up.
"To give a shit about something bigger than our own problems?"
Saya smiled and nodded in agreement before raising her glass. "Hell, I'll drink to that."
Rei made dinner for the group that night. Afterwards, Matsuda and Motohama busied themselves with loading rounds into ammo clips upstairs.
"So something's been bugging me." Matsuda spoke up.
"Yeah?"
"Your Uncle…" He looked around at the pile of guns and ammo they were surrounded by. "...I get that he's some sort of Private Military Contractor or whatever. But isn't all this Ordinance still a bit much? I mean...you said these are guns are illegal here, didn't you?"
Motohama considered his question thoughtfully. "It's legal to purchase the parts for these guns. But it IS illegal to put them together the way he's got them. My Uncle definitely knows what he's doing."
"Seems like you can get away with almost anything if you have the right connections." Matsuda observed.
"I was always suspicious of my Uncle's work." Motohama admitted. "I mean...Private Military Contracts pay extremely well, but not THIS well. I always assumed he was just really high in his field...but now I'm not so sure."
Matsuda quirked a brow at him. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean...I'm beginning to suspect my Uncle may have been into some shady business."
Before he could respond, Matsuda's ears perked up to a peculiar sound coming from outside. "Is that…?"
"Gunfire." Motohama declared.
They both dropped what they were doing and went out to the balcony. Motohama grabbed his binoculars and looked around. Sure enough, off in the distance, he could see what was unmistakably the lights of small arms fire lighting up the city. Most of it seemed to be centered around Kuoh Academy.
"Sounds like it's mostly automatics." Motohama observed. "AR-14s most likely."
"But which side is it coming from? Ours...or theirs?"
He shook his head. "I have no idea. But if you want my advice? We need to get the fuck up out of here before this shit escalates any further."
"We'll leave first thing in the morning." Matsuda assured. "That way nothing catches us by surprise."
"Surprise!"
The boys about nearly jumped out of their skin as Saya proceeded to latch onto Motohama's back and sink her full weight onto him. She was giggling like a schoolgirl and appeared to be having trouble just staying up straight.
No doubt about it, she was trashed.
"S...Saya!" Motohama was paralyzed to the spot, his hands out beside him as she clung to his back. "Now is really not a good time for this."
"Oh don't be like thaaaaat." Her face was completely flushed and she was slurring her words. "Motohama daaaaarling." She giggled again, leaning her full bust up against him.
"Eh...Darling? Me?" He laughed nervously. "Oh...I don't know about that."
"You've been such a good boy." She snickered drunkenly. "Now here's your prize."
Saya pressed her lips to his cheek and gave him a wet smooch. Motohama's nose immediately began to bleed.
"Hey...Saya?" Matsuda spoke up, equal parts confused and bewildered. "Maybe you should head to bed. I think you may have overdone it a little."
"Nooooo." She pouted drunkenly. "I don't wanna. I'm gonna stay right here and…" Her legs began to wobble. "...and just…" She sighed in arousal and licked her lips before pressing her half naked body further against Motohama.
"Hey, Bro? You wanna speak up here?" Matsuda insisted.
"Huhhhh….I like turtles…" Motohama mumbled incoherently. It wasn't clear if he just had a nosebleed or an aneurysm.
"Dude!" Matsuda clapped his hands in front of his face. "Snap out of it."
He shook the cobwebs loose. "What what?"
"Do something!" Matsuda insisted. "She's liable to fall off the balcony at this rate."
He gulped. "Right…" Motohama slowly picked her up and carried her on his back.
"Motohamaaaaa…" Saya whined. "You Peeeeerv. Who said you could touch me?"
"Technically you're the one touching me." Motohama was trying really hard not to think about just how close he was to feeling her naked bust right now.
She laughed obtusely. "Oh yeah…" Saya snickered and hiccuped before nearly sliding off his back.
"W...whoa!" Motohama quickly caught her mid fall, his hands catching the swell of her ass. She moaned in arousal.
"Now you're touching my butt!" She slurred. "I told you you were a Perv…" She sunk fully onto him and rubbed her cheek against his. "Such a naughty, naughty, gun boy."
"Must...focus...all attention…" Motohama was sweating bullets. "...on keeping legs moving!"
"Oh right…" Saya drunkenly turned back towards Matsuda. "...there was like...something really important I needed to tell you Matsuda...what was it?"
"I'm sure it can wait until tomorrow." Matsuda insisted.
"Oh yeah! Rei is looking for you…" She giggled happily. "...she's like...got something super serious to tell you...or whatever."
Matsuda blanched. "Wh...what does she need to tell me?"
"I dunno…" She snickered and waved as Motohama carried her away. "Buh-byyyyye!"
Matsuda groaned wearily before making his way downstairs. "If we make it through the night it'll be a fucking miracle."
"Matsudaaaa! Where are you? Matsuda! Get down here!" A familiar voice pouted.
"There you are…"
Matsuda stopped upon reaching the stairs. Rei was standing their with a coy little smirk on her lips and her cheeks flushed.
"Oh uhhh…" He started sweating. "Hey Rei!"
She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. "Did Saya do something weird in there?"
"What?" He shook his head vehemently. "No no. No weird shit going on here."
She got right in his face and glared at him on her tiptoes. Upon which the most goofy look imaginable formed on her face. "Heeeey, you look really cute in threes."
"Oh great…" He sighed. "Not you too."
"All of a sudden there's a bunch of you...it's…" Her legs buckled and she fell. Matsuda acted quick and caught her before she hit the floor.
"Careful, you almost went down the stairs."
"Oh…" She hung her head. "...I guess I'm just exhausted. It's hard to believe it's only been one day."
"Come on, let's get you to bed."
Before Matsuda could stand up she grabbed him.
"I know your parents are still in the city…"
His eyes went wide. "H...how…"
"You were talking about it with Motohama earlier, I overheard you." She kept her head lowered as she spoke. "Why did you lie to me?"
He bit his lower lip painfully and turned away. "I didn't want you to worry about me?"
For a moment, she remained silent.
"So much has gone wrong." Tears fell onto his arm. "Your parents are missing...Saya can't get in touch with hers...my Grandfather is dead…"
She quietly began to cry, her chest heaving on his arm as her emotions welled up again. Clearly she wasn't ready to be alone yet. Not knowing what else to do, he carried her downstairs.
Motohama made it to the bedroom at last. Xenovia and Aika were already both passed out on the bed. They must have been completely out of it because neither one of them so much as moved even as he plopped the completely smashed Saya onto the bed.
"You know what's like...the funniest thing in the world to me?" Saya slurred as she rolled over on her belly. "Your name...it's just like...so silly, you know?" She giggled to herself as she said his name over and over again.
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah, now get to bed drunky."
As he was about to leave she stopped him and pulled him back down onto the mattress.
"H...hey! What are you doing?"
"So like…" She frowned sadly. "...I've been thinking about today and...I realize I was like...a colossal bitch to you."
"Don't sweat it." He insisted.
"But I DO sweat it." Saya lurched up and wrapped her arms around his neck again. "I'm also...like...really sweaty." She giggled.
It was true her body was quite damp. A healthy sheen of sweat had coated her breasts and her backside and was horribly distracting.
"So...I guess what I'm saying is…" She frowned again, her face heating up. "...you can kiss me if you want. To make up for it."
He felt his heart lurch up into his throat.
"A...are you sure?"
"Just do it already!" She insisted sluggishly. "Maybe then I won't feel so shitty."
Motohama turned and looked at her. It was true that he wanted this...desperately. Saya was so unbelievably beautiful. Not only that, she was smart, and confident, and definitely not afraid to speak her mind.
Which was why he knew he couldn't do this. Motohama could smell the vodka on her breath, see the dazed stupor in her eyes. Saya wasn't all there, it was clear.
He turned away. "Saya...I can't."
"Huh?" She blinked at him in confusion. "Why not?"
"Because...you're drunk."
She chortled at him. "I am NOT! I am…" Her upper body swayed unsteadily. "...I am always the designated driver at every party I go to."
He smiled sadly at her. "I can't...it wouldn't be right."
After a moment, she frowned at him in annoyance. "Why not?"
"I made a promise to myself that I'd become a better person." He explained, fiddling with a callous on his palm nervously. "That I'd never forget Jon's Golden Rule."
She quirked a brow at him. "Golden rule?"
He nodded. "Rule number one of Jonathan Hyodo's guide to the fairer sex. It ain't always about you." Matsuda quoted. "I don't want to take advantage of you Saya. Not like that."
Saya blinked at him a few times before bursting into laughter again. "Seriously? He gave you a GUIDE?! That's so...so…" She suddenly got very light headed and fell against him. Motohama dropped back into the bed with her now resting on his chest.
"H...hey! You alright?" He stuttered nervously.
She frowned. "So...you're really not gonna kiss me?"
He shook his head vehemently. "No. I'm not."
After considering his words for a few moments, she stared up into his eyes.
"Then...would you consider just...holding me?"
His entire body seized. The look in her eyes...the way she pouted her lips, fluttered her eyelashes, it made his heart melt.
"I...I can do that."
She smiled contently and snuggled up to his chest before shutting her eyes. He gingerly wrapped his arm around her and held her close.
"Motohama…" She whispered, already half asleep.
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry…" Slowly she began to doze off. "I was...wrong about...you…"
Saya drifted away into blissful sleep. Motohama wasn't quite sure what to do. What was protocol here? Did he stay? Leave? The dating sims always just cut to credits by this point.
Saya looked so peaceful resting against his chest. As he marveled at just how unbelievably beautiful this girl was, his eyes suddenly became heavy. Soon, Motohama drifted off with her.
On the other side of the bed, Aika opened up an eye and glanced back at them, a proud smile on her face.
"Atta boy."
Matsuda carried Rei downstairs. During which time she remained completely still, not saying a word. He placed her down on the couch and checked to make sure she was still feeling alright.
"I'll get you some water." He stood up to go to the kitchen…
...when she grabbed his sleeve.
Matsuda turned around to see her staring at the ground. She looked so conflicted about something. As if her mind were racing at a mile a minute. Finally she turned her gaze upward to him.
The look in her eyes said it all. Slowly, Rei pressed herself against his chest and touched her forehead to his. Her breathing became heated and her heart was thudding in her chest. Finally, Rei pressed her lips tenderly to his. This kiss was nothing like their first, it was deeper, fuller, the kind of kiss that sent a message.
And that message was, I want you.
Slowly, she pulled Matsuda back to the couch with her lips still pressed to his. He slowly sat down and she straddled his lap. The two of them kissed again, this time, she guided his hands to her waist before wrapping her arms around his neck. They made out with each other for a little while. Neither one of them wanting to stop, just savoring the moment.
Finally, she pulled away. Her breathing came in short shallow bursts and her eyes were swimming with arousal.
"Are you sure? You're not too drunk are y-"
She cut him off with another kiss. Fiercer this time. More forceful. As she did this, she pulled his shirt off of him. Rei wasn't in the mood to talk. By the way she was grinding her hips against his pants, it was clear what she was in the mood for.
But Matsuda had no clue what to do. This was completely foreign territory to him. How was he supposed to respond?
Rei answered for him. With a lustful look in her eyes she pulled her pink tank top over her head and his jaw damn near hit the floor as her naked breasts spilled out in front of him. He had no time to question if he was dreaming or not. As she proceeded to take his wrist and guide his hand up to her right mound, Rei guided his hand, letting him feel her naked skin. Touch her stiff perky nipple. Matsuda was touching a woman's breasts, a REAL woman's breasts, for the first time in his life.
Feeling a bit bolder now, he reached up with his other hand and grabbed her left breast, delicately fondling her with both palms now. She responded positively, moaning and panting in heated breaths with her eyes shut and her hips grinding against him. Matsuda was certain he had died and gone to heaven.
And then she reached down and unzipped his fly.
His breathing immediately began to quicken. Was this really happening? He thought for certain he would wake up at any moment. That this was all just a dream. But no, he didn't wake up. Even as she pulled his member through his briefs and started stroking him, he didn't wake up. Even as she parted her panties and placed his head against her glistening folds, he still didn't wake up.
Even as she moaned and gasped as her walls tightened around the length of his shaft, he was still very much awake.
"Rei…"
She stopped him with another kiss. Now wasn't the time for that. Rei didn't want words right now. Just him. Just this moment. She pressed her body fully against him. The feeling of her slender body pressed against his was beyond exhilarating. Slowly, nervously, she began to move along his length.
It wasn't a dream. Matsuda was having his first time with a woman he loved.