[DISCLAIMER: Merely fiction and a wild story I thought up with the Hololive personalities playing these characters.
Thank you to the new reviewers and to the all the follows and favorite adds. You make me want to keep writing on this fanfic. I hope you all enjoy a little romance developing for Gura and Amelia – been getting more into the cute relationship developing with the two, and then Ina wont' be left out – no worries. A chapter with lots of Tee Tee.
I also added a little Korone humor. My daughter actually did something similar with my coffee maker – I'm really into coffee - and so I thought it might be funny.]
Chapter 7 – An Awkward Love
Gura woke with Dr. Amelia Watson lying across her lap, as the sun began to rise. She moved restlessly on her lap. The shark girl slowly brushed at her blonde locks, moving them slowly from her brow.
"Watson, you look the loveliest in the morning sunlight."
She made a little hiccup sound, and then began to rustle awake.
Dr. Watson noted she was asleep on someone's lap and slowly moved up, and to the side.
"Oh, wow, sorry." She straightened up her clothing. "I fell asleep."
"You looked pretty tired."
"I'm sorry. You should have woken me."
"Eh, not a big deal. I figured you needed your sleep with the new job and all. How you doing, Watson?"
Watson yawned lightly, and even that sounded cute to Gura. The ex-investigator stood and took a light breath. "I should head back to my place and clean up. Have to still head into work."
"Yeah, I'll walk you."
"You don't have to."
"But I've got nothing else to do." Gura giggled, blushing slightly.
"Okay… sure."
The two walked to the apartment, uncomfortably clearing their throats and unsure who should speak first.
"You really didn't have to walk me, Gura."
"I need my coat back."
"Oh yeah." Dr. Watson removed the coat from her shoulders and handed it to Gura. "It was warm."
"Now it is." Gura held it, feeling Amelia Watson's warmth on it and her smell.
They awkwardly stood at the entrance to Watson's apartment.
"Thank you… for that."
"It's nothing. Have a good day at work."
"You too… at whatever you do."
"My day usually transpires into what I need to do at the moment it happens."
Watson giggled. "You're not like anyone I've ever met before."
"Same."
The two smiled up into one another's gaze, both noting the beauty of the other but unsure of the feelings and how to convey this draw.
Gura uncomfortably patted Amelia on the shoulder. "Have a good'un Watson."
"You too… maybe we'll see each other later."
"Probably. I'm headed to that Holios Island with my landlord."
"Oh yeah. I'll probably see you there in a couple of days."
Gura nodded. "Yeah, um okay. Have a good day… again."
They both uncomfortably giggled, and so Watson opened the door to her apartment complex to head inside, but she stopped and added, "Sorry I slept on your lap. I hope it's not sore."
"No, I have a strong lap."
"Okay," she giggled, "that's good. Strong thighs are a must." Watson then considered how it felt lying across her thighs. "Okay bye."
She ran into her apartment and up to the top floor, skipping the elevator and using the stairs.
###########################################################################
Gura entered the bungalow and could hear Korone in the kitchen, but she went and brushed teeth and considered hopping in the shower, but kept hearing Korone sounding like she was struggling in the kitchen.
"Yo, landlord, whatcha doing?" she asked while shuffling to the counter.
"Trying to make coffee with this cool coffee maker my Sensei Fubuki gave me. She wanted to celebrate a milestone we made together at the company."
The shark girl walked around the counter to see a nice coffee maker, noting conical filters besides, half all crumpled.
"You know you have to open it and place those inside and then put the coffee in, right?"
"Oh, they go inside? I thought they went on top of the coffee pot."
Gura kindly pushed Korone aside. "Why don't I make us some coffee and you have a seat?"
"Okay."
Korone wagged her tail and then sat at the counter as Gura made them a pot of coffee.
"You know, Koro, I was thinking of joining you and Okayu on your trip to Holios."
"Really? Wowowowow, that'd be awesome. Want to fly over with us on my private jet?"
"You have a private jet?"
"Well, it's the company's but Okayu and I are flying over on it."
"Sure." Gura poured two cups of coffee and brought one over to Korone once she advised how she liked it with lots of cream and sugar.
"We're leaving tomorrow, I think. They want us to do some rehearsals and such, and so we are headed over soon. Do you mind leaving then?"
"Yeah, that'd be cool."
The shark girl sat down beside the doggo to enjoy a cup of coffee as Korone shared what her day would entail, inviting Gura to join her.
"I might have to take care of some other personal business and pack."
"Okay, then I'll see you later." Korone got up to leave for her company. "See you later, Gura," and then she pecked her on the cheek.
"Ciao."
Gura sat at the counter, slowly sipping her coffee. In her thoughts she considered her night watching Watson fall asleep and slowly lowering her to her lap. She was falling hard for the blonde.
#########################################################################
Ina was leaving her apartment when she saw Watson pop out of the elevator.
"Good morning, Ame."
"Morning."
"How was your night?"
Watson paused in consideration of sleeping on Gura's lap and waking beside her, and answered, "it was… nice."
"Oh good."
"Want a lift?"
Ina nodded and they rode into work together. The day was the usual and Ina's thoughts kept going back to the Ancient's voices and the tome, that continued to invade her existence.
She left work early, stating she didn't feel well.
Watson caught her leave the building early, looking down from the windows and wondered, "What's going on with her? Something… isn't right."
She quickly asked for them to let her leave early, saying she didn't feel well.
Watson was soon at her apartment, parked, and ready to head inside, but then she saw Ina leave again.
She jumped out of her car to follow on foot.
She slowed when she saw Ina was at the pier and then Gura appeared. She was meeting Gura? Why?
It piqued Amelia Watson's interest and she slowly walked around parked vehicles and made her way to follow from a distance, watching them head to the pier and then walk underneath on the sand and under the pier.
"What are they doing there?" she spoke to herself under her breath, watching them go to where the murders had occurred.
She snuck under the pier, listening in on the two as they spoke quietly.
"They were here and the Reaper was here and now you're here. What's going on with all of you?" Gura asked the Ancient spokesperson.
"I don't know." Ina was at a loss. "I know you are here for a reason and I met you and Ame and it's made me very troubled. I know I have to go to Holios and meet the Phoenix."
"Kiara?"
"Yes. She doesn't know she's the Phoenix. Calliope knows her."
"Calli? The new Reaper chick."
"Yes."
"And what does Watson have to do with all of this? Maybe we should try and keep her away from Holios if you're going to go all rampaging on the Phoenix."
Ina stopped, her bright eyes staring outward to the ocean. "Remember how it was so simple? I just wish…"
"Life was never simple or easier." Gura added. "Yeah, it just keeps moving and passing and I'm here. And you're here. They're using you; you know that, right?"
"I can't change this."
"Yes, you can. You can skip this trip and just… go to Europe or something."
"You seem awfully concerned for the investigator." Ina laughed gently. "Your paths continue to cross and you can't stop it either. We are all creatures of fate."
"Do you love her?"
"I love you all." Ina smiled. "I hope fate will be kind, but I worry it won't be. And I know… I know how much you love her."
Gura cleared her throat, uncomfortably.
"I saw it when we all met and I also wanted to just experience how much she felt so alive and real, and then I knew it wouldn't last. It was momentary." Ina seemed so sad. "I feel drawn to Holios too, and I don't know why. I need to go there, and stop the Phoenix."
Watson didn't know how to take this conversation. It was breaching parameters outside her world and she didn't understand, but she couldn't stop listening, and she lowered to her haunches behind the thick wooden columns that held the old pier, and listened to every word these two were speaking, realizing there was so much more.
And Gura stated that she loved her? She didn't understand why.
"I am going to try and change it all," Gura stated, "and this time save Watson. I'm not going to let you all destroy her again with your end of world scenarios."
"I hope you the best, but I can't promise I won't be fighting you in the end."
"I know. You have to listen to the Ancients, but I have to listen to my heart."
Watson heard a splash and looked from behind the pier, not seeing Ina, but only Gura standing there along the edge of the sand and waves, she was standing there watching the ocean, and Watson wondered where Ina had gone.
"You're there?" Gura turned to see Watson standing in the sand, on the beach and it was so reminiscent of a time in the past. Her blonde hair being whipped across her lovely features as the breeze picked up along the edge of the shore. It was a view like this the last time she saw her Watson all those years ago.
"I heard something."
"You heard… me and Ina?"
Amelia Watson slowly nodded.
"We were role-playing."
"Sure. I'm not that stupid, I don't think."
"Sorry." Gura rubbed at her forehead. "How much did you hear?"
"Everything."
"I see."
"You said you love me."
"I did?' Gura uncomfortably giggled, blushing. "Are you sure?"
Amelia Watson nodded once again.
"And… I think I'm falling in love with you too."
She walked slowly across the sand to the shark girl.
"I didn't mean to," Watson stated, "it just… came so easily with you."
"Yeah – funny how that is…."
Soon Watson was standing in front of the smaller girl. "Can you please explain what you two were talking about to me? What's going on? What do you mean by the Reaper and Phoenix and all that stuff?"
"That's a lot."
"I took off the rest of today – so I have time. Want to grab some lunch and maybe talk?"
"You are definitely an investigator and I figure you'll keep nosing around and so since I don't want you stumbling in the wrong direction, yeah I'll have lunch with you and hopefully explain some stuff."
"Thanks."
Calliope watched the exchange; her heart being moved when she considered these two lovebirds were hopelessly entwined through time. She didn't like to usually question whatever came her way, but Gura was someone she began to like and find interesting, so for this moment she did begin to question choices decided.
She would play along, knowing there were at least two more deaths that needed to follow Watson. She'd do her job, but it didn't mean she couldn't question and think over other scenarios.
She left in a wisp, once again.
##################################################################
Ina had swum across the ocean within seconds to the Island of Holios, her tentacles and hydrodynamic body able to move amazingly fast.
She landed at Holios and lifted to walk to a small inn on the beach and away from most. This was where gods would stay, the Kame Inn within its own dimension, and it had a spa and rooms, with a beautiful onsen to the back, that she could relax and recover.
The owner of the Inn, Enma-san, greeted her and asked, "How long will you be staying spokesperson of the Ancients?"
"I'm not sure."
"There is another patron here, Momosuzu Nene a lower level goddess from Planet Tao Tao. I'm sure you will see her in the hot springs."
"That's fine. I'm not really here for company."
"I see. Let me have my servant show you to your room."
A small creature, furry and with large black eyes, came forward to guide Ina to her accommodations. She truly just wanted to rest and not think. She guessed she would be fired from that momentary job, not that it mattered. That wasn't her real job, anyway.
Her side was still tender and she would soak later in the hot springs.
As she passed along the hallway, the other patron looked over, a taller blonde with large green eyes and dressed demurely. Their eyes met and the other patron smiled, one small fang showing. "Hello."
"Hello."
"I'm Nene."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Ina."
They both giggled.
"You're really pretty, like the most beautiful creature on this planet."
The other was surprisingly upfront. Ina shyly lowered her gaze, blushing. "Thank you."
"Can I touch your hair?"
"No."
"Okay, maybe later."
"No – not later."
"Okay sure, but maybe when you get to know me better."
"Probably not."
"Hmm… I'm Nene."
"I know, you just introduced yourself."
"I did?" She laughed, sounding like a low rumble of a car engine. "Oh yeah, I did. And you're Ina."
"Yes."
"Hmm… maybe now I can touch your hair?"
"No."
Nene awkwardly held to a group of bath towels. "I was about to go to the hot spring. Want to join me?"
"Maybe… I'll settle in my room and then probably see you there."
"It's a date."
"No, it's not a date."
"But… okay."
Nene watched the lovely dark hair as she walked away, nearly taking her breath away. She'd never met something so beautiful since landing on this planet. There were so many wonders and she was one of them. And she decided, I'm going to touch her hair.
[END NOTE: And enter Nene and a new love for Ina… or possibly Enma? I'm still thinking it over. Thank you for reading and please follow, favorite or review and let me know how it's going.
By the way, the end scene reminded me of a Miyasaki film and I was listening to Joe Hisaishi in the background, which I tend to do when I write. Hope you like how it develops.]