Hello everyone, we're back. Now I usually like to stay out of your way and let you get to reading but I have an announcement specific to FF today. In recent times it has been pointed out that we skirt close to the rules for content here on FF and I wanted to remind you all that Insurrection is available on Wattpad should something happen to the story here. I will do my best to get things up and running here on FF as quickly as possible if that happens but I invite all of you to follow my profile to get notifications in the unfortunate event that the story is removed so that you can see when it has returned.
Now with that dreary bit of information done, please enjoy the latest chapter!
The two remaining FranXX attached to the S-Planning site finally make it to the top of the hill that serves as their lookout over the facility. While Strelitzia and Delphinium were distracted and fighting with their comrades, they had been ordered to quickly return to the site and request reinforcements. However, what they find is hardly comforting.
The excavator at the site's center has collapsed into itself and the communications dish has been melted into slag. Shortly after, a pink and a purple FranXX step into view, identifying themselves as the culprits. Both are easily recognizable as members of Squad 13, and neither has noticed either of the two atop the lookout. Instead, they seem focused on their task of ransacking the facility.
With the element of surprise on their side, the FranXX descend into the valley toward the unsuspecting raiders.
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Now down two FranXX, the defense squad finds themselves in a predicament. The advantage of numbers they had once possessed has now been almost completely nullified by their opponents, and the tag team of Delphinium and Strelitzia is proving to be incredibly dangerous to go up against. Still, they continue to fight with every ounce of strength they can find in order to protect the S-Planning facility.
Strelitzia ducks under a spear from the defense squad and completes her evasion with a twist into a backflip, placing her squarely behind the attacker. With a snarl she jabs her own weapon forward, piercing clean through the chest plate of the opposing FranXX. The doomed unit lets out a cry, clutching desperately at the wound as her precious magma lifeblood gushes out.
"Nice save," you thank Hiro and Zero Two as Strelitzia joins Delphinium beside one of the other downed enemies, the headless FranXX. "Don't mention it," Hiro replies, "but since when can you two do that?"
"About ten seconds ago," you answer, still in a state of partial disbelief. You had no idea Delphinium was even capable of something like this. Constantly floating just off the ground with her new and sleeker thrusters was one thing, but the crazy aerial move you'd just executed was something that Delphinium should never have been able to physically pull off. "Do either of you know what's going on?" Delphinium asks, finally taking a moment to look over her new form herself.
Before either Hiro or Zero Two can answer, there is a piercing scream over the comms that undoubtedly belongs to Miku. What the hell? I told everyone not to use the comms! The initial confusion is followed by a wave of realization: there are only three inactive FranXX laying around you.
Strelitzia makes this connection as well and both FranXX rocket toward the S-Planning site.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ten minutes earlier
So far so good, Argentea tells herself. In the distance, the S-Planning site's defense squad marches over the hill after Delphinium, just as planned. "Good luck guys," Zorome whispers. "Be careful."
"Stand back," Chlorophytum announces. Argentea steps aside as the purple mech places her right arm over her chest before thrusting it back to her side. Her wing slides down into place with a satisfying click and the tips of the fins begin to glow.
Chlorophytum extends her arm and lifts it to be level with her faceplate. She uses her left to brace her other arm and her visor springs to life. "Mitsuru," she prompts quietly. "I've got it," he answers. "Target distance, 880 meters. Wind speed, negligible."
"Firing." Four lances of light spring from Chlorophytum and strike her chosen target instantaneously: the site's communications array. The building and the tower beside it are reduced to scrap by the superheated beams. Mitsuru releases a short breath, clearly satisfied with their work. "That should keep them quiet."
"Alright," Zorome shouts. "Let's go!"
Argentea takes the lead and rushes into the basin. As she runs, she takes a quick stock of the buildings around her, and by extent, what was most likely to be held inside them. The location of the fuel was obvious, as the large spherical containers nearly as tall as a FranXX were hard to miss, but they weren't her immediate priority. Instead, she was looking for food.
The long rectangular building beside the excavator seems to be the best bet. There seemed to be a steady flow of people coming in and out, and its location close to the center of the facility would make perfect sense for a mess hall. So, she decides to make her way there first. Chlorophytum takes a different approach and advances on the building with a large red cross, clearly the site's medical facility.
It takes almost no time whatsoever for her to arrive at her target, and by the time she has the building is completely vacant. With their communications cut off and their defense squad unable to help, it is clear the facility's staff has chosen to hide and let the rampaging FranXX do as they please.
Using her claws, Argentea peels back the building's roof and reveals many rows of tables separated from a large kitchen by wall. "I'm going in," she announces to her partner. Stepping inside the building, she crushes several tables underfoot and kneels before severing her connection to Zorome.
Miku opens her eyes and begins to move from her seated position. By the time she has gained her feet, Zorome is already standing at the door and waiting for her. "Let's hurry," he says, pulling the release. A sharp hissing sound comes from the hatch as the airtight seal is broken.
Miku nods and follows him out. They quickly move down one of Argentea's extended arms and drop to the floor of the mess hall. Glancing around for a few seconds, Miku tugs on Zorome's suit and points to one of the sides of the room.
The pair quickly rush to the spot Miku pointed out, to the door in the wall by the food counter. However, it proves to be locked. "I'll get it," Zorome tells her as he slides over the counter. A moment later the door opens, and she steps inside.
This looks like the kitchen back at the mansion, Miku thinks to herself as she walks in. It's not as big, but it's a lot cleaner. Shaking away the thought, she takes a box from the counter and begins to fill it with as many edible items as she can from the nearby shelves.
Focused too intently on her work, Miku fails to hear the sound of footsteps behind her.
"Don't move!" a voice shouts. Miku freezes, dropping the head of lettuce she'd been holding. "Turn around," the voice commands. "Slowly."
Miku does as instructed, turning to face the woman behind her. She wears the typical uniform issued to all of APE's military, with the typical boots and the typical hat, right down to the typical firearm in her hands.
"Please don't hurt me," Miku whimpers, shaking much more than she wanted. "You're from the squad that's responsible for destroying plantations, aren't you?" the guard asks. "We didn't, we didn't hurt anyone," Miku manages, doing her best to suppress her fear.
There is a clicking sound as the guard pulls back the pistol's hammer. "The order has been given for you to be killed on sight," the woman informs her, her voice devoid of emotion. She takes a step forward. "I am honored to execute Papa's will."
Miku matches her pace, backing up until she's against the wall. "Z-Za…Za…Za…Zorome!"
Out of the corner of her gaze that's riveted on the guard, she sees movement around a nearby refrigerator just before a large circular object smashes into the guard's face. With a groan, she almost instantly collapses to the floor in a heap.
"Miku!" Zorome shouts, rushing out from behind the appliance and dropping the frying pan. "Miku, are you alright?" he pulls her close and she nestles further into his arms. "Y-You sa-saved me," Miku cries loudly at him. "Well, of course I did!" he answers without hesitation. "I'll always save you."
Several minutes pass as Miku cries and Zorome holds her. It takes her a while, but she finally starts to gather herself together and she stops crying. Zorome helps her back to her feet and reaches for the pistol laying on the floor.
"What are you going to do with it?" Miku asks, eyeing the weapon. "Just gonna hold it," he says, before stuffing it in the chest pocket of his uniform. "We need to get the food and get out of here." He offers Miku his hand, which she gingerly takes. "We'll stay together this time."
Thank you, Zorome.
The pair return to packing food, but Zorome continues to glance at Miku regularly. She seems to have calmed down, but she's still very obviously a mess on the inside.
Was that woman really going to shoot me? Miku thinks as she finishes up with a box. What would I have done if Zorome hadn't saved me? She stumbles and drops the box she had just picked up. "Miku!" Zorome drops what he'd been carrying and runs to her. "I'm alright," she whispers. "Just tripped over something."
Zorome doesn't seem satisfied with the answer, but moves to pick up his box anyway. The two of them pile all their boxes by one of Argentea's hands before running them up into her cockpit. Once they're finished after a few minutes, they both make their final trip up their FranXX's outstretched arm.
"Here," the boy offers Miku his hand as she steps into Argentea. "That's all of it. We should get out of here." Miku nods and assumes her position inside the cabin. A moment later her vision is replaced with that of Argentea's as the FranXX comes online.
The dust from the cracked earth is whipped up by the passing breeze as the pigtailed FranXX stands. She hesitates, however, causing Zorome to verbally push her. "Miku, we need to go," he reminds her quietly. "Right," she agrees and takes a step forward.
No sooner has her foot grazed the earth than a spear tip sails past her head, implanting itself in the excavator behind Argentea. The pink FranXX lets out a startled cry and falls backward, crushing what remained of the mess hall.
The line connected to the spear tip is pulled taut and it breaks free from the building. In a matter of seconds it returns to its rightful place in the shaft still held firmly in its wielder's hand. Her assailants, which are revealed to be two standard FranXX, continue to march toward her with their weapons drawn.
"Delphinium and Strelitzia were supposed to take care of them," Zorome whispers. "Does that mean...?" …that Ichigo and the others are dead? Miku thinks to herself as her eyes widen. No, they couldn't be. They're way too good for that… aren't they?
"Members of Squad 13," one of the FranXX addresses them. "You will die now."
Her statement is immediately followed by another harpoon shot. Argentea rolls out of the way just in time as it pierces the spot she had been in moments before.
While the first FranXX retrieves its blade, the second engages Argentea. The unit thrusts her spear forward, only for it to be batted away by Argentea's claws.
Argentea backs off, trying to distance herself from her attackers. "Please stop," she mumbles. "We don't want to fight, you idiots!" Zorome shouts through the speakers.
Both FranXX attack simultaneously. The first attempts another jab while her twin makes a large slash. Zorome guides Argentea to sidestep the jab while catching the slash between the claws on her right hand.
"Then die like your friends!" The enemy FranXX presses down even harder and Argentea braces herself to remain standing.
"They wouldn't have lost to weaklings like you!" Zorome rebukes as Argentea pushes off the stalled attack. The FranXX staggers backward, but is replaced by her squadmate.
"You may be able to keep this up for now, but when our squad leader gets here, you're finished. He's the best parasite in the whole world!" one of the standard models shouts. A series of quick jabs are thrown at Argentea, but she manages to dodge all of them. However, the strain from fighting is slowly beginning to show on her.
"Give up! Your squad is dead!" a voice shouts from behind the other FranXX.
With that, something snaps within Miku's already weakened mental state. No... this can't be happening! There's no way they're dead! If Strelitzia couldn't beat them, then there's no way we can! We're… we're going to die here.
"Miku!" Zorome shouts as Argentea takes a half step forward, nearly tumbling. "What's wrong? Why'd you get so heavy?" The monitor on Miku's headdress flashes, showing that her paracapacity score has suddenly dropped to 63, just 3 points above the minimum requirement for a connection.
"We're going to die," Argentea whimpers, covering her head with her hands to hide. "Zorome, we're going to die."
Zorome's voice grows frantic as he tries to reassure her. "Miku, everything's going to be fine!" he says in a panicked tone as the two FranXX begin to recover from the spectacle. "I don't want to die, Zorome!" Argentea screams as the FranXX throws herself to the ground and hides her face.
"Miku!" Zorome manages to wrest control of Argentea for a moment and forces her to remove her hands. This gives him a perfect view of the two FranXX standing over him. "We are going to die," he whispers.
Suddenly, the FranXX on the left coughs and clutches at her chest. She claws madly at herself before falling over backward. The final defense squad member turns to face their attacker but finds no sign of them.
Jets roar as a lithe blue and white figure somersaults over the confused FranXX. When the figure has just passed over, their heads mere meters apart, her jets fire again. This drives her dual blades into the back of the unsuspecting FranXX and takes them both to the ground.
Argentea opens her eyes to an unfamiliar FranXX facing away from her. The unit is blue and white like Delphinium, but has large thrusters in her heels and smaller ones on her arms and legs. What's more is that she hovers just off the ground with the thrusters in idle instead of standing. "Th-Thank you," she whimpers.
The FranXX turns to face them. Her stern face, green eyes, and a single lock of red hair are so unmistakable that Miku's heart skips a beat when she realizes who stands in front of her.
"I-Ichigo?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Are you two alright?" you ask as you glance to your shivering teammate. Several seconds pass in complete silence before a member of team Argentea replies. "We're alright," Zorome says, his voice full of shock. "But what happened to you guys?"
"We don't know," Delphinium answers. "But it's how we were able to save you." Ichigo gives them a smile. "D-did you kill them?" Argentea meekly asks. A small core of guilt forms in your chest. "We did." Argentea gasps. "Why?" She sounds on the verge of tears. "Miku..." your tone is soft as you speak to her. "They wanted to hurt you. They were going to kill you. We couldn't let that happen, so we stopped them."
As Delphinium comforts Argentea, Strelitzia opens a line with you. "This one is still alive," indicating the unit that had been stabbed through the chest with her lance. "Then they stay that way," Hiro states. "I don't want to kill anyone else." "I only did it to protect us, Darling," Strelitzia says matter-of-factly. "I know," Hiro replies. "Even if you were doing it, I helped. The reason doesn't make it any easier."
"We can talk about this later," you tell them. "We need to get moving or we'll run the risk of a passing plantation seeing the smoke."
"Everyone," you address the entire squad. "I know we've been through a lot today, but it isn't over yet. Chlorophytum, Argentea, did you get the food and medicine?" Chlorophytum nods. "We have everything we could find," Mitsuru answers. "I'm sorry we weren't there to help," Chlorophytum says as she helps Argentea to her feet. "We had an issue with a guard. We'll be there next time, I promise."
"If we have the food and medicine, all that's left is the fuel," Delphinium announces. "Everyone, fill up from the reserve and then take as much as you can carry. I don't want to do this again any time soon."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The return trip to the village is nearly silent. When you finally arrive, everyone quickly unloads the stolen supplies in the hangar and makes their way to the manor. Kokoro and Futoshi have been anxiously awaiting your return, and they have dinner ready to go minutes after they greet you. Unfortunately, nobody was really in the mood to talk. Following the meal, the members of Squad 13 gather in the second-floor parlor that overlooks the town.
"Is there some reason everyone so quiet?" Kokoro asks once everyone is situated. "Did something happen?"
"Things… didn't exactly go as planned," you inform her quietly. "What went wrong?" Code 030, or as she was now called, Kana, asks. Nearby, the short haired Kyo, formerly Code 90, shifts uncomfortably. "It must be something pretty bad if it has you shaken up this badly, Code 01– I mean, Ichigo."
"We had to fight the fight the S-Planning site's defense squad," Ichigo answers dejectedly. "You what?" Kyo nearly shouts, jumping to his feet. "We tried distracting them and it didn't work," you tell him. "They tried to kill us," Zero Two says, looking out the nearby window. The mood in the room immediately darkens.
"So, you incapacitated them?" Kana tries to direct the conversation. You shake your head. "You mean you killed them...?" Kokoro's voice breaks and tears form in her eyes. She looks to each of you in turn for confirmation. Zorome and Miku refuse to meet her gaze. Hiro takes a deep breath, opens his mouth, and closes it again.
Kokoro turns to you, sitting beside Ichigo on a couch. "You killed them?" she repeats, her eyes begging you to say it isn't true. "I'm sorry, Kokoro," Ichigo's voice is melancholy. "If there had been another way, we would have done it. I threw up after we did it. I still want to throw up."
Kokoro's heart breaks before you and she hides herself in Futoshi's embrace. "You're sure there wasn't another way?" Kana asks sternly. You continue to stare distantly at Kokoro. "There may have been," Hiro finally joins the conversation, "but we didn't have the time to find it. Papa has ordered we be killed on sight and the defense squad wasn't hesitating." Zero Two moves to stand closer to Hiro. "We pretended to be hurt," she picks up. "They acted like they were going to help us, and then tried to kill us. They deserve what they got."
Kyo's brows furrow as he notices your clenched fist. "(Y/N), surely you don't agree with that." "You're damn right I do," you pound your fist against the coffee table. "But–" "They tried to kill Ichigo," you growl, causing him to fall silent. "So I killed them. I had no choice, Ichigo didn't have control. And I'd do it again to keep any of you safe."
"You saved us too," Zorome admits. "If you hadn't shown up when you did, Miku and I wouldn't be here." The previously mentioned girl sits in a corner hugging her knees to her chest. She had barely eaten at dinner and has spoken even less than the meager amount of food she had eaten.
"There wasn't anything you could do?" Futoshi asks while still comforting Kokoro.
"You don't get it, do you?" Mitsuru angrily says to Futoshi. "They didn't have a choice. It's just like fighting the Klaxosaurs. If something tries to kill you, you try to kill it right back. When Ikuno and I were getting the medicine–" he pauses, seeming to have remembered something, and stops to address Kana. "Sorry, we found the antihistamine. Now we should have enough for 423 to last several weeks." The ex-squad leader lets out a sigh of relief. "Thank you."
"Anyway," he resumes. "Ikuno and I had trouble with a guard too. He shot at me three times before she could help." "I don't like it either," Ikuno agrees. "However, it's what we have to do to keep ourselves safe. This time we screwed up. In the future, we'll be better prepared and have ways to disable a FranXX instead of killing it. Today we didn't."
The room is quiet for several minutes as everyone stays still, lost in thought. Finally, it is Zorome who speaks. "I have a question. What happened to Delphinium? You really looked a lot different. Seriously, you were even able to fly." Everyone looks to you and Ichigo for an explanation.
"We don't know," you answer truthfully. Ichigo nods and continues. "Before the squad leader fell we were barely holding our own, then (Y/N) and I tried to do different things at the same time and we locked up. I remember a pain in my side and my body feeling like it was on fire before I lost my connection to Delphinium," Ichigo explains. "I was so scared. (Y/N) tried to calm me down after we disconnected, but if Strelitzia hadn't been there…" "When we finally reconnected, our paracapacity scores were maxed out." You intentionally omit your hasty declaration of love, but given the wide-eyed look on Ichigo's face she has finally remembered it. Her hand snakes its way into yours on the cushion as you finish. "And after that, we realized that we were floating."
"Floating?" Futoshi's tone betrays his confusion. "Delphinium looked different too," Zorome adds. "She was incredible," Miku mumbles, her first contribution to the conversation. "So strong and brave." Zorome's eyes perk up momentarily as Miku speaks, but it quickly fades when she returns to hiding in a ball.
"How did we look?" you ask, completely unaware of what the transformation had done.
"It was really cool!" Zorome says enthusiastically. "You guys had a ton of extra thrusters. There were smaller ones coming out of your arms and legs, and the ones already on your legs got a lot bigger."
"It's called 'Overdrive,'" Zero Two says as she answers Zorome's initial question. "When pilots achieve perfect synchronization, their FranXX unlocks its true form. Only our FranXX can do it, the standard models don't have the ability."
"Zero Two," Hiro tilts his head to the side, "how do you know that?" She shrugs. "Because I've seen it before," she replies, but offers no further details.
"How did we activate it, then?" Ichigo asks. "Like I said," the pink-haired girl repeats. "The pilots have to be in perfect sync with each other and the FranXX. It usually means they're feeling the same strong emotion." Your friends all adopt looks of either confusion or wonder. "Like being mad or scared?" Ikuno asks as she ravenously watches Zero Two spilling the details regarding the Overdrive system. Zero Two examines the tips of her hair. "Anger, fear, resolve, any will do as long as it's mutual." She stops playing with the pink strands and shoots a glance at you and Ichigo. "Even love."
So that must have been what did it, you tell yourself. When I told Ichigo I loved her, we both felt the same strong emotion. Then when we connected to Delphinium, that shared feeling caused her to transform.
Zorome shifts his weight to one side then the other. "And you're saying any of us can do it?" Zero Two glances to him and nods. "Well, then we should figure out how to," Mitsuru states. "If we all get a power boost like Delphinium did, we could take on nearly any opponent without worrying about getting hurt."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Kokoro says tentatively. "If you try forcing something, it usually doesn't go the way you want it to." "She's right," Ichigo says. "I'm not sure how (Y/N) and I made it happen, but if we all wait, I'm sure we'll each figure it out on our own. I mean, it's probably different for each pair, right?"
"That's a good point," Hiro agrees. After he finishes speaking, Zero Two yawns and wraps herself around his arm. "I'm tired, Darling, let's go to bed." Hiro nods in agreement.
You stand up. "I think it's best that we all turn in early, after how today went." There is a general murmur of agreement, and one by one people begin to leave the room. You notice that Zero Two, despite being the one to bring up the idea of sleeping, is waiting in the exact spot she'd just been in.
Before leaving, Kana approaches Ichigo, who is still sitting beside you. "Thank you for allowing me to rest in your bed while I was recovering," she bows. "I'm doing much better now, and I'll be able to sleep in the other room with my squadmates." "You're sure?" Ichigo asks with a hint of concern. A strand of Kana's deep purple hair falls across her face and she tucks the nearly black piece back behind her ear. "Yes. Your hospitality was more than kind, but I have taken advantage of it for too long."
"Have you decided if you'll stay?" you ask before she has the chance to leave. "From how I see it," Kyo says as he joins the conversation, "we really don't have much of a choice. Both our plantations were destroyed and we've been missing for two weeks. If we went back now, Papa would just go and throw us away for being failures."
"It has been surprisingly… nice, these last two weeks," Kana admits. "Not having to fight Klaxosaurs every day and worry about our squad's survival defies description. It's like a weight has been lifted from our shoulders that we didn't know we were carrying."
"Do your squads agree with you?" Ichigo's hope is uncontained as she speaks. "We've talked to them individually," Kana replies. She looks to Kyo, and seeing his unchanged expression, continues. "They appreciate everything you've done for us. So, if you'll have us, we will stay here with you."
Ichigo can barely contain her smile. "We'd like that very much." "Right," Kyo coughs and adjusts his collar. "I'll be off then." Kana chuckles a little bit at his stiff exit and bids you farewell.
"Took them long enough," Zero Two says while she pushes herself off the wall. "So, what is it you wanted to say?" you cut straight to the point. "You clearly know more about the Overdrive system than you let on, if the look you gave us is anything to go by."
The pink-haired girl adopts a playful grin. "I might. But you first." She points at your hand still intertwined with Ichigo's. "You told her you loved her, didn't you?"
It is very fortunate that everyone except for Hiro and Zero Two has left the room at this point. Ichigo turns bright red and your throat runs dry as you desperately try to respond. The room is filled with the sound of Zero Two's laughter, and you and Ichigo separate on the couch.
"Alright, Zero Two," Hiro takes her hand and begins to lead her out of the room. "If you're just going to laugh at them, then we should go to bed."
"We should too," you tell Ichigo while looking in her direction after they've left. "Yeah," she nervously agrees. Awkwardly, you take her hand and the two of you walk down the halls to your now-vacant room.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Not a word is spoken by you or Ichigo on the way to your room. Your mouth may be still, but your mind is working overtime trying to decide what you'll say in the conversation that is bound to happen once you've reached your destination.
Finally, you reach the door. It opens on the first try, revealing the silken screen in the corner of the room shining a brilliant white. The moon lies just over the balcony's rail, and it casts bright light over the room, even reaching the queen-sized bed. You step back and allow Ichigo to enter first.
She makes her way over to the dresser and pulls out the second drawer. You take up a position leaning against the doorframe after gently closing it. From the drawer, Ichigo withdraws her nightgown. She appraises it momentarily, then steps behind the screen.
"So, about today," she says, now that there is a barrier between you. "...What about it?" you ask. An annoyed huff can be heard from the other side of the screen. "I think that we should talk more about what happened," Ichigo continues.
"Which part?" you inquire. "The one where I killed two parasites because they hurt you, or the part where I said that one thing?" Ichigo's head sticks out from the side of the screen, so that you can see her eyes looking directly at you. "When you said that one thing. Did you mean it?"
You look her square in the eye. "I meant it." Your partner's pupils grow wide and if you could see the rest of her face, you're sure she'd be blushing. "So… what does that mean for us then?" "It shouldn't really mean much as far as I can tell," you answer. "You had to know that's how I felt. I mean, I'm absolutely terrible at hiding it. I've put you first since the day we met. What matters most to me is your safety and happiness. Nothing in this world will ever cause that to change."
Ichigo steps out from behind the screen wearing the nightgown. It's different from the one she'd brought along from Plantation 13. It has a pink material exposing her arms, shoulders, and legs to the lower thigh. She blushes slightly, and her hands play with the frills at the hemline.
"Why do you have to say it like that?" she asks. "What do you mean?" you shoot back. "Saying I matter more than anything else," she whispers. "I don't know what to say or how to feel when you do that." "Nana did always tell us to be honest," you smile. "My mind's a mess, though," she admits. "I feel terrible about what we did today, but I can't help being happy. We killed people, but all I can think about is what happened in Delphinium."
"Try not to think about it then," you tell her. "Just say the first thing that comes to mind when you close your eyes." Ichigo closes her eyes and breathes in. "I want you to say it to me again." You grin. "Say what?" you ask, despite having a solid notion. She looks up at you for the first time after leaving the safety of the screen. "What you said to bring me back."
You push off the door and take several steps toward her, stopping just in front. Taking her hands gingerly in your own, you look her in the eye and smile. "I love you."
Ichigo melts, the tension in her shoulders releasing as they slouch back. Her face twists into a goofy grin and she begins to quietly chuckle. "You have no idea how long I've waited for you to say that to me." "Maybe I should have said it sooner," you confess. "I just didn't wa–" A finger on your lips keeps you from saying anything else. "All I care about," Ichigo tells you, "is that you said it now."
The two of you are now only inches apart so you take advantage of the situation and kiss Ichigo. The kiss is long and slow, and it helps you go that extra step to comfort her. Finally, when the kiss is broken, you chuckle to yourself. "I think that should answer the rest of your questions." "Yeah," Ichigo whispers. "Why don't you get ready for bed?"
You nod and she steps away. You loosen your belt and untuck your shirt. Pulling it over your head, you fold the article quickly and place it in the dresser. From the mirror mounted on the dresser's top, you can see Ichigo watching and waiting patiently on the bed. "Didn't realize I'd have an audience," you chuckle. "If it bothers you, you can always go behind the screen," Ichigo chirps. "I was more concerned about you," you tell her as you remove your trousers.
"You sleep like that?" she asks. "Well, I could put on a shirt if it bothers you," you suggest. "No, it's fine," Ichigo quickly corrects herself.
By the time you have reached the bed, she has already pulled back to covers and is sitting on the left side. You intentionally walk to that side and stand over her. "What if I wanted this side?" "I was here first," she answers without missing a beat. "And you said you wanted to make me happy, right? So that means you won't mind."
"I'll have to be more careful what I say around you from now on, love," you tell her, walking to the other side of the bed and sitting down. No sooner have you done so than a pair of arms wrap themselves around you. Her soft hair tickles your upper back. "Please, don't stop calling me that." You shoot her an intentionally confused look, though she can't see it. "Oh? Why's that?" you smile. "Because I want to hear you say you love me all the time," her muffled voice comes from behind.
"Alright," you say, kicking your legs onto the bed and sweeping Ichigo up. "(Y/N)!" she giggles, now laying on top of you. "You know, this is kind of comfy. I might just sleep here." "Do you want me to suffocate?" you ask in a muffled tone. "No," Ichigo pouts and slides off you. Instead, she curls up against your chest. "This is just as good." Chuckling to yourself, you agree with her. "Better," you say, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer still.
Ichigo lets out a sigh and closes her eyes. "I love you," she whispers, turning her head to face your chest. You kiss the top of her head. "I love you too."