Chapter 11. Moonflowers and Scars.
I stare at myself in the mirror. I barely recognize myself. Aunt Yue looming behind me with a serene smile. Her crimson eyes shine as she takes in how good I look to her. While to me… I don't look like myself at all.
"Oh darling… What's the matter? You look like an angel!" she exclaims.
"It doesn't feel like me at all." I mumble. "Feeling rather… naked." My arms close over my chest being exposed by a wide chest window. Mostly styled after her own dress. With it all hugging my curves. A white and gold nightmare. Because Renaru loves me with the beautiful handmade dresses.
"Ibara. Your father made you not embrace your femininity the right way. You're supposed to embrace it to get the man of your dreams! Then when you finally have him… well…"
She makes an odd hand motion like she's strangling something. She glares at it with such hatred in her eyes. Setsuna coughs from behind us.
"Mama. The hell you got Ibara in?" she asks. "Cause that's not what she likes and definitely not what Renaru likes. I saw him blush just by holding hands with her."
Aunt Yue grins. An unsettling sickle of amusement. She deftly walks over to Setsuna and leans down to stare her in the eyes.
"I see… what do you suggest then, Dear?" It sounds condescending. Aloofness driving from her lips like venom.
Setsuna grins and holds up a dress that is much more modest. "I found THIS baby in an old closet! It's just her size too! Weirdly enough it had a kinda… I dunno… angelic quality to it?" her grin widens as I see it. Something about it is familiar. But Aunt Yue's expression grows taut. She glares at it like she wanted to shred it. She turns.
"Fine then. Try that one on. In fact forget I was even trying to help!" she hisses. Storming off and maybe throwing a tantrum. Sometimes Aunt Yue is quite the child. Setsuna smirks and helps me take off the bad dress and she studies my face.
"Hmmm… How wouldja like some makeup? He won't be here for a while." she wonders. "Aw who am I fooling he loves you without it!" She slides the dress on me. It looks almost like a beautiful angel's robe. A long white dress with gold weaved throughout. Much more comfortable and less revealing. But… It truly makes me feel beautiful. With a billowing skirt and with a twirl it flares around me as I do it.
"How do ya feel now?" she asks.
"Well… I feel just fine…" I say. "It's just very nerve wracking!" I feel my cheeks flare.
"Get going then! My mama is gonna go postal any minute!" she exclaims as I leave the room through the door. "Good luck on your date!" she concluded.
Mom looks at what I was doing with disbelief. "I can't believe my baby is going on a date already!" She squeals. Her hair shining and her eyes twinkling. I smile and show off my nice white suit with red flame designs.
"Is it too flashy?" I ask.
"Well! If I was your dad, I would be really proud of you. But in my humble words I don't care as long as it makes you happy." she answered. She grins and hugs me.
"So… what's the deal with tonight?" she wonders.
"Oh! Ibara told me that her aunt got really fancy reservations for a fancy joint downtown. So I gotta wear a suit. Funny right?"
"Er… right." Mom says. "Just be careful around ladies like her aunt."
"What's wrong with Miss Maryanna?" I ask.
Mom just waves her hand. "Ah nothing. Just get going. I'm sure she's coming to get you."
I uneasily move towards the door with nothing much more to do. Mom is acting really weird and I don't think that's a good sign. I head outside and suddenly I see just the strangest thing. Not only is it a big limo but it's the kind that glitzy idols might own.
I walk towards it and coming out is Ibara. She looks rather pretty with not a lot of makeup on. Her dress is gorgeous. Reminding me of angel robes and her hair looks just as beautiful as it normally does. I kiss her on the cheek and she returns it. She guides me to the car and I don't exactly pay attention to who is in there with her. Just the fact that it's big in here. Ibara sidles in next to me and almost presses herself into me.
Mostly because I notice that she seems scared. I look in front of me and see the tallest lady I've ever seen staring down at me with what I can only say is amusement. Her eyes are the same shade of red as my flames on my suit. Her hair is long and silvery-white along with her skin. I feel like a deer caught in headlights. Staring at her as Ibara just holds one of my hands.
"Uhm…" I mumble. "H-hi…"
The woman gives me a wide smile and even more fear sets into me. She speaks and her voice is almost husky but clean and crisp almost as though she has an almost seamless switch between her other languages.
"So. You must be this Renaru boy my little sister and my niece have taken a shine to." she says.
"Right. It's… it's an honor to meet you." I greeted. She grins and I can't look her in the eyes. This was definitely Mom's boss. She fits the bill perfectly. Ego radiating off her. Dress exposing enough skin to make even a monk go mad with desire. Yet something didn't feel right. Her gaze is cold but everything else about her is warm. Power seems to be coming from every motion as if she wants to chokehold the entire conversation. Ibara gently squeezes my hand as her aunt clears her throat.
"Your mother talks about you quite a lot." she says.
"Does she?" I ask.
"Why yes. And I see why. A boy sweet enough to gain the love of my niece has to be rare indeed." she nods and Ibara looks down at her lap.
"Wait… what's wrong with that? Ibara is completely awesome!" I exclaim. Her aunt seems to get that odd fear back into her gaze somehow. Ibara seems to brighten. The car goes towards the restaurant and she seems to be in a better mood. Her aunt seems to stare at me almost… bored.
When the car came to a halt she said. "Have fun you two." Ibara opens the door and gets out but just before I could get out her aunt suddenly slams it shut behind her.
"Listen here boy. You don't know what she is." she snarls. "You'd best quit while you're ahead."
"Oh yeah? I think I won't. If you say that, then that only makes me wanna date her more! Thanks for the ride!" I open the door and get out. Almost falling on my butt. Yet I get yanked into Ibara's arms as the limo pulls out of the way.
She clings to me as she leads me inside. Needless to say it's way too fancy even for her. She looks around at the fancy dining room and all the waiters are pretty much wearing overly clean suits and aprons. She grabs my hand and turns back around without a single word. Leading me back outside and away from the restaurant. She looks rather angry. Yet when we were finally out of there she relaxed.
We walked along quietly with her still holding my hand. She's going towards a nearby park. The glitzy city around us giving way to a quieter area. Ibara smiles once we get somewhere quieter and she sits down in a field overlooking it all. I sit next to her and she scooches closer to me. Her head resting on my shoulder. She's so close… and smells so nice. I sit holding her hand and she just stays close. Her weight is somewhat comforting on my shoulder with some of her vines winding around me.
"That was close…" she sighs.
"Wait. Didn't your aunt get that reservation?" I ask.
"I didn't want to take you somewhere uncomfortable." She answers. "And that place was too fancy even for me." her eyes close and she takes a deep breath.
"Something wrong?" I notice that she seems tense. She nods.
"Well… seems like you and her don't get along." I comment.
"We don't unfortunately. It seems my Aunt Maryanna is the only one in my corner at the moment." She sighs.
"Hey! I'm in your corner too!" I feign betrayal and she giggles.
"Oh my! I'm so sorry!" She exclaims. "Would you rather be in the ring with me?"
"You know it!" I laugh. "Of course I do. You're my girlfriend after all!" Ibara suddenly hugs me with her chin resting on my head. My hair isn't burning too brightly but she lifts me a little into her lap.
"Hmm…" she sighs. I feel her relax a little. I just let her hold me. Something about it is so comforting and it makes me feel stable. Her embrace is warm and I just hug her back. Her vines wind around me.
There's nothing wrong with her. Nothing that might make me run away. I still don't know everything about her. Ever since I met her she's never hurt a fly. I've been around her since I was five. There's no tail or horns or forked tongue. Everything about her was normal. So if any big brained, mouth agape, Cheesing, and overly sexy demons wanna tell Ibara they're kinsmen then they'll have me to answer to! Of course that's just me making a cheeky reference to my mom's favorite series of all time.
But then I remembered the fact that she twisted a chair into scrap metal. Still. She wouldn't hurt me! Right? Ibara then does something strange. She moves me back and then… she kisses me. Her lips pressed against mine. I hesitate a little before pushing in, our tongues gently meeting in the middle. Her arms squeeze me tighter and her vines cocoon around us. She pulls back a little and touches foreheads with mine.
"Darling…" she mutters. "I love you…"
"I love you too, Ibara." I say. She still has the vines wound around us and she still holds me. I didn't notice the slight shift in her mood.
"Uhh… Ibara are you okay?" then she kisses me on the forehead. Then the cheeks. Then my jaw. Just kissing me over and over.
"Haha! Hey! That tickles! Alright, you asked for it! C'mere!" I laugh and grab her. I kiss her all over. Her forehead. Her cheeks and her jaw too. Feeling her joy at each and every one of them. Her vines were rustling and billowing at every single one. She and I do that for a bit. Kissing each other in our own little world. She holds me close. Her arms around me and her vines softly closing in to cloak the two of us.
"Renaru…" she sighs dreamily. "I don't want to leave…"
"Me neither…" I huff.
She lays us back and we both stare up at the stars. Tangled in her vines and holding each other. The quiet night drifting by.
"Renaru… if… if I were to… uhm…" she stumbles over her words. It's actually really cute.
"Yes?" I ask.
"Well! I was… going to ask you if… I were to… to uh… se… sed… ah lord forgive me…" she mumbles and then screws her eyes shut.
"Listen. Ibara…" I sigh. "I would. I would like so much to be with you."
Ibara sighs in relief. "Then you wouldn't be against it!" She exclaims… her skirt moving aside.
"OKAY!" I yell. Getting on my feet and turning away from her. "No no no! Slow your roll! We are WAY too new to do that! Kissing and handholding is fine but not… that. Not right now." Then I turn and see her shyly blushing and showing me her legs.
"Does this… ahem… t-turn you on?" she asks.
"No…" I answer.
"Oh! Then…" she moves her sleeve down to show her shoulder. "Then you must be a shoulder man." she looks over her shoulder with what I can assume is an attempt at an enticing wink.
I smile. "Really? Oh my god… I cant believe your dad and Aunt really believe that is really scandalous. But… lemme try!" I slide off my suit jacket and Ibara immediately turns her back on me with a crimson blush.
"Oh lord, please forgive my boyfriend! He knows not what he does!" she squeaks as I put it back on. Seeing her hand ball into her skirt. She turns but it's almost in shame. Almost like she wanted to see me show her my bands and my arms and my legs.
Ibara's vines wind around me again as she sits down on a stump and sits me in her lap. I sit there and she rests my head against her chest.
"Forgive me…" she mutters. "My love please forgive me…" she runs her hand through my hair and I hug her neck a little.
"I do forgive you. There's nothing wrong with feeling the way you do."
"But I've looked at you with lust! I… I've sinned!" She sniffles. I close my eyes and shake my head.
"All I've seen is the only girl I've ever loved." I say. "I… I love you. I've loved you for a long time, Ibara Shiozaki." I smile and touch her cheek. "I've always wanted to see you in bloom." Then I see them. Moonflowers suddenly blossom in her hair.
She smiles and leans close. Only for you… she whispers before kissing me and deepening it. She groans a little as she pulls me back up with her. Her lips taste so good. Like she was an angel herself.
"Darling…" she says. "I want… I want to kiss you more and more… I can't stop! You're warm and… I want to feel it!" She hugs me.
"I belong with you…" she mumbles. "Please… please let me go home with you. Let me stay…" she begs as I look at the time.
I want to help her but Mom would freak out. Not to mention her dad lives right next door to us. Not only that but Maryanna is way better at handling all the girl stuff than I am. As much as I would love to have Ibara as a houseguest-
"Hey Maryanna…" I sigh. Seeing my trainer washing dishes and she looks at me with a grin.
"Ibara got you, huh?" she asks.
"Yeah…" I yawn. "She dragged me here and now she's going to cuddle me to death."
Miss Maryanna laughs and ruffles my hair. "Well! Have fun you two~!" she teases as Ibara leads me to our room for the night. Mom would be okay with this. I hope so. I wish. I think. Her room is small but cozy. Candles and a small shrine. A few plants in the window. A bed. Dresser and vanity. Stuff like that.
Ibara breezes in and stands in front of her mirror. Undoing the two vines on her forehead. The two vines hang down as the vines lengthen to just above her thighs. She glances at me as I undo my hair. With the ponytail free my hair cools down. The rest is just normal length. Ibara then grabs something from her dresser and I turn away. Closing my eyes and hearing the soft rustling of clothing. Then she giggles.
"Renaru. You can gaze upon me now." I turn and open my eyes seeing her in a white nightgown with moonflower patterns on it. It falls to her ankles and she smiles. I steadily take off my suit jacket and shirt. She doesn't blush really. Only a little… Until she sees them. My scars. Her expression falls into sadness. Her vines gently pull me into her arms. I'm only in my boxers with my arms and legs uselessly dangling. She lays down on the bed.
Then… I feel a soft tingling on my left arm. She lifted it to kiss it. Every scar there. Then the same for my right. She gently lays kisses on my chest and back. Then says the words that make me want to get a ring and shove it onto her finger.
"Renaru… you're beautiful. Every bit of you is." she says. "No matter how scarred you are… never forget that."
I sniffle and she immediately cuddles me. "Shh… shhh… it's true. I love you… I think you're beautiful." she kisses me goodnight and turns out the light. My hair softly glowing patterns onto the ceiling.
She's so soft and warm… so nice… and her hair is so gentle too. I smile and curl into her embrace even more. Falling into slumber. Waking up with Ibara cuddling up with me is just oddly comforting. Her softly rising and falling chest lulling me back to sleep. Her vines gently running against my body.
I rest my head right against her heart and hear it's steadily beating. I just don't get why she's so worried about sinning. It's not really something I would worry about. She's so cute sleeping like this. Her arms wrapped around me and her nightgown spread below her. Just being with her feels right. Her hair lightly brushes my arms and legs. Her hands met in the small of my back.
I wish I could look into ten years from now to see if we're married. Because I don't know if things will stay this way. I smile and bury my face into her chest, tears stinging my eyes. Because I love her a lot. Remembering us when we were little. How she would bandage my scrapes and kiss them better. Mom would joke that Ibara was a good little nurse.
Ibara shifts a little bit and her vines squeeze me a tiny bit. Her beautiful dark green eyes open and she looks up at me.
"Mm?" She groans a little, "So it really wasn't a dream?"
I launch up and yawn nice and loud, "Huahhh! Nope! But that's the first sleep I've had where I don't have an episode."
Ibara gets a worried look on her face, "Episode?"
"Oho yeah. An episode is when my arms and legs get all jittery and I end up kicking whoever or whatever is in bed with me out of it." I answer. Ibara nods and kisses my forehead.
"Then I'm blessed to not be one of the forsaken." She says and I get her back with one on the lips. She blushes and holds me near her chest softly running her hand through my warm hair.
"Dear, please don't worry about if you're not worthy of me. I'm sure my aunt Yue wanted to scare you off." She says.
"Oh believe me. She did the whole door closed 'listen here' routine." I scoff, "I said that only makes me wanna date you harder!"
Ibara smiles, "Then I am one blessed woman to have such a loyal man's love."
I feel heat on my cheeks as she says that, "W-well! I also wanted to do it outta spite!" I squeak, "I mean you're really the only girl I had eyes for and no creepy moon lady is gonna make me stop!"
Ibara grins and squeezes me, "Oh Renaru! You're my hero!" She exclaims and I burst into tears. I just don't get why I cry so much.
"Don't cry…" she sighs, "I truly believe that you can be one. Be it a professional hero or just a good man standing against the darkness of the world!" Her earnest words wash over me as I dry my eyes.
"I guess so…" I sigh. "Guess we'll see at the Battle Training today,"
"Oh. It's today?" I ask, "Didn't know that."
Ibara just laughs a little and hugs me, "You'll do fine, my love." She says, "I think you just talked to yourself."
"I did? Oh boy…" I huff, "I guess I will."
"Don't guess. That leads to doubt." She says. I smile and gently kiss her cheek.
"Right, babe." I agree and we both leave her room. The future looks brighter than ever.